1 THESSALONIANS 3:1-8 - TIMOTHY TELLS TERRIFIC TIDINGS

1 THESSALONIANS 3:1-8 (KJV)

TIMOTHY TELLS

TERRIFIC TIDINGS

1 Thessalonians 3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Paul says that when he could not stand being apart from the Thessalonians any longer, he sent the next best thing, his son in the faith, his very heart, Timothy to minister to them in his place. Paul and Silas needed to stay behind in Athens but wanted to make sure that the Thessalonians were rooted and grounded in the faith, so he sent his co-minister to them. Paul wanted to make sure their understanding of the truth, their doctrine, was solid and crystal clear. More than once Paul sent Timothy somewhere to meet this need.

1 Thessalonians 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

Paul wanted Timothy to assure them that God had foretold to him that he would suffer for the Gospel. His present trials and afflictions should not distress them as they were a part of God’s plan. He wanted them to have confidence that God’s purpose was not being thwarted even though they were being persecuted. In our humanness, our first response when facing difficulties or persecutions is to think that God must have left us or is displeased with us. However, in our Christian lives, what we are faced with is not because we have done anything contradictory toward God’s ways, but may indeed be exactly what God has prescribed and predestined.

James 1:2-4 (NASB) Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Matthew 5:10 (NASB) “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Paul sent Timothy, not only to instruct them and build them up in their faith, but also to report back to him concerning this portion of the Lord’s flock. This is similar to the way a parent will send in a sibling to get the skinny on a situation, to check on the younger sibling. 

1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

When Timothy reported back to Paul, he was greatly encouraged to hear that the Thessalonians were faring well and remaining strong in the faith. It gave Paul renewed strength to face his own trials with perseverance to know that his spiritual children were growing into mature Christians and spreading the love of Jesus. Timothy and the Thessalonian believers had a “good old home” week and couldn’t wait to do it again. The church body at Thessalonica missed Paul and Silas as well and longed for their familyship in their hearts. What a blessing it was to know that he was missed and that their memories of him were pleasant. Along with the Good News of redemption through Jesus, Paul had given them great memories to hold onto.

1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

Paul had a celebration exhortation over the Thessalonians ability to now be Christ’s ambassadors. They had learned and were growing demonstrated by their ability to stand as determined soldiers in the face of an assault by Satan. They did not retreat to their old way of life when the going got tough. Paul rejoiced that his spiritual children could stand on their own even in his absence, knowing that Jesus would fight for them.

Romans 8:37-39 (NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PONDER THIS: Paul’s joy that the Thessalonians were standing strong in their faith was like that of a parent watching their baby taking their first steps. Are we nurturing those who are newer believers and helping them to stand and to walk faithfully following Jesus?