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1 Tessalonicenses 3

Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible

1 Tessalonicenses 3

BRIEF OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 3 Paul, in great anxiety, sends Timothy to help this new church at Thessalonica, 1 Thess. 3:1-5 Timothy returns to Paul with good news, 1 Thess. 3:6-10 In response Paul prays for the Thessalonian Church, 1 Thess. 3:11-13

1 Tessalonicenses 3:1-10

3:1 "could endure it no longer" Paul was worried about this church because it was born in persecution (cf. 1 Thess. 2:17-20) he had to leave so soon (exact length of time in Thessalonica uncertain but only weeks) his pastor's heart would give him no rest (cf. 1 Thess. 3:5) ▣ "to be left behind" This PRESENT ACTIVE PARTICIPLE was used of a child leaving his parents, Eph. 5:31 (possibly more parental imagery like 1 Thess. 2:7,11,17) the death of one's spouse (cf. Mark 12:19) Paul deeply loved this church ▣ "at Athens alone" Paul's visit to Athens is recorded in Acts 17:15-34. This was the intellectual center of the Hellenistic world. Paul had eye problems (compare 2 Cor. 12:7 with Gal. 4:15 and 6:11), and it was very hard for him to be alone, especially in an unfamiliar environment such as Athens. The term "alone" is PLURAL but the implication is uncertain. Acts 18:5 implies both Silas and Timothy were on assignment. Luke had been left in Philippi to help the church. This verse may be an example of Paul's use of "we" as an editorial PLURAL, referring only to himself. 3:2 "God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ" "minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ" "co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ" "who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ" "who is God's helper in spreading the Good News of Christ" This phrase refers to Timothy. The Greek manuscripts differ: manuscript B has "co-laborer" manuscripts א and A have "minister" The term denoted the lowly service of a slave. Most modern translations follow manuscript B. Possibly a scribe was shocked at Paul calling Timothy "God's co-laborer." This verse is functioning like a letter of recommendation for Timothy (cf. Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; 2 Cor. 8:18-24; 3 John 9,10). SPECIAL TOPIC: TIMOTHY SPECIAL TOPIC: LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION ▣ "the gospel of Christ" The good news (i.e. gospel) of the Father's love and actions on behalf of rebellious humanity can be called the gospel of the Kingdom (cf. Matt. 4:23; Mark 1:14) the gospel of Christ Paul even calls it "my gospel" The variety in Romans and 1 Thessalonians shows they are synonymous. #2   Rom. 1:1; 15:16; 1 Thess. 2:2,8,9 #3   Rom. 1:16; 15:19; 1 Thess. 3:2 #4   Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 1 Thess. 1:5 ▣ "to strengthen and encourage you" Paul was worried about this new church under persecution (cf. 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 3:3). ▣ "your faith" This is a crucial theological term and concept. The gospel cannot be understood without a good sense of the meaning and usage of this NOUN, VERB. SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST 3:3 "so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions" This is the only use of the term "disturbed" in the NT (or LXX). It originally referred to a dog wagging its tail. In classical Greek (Homer), it was used in the sense of "flattered." This may relate to 1 Thess. 2:1 or 3:5 (i.e. "in vain") True faith perseveres (cf. Matt. 13:1-23; John 15:1-6; Gal. 6:9; Rev. 2:2-3,7,11,17,19,26; 3:5,8,10,11,12,21). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NEED TO PERSEVERE ▣ "we have been destined for this" This is a PRESENT PASSIVE (deponent) INDICATIVE. The PASSIVE VOICE implies that God is the active agent. It is not a reference to the pagan idea of an impersonal fate the Islamic idea of determinism Suffering is the norm for believers in a fallen world (cf. 1 Thess. 3:3-4; Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:18, 20; 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom. 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:7-11; 11:23-27; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 2:21; 4:12-16). Suffering is often a means toward spiritual maturity (cf. Heb. 5:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER? SPECIAL TOPIC: A SUFFERING MESSIAH 3:4 "we kept telling you in advance" This is an IMPERFECT TENSE which means repeated action in past time. Paul must have warned them several times about the persecution and suffering connected to the gospel. He knew this from Jesus' teachings (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12) and personal experience (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7-11; 6:3-10; 11:23-29). They now know it experientially also. "we were going to suffer afflictions" "we would suffer tribulation" "we were to suffer persecutions" "that we were going to be persecuted" "we must expect to have persecutions to bear" This is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE with a PRESENT PASSIVE INFINITIVE. The Williams' translation footnote says "a picture of a loaded wagon crushed under its heavy load." I really like the Williams translation of the NT. I have put its website on the homepage of my website (www.freebiblecommentary.org). 3:5 "your faith" This is possibly used in the OT sense of "faithfulness." Remember, the authors of the NT were Hebrew thinkers (except Luke) so the best place to consult the word meaning is the Koine Greek translation of the OT, done about 150 B.C. Were they true to their profession of faith? SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH SPECIAL TOPIC: SEPTUAGINT ▣ "the tempter might have tempted you" A personal, evil force (ho peirazōn) is active in our world and in our lives (cf. 1 Thess. 2:18). This Greek word translated "tempt" (peirazō) connotes tempting "with a view toward destruction," the opposite of "approved" (dokimazō) in 1 Thess. 2:4. SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSONAL EVIL SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK TERMS FOR TESTING AND THEIR CONNOTATIONS ▣ "our labor would be in vain" The use of MOODS is important here; the INDICATIVE which is the MOOD of reality is used of Satan, but the SUBJUNCTIVE which is the MOOD of contingency, is used of Paul's labor. This may relate to 1 Thess. 2:1. The question is, "Does ‘in vain‘ relate to their personal conversion or the establishment of a viable functioning church in Thessalonica?" I think the latter is the only contextual option, although Paul probably would not have made a distinction. He understood and preached both justification and sanctification. Paul uses the concept of "vain" or "fruitless" often and incorporates three different words. eikē ‒ Rom. 13:4; 1 Cor. 15:2; Gal. 3:4; 4:11; Col. 2:18 kenos ‒ 1 Cor. 15:10,14,58; 2 Cor. 6:1; Gal. 2:2; Eph. 5:6; Phil. 2:16; Col. 2:8; 1 Thess. 2:1; 3:3 (VERB in 2 Cor. 9:3) matalos ‒ 1 Cor. 3:20; 15:17; Titus 3:9 (VERB in Rom. 2:21) Paul knew the power of the gospel was from divine activity, but he also knew the choices of humans affected the effective outcome (i.e. John 15:1-6)! SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERAMCE SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY 3:6 "good news" This is the only use of this Greek term in the NT where it does not refer to the gospel of Christ. Timothy's message about the faithful condition of this church was "gospel," "good news" to Paul. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL ▣ "of your faith and love" This phrase can have several meanings (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3). This refers either to: orthodox doctrine and loving care for one another faithfulness and love toward God SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH ▣ "think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you" This shows that neither the pagan or Jewish persecution had embittered this church against Paul. 3:7 "in all our distress and affliction" Paul's problems in Corinth are listed in 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 4:7-12; 6:4-10 and 11:23-28. Oh my! The costs of being a servant of Christ and a church of Christ!! ▣ "we were comforted" Paul uses this compound word ("with" and "call") often. It has several senses. to urge, exhort, encourage (cf. 1 Thess. 2:3,11; 4:1; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:12) to comfort (cf. 1 Thess. 2:11; 3:2; 4:18; 5:11; 2 Thess. 2:17) its NOUN form (paraclētos) used of both the helping ministry of the Spirit (cf. John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7) the Son (cf. 1 John 2:1) SPECIAL TOPIC: COMFORT 3:8 "for now we really live" Paul is using emotional imagery to express his release from his deep concern because of the good news about this church. ▣ "if you stand firm in the Lord" This is a Greek CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, combining FIRST CLASS and THIRD CLASS conditions, thereby adding contingency to Paul's statement. He assumed that they would stand firm but that remained for him to see (cf. 1 Thess. 2:1 and 3:5). "Standing firm" relates to our position in Christ. The Bible presents our salvation in a tension-filled pair of truths: it is free, it is in Christ it is costly, it is progressive, it is seen in our lifestyle choices (Matthew 7; John 15; James, 1 John) Both are true. This verse emphasizes the first truth (cf. Rom. 5:2; 1 Cor. 15:1 and Eph. 6:11, 13). SPECIAL TOPIC: STAND SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY ▣ "Lord" See SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord (adon and kurios) 3:9-10 This is a rhetorical question that leads into a prayer, 1 Thess. 3:11-13, concluding the first half of Paul's letter. 3:10 "night and day" This is the Jewish order of time (see note at 1 Thess. 2:9). This reflects Paul's constant, persistent prayer life (cf. 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:12; 2 Tim. 1:3). SPECIAL TOPIC: EFFECTIVE PRAYER "keep praying most earnestly" "praying exceedingly" "we pray most earnestly" "we ask him with all our heart" "We are earnestly praying" "offer supplication abundantly" The ADVERB "most earnestly" is a very strong, triple compound (huper + ek + perissou). It is a highly emotional term (cf. Eph. 3:20; 1 Thess. 3:10; 5:13). Paul constantly worried and prayed about these new churches (cf. 2 Cor. 11:28). SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S USE OF HUPER COMPOUNDS SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER NASB, Peshitta "may complete what is lacking in your faith" "perfect what is lacking in your faith" "restore whatever is lacking in your faith" "supply what is needed in your faith" "make up any shortcomings in your faith" They had done well but they were not yet mature in their understanding, as the misunderstanding about the Second Coming shows. This is the use of "faith" as doctrine (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11) the recurrent emphasis on lifestyle, "what was lacking" may have had an ethical aspect (cf. 1 Thess. 4:1-12) Paul uses this term faith (pistis/pisteuō) often in these letters (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3,8; 3:2,5,6,7,10; 5:8; 2 Thess. 1:3,4,11; 3:2), but especially in this context. SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH

1 Tessalonicenses 3:11-13

3:11-13 This is one sentence in Greek. This prayer contains three rare OPTATIVE VERBAL forms: "direct" (1 Thess. 3:11) "increase" (v. 12) "abound" (v. 12) The OPTATIVE MOOD is the MOOD of potentiality used in prayers. 3:11 "may. . .direct" This is a rare AORIST ACTIVE SINGULAR OPTATIVE VERB, used in several prayers in the NT (cf. 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:16; 3:5, 16 and in Rom. 15:5-6,13). Note the VERB is SINGULAR, though it refers to both God the Father and Jesus Christ. This was a way for the NT authors to assert the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth (cf. 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:16; also note Matt. 28:19). Another theological point is that just as Satan prevented Paul from coming to them, recorded in 1 Thess. 2:18, Paul asked the Father and Son to make a way (straight or smooth: cf. Luke 1:79) for him to visit them! ▣ "Father" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FATHERHOOD OF GOD 3:12-13 Paul prayed for himself in 1 Thess. 3:11 (he asked for prayer in Eph. 6:19), but now his petition turns toward the church at Thessalonica. He prayed for their love for one another and all people (cf. Eph. 6:18). He also prayed for the believers' holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 3:13; Eph. 1:4). God's will for every believer is Christlikeness (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15). 3:12 "abound" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOUND (perisseuō) ▣ "for all people" God's love is as wide as the world (cf. John 1:29; 3:16; 4:42; 12:47; Rom. 5:18; 1 Tim. 2:4; Titus 2:11; 3:4; Heb. 2:9; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:2; 4:14); so too, must be ours who know Him. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN 3:13 "hearts" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HEART "without blame in holiness" NKJV, Peshitta "blameless in holiness" NRSV, NJB "in holiness that you may be blameless" "perfect and holy" "holy and faultless" Holiness is both a gift and a task (INDICATIVE and IMPERATIVE). The word "blameless" is characteristic of someone above reproach, against whom no accusation may be brought (cf. Eph. 5:27). This leaves Satan with no basis for criticism (cf. Rom. 8:31,32,33). God's will for every believer is Christlike holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 4:3; Rom. 8:28-29; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4). See note at 2 Thess. 4:3. SPECIAL TOPIC: BLAMELESS, INNOCENT, GUILTLESS, WITHOUT REPROACH SPECIAL TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION ▣ "at the coming of our Lord Jesus" This shows Paul's continuing concern about end-time events (cf. 1 Thess. 2:19; 4:15-17). The exact relationship between the events of the Second Coming the Rapture (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18) the Judgment Seat of Christ (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10) the White Throne of Judgment (cf. Matthew 25 and Revelation 20) are uncertain. Be careful of dogmatism in this area. I think they are all simultaneous! SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING SPECIAL TOPIC: RAPTURE ▣ "His saints" "Saints" (lit. "holy ones") are either (1) angels who will accompany Jesus (cf. Deut. 33:2-3; Zech. 14:5; Matt. 16:27; 25:31; Mark 8:38; 2 Thess. 1:7; Rev. 19:4); or (2) His people, saints (cf. 1 Thess. 4:14-16). Paul never called angels "saints" or "holy ones," possibly solving the interpretive issue. Probably both angels and saints will return with Him on the clouds of heaven. This church was unsure if the dead saints would participate in the end-time events. Saints, literally "holy ones," are called to holiness (cf. 1 Thess. 4:3) by the Holy One (cf. 1 Pet. 1:15)! The goal of Christianity is "holiness" now (cf. Eph. 1:4), not heaven when we die! SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS SPECIAL TOPIC: GODLY ONES SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE ▣ Some Greek MSS add "Amen" (i.e. MSS אi *2 , A, D * ), but other very early ones omit it (i.e. MSS אi 1 , B, D 2 , F, G). The UBS 4 is uncertain about its inclusion, but Bruce Metzger (i.e. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, p. 631) thinks it was left off because scribes thought an "Amen" in the middle of a letter was inappropriate. ▣ "Amen" See SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN