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1
Thessalonians Chapter Three
I.
Content of the Chapter
A Model Worker Who Cares for the Church
A. Who sends his fellow workers to establish
the church (v.1-5):
1. The reason for sending the fellow workers
(v.1
2. The purpose of sending the fellow workers
(v.2b-4);
3. He is afraid that believers are deceived by
the devil (v.6-13);
B. Whose response after hearing the condition
of the church (v.6-13):
1. The fellow workers reported the good news
(v.6);
2. Be comforted and give thanks to God (v.7-9):
a.Be comforted in all affliction
and distress (v.7);
b.Live due to believers’ standing fast in the Lord (v.8);
c. Rejoice and thank God for the conditions
of believers (v.9);
3. Pray exceedingly to God (v.10-13):
a.Long to see believers’ face and perfect what is lacking in their faith (v.10-11);
b.May the Lord make them increase and abound in love (v.12);
c. May believers blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord (v.13);
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
1Thess. 3:1 “Therefore
when we could
no longer endure it
we thought it good to be left in
YLT: “Wherefore no longer
forbearing
we thought good to be left in
Meaning of Words: “endure”: roof over
cover with silence
suffer
bear; “be left”: leave
reserve
forsake;
Literal Meaning: “when we could no longer
endure it”
“we” refer to Paul
Silvanus and Timotheus (see
1:1)
but actually
here it refer to Paul himself (see v.5
“I could no longer endure it”). Paul mentioned that he affectionately
longed for the Thessalonians and yet could not go to them personally (see
2:17-20). “Could no longer endure”
could not restrain one’s internal feeling;
Paul was afraid the believers in Thessalonica who were young in spiritual life
were unable to stand firm in persecutions.
“We
thought it good to be left in
“Be left”
it in the original carries the meaning
of solitude and yearning and expectation after one is separated from those who
are very close to him.
“
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The mind of Paul at that time could not be
understood by those who really love believers and yet are unable to be with
them. To those who serve for wages in the church
they care for their own lives
only. How are they concerned about the sheep (John 10:12-13)?
2) No matter what environment it is
the
servants of the Lord shall not forsake the Lord’s flock. When those who serve
God live in the flesh
they live for others (Phil. 1:22-24).
3) Christian shall endure
for he that shall
endure unto the end
the same shall be saved (Matt. 24:13). And Christian shall
also “no
longer endure”. Whether endure or
not endure is decided by the nature of everything.
4) We shall endure unto the end in spite of our
own benefit or things in the world. However
for the sake of God and the profit
of others
we shall no longer endure so that we will be used by God.
5) Sometimes
though we have to “wait alone” in
other place because of the arrangement of God in our circumstance
we can still
do our part in prayer ---- the crowd pressing on me daily
the burden of all
the assemblies (2Cor. 11:28).
1Thess. 3:2 “and sent Timothy
our
brother and minister of God
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ
to
establish you and encourage you concerning your faith
”
YLT: “and did send Timotheus
-- our brother
and a ministrant of God
and our fellow-workman in the good
news of the Christ -- to establish you
and to comfort you concerning your
faith
”
Meaning of Words: “minister”: steward
servant
waiter; “establish”: strengthen
steadfastly set; “encourage”: call
near
comfort
invite;
Literal Meaning: “and sent Timothy
our brother”
“our brother”
it shows that they have close relationship in
life.
“And
minister of God
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ”
“in the gospel of Christ”
it means that his
chief mission is the preachment of Christ’s gospel. “Minister of God”
it refers to the title of his works. Paul so
seriously mentions the responsibility of Timothy so as to remind the
Thessalonians not to despise the youth of Timothy (see 1Tim. 4:12).
“Minister” contains the meaning of steward and
fiduciary
which suggests the close relationship of God’s servants with Him. In
some old scriptures
“minister of God” is copied as “the fellow worker of God”.
In fact
the minister of God is the fellow worker of God (1Cor. 3:9; 2Cor.
6:1).
“To
establish you and encourage you concerning your faith”
“establish”
it in the original means
buttressing the building. And the symbolic meaning of this word is applied in
the New Testament. “Your faith” (see v.5
6
7
10): according to the context
in which the same word “faith” appears
it (“faith”) carries at least the
following three meanings: 1) the faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ
and His redemption when one is saved (John 20:31; 1Cor. 15:2-4); 2) one
believers on God and His word after he is saved (2Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:6; Rev.
22:6); 3) hold fast the form of sound words (2Tim. 1:13-14).
“Establish… comfort”
it indicates that the “minister of God in the gospel of Christ” shall not only preach the gospel to lead men to
believe the Lord but also establish and comfort believers that have received
the gospel.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Timothy is indeed the right person to help
Paul to establish the church
for: 1) he is humble to receiving “sending”; 2)
he is “our brother”
a man in the Lord; 3) he is God’s minister
who does not
fear to labor or toil; 4) he is the “fellow worker”
who does not draw men to
follow him by showing off himself.
2) The content of Christ’s gospel ---- the
redemption ---- is accomplished by Christ alone. However
the preachment of the
gospel needs many people who are ready to be used by God to cooperate with Him.
3) It is rather important to preach the gospel
and lead men to the Lord. And the establishment of their faith afterwards is
also indispensable.
4) There are two common mistakes that
Christians often make: 1) they are zealous in preaching the gospel
but pay
little attention to feed believers who have just been favored; 2) they are
unwilling to practically care for or establish the young believers around them
on the pretext of committing them to God.
5) God shall never use one who is not steadfast
himself to establish others. If we long to be used by God
we shall seek
earnestly and be firstly established.
6) Paul not only cares for the church in his
heart but also sends men to go to help the church. The common mistake that
preachers have made is “paying lip service without taking any action”.
1Thess. 3:3 “that no one should be
shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to
this.”
YLT: “that no one be
moved in these tribulations
for yourselves have known that for this we are
set
”
Meaning of Words: “shaken”: wag
move
be drawn aside; “appointed”: lay
be laid up
be set
lie outstretched;
Literal Meaning: “that no one should be shaken by these afflictions”
“afflictions” refer to the persecutions
and troubles that the Thessalonians are faced with (see Mark. 4:17; John 16:33;
Acts 14:22; 2Tim. 3:12; 1Pet. 4:12). However these difficulties are not
disasters
for they have fulfilled the counsel of God (see Acts 11:19;
“For
you yourselves know that we are appointed to this”
Christians are appointed to suffer afflictions
(Matt. 17; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 2Tim. 3:12; 1Pet. 4:12). In other words
tribulations are the portion appointed by God to us. In order to fulfill the
counsel of God
He puts us in afflictions.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Afflictions not only may make believers physically
pain but also produce another worry
that is
the faith of someone may be moved
because of afflictions.
2) Only those who are not steadfast in faith
will be moved by afflictions (see v.2).
3) Indeed
the wicked one schemes to shake the
faith of believers by afflictions (see v.5)
and yet the affliction is also a
tool appointed by God the Father to edify believers.
4) All the trials and temptations in our
Christian life are not by chance ---- they are appointed. To common Christians
afflictions are our “normal” experience
and are “unavoidable” (see v.4).
5) In fact
tribulations may prove the reality
of believers’ faith and are the pledge of our coming glory (see Acts 14:22;
Rom. 8:17-18; 2Tim. 2:12).
6) Many times we have not overcome in
afflictions. Actually
it is not because we have no power to overcome
afflictions
but that we have not attached importance to them. therefore
they
will lose will to fight and complain and take the consequences
7) If we firmly believe that afflictions are
the necessary experience of godly Christians
we will prepare our heart. No
matter what affliction get to us
we will be enabled to overcome it by the
Lord.
8) Afflictions for Christians are appointed for
reasons as follows: 1) since we are not of the world
we will be hated by the world
(John 15:19). 2) Not only does Satan scheme to gain us by afflictions
but also
God is appointed to gain us through afflictions.
9) The scheme of the devil is to make men allow
temporary afflictions and enter into eternal pain. However
God’s will is to let
us experience transient afflictions and thus enjoy eternal glory (2Cor.
4:16-17).
10) If believers have the mind of suffering of
the Lord (Phil. 1:19)
they will be stumbled by nothing. Afflictions can not
shake the faith of true believers and yet will establish them (Rom. 8:36-39;
2Tim. 2:11-13).
11) If we are established in faith (v.2)
afflictions will profit us according to the will of God (Rom. 8:27-28).
Otherwise
we will be drawn aside by “the tempter” (v.5) through afflictions.
12) Since the word “shaken” in the original means “flatter” or “fawn on”
we
may think that Satan may not shake our faith through afflictions only and it
may also sometimes flatter believers to lead them astray.
1Thess. 3:4 “For
in fact
we told you
before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation
just as it
happened
and you know.”
YLT: “for even when we
were with you
we said to you beforehand
that we are about to suffer
tribulation
as also it did come to pass
and ye have known [it];”
Literal Meaning: “we told you before”
the tense in the original is progressive
tense
which shows that Paul tells them repeatedly.
“When
we were with you that we would suffer tribulation”
it indicates that the afflictions of
believers are not unexpected.
“Just
as it happened”
see Acts 17:4-9;
“And
you know”
Paul mentions
“you know” in chapter one to three (see 1:5; 2:2
5
11) again and again.
Therefore
the three chapters are just recounting things in the past.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Some preachers and believers are prepossessed
by a bias
that is
they hold believers are suggested to talk about only
“positive” things in the church and shrink from discussing “passive” things.
However
Paul told the Thessalonians that believers would suffer afflictions.
Many negatives are recorded in the Scriptures
which occupy one third of the
whole book.
2) We shall warn those who have just believed
the Lord that this is not an easy way when they desire to live to the Lord.
Otherwise
when trials come
these babies in Christ will be discouraged and
distressed.
3) A truly faithful servant of the Lord not
only has spiritual insight
but is also able to address timely warnings against
the crisis that the church may be faced with. A truly wise believer will surely
receive the warnings of the Lord’s servants humbly and study the spiritual
experiences from others.
4) What great encouragement and comfort it is
if in the afflictions we have truly known that the sufferings are according to
the will of God and for the sake of Christ.
1Thess. 3:5 “For this reason
when I
could no longer endure it
I sent to know your faith
lest by some means the
tempter had tempted you
and our labor might be in vain.”
YLT: “because of this
also
I
no longer forbearing
did send to know your faith
lest he who is
tempting did tempt you
and in vain might be our labour.”
Literal Meaning: “for this reason
when I
could no longer endure it”
“I” in the original is singular and emphatic in the
original. Paul here emphasizes his deep concern for the church in Thessalonica.
“Could no
longer endure”
it is mentioned
for the second time (see v.1)
which shows that he is anxious about them (2Cor.
11:29).
“To
know your faith”
“faith”
it is the beginning of salvation as well
as the foundation of Christians’ life. If the faith of Christians goes wrong
they will become cold and backward and will be stumbled.
“Lest
by some means the tempter had tempted you”
“the tempter had tempted”
the tempter is Satan. It is the head of all evil
spirits (see Matt. 13:39; 2Cor. 4:4)
and it always entices men to sin and go
against the will of God and hurts men’s body (2Cor. 12:7) and soul (Matt.
13:39; Mark. 4:15; 1Cor. 7:5; 2Cor. 4:4). Satan firstly deceived Eve (Gen.
3:1-6; 2Cor. 11:3; 1Tim. 2:14) and had tempted the Lord Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11)
and the Lord’s disciples (see Luke 22:3). However
it was defeated by the Lord
(Col. 2:15). Finally
the devil shall be cast into the lake of fire (Rev.
20:10). Therefore
believers need not to fear it.
“And
our labor might be in vain”
Satan tempts
believers for the purpose of hindering and destroying the gospel works
accomplished by the ministers of God see 2:18) and making them in vain.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Satan often discourages believers by the
tool of afflictions and entices them to turn away from Christ. Therefore
it
often makes troubles (see Job. 1:9-11; 2:4-5).
2) The central point that Satan attacks is the
faith of Christians. The devil will weaken our faith towards God by all means
(see Gen. 3:1). Once Christians have lost faith
they will become indifferent
not to mention the pursuit of the growth of life.
3) Indeed
we shall know our labor in the Lord
is not in vain (1Cor. 15:58). Besides
we shall also take necessary actions as
Paul so as to prevent the devil from destroying the fruit of our labor
randomly.
1Thess. 3:6 “But now that Timothy has
come to us from you
and brought us good news of your faith and love
and that
you always have good remembrance of us
greatly desiring to see us
as we also
to see you--”
YLT: “And now Timotheus having
come unto us from you
and having declared good news to us of your faith and
love
and that ye have a good remembrance of us always
desiring much to see
us
as we also [to see] you
”
Literal Meaning: “but now that Timothy has
come to us from you”
“come”: return back to
“And
brought us good news of your faith and love”
“faith and love”
are essential qualities of believers. Faith is the right attitude toward God.
And love is the right attitude toward men. One can establish the right and
perfect relationship with both God and men on the basis of faith and love.
“Good news” originally refers to the gospel
but
here it is the only exceptional usage. Paul uses good news to suggest that he
has really obtained unusual joy after hearing their news.
“Good
news of your faith and love”
that is
their faith has not been shaken by the
afflictions (see v.3)
and their love to one another has not been changed (see
4:9).
Paul mentions “faith
love and hope” in chapter one
(1:3)
but here misses “hope”. Some Bible exegetes think possibly it was
because some of them died (4:13) and the rest of them had wrong ideas of and
attitude to the Lord’s coming. Therefore
Paul did not praise their “hope” and
corrected them in chapter four and five.
“And
that you always have good remembrance of us”
this is the second good news brought back by
Timothy. That believers remember Paul and his fellow workers indicates they
respect and love Paul and have not forsaken the teachings he has preached to
them.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There are two giant enemies on the heavenly
way on which Christians run ---- Satan and world. To Satan
we shall resist in
steadfast faith (1Pet. 5:8-9). To the world
it is our faith that makes us
overcome the world (1John 5:4). Therefore
holding fast the faith is rather
important.
2) Remember those who rule over you
who have
spoken the word of God to you
whose faith follow
considering the outcome of
their conduct (Heb. 13:7).
1Thess. 3:7 “therefore
brethren
in
all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.”
YLT: “because of this we
were comforted
brethren
over you
in all our tribulation and necessity
through your faith
”
Meaning of Words: “affliction”: anguish
trouble;
Literal Meaning: “in all our affliction and
distress”
“all”
it
referred to all the affliction and distress that Paul had experienced in the
past and at that time. Paul was just faced with opposition in
“We
were comforted concerning you by your faith”
the Lord’s workers work on believers and bear
them as a burden. The sound condition of believers is always a comfort to them.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In spite of the “affliction and distress” that Paul was suffered at that time
he
still cared for the church in Thessalonica and was comforted by their “good
news”
which unveiled that the Lord’s workers paid more attention to the
troubles of others than that of themselves.
2) Though Paul was in all affliction and
distress
he was still concerned with others
lest they should be shaken by all
afflictions (v.3). Preachers do not solve their own problems and then help
others to deal with their problems
nor “give” others only when they are
“abundant”.
3) Paul supplies the believers in Thessalonica
and the Thessalonians comforted Paul. The relationship of spiritual giving and
receiving is not “unidirectional” but “mutual” communion. A preacher shall
humble himself so that he will obtain spiritual provision from common
believers.
4) The servants of the Lord shall be ready at
any time to supply the need of others as well as receive the provision of
others.
5) In the church
though the degree of the
growth of our spiritual life is different
things that are worthy of “comfort”
and encouragement can always be found in everyone (see Rom. 1:12).
6) The deeper the loving care is
the deeper
the comfort will receive.
7) The more one is suffered
the more he shall
be comforted. The experience of afflictions profits not only oneself but also
others.
8) The testimony in afflictions may establish
the heart of others in a wordless manner. God allows us to suffer afflictions
for the purpose of building us as well as others through our experiences.
1Thess. 3:8 “For now we live
if you
stand fast in the Lord.”
YLT: “because now we
live
if ye may stand fast in the Lord;”
Literal
Meaning: “for now we live”
believers’ standing fast in the Lord is opposite to
the condition that their faith is shaken in faith (v.3).
“If
you stand fast in the Lord”
if believers
stand fast in the Lord
the Lord’s servants will lead a richer and more meaning
life (see Is. 38:16);
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The true workers of the Lord shall share
life and death with the believers whom they serve (2Cor. 11:29). The spiritual
conditions of believers may often influence the spiritual life and feeling of
preachers before God.
2) The sound spiritual condition of the common
believers may encourage the heart of preachers and improve their working.
3) To the servants of the Lord
the secret of
making them “live” is to establish the common believers. If we are willing to
shift the core from ourselves to others
we will be strengthened and have
better service.
4) Christians are not supposed to live for
themselves (
1Thess. 3:9 “For what thanks can we
render to God for you
for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake
before our God
”
YLT: “for what thanks are
we able to recompense to God for you
for all the joy with which we do joy
because of you in the presence of our God?”
Literal Meaning: “we rejoice for your sake before our God”
Paul mentions again
and again that believers in Thessalonica are their joy (see 2:19-20).
“For
what thanks can we render to God for you
for all the joy”
“for all the joy”
it refers to the joy because of the
believers in Thessalonica; “what thanks”: the indescribable joy; “render to God
for you”
it reveals that the performance of believers in Thessalonica is
totally due to the working of God in them.
Note that Paul does not thank God for the sake of
the fruit of his works in Thessalonica
but for “all the joy”.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The true joy of Christians is the joy
“before God”.
2) Many people rejoice because of what they
have gained. Seldom does a man have joy because of others
let alone “great
joy”.
3) What is the motivation of our service and
joy before God on earth? For our own performance of works
or for the spiritual
conditions of the servants? Many preachers emphasize “things” more than “men”.
Therefore
their joy is different from Paul.
4) The joy of Paul here and his previous
anxiety contrast sharply (v.1
5). The joy of preachers is obtained at the cost
of tears (Ps. 126:5-6).
5) There two methods for Christians to rejoice:
1) preach the gospel to men in the world and thus enjoy their joy of being
saved; 2) preach the word or supply life to believers and enjoy the joy of
their victory;
6) Anything of us worthy of joy is gifted by
God. Therefore
we shall give thanks to God. However
how much thanks have we
given to God on earth?
7) When God is involved
the service and
shepherding in the church will be efficacious. All that is done by God can be
done “before God”. And “thanks” and glory will be given unto God.
8) We often give thanks for the grace we have
personally received
not for “you” (for others). May the Lord enlarge our mind
from “me” to “us”
and more to “you” and “them”.
1Thess. 3:10 “night and day praying
exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your
faith?”
YLT: “night and day
exceedingly beseeching
that we might see your face
and perfect the things
lacking in your faith.”
Meaning of Words: “perfect”: fit
mend
restore
prepare
repair; “lacking”: that which is behind
want
deficit;
Literal Meaning: “night and day praying exceedingly”
“night and day”
it does not mean praying in the two fixed period (once in the morning and the
other in the evening) nor praying only without doing anything
but means prayer
frequently (see 1:2-3). “Exceedingly”
the word in Greek is a strong and
seldom-used compound (see 5:13; Eph. 3:20)
which expresses the earnestness of
Paul’s prayers.
“Perfect
what is lacking in your faith”
“prefect”: make
complete; “your faith”
note that this is the fifth time that Paul mentions
their faith (see v. 2
5
6
7). “What is lacking”
since believers in
Thessalonica are still young
they still have shortage in the faith they have
just obtained. In the next two chapters (chapter four to five)
Paul gives the
teachings to them to make up what is lacking in their faith.
The last paragraph of this chapter (v.10-13) is the
prayer of Paul. Paul often inserts his prayers suddenly in the epistles (e.g.
Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21; Phil. 1:9-11;
The next verse is the subject of his prayer ----
expect to return to visit the church in Thessalonica again to perfect what is
lacking in their faith. And from verse eleven to thirteen
it is the content of
his prayer ---- pray for the two aspects mentioned in the subject in detail. In
verse eleven
he asks God the Father and the Lord Jesus to bring him back to
Thessalonica. And in verse eleven and twelve
he asks the Lord to make up the
three aspects of shortages of believers in Thessalonica ---- abound in love
be established in hearts in holiness until the Lord comes again.
There are altogether one hundred and thirty six
verses in both the First and Second
Epistles to the Thessalonians
among which twenty four verses mention
“pray” or “prayer”
more than one fifth of the whole. Obviously
Paul pays
attentions to prayers closely.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If one does not persevere at prayer
he just
appears to have no prayer.
2) Paul praises the faith of believers in
Thessalonica (see v.6-7; 1:3
8)
and also points out what is lacking in their
faith. Preachers shall not only praise believers for their growth but also
discern their shortage to make them complete.
3) The faith of Christians shall never be
utterly perfected
so it is endless. That is why our faith needs to be
regulated
supplied and increased continually ---- “on the principle of faith
to faith” (Rom. 1:17). Self-content faith is not true faith.
4) The most important work of preachers is not
preachment
but prayer. Prayer first and then preachment (see Acts 6:4). Where
there is no prayer
there is no preachment.
5) The prophet Samuel told the people of
Israel
“moreover
as for me
far be it from me that I should sin against the
LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right
way” (1Sam. 12:23).
1Thess. 3:11 “Now may our God and
Father Himself
and our Lord Jesus Christ
direct our way to you.”
YLT: “And our God and
Father Himself
and our Lord Jesus Christ
direct our way unto you
”
Literal Meaning: “now may our God and Father
Himself
and our Lord Jesus Christ”
in the First and
Second Epistle to the Thessalonians
God the Father is often mentioned with the
Son together
relating to the relationship of the holy Trinity (see 1:1; 2Thess. 1:2
8
12; 2:16; 3:5).
“Direct
our way to you”
“direct”: make
the way straight; “direct” is the singular verb in the original
which shows
that God the Father and the Son are one.
There are also some other Bible exegetes think that
the variation of verb is according to the subject nearest to it
namely
the
verbs modifies the subject “the Lord Jesus”. Therefore
it is singular verb. If
this explanation is acceptable
it shows us that the Lord Jesus directs
believers according to the will of God and the actions of the Lord Jesus is in
accord with God the Father.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Someone misunderstands the words in the Book of James
thinking that
Christians should not take initiative to go to some place or do anything but
have to do everything passively with the view that “if the Lord will” (see
James 4:13-15). Actually
Christians are allowed to have their own desire and
plan. What is important is obedience to God’s will and guidance (see Rom.
1:10).
2) Wherever we Christians go or whatever we do
we may have a burden and desire according to the inspiration in Spirit and then
commit them to God through prayer and wait for God to direst our steps… (Jer.
10:23).
1Thess. 3:12 “And may the Lord make you
increase and abound in love to one another and to all
just as we do to you
”
YLT: “and you the Lord
cause to increase and to abound in the love to one another
and to all
even as
we also to you
”
Literal Meaning: “and may the Lord make you…in love to one another”
“the Lord”
in the
epistle
the Lord often refers to the Lord Jesus
not God the Father; “you”
it
is emphatic in the original
which suggests “no matter whether I am with you”;
“Love to one another”
it
refers to the brotherly love (see 4:9);
“Increase
and abound in love to all”
“all” refers to all
the people (see 2Pet. 1:7); “increase and abound”
it means being abundant unto
fullness.
“In
love to one another and to all”
it indicates that
the way of the increasing of Christians’ love ---- to love the brethren one has
known firstly and then love all; to love the brethren who are begotten by God
firstly (1John 5:1) and then love all that are created by God;
“Just
as we do to you”
he sets his own
conversation as an example and asks believers to imitate him (see 1:6). This is
totally different from the Pharisees (see Matt. 23:3).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Paul firstly cares for the faith of believers
in this chapter (v.2-10)
and then mentions love. Therefore
love is out of
faith (Gal. 5:6) and works with faith together (1Tim. 1:14).
2) The love of Christians shall increase and
abound as their spiritual life grows. Love is the index of our growth in live
(see 1:3).
3) There is great crisis for the one who is in
afflictions
that is
he is prone to love himself but not love others ---- one
may become self-centered in afflictions. Those who are persecuted often become
self-interested
demanding love of others and yet grudging loving others.
4) Actually
if we really suffer afflictions
for the sake of the Lord
the furnace of afflictions can mostly manifest the
reality of our inner life ---- love
the love that has been tried and purified
by the Lord.
5) Generally
Christians love the brethren in
the church firstly ---- “love one another” and then love “all” (see 2Pet. 1:7).
However
many people have a strange thought
that is
they are unable to love
those who are around them and yet love those whom they are unfamiliar with.
Such love may not be out of the Lord.
6) We shall lead a life of “loving one another”
in the church ---- love those brothers and sisters who are with us in the
gatherings and let love increase and abound in practical life and thus “love
all” naturally ---- love those who have lost and our enemies (see Rom. 12:14
20).
7) The love that increases and abounds is
unlimited and expands unto all thirsty hearts. True love of Christians is
toward both believers and all.
8) Love of believers shall not be given to
those who have the same faith only. Many Christians are hostile to men in the
world and even to other Christians who have different views on truth. Such
attitude of them unveils that they lack the love in the divine life of God
(1John 5:1) and have only natural life in their soul.
1Thess. 3:13 “so that He may establish
your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
YLT: “to the establishing
your hearts blameless in sanctification before our God and Father
in the
presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
Meaning of Words: “in holiness”: sanctification;
Literal Meaning: “so that He may …at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints”
“all the saints”
in the Scriptures it refers
to: 1) believers in Christ (
“Establish your hearts before our God
and Father”
“establish your
hearts”
the firm faith (v.2-3) and the increasing and abundant love (v.12)
make believers steadfast in hope of the Lord’s second coming. Thus
they will
seek holiness in faith
love and hope.
“Blameless
in holiness”
here
“holiness”
is a kind of condition
not process. When the Lord comes again
believers will
become holy to a degree that they will be able to give an account before God.
This is the fruit of the continual working of the Holy Spirit in men.
In fact
each believer has been sanctified when he
is saved because of the accomplished redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb.
10:10)
so he is called “saint” (2Cor. 1:2). The Bible scholars call it
sanctification on objective position. After believers are saved
believers
shall bear fruit unto holiness in works by the Holy Spirit (see
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Paul sets “Christ’s second coming” as the
motivation and hope of his prayer. There are two great motivations of Paul’s
works ---- one is the gospel
and the second is the second coming of Christ.
2) When Christ comes again
He will examine how
we spend our days in the world and reward us according to His judgment.
Therefore
the second coming of Christ shall encourage us to lead a sanctified
life.
3) The words “so that” at the outset of his verse show that the
increasing and abounding (v.12) of love is the foundation of the establishment
and sanctification of one’s heart. He who has no love is far from establishment
and holiness.
4) The manifestation of love is the only way to
holy life. If love has not been filled in one’s heart
selfishness will
restrain the development of his virtues so that he will care for himself only
and lead a life away from God and holiness.
5) The second coming of Christ motivates
believers lead a sanctified life
for “without holiness no one shall see the
Lord” (Heb. 12:14). The church is Christ’s bride
who shall adorn herself with
holiness and prepare herself to meet her bridegroom (Rev. 19:7-8; 21:2).
6) We know that when He is revealed
we shall
be like Him
for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in
Him purifies himself
just as He is pure (1John 3:2-3).
7) According to our nature
we are changeable
and often become double-minded with the environmental change. Only when we hope
the second coming of Christ with perfect steadfastness
can we gird up the
loins of our mind and be sober (see 1Pet. 1:13). Therefore
the Lord’s second
coming motivates Christians to “be established in hearts”.
8) He who is established in heart shall be
sanctified. He who is not sanctified will not be established in heart. Both are
closely linked with one another.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
A Blessed Church that is Established
A. They are blessed for having obtained a
preacher who are responsible for establishing the church:
1. He can not suffer believers’ being tempted
by the tempter (v.1
5);
2. He sends his fellow workers to establish
believers (v.2);
3. He foretells believers that they will suffer
afflictions
lest they should be shaken by afflictions (v.3-4);
4. He rejoices for the sake of the church’s
standing firm
though he himself is in affliction (v.6-9);
5. He asks God to lead him to perfect what is
lacking in their faith (v.10-11);
6. He prays for the establishment of them until
the Lord comes again (v.12-13);
B. The conditions of their blessedness of being
established:
1. They have not been shaken in all afflictions
(v.3-4).
2. They have overcome the tempter (v.5).
3. They have faith toward God and love toward
the saints and always remember the Lord’s servants (v.6).
C. The spiritual elements of their blessedness
of being established:
1. Because of standing firm in the Lord (v.8);
2. Because of being kept by God (v.9);
3. Because of good spiritual examples ----
“just as we…” (v.6
12);
4. Because of the hope of the Lord’s second
coming (v.13);
The Reasons for the Change of Paul and the
Actions He Has Taken
A. Could no longer “endure…” ---- action: send
Timothy (v.1-5);
B. Reason: the good new brought by Timothy ----
be “comforted” (v.6-7);
C. Reason: believers stand fast ---- “live”
(v.8);
D. Rejoice for the sake of believers ----
action: reward God with thanksgiving (v.9);
The Purposes of Paul’s Sending Timothy to
Thessalonica
A. Establish the faith of believers in
Thessalonica (v.2
5);
B. Encourage them concerning their faith
(v.2b);
C. Prevent them from being shaken by afflictions
(v.3);
The Relations of Preachers with Believers’
Faith
A. Who encourage believers concerning
the faith (v.2);
B. Who care for the condition of believers’
faith (v.5);
C. Who has known the faith of believers (v.6);
D. Who are encouraged because of believers’ faith
(v.7);
E. Who perfect what is lacking in believers’ faith (v.8);
Know about the Firm Faith
A. The firm faith is build on the faith (v.2);
B. The firm faith is not shaken by afflictions
(v.3-5);
C. The firm faith will produce good testimony
(v.6);
D. The firm faith is able to encourage and stir
up preachers and believers (v.7-10);
E. The firm faith leads to abundant love
(v.12);
F. The firm faith makes believers keep until
the Lord comes again (v
G. The firm faith leads to sanctification
finally (v.13b);
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou