A little while ago, I was doing a study on the book of Revelation for a Sunday school mutual improvement class. Unfortunately, the study had become difficult — I was so frustrated, because in order to make heads or tails of the information, I needed to piece so many things from so many different places together! I didn’t understand why the answer couldn’t just be in one chapter or book; why did the themes bounce from one book to the next and why couldn’t the study just be easier, right there in front of me? So, seeking to relieve my frustration, I talked to my father about it — who loves to study prophecy. He told me that if God had put everything in black and white terms and had made study easy, two things would happen. First, we would not have to try at all to figure out what God had in store for us, and we would not have to try and put in any effort to prove our commitment to being a Bible scholar. Our faith is a learning process — you make a mistake, learn from it and hopefully don’t do it again. It is something that has to be developed and it isn’t easy. We have to always be progressing in faith and love for our Heavenly Father and His plan. Second, if God had made His plan so easy to find, even God’s enemies would know exactly what they were supposed to do and exactly what God’s plan was to combat it — there would be no secrecy at all! The message wouldn’t be something special. Thus, through faith and hard work we will be able to understand our purpose and, Lord willing, eternally serve our Father.
But what does this have to do with 1 Thessalonians 3? Well, just like how we have to study and really try to understand prophecy, the same is true for a study of Thessalonians. If we look deeper, in each chapter this book is a little hint or echo of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is always a type or a subtle hint of our Savior. Even if you just took a summary for each chapter, you could see that this is clearly about the return of our long awaited Groom.
As we do this little study, try to keep your mind on the excitement of Christ’s return and how it is a reminder of our hope to come. It is very important that we replenish and stimulate our excitement for his coming and see that he is mentioned everywhere throughout God’s word.
The sending of Timothy
In this chapter we have a young man sent to the Thessalonian ecclesia to bring tidings of their progress. This chapter can be separated in three sections: verses 1-6 are Timothy’s mission, verses 7-10 are Timothy’s encouraging report, and verses 11-13 are Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians. First, let’s take a look at Timothy in verses one and two:
“Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith” (17 hess 3:1-2).
This is the young man that was sent by Paul to the ecclesia to check up on them and bring them encouragement. Now the journey from Athens to Thessalonian was no easy journey to take. But even so, Timothy, just a young man, took on the journey of over 300 miles to bring peace to Paul and to prove himself as a servant of God. At first, these verses would seem fairly self-explanatory — but, as I have often heard, and many of us probably have, “Good Bible study equals good Bible reading. We must apply the facts, establish the principles, and apply the exhortation.” We have to ask questions — and if we don’t, what is the point? We have to engage with this book and try to understand the depth of what it is saying. So, what should we ask about in verse two? Well, there were at least two things which stood out to me in this verse. First, Paul called Timothy a minister and then second, a fellow laborer. This is actually quite significant. The meaning of “minister” is “servant” — it’s the Greek word “diakonos”, which literally means “one who waits on tables.” Perhaps this idea of a “servant” makes us think of someone:
“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers” (Rom 15:8).
So, Christ was a “minister” or servant to the “circumcision”, or the Jews, to fulfill the plan and promises that God had made. This is our first echo of Christ — Timothy was sent to be a “servant,” just like Christ was. In addition, “minister” is also linked to an account in 1 Timothy, where it is translated as “deacon”:
“Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon [to be an attendant, that is to wait upon mentally or as a host, friend or teacher, a “minister unto” — MH] well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness [all outspokenness, frankness, bluntness, confidence — MH] in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1Tim 3:8-13).
By being this minister, we can see how Timothy was following the example of Christ by how he was a fellow laborer with Paul, and ultimately with Christ and our Heavenly Father. Continuing on in verse two from 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul had sent Timothy to establish the ecclesia and to comfort them in their faith. This word “establish” is “sterizo” and conveys the idea of supporting a building or bracing with a buttress. It seems to be the same idea as when Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ arms during the battle with Amalek (Exod 17:12). In other words, Paul wished to strengthen the ecclesia with encouragement from Timothy, and to confirm the new believers in their journey. Literally, Paul and the apostles were set at a sentry post by their commanding officer — the Lord Jesus — “for the defense of the gospel” (Phil 1:17) and Paul aimed to keep that post by making sure that the ecclesia had the support that they needed! Paul wanted to make sure that his work with this ecclesia was not in vain, for he had labored greatly. We see this great labor in verses 4-5:
“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. 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” (1Thess 3:4-5).
There are so many connections here to Christ and his mission at the second coming! Just as Paul sent Timothy as a “fellow laborer” to give a report of the ecclesia and to give them encouragement, God will do the same with Christ. In fact, the Lord referred to himself as a fellow worker with God. When Christ healed the lame man by the pool called Bethesda on the Sabbath, he had the following discourse with the Jews:
“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:16-17).
Christ was a fellow laborer with God — when God worked, he worked. Thus, just as Timothy was a fellow laborer with Paul and was sent to the Thessalonian ecclesia, so will the Lord Jesus Christ one day be sent to our ecclesial. There are so many echoes in these verses if we only take the time to look!
Trials and Tribulation
Lets turn the tables now and take a look at the more exhortation portion of this chapter. Verse 6-8 speaks about the good report that Timothy delivered to the apostle, and Paul’s reaction to that report:
“But now when Timothy 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: therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord” (1 Thess 3:6-8).
Just for a minute think about what is being said here. It can be easy to just gloss over these words — that Timothy brought a good report — and keep reading. But think about what this would have meant to Paul. This was a group of people who had been Gentiles, living in the world, and they had completely changed their lives to follow the Truth! Yet despite this and despite all of the problems that they were having from the Jews in Thessalonica, they still kept their faith. Try to think about that situation:
Imagine you’re living in a city or among st a group of people that does whatever they want, whenever they want — with no idea of the Truth. You lived out your life to the fullest, with no regard to what was right or wrong. You had block parties, barbecues, neighborhood outings, street football games — all of those “good” meaningless things that try fill a gap in your daily life. Then, things started to change. A man came to town and spoke of what God had in store for the human race. This plan wasn’t limited to a specific gender, or class or demographic. It was for everyone who had an ear to listen to what was being said. He started off by introducing himself as a servant of God. He said things that others called “outlandish gibberish” about the Kingdom of God and your purpose in this life — but it didn’t sound like gibberish to you. Some people, including yourself, listened and become interested. Others simply mocked and persecuted the man. Nevertheless, this man still stood firm and continued preaching this “strange idea.” Finally, he was able to start formal gatherings and created a group of people — an ecclesia — who striving to do the work of the Lord. Needless to say, those who didn’t listen, took every opportunity to prey on those who were converted to the things of the Lord. They said things like “Where have you been, we are having a party over at Big Jinkin’s place tonight — skip that crazy guy’s stuff and have a little fun, it’s been too long.” Something like this was even said to you — but you replied by saying that all that stuff is wrong and you’d rather learn. After that, your old friends became frustrated with you and even started calling others around to poke fun at your new way of life. Not only so, but things had even become physically dangerous (Acts 17:5).
This is what Paul had brought upon these people. But did they falter? No. Instead, they took the remarks and games, like true servants, steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. They had such an amazing mentor — one who had also endured persecution and had even been removed from their city. They understood the reward was far greater than the pain and suffering of what they were enduring. This is a powerful example for us to remember in our times of distress. The Thessalonians were able to take the remarks and the persecution and still remain faithful and strong — and so can we!
Thus, the report which Timothy brought back was very exciting for Paul. He was so glad to hear that the Thessalonian ecclesia was still maintaining their faith and works in the Truth. The news quickly spread, provided ammunition and strength for Paul and other struggling Ecclesias in the area. Before he heard this news, Paul had been going through much tribulation and trials in the faith, and to hear this good news was very uplifting for him and his brothers. We can see Paul’s excitement in verse 9. He cannot thank God enough and is overjoyed with this “gift” of good news:
“For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy where with we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (17 hess 3:9-10).
If there was anything lacking in this ecclesia, Paul wanted to correct it as soon as possible. Even though Timothy did bring such good news, there still were things that needed addressing. It is possible that some of the believers had been led astray by their own weaknesses, and Paul wanted to make sure that these problems were taken care of as soon as possible, in order to ensure that the ecclesia would prosper and grow. Paul probably knew, when he left, that there were still a few things that needed to be worked on but for the most part he was pleased with their progress and steadfast walk.
We have seen echoes of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have seen the willingness of Timothy to serve, we have seen the dedication of the Thessalonians as they sought to cling to the Truth, and now we will close by looking at the beauty of prayer and glory of the coming of Christ. This is the way in which the chapter ends — we have the excitement and uplifting reminder of the coming of Christ which will happen in the last days, ironically in the last verse. Paul and the apostles prayed ever so extensively, asking God for his guidance and strength, not only from themselves but that their work would not be in vain. We can see what a prayer like this might be like at the end of this energizing chapter:
“Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end he may establish your hearts unnameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1Thess 3:11-13).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One