1 Thessalonians 3 – Page 2 – Ministry of Grace Church

Category: 1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3:3 – Suffering From God

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Will

that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed unto this.

Truth to Learn

Some of our suffering is because God has determined it.

Behind the Words

“No one” is translated from mēdeis. This word is made up of mē, which is a conditional negative particle meaning “not,” de, meaning “but” or “and,” and heis, the numeral “one.” Thus, this word literally means “and not one” or “no one.”

The words “should be shaken” are from the verb sainō, meaning “to move back and forth as a dog wags its tail.” Figuratively, this word means “to move back and forth in the mind,” that is, “to be mentally agitated.”

“Afflictions” is from the Greek word thlipsis, which is based on the verb thilbō, meaning “to squeeze” or “to crush.” Thus, thlipsis refers to “pressure, stress, trouble, or affliction.”

The word translated “appointed” is keimai, which literally means “to lie down” or “to set in place.” So, we could paraphrase this as, “that we were put in place for this purpose.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told the Thessalonians that he had sent Timothy to them, since he was hindered from going there himself. And, he says that he sent Timothy with the expressed purpose of helping them to become firmly established and grounded in their faith. Since Paul had spent such a short time in Thessalonica, he had not been able to instruct them completely in the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. Knowing how critical good doctrine is to a sound Christian faith and a victorious Christian life, Paul wanted to ensure that the Thessalonians began their faith walk on firm footing.

The other reason that Paul had sent Timothy was to comfort and encourage them. In today’s verse we get a hint of why Paul wanted the Thessalonians to be grounded and comforted. It was because of “these afflictions.” Now the question we have to ask ourselves is, “What afflictions is Paul talking about?” Some people may mistakenly think he’s talking about the persecution the Thessalonian Christians are going through at the hands of their countrymen. However, based on the rules of grammar and the context of surrounding verses, it is apparent that Paul is talking about the affliction that he and his companions were suffering in being hindered from returning themselves.

Paul now makes an interesting statement. He says that the Thessalonians were fully aware that these afflictions had been laid out for them. What does he mean by that? From the book of Acts we learn that at the time of Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion, the Lord told Ananias this about Paul:

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake. (Acts 9:16)

The obvious conclusion, therefore, is that Jesus Himself determined ahead of time that Paul was going to suffer in his ministry for God.

Application

I’ve heard a number of Christians say, “Why is God allowing this to happen to me? I’m being faithful. I’m following His leading. I’m being obedient.” The reason for these afflictions (some of them at least) is not because of rebellious sinfulness, but because God determined ahead of time that they would happen. Why? So that we will get stronger and so He will get all the glory for everything we do in His name.

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 3:2 – Growth and Service

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Will

and sent Timothy, our brother and minister and fellow laborer of God in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

Truth to Learn

Christians are called both to grow in faith and to serve God through faith.

Behind the Words

The verb “sent” is from pempō, which means “to send.” The emphasis of this verb is on the point of departure, rather than the destination.

“Minister” is translated from diakonos (from which we get our English word “deacon”). This word is probably derived from diakō, meaning “to run an errand.” Therefore, diakonos refers to “a helper” or “an assistant.”

The words “fellow laborer” are from the Greek word sunergos, which is made up of sun, meaning “with” or “together with” and ergon, meaning “work” or “labor.” Thus, sunergos refers to “someone who labors together with someone else.”

Stēridzō is the word translated “establish.” It is based on the word histēmi, meaning “to stand” or “to set in place.” Stēridzō means “to set firmly in place” or “to firmly establish.”

“Encourage” is from the Greek verb parakaleō. This word is made up of para, meaning “to the side of” and kaleō, meaning “to call.” Thus, parakaleō literally means “to call alongside.” It is a picture of a coach or mentor who comes alongside an athlete to give advice, to comfort, to challenge, and to encourage.

Meaning Explained

We learned in yesterday’s verse that Paul endured his separation from the saints in Thessalonica as long as he could. Since he had been prevented from returning there himself, he sent Timothy to them. He refers to Timothy as a “brother” in the faith and as “an assistant.” Notice, however, that Paul does not refer to Timothy as “his” assistant, but as God’s assistant. Paul recognizes that he is not working for himself, but for God. He also recognizes that everything that he has, in terms of all things necessary for him to accomplish his task, are supplied by God. Therefore, even the people who work alongside him and assist him are not working for Paul, bur for the One who calls each one of us to our ministry. He refers to Timothy as “God’s fellow laborer” because he is God’s worker who works “with” not “for” Paul.

In today’s verse Paul explains what Timothy’s assigned task is. It is two-fold: to ensure that the believers in Thessalonica are firmly grounded in the faith, and to be a coach for them. It was Timothy’s job to instruct and challenge these Christians to become more Christ-like as they grow in their faith. However, it was also his responsibility to encourage and comfort them through the growing pains and difficult times of their Christian walk.

It’s also important to note that Paul’s concern for the young Christians in Thessalonica did not focus on health, wealth, ease of life, or even self-esteem. Instead, he focused on the spiritual quality of their lives.

Application

We see two aspects of the Christian life in this verse, growing and serving. Any Christian who is not doing both of these is not being obedient to his or her Lord and Master. When you stand before Him will you be ashamed about what you haven’t done or rewarded for what you have done?

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 3:1 – Family Ties

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Will

Therefore, no longer enduring it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

Truth to Learn

Christians are all part of the same loving family.

Behind the Words

The words “enduring it” are translated from the Greek verb stegō. This word literally means “to cover.” It can mean “to conceal” or “to cover with silence,” that is, “to forbear” or “to endure.”

“We thought it good” is the translation of the verb eudokeō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and dokeō, meaning “to think.” Thus, this word means “to think good of.”

Kateleipō is the word translated “to be left.” It is composed of kata, meaning “down” but used here as an intensifier and leipō, meaning “to leave” or “to forsake.” Thus, kataleipō means “to utterly leave behind.”

“Alone” is translated from monos, which means “without others” or “alone.”

Meaning Explained

In chapter two of this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, Paul spent considerable time and effort defending what appears to be accusations leveled against him and his companions. One of those accusations was that Paul had abandoned the Thessalonian church and that he had made no attempts to return there.

You may recall in our discussion of verse seventeen that we alluded to the fact that Paul had to be secretly ushered out of town as a result of the turmoil that was caused by people who had come from Philippi. Paul has already explained that he had repeatedly planned on returning to Thessalonica but that he had been hindered by Satan.

He has used fatherly and motherly metaphors to explain to these dear Christian brothers and sisters the anguish he had experienced as a result of his separation from them. He even referred to such separation as being like that of an orphan deprived of his or her father and mother. Therefore, because he had been prevented from returning to Thessalonica, Paul tells his beloved friends there what he did instead.

He tells them here that he endured the pain of separation as long as he could. This is a very revealing comment from the Apostle. After all, we know from his letter to the church in Philippi, written some ten or twelve years after this letter, that Paul learned to be content with whatever God provided for him. He told the Philippians:

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in: (Philippians 4:11)

Now he tells the Thessalonians that he was not content; he could no longer endure the separation from them and the lack of news about them. Therefore, he tells them that his plan is to be left alone at Athens and (as we learn in the next verse) to send Timothy to them.

Application

One of the wonderful aspects of the Christian life is that we get to make friends with people from all walks of life, who share our love for the Lord. And, since we are all children of our Heavenly Father, they often become as dear as true brothers and sisters. Are you involved enough in your church to make close friends like this? If not, you’re missing out on a rich blessing.

In God's service, for His glory,