1 Thessalonians 3

1Th 3:1-13.

PROOF OF

HIS

DESIRE AFTER

THEM IN

HIS

HAVING

SENT

TIMOTHY:

HIS

JOY AT THE

TIDINGS

BROUGHT

BACK

CONCERNING

THEIR

FAITH AND

CHARITY:

PRAYERS FOR

THEM.

1. Wherefore--because of our earnest love to you

(1Th 2:17-20).

forbear--"endure" the suspense. The Greek is literally applied

to a watertight vessel. When we could no longer contain ourselves in our

yearning desire for you.

left at Athens

alone--See my

Introduction.

This implies that he sent Timothy from Athens, whither the

latter had followed him. However, the "we" favors ALFORD'S view that the determination to send Timothy was

formed during the hasty consultation of Paul, Silas, and Timothy,

previous to his departure from Berea, and that then he with them

"resolved" to be "left alone" at Athens, when he should arrive there:

Timothy and Silas not accompanying him, but remaining at Berea. Thus

the "I,"

1Th 3:5,

will express that the act of sending Timothy, when he arrived at

Athens, was Paul's, while the determination that Paul should be

left alone at Athens, was that of the brethren as well as himself, at

Berea, whence he uses,

1Th 3:1,

"we." The non-mention of Silas at Athens implies that he did not follow

Paul to Athens as was at first intended; but Timothy did. Thus the

history,

Ac 17:14, 15,

accords with the Epistle. The word "left behind" (Greek) implies

that Timothy had been with him at Athens. It was an act of

self-denial for their sakes that Paul deprived himself of the presence

of Timothy at Athens, which would have been so cheering to him in the

midst of philosophic cavillers; but from love to the Thessalonians, he

is well content to be left all "alone" in the great city.

2. minister of God and our fellow labourer--Some oldest manuscripts

read, "fellow workman with God"; others, "minister of God." The former

is probably genuine, as copyists probably altered it to the latter to

avoid the bold phrase, which, however, is sanctioned by

1Co 3:9;

2Co 6:1.

The English Version reading is not well supported, and is

plainly compounded out of the two other readings. Paul calls Timothy

"our brother" here; but in

1Co 4:17,

"my son." He speaks thus highly of one so lately ordained, both

to impress the Thessalonians with a high respect for the delegate sent

to them, and to encourage Timothy, who seems to have been of a timid

character

(1Ti 4:12; 5:23).

"Gospel ministers do the work of God with Him, for Him,

and under Him" [EDMUNDS].

establish--Greek, "confirm." In

2Th 3:3,

GOD is said to "stablish": He is the true

establisher: ministers are His "instruments."

concerning--Greek, "in behalf of," that is, for the furtherance of your faith. The Greek for "comfort" includes also the idea,

"exhort." The Thessalonians in their trials needed both

(1Th 3:3;

compare

Ac 14:22).

3. moved--"shaken," "disturbed." The Greek is literally said of

dogs wagging the tail in fawning on one. Therefore

TITTMANN explains

it, "That no man should, amidst his calamities, be allured by the

flattering hope of a more pleasant life to abandon his duty." So

ELSNER and

BENGEL, "cajoled out of his faith." In afflictions, relatives

and opponents combine with the ease-loving heart itself in flatteries,

which it needs strong faith to overcome.

yourselves know--We always candidly told you so

(1Th 3:4;

Ac 14:22).

None but a religion from God would have held out such a trying prospect

to those who should embrace it, and yet succeed in winning converts.

we--Christians.

appointed thereunto--by God's counsel

(1Th 5:9).

4. that we should suffer--Greek, "that we are about (we

are sure) to suffer" according to the appointment of God

(1Th 3:3).

even as--"even (exactly) as it both came to pass

and ye know"; ye know both that it came to pass,

and that we foretold it (compare

Joh 13:19).

The correspondence of the event to the prediction powerfully confirms

faith: "Forewarned, forearmed" [EDMUNDS]. The

repetition of "ye know," so frequently, is designed as an argument,

that being forewarned of coming affliction, they should be less readily

"moved" by it.

5. For this cause--Because I know of your "tribulation" having

actually begun

(1Th 3:4).

when I--Greek, "when I also

(as well as Timothy, who, Paul

delicately implies, was equally anxious respecting them, compare "we,"

1Th 3:1),

could no longer contain myself (endure the suspense)."

I sent--Paul was the actual sender; hence the "I" here: Paul,

Silas, and Timothy himself had agreed on the mission already, before

Paul went to Athens: hence the "we," (see on

1Th 3:1).

to know--to learn the state of your faith, whether it stood the

trial

(Col 4:8).

lest . . . have tempted . . . and

. . . be--The indicative is used in the former sentence,

the subjunctive in the latter. Translate therefore, "To know

. . . whether haply the tempter have tempted

you (the indicative implying that he supposed such was the case), and

lest (in that case) our labor may prove to be in vain"

(compare

Ga 4:11).

Our labor in preaching would in that case be vain, so far as ye

are concerned, but not as concerns us in so far as we

have sincerely labored

(Isa 49:4;

1Co 3:8).

6. Join "now" with "come"; "But Timotheus having just now

come from you unto us" [ALFORD]. Thus it

appears (compare

Ac 18:5)

Paul is writing from Corinth.

your faith and charity--

(1Th 1:3;

compare

2Th 1:3,

whence it seems their faith subsequently increased still more).

Faith was the solid foundation: charity the cement which

held together the superstructure of their practice on that foundation.

In that charity was included their "good (kindly) remembrance"

of their teachers.

desiring greatly--Greek, "having a yearning desire for."

we also--The desires of loving friends for one another's presence

are reciprocal.

7. over you--in respect to you.

in--in the midst of: notwithstanding "all our distress

(Greek, 'necessity') and affliction," namely, external trials at

Corinth, whence Paul writes (compare

1Th 3:6,

with Ac 18:5-10).

8. now--as the case is; seeing ye stand fast.

we live--we flourish. It revives us in our affliction to hear of

your steadfastness

(Ps 22:26;

2Jo 3:4).

if--implying that the vivid joy which the missionaries "now" feel,

will continue if the Thessalonians continue steadfast. They still

needed exhortation,

1Th 3:10;

therefore he subjoins the conditional clause, "if ye," &c.

(Php 4:1).

9. For what thanks--what sufficient thanks?

render . . . again--in return for His goodness

(Ps 116:12).

for you--"concerning you."

for all the joy--on account of all the joy. It was "comfort,"

1Th 3:7,

now it is more, namely, joy.

for your sakes--on your account.

before our God--It is a joy which will bear God's searching eye: a

joy as in the presence of God, not self-seeking, but disinterested,

sincere, and spiritual (compare

1Th 2:20;

Joh 15:11).

10. Night and day--(See on

1Th 2:9).

Night is the season for the saint's holiest meditations and prayers

(2Ti 1:3).

praying--connected with, "we joy"; we joy while we pray; or else

as ALFORD, What thanks can we render to God

while we pray? The Greek implies a beseeching

request.

exceedingly--literally, "more than exceeding abundantly" (compare

Eph 3:20).

that which is lacking--Even the Thessalonians had points in which

they needed improvement [BENGEL],

(Lu 17:5).

Their doctrinal views as to the nearness of Christ's coming, and as to

the state of those who had fallen asleep, and their practice in some

points, needed correction

(1Th 4:1-9).

Paul's method was to begin by commending what was praiseworthy, and

then to correct what was amiss; a good pattern to all admonishers of

others.

11. Translate, "May God Himself, even our Father

(there being but one article in the Greek, requires this

translation, 'He who is at once God and our Father'), direct," &c. The

"Himself" stands in contrast with "we"

(1Th 2:18);

we desired to come but could not through Satan's hindrance; but

if God Himself direct our way (as we pray), none can hinder Him

(2Th 2:16, 17).

It is a remarkable proof of the unity of the Father and Son,

that in the Greek here, and in

2Th 2:16, 17,

the verb is singular, implying that the subject, the Father and

Son, are but one in essential Being, not in mere unity of will.

Almost all the chapters in both Epistles to the Thessalonians are

sealed, each with its own prayer

(1Th 5:23;

2Th 1:11; 2:16; 3:5, 16)

[BENGEL]. Paul does not think the prosperous issue

of a journey an unfit subject for prayer

(Ro 1:10; 15:32)

[EDMUNDS]. His prayer, though the answer was

deferred, in about five years afterwards was fulfilled in his return to

Macedonia.

12. The "you" in the Greek is emphatically put first; "But"

(so the Greek for "and") what concerns "YOU,"

whether we come or

not, "may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love," &c. The

Greek for "increase" has a more positive force; that for

"abound" a more comparative force, "make you full (supplying

'that which is lacking,'

1Th 3:10)

and even abound." "The Lord" may here be the Holy Spirit; so the Three

Persons of the Trinity will be appealed to (compare

1Th 3:13),

as in

2Th 3:5.

So the Holy Ghost is called "the Lord"

(2Co 3:17).

"Love" is the fruit of the Spirit

(Ga 5:22),

and His office is "to stablish in holiness"

(1Th 3:13;

1Pe 1:2).

13. your hearts--which are naturally the spring and seat of

unholiness.

before God, even our Father--rather, "before Him who is at once God

and our Father." Before not merely men, but Him who will not be deceived

stand His searching scrutiny.

coming--Greek, "presence," or "arrival."

with all his saints--including both the holy angels and the holy elect

of men

(1Th 4:14;

Da 7:10;

Zec 14:5;

Mt 25:31;

2Th 1:7).

The saints are "His"

(Ac 9:13).

We must have "holiness" if we are to be numbered with His holy ones or

"saints." On "unblameable," compare

Re 14:5.

This verse (compare

1Th 3:12)

shows that "love" is the spring of true "holiness"

(Mt 5:44-48;

Ro 13:10;

Col 3:14).

God is He who really "stablishes"; Timothy and other ministers are but

instruments

(1Th 3:2)

in "stablishing."