Bible Study on 1 Thessalonians - Part 4 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

We began this lesson with prayer and then remembered what Paul had been discussing as we ended last week - the persecution that had happened at the hands of Jewish religious leaders. Jesus had warned of this. Read Matthew 23:31-34. Note the predicted crucifixion of Christ Himself and “persecution from town to town” in the early Christian church, by people who were like “serpents” and “vipers," images of servants of Satan.

Paul had, in fact, been chased out of Thessalonica by Jewish opposition, as we have heard. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17, Paul described it as being “torn away” from the group of people who had come to faith in Jesus in Thessalonica. His heart was still with them, though he could not be with them in person. He used a Greek word that meant that he was “orphaned” from the believers there - the only time I think this particular
word is used in the New Testament.

The Bible speaks of God’s concern for literal orphans and widows and the very vulnerable situations they were often left in, with the troubles of this life. (See James 1:27 and Psalm 146:9, for example.) Jesus also promised that He would not leave us as spiritual orphans, even though He would have to leave His disciples, with His suffering and death to pay for our sins. He would be raised to life again, though, and even when He returned to his Father in heaven at His ascension, He would “still be with us always, to the end of the age.” (See John 14:18-19 and Matthew 28:20.)

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul had already called the Christians there his “brothers," part of his Christian family. He had spoken of working with them as “a nursing mother” and as “a father with his children” (2:7,9,11); but now he felt and was “orphaned” from them. “Satan was hindering him,” though he tried to return to them (1 Thess. 2:17-18).

We don’t know just what other barriers Paul had at this point, though he had been chased far away from Thessalonica, into Athens and then Corinth, in a different Roman province. Some think that he would have endangered Jason and others who had hosted him in Thessalonica if he tried to come back, too. Remember again Acts 17:5-9, where Jason and others had to put up money as security, as a kind of bond, as protection from more trouble for Paul. If Paul returned and trouble broke out, many people could be in big trouble.

In 1 Thess. 2:19-20, Paul also called the Thessalonian believers his “hope” and “joy” and “glory” and “crown of boasting” on the last day, when Christ returned. This was not “self-boasting” by Paul at what he had done. It was simply rejoicing in more believers standing firm in faith, who would also have eternal life in heaven, by God’s grace.

We look forward to seeing loved ones again in heaven, some of whom we have not seen for a long time. Won’t it be great, too, to see believers we have worshipped with and prayed for and maybe helped and encouraged in the faith or taught Sunday School to, together with us on the last day? (See how Paul spoke of other believers in the same way in 2 Corinthians 1: 12-14 and in Philippians 4:1, about fellow believers still alive.)

As Chapter 3 of 1 Thess. began, Paul admitted that he could finally not wait any longer to hear what was happening with the people in the Thessalonian church. He decided to send Timothy to Thessalonica to strengthen and exhort the people in their faith, even though that meant leaving him alone to do what he could in Athens and then in Corinth.

Paul knew that the believers faced continuing affliction and suffering for their faith. He had warned them of such dangers in the short time he had been with them and told them, “We are destined” for this kind of trouble (1 Thess. 3:1-4). (There are many other Scriptures where we hear the same message. Here are just a few examples from Jesus and others: Matthew 5:10-12, 10:21-22, Mark 4:17, John 16:33, Acts 14:22.)  At the same time, God assures us that He is working for our good and the good of the church and sharing of the Gospel, even through times of trouble and persecution. (See Acts 11:19, Romans 5:3-5, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 4:16-18. Ephesians 6:18-20, etc.)

Paul often taught Christians not to worry; but he struggled with his own fears and worries at times. Would the believers in Thessalonica be able to withstand temptations of the tempter (Satan, again) as Jesus had to handle just such temptations? (See Matthew 4:1-11, for example.) Could they have fallen away and all the work in Thessalonica been in vain? (1 Thess. 3:5)

Finally, Paul reported that Timothy had made it to Thessalonica and spent some time with the church there and encouraged them and returned with “good news” about their faith and love in the Lord. This may be the only time in the New Testament when Paul used the term “good news” to refer to anything other than the Gospel of Jesus our Savior. In this case, though, too, faith is only there in the Thessalonians because of hearing and being brought to trust in the good news of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Remember what Paul had said earlier about the power and trustworthiness and effectiveness of the Word of God, working in people through the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 2:13 and 3:6).

This good news from Timothy brought great comfort to Paul. The ministry of Paul and Silas and Timothy had not been in vain. (See 1 Corinthians 15:58.) In fact, Paul spoke as if he were really alive, because these Thessalonians were “standing firm in the faith” (1 Thess. 3:7-8). Paul talked then about giving great thanksgiving to God for what He had done for these people and the joy that is restored to him.

Paul had been praying again and again for this church, that he could one day see them again in person and he could continue to teach and “supply what is lacking in their faith” (1 Thess. 3:9-10). This does not mean that the people did not have saving faith, as a gift from God. They knew and trusted their Savior; but there was always room for growth in their understanding and confidence in the Lord and in dealing with practical concerns for their Christian life. We will see more of that as we get into Chapter 4, next week. That is a good reminder that we all can grow in what is lacking in our own faith and grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, above all. See 2 Peter 3:18.

As happened in other letters, Paul then broke into a spontaneous prayer to God the Father and to the Lord Jesus Christ. (Clearly Jesus is God, together with the Father, and can be addressed in prayer, too!) He prayed that he could eventually have the way open to see the Thessalonians again. That prayer did seem to be answered later on, if you look at Acts 20:1-4. At least a few of the people of the Thessalonian congregation were with Paul.

Paul also prayed for the Thessalonians to have increasing love and hearts firmly “established “ in Christ. That word “established” is used by Paul in 3:2 and again in 3:13. In classical Greek, that word was used to speak of building buttresses to strengthen and support buildings. By the time of the New Testament, that word was used for strengthening many other things, including spiritual life, as Paul did here.

Paul would continue to do what he could, by prayer and by this letter and by sending help; but finally, only God could “establish hearts blameless in holiness before God at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” Even as Christians, we are not blameless in our life and actions. Only through the perfect life of Jesus for us and His forgiveness of every one of our sins, by His sacrificial death on the cross in our place, are we counted as acceptable to God on the last day. We wear by God’s grace, received through the gift of faith, the robe of righteousness earned for us by Jesus. The “saints” are not the especially good people who have merited God’s grace by their good deeds and actions. The saints are simply those who trust in the Triune God and His saving work for them through Jesus. That means that you are a “saint,” too, in God’s definition, as you keep on trusting in what Jesus has done for you. (See 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 1 Thessalonians 3:13.)

We will hear more about this and being ready for that last day, as our study continues next week.