Introductory remarks:
This chapter is a continuation of the last chapter with Paul assuring them that he did not leave them when things got tough, but that it was important for him to encourage them with his real feelings towards them. "Since Paul was prevented from visiting, he had to send Timothy to help them stand firm and to hear how they were doing. He was comforted by the news of their faith and was thankful beyond words. He now begs God to allow him to visit them and to strengthen them even more" (A Survey of 1 Thessalonians By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Paul's desire to visit the church again continued vv. 1-13.
Paul's Desire to Visit the Church Again Continued
Verse 1, "Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone."
LGT "Wherefore no longer enduring, we thought [it] good to be left in Athens alone:"
Wherefore: this ties this chapter back to the last chapter. No longer enduring: Paul means that not being able to communicate with the Thessalonians directly has become intolerable. We thought it good to be left in Athens alone: Paul is either using the literary plural "we", that he stayed in Athens alone, or that he and Silas stayed back, and they sent Timothy to Thessalonica. Paul then sent Silas to Berea or Thessalonica.
Verse 2, "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."
LGT "And sent Timotheus, our brother and fellow-worker of God in the gospel of the Christ, for to establish you and comfort [you] concerning your faith."
And sent Timotheus, our brother and fellow-worker of God: Paul considered Timothy not only his brother, but also a fellow-laborer, or fellow-minister of God. In the gospel of the Christ: in disseminating the gospel of grace. For to establish you: strengthen them by giving them grace doctrine. And comfort you concerning your faith: to teach them to stand fast in the Word of God by applying Bible Doctrine to their situations of persecution and trials. Timothy taught grace doctrines, and the Holy Spirit made it useful for them.
Verse 3, "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto."
LGT "That no one be moved by these tribulations. For you yourselves know that for this we are appointed."
That no one be moved by these tribulations: the reason Paul sent Timothy, that in the midst of tribulation, your fear may not move them to forget the doctrines of grace they have been taught. For you yourselves know that for this we are appointed: Paul means by this is, that the fact that they were Christians they must expect to be tested, and that they were not exempt from persecution, for it has been foretold of all who believe, for "tribulation worketh patience".
Verse 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."
LGT "For also, when we were with you, we told you beforehand we are about to suffer tribulation, just as also it came to pass, and ye know."
For also, when we were with you, we told you beforehand we are about to suffer tribulation: Paul says that they had told the Thessalonians before that it was the inevitable lot of believers to be afflicted; the unbelievers crucified their Savior, could they expect less? Just as also it came to pass, and ye know: just as the apostle Paul had predicted, the Thessalonians knew it now from experience. McGee rightly remarks about "tribulation," "Tribulation is the same word as affliction. This does not refer to the Great Tribulation [the seven years of tribulation when the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth prior to the thousand-year reign of Christ]. It refers to the 'little tribulations.' We are all going to have a little trouble down here. Such troubles are for the purpose of bringing us closer to God [in fellowship]. They promote sanctification in the life of the believer."
Verse 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 labor be in vain."
LGT "Because of this, I also no longer enduring, I sent for to know your faith, lest perhaps he who tempts did tempt you, and our labor should become void."
Because of this: Paul says because I knew that you would be afflicted, and that now it has become a reality, and that some of you would be turned aside form the faith: I also no longer enduring: Paul says that he was full of profound anxiety on their behalf. I sent to know your faith: I sent Timothy to find out how you were holding up, that is, whether you were trusting in the Lord or not. Paul explains what his anxiety was in the next phrase: Lest perhaps he who tempts did tempt you: the tempter of course is none other than Satan. Paul knows that the same tests he is experiencing would also be their experience. "Satan has many methods of seducing men from the truth, and Paul was fearful that by some of his arts he might be successful there" (Barnes). And our labor should become void: Paul had some apprehension concerning whether or not the grace doctrine he taught them took root. Paul knew that doctrinal seeds he had planted among them needed watering, and he was anxious to the possibility that they were not staying in the Word, for he knew this is the only possible way they could survive the evil entanglements of the world, whom Satan is the ruler of.
Verse 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."
LGT "But now Timotheus having come to us from you, and having announced glad tidings to us [of] your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, longing to see us, just as also we you."
But now Timotheus having come to us from you: Timothy came from Corinth after being sent to Thessalonica. Comfort came at once upon Timothy's testimony of the Thessalonians good condition. And having announced glad tidings to us: not the gospel but the glad tidings of their wonderful condition. Of your faith and love: their faith toward God, and their love for one another. Paul felt much joy when he heard that their faith remained firm in spite of all their suffering, and that they showed much love for God and for each other. And that you always have good remembrance of us: their remembrance was not only favorable, but it also was continuous, with the result of their: longing to see us: the fact that they thought of Paul and his companions often, they were very anxious to see them. Just as also we: the feeling was mutual, for they had great regard for one another, and they felt that bond of fellowship that only comes when there is fellowship with the Lord.
Verse 7, "Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith."
LGT "Because of this we were comforted, brethren, as to you, in all our tribulation and physical necessity, through your faith."
The comfort Paul felt was that his teaching the Thessalonians grace doctrine was not in vain. His teaching bore fruit, and this was a great stimulation to Paul, even in his deprivation and suffering. "The apostle may refer to his entire condition at Corinth, in the midst of peril and persecution from the Jews, 'who opposed themselves and blasphemed.' The words of the Lord in a vision, 'no man shall set on thee to hurt thee,' implies that attempts against him had been made, and these culminated at length in the insurrection against him when he was dragged before Gallio. Surrounding circumstances seemed so dark and forbidding that the apostle began to despond and was tempted to form the purpose of leaving Corinth, or at least of moderating his labors so that the enmity against him might die down. But the divine voice met him with the words quoted, and Christ's words ever fitted to the condition of him to whom they are spoken. 'Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace . . . for I have much people in this city." Compare 1 Cor. 2:3. The comfort came" (John Eadie).
Verse 8, "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord."
LGT "Because now we live since ye stand firm in [the] Lord."
The "if" in this verse is in the first class condition, and is better translated since. The meaning then is, "we are living with the confidence that you are standing firm in the Lord, and that our labor among you was not in vain. Paul no longer felt the anxiety he did after Timothy had given his good report of the Thessalonian believers. "The apostle had been in hard circumstances, which weighed him down to death. Opposition, unbelief, peril, disappointment, physical labor, and debility so preyed upon him that he felt as one enveloped in the shadow of death; but Timothy's news from Thessalonica so revived him, so lifted him out of the gloom, that he lived again; his soul was so joyful over the stability of his converts, that he triumphed at once over surrounding dangers and persecutions. And that conditional sentence was a warning to them for the future; the continuance of that life depended on their continuous stability" (John Eadie).
Verse 9, "For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God."
LGT "For what thanksgiving are we able to render to God concerning you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice on account of you before our God."
For what thanksgiving are we able to render to God concerning you: Paul says that he cannot find words to express the joy that he feels at this time for the Thessalonian Christians, and their standing firm in the faith. McGee said, "life brings joy and death sorrow, however, sorrow increases the capacity of the heart for joy." If you think about in this light, our life on this earth, this veil of tears, prepares us for the joy that is set before us in eternity with the Lord. For all the joy wherewith we rejoice on account of you before our God: Our joy is before God, and that it is "unselfish and meets with His approval." The Thessalonians were the reason for their joy, and it is before God that they rejoice, for He is the Author and Finisher of their faith, and it is to God that they owe their very existence.
Verse 10, "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?"
LGT "Night and day exceedingly beseeching for to see your face and to perfect the things lacking in your faith?"
Night and day exceedingly beseeching for to see your face: Paul was earnestly seeking God on their behalf, and they were special in his mind at all times. Paul lets us know what the reason was that he longed to see them in the next phrase, and to perfect the things lacking in your faith: Paul is not claiming to do the Holy Spirit's work here; he is inspired by the Holy Spirit, so he can make these claims of perfecting their faith; all that Paul taught them so far was also inspired, as is this epistle, so it is the Holy Spirit teaching them through Paul. "Paul's labor in Thessalonica was very rudely interrupted - he was run out of town - and he wanted to return to continue his teaching ministry, Paul wanted to teach them the Word of God" (McGee).
Verse 11, "Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you."
LGT "But God Himself and our Father, and the Lord Jesus, may direct our way to you:"
Paul prayed earnestly that he might return to them; but he never prayed outside the will of god, for he adds, God Himself and our Father, and the Lord Jesus, may direct our way. Paul did not want to take one step out of the will of the Lord.
Calvin comments:
"Paul now prays that the Lord, having removed Satan's obstructions, may open a door for himself, and be, as it were, the leader and director of his way to the Thessalonians. By this he intimates, that we cannot move a step with success, otherwise than under God's guidance, but that when He holds out His hand, it is to no purpose that Satan employs every effort to change the direction of our course. We must take notice that he assigns the same office to God and to Christ, as, unquestionably, the Father confers no blessing upon us except through Christ's hand. When, however, he thus speaks of both in the same terms, he teaches that Christ has divinity and power in common with the Father."
Verse 12, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"
LGT "But may the Lord make you to exceed and to abound in love toward one another, and toward all, just as also we toward you:"
Paul prays to Christ that their love might increase toward one another and toward all men. I have said this before, but it is worth repeating, "We love other believers based on their union with Christ; we love the unbeliever based on our own union with Christ." John Eadie comments, "Our love to men, as children of a common Creator, should be a likeness of His philanthropia (Titus 3:4), man-love, having its wider circle of objects in mankind, irrespective of creed or character; while Christian love - Philadelphia, brother love - has its immediate objects of attachment in God's family." (Italics mine).
Verse 13, "To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all the saints."
LGT "For to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints."
For to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father: that they might love one another, this is the law of love the Savior taught, and this will establish them in their fellowship with the Father. The heart is the deep consciousness where decisions are made, so if they are living with love for one another, they will respond to doctrine positively, and their decisions will be acceptable to the Father. Positionally, all believers are perfect before God; but this is speaking of practical every day living sanctification, and this is something we all need to work on, that is, to be found in fellowship when the Lord returns to gather us to Him. At the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints: The Lord Jesus will have the saints with Him that have gone on to glory since Pentecost, when He returns to gather us from the earth, if we are still here at the time of the Rapture. I personally believe this Rapture will take place before the seven-year Tribulation period, when God will purify the earth from all pollution; the wrath of God will be poured out at the close of the seven years, and only the ones who are born again will enter the thousand year Reign of Christ.
The next chapter is a continuation of this chapter.
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