Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd. P.O. Box #3762 Gillette, WY 82717 (307) 686-1516

“Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)”

CONCERN FOR THE THESSALONIANS BECAUSE OF PERSECUTION

1Th 3:1-5 (5/1/11)

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

I. THE THESSALONAINS WERE STRENGTHEND BY TIMOTHY (1-2)

A. [1Th 3:1] - The Thessalonians were Paul ‘s crown, glory, and joy (1Th 2:19-20), and he cared about them immensely (1Th 2:7-12). “Therefore” (dío - for this reason), Paul and his co-workers could no longer bear (stegō - cover closely to protect, bear up under) not knowing what has become of the Thessalonian’s spiritual welfare.

1. After being persecution by the Jews of Thessalonica, the Berean believers took Paul, Silas, and Timothy as far as the Aegean Sea (Act 17:14a). There it was decided that Paul would go to Athens while Silas and Timothy remained there (Act 17:14b). It was agreed (“we” 1Th 3:1) upon that Timothy would go back to Thessalonica (1Th 3:2).

2. Paul was escorted by Berean believers all the way to Athens (Act 17:15a). There he sent word that Silas and Timothy should return to him (Act 17:15b), which they eventually did at Corinth (Act 18:1, 5).

3. The “we” in 1Th 3:1 shows that Silas and Timothy felt the same way toward the Thessalonians as Paul did (1Th 3:5). Paul was “alone” (mónos) and without Silas and Timothy so they he could find out about the welfare of the Thessalonians.

B. [1Th 3:2] - It was from the basis of such concern for the Thessalonians that Timothy was sent to strengthen and encourage them.

1. Even though Timothy had not been with Paul and Silas very long (Act 16:1), he was a faithful servant of the Lord.

2. He was a beloved brother (adelphós) which means that he was a believer in Christ.

3. Paul said that he was “God’s fellow worker” (sunergós) in the gospel of Christ, which means that he worked under God and in God’s will concerning the spread of the gospel. Even though believers are commissioned to evangelize, it is still the work of God and believers cooperate with Him.

4. This also reveals Timothy’s boldness because he was willing to go back to Thessalonica where they had just been kicked out for preaching the gospel.

5. Timothy was sent to “strengthen” (sterízō - to support, prop up, make firm) and “encourage” (parakaléō - one called alongside) the faith of the Thessalonians. This was Paul’s ministry as well (Acts 15:41; 18:23; Rom 1:11; 16:25; 1Th 3:13; 2Th 2:16, 17; 3:3).The Holy Spirit specifically is called by the same name, “Helper” and Divine Paraklete (parakletos, Joh 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7).

II. THE THESSALONAINS WERE NOT SHAKEN BY PERSECUTION (3-4)

A. [1Th 3:3] - The ultimate goal for Timothy’s visit was to make sure the faith of the Thessalonians was not shaken due to persecution.

1. Paul did not want the faith of the Thessalonians to be “disturbed” (saino - lit. to wag the tail, shake up, or unsettle) by afflictions.

2. According to the context of the N.T., “afflictions” (thlipsis - lit. press together, i.e outward suffering) would primarily refer to persecution (Act 11:19; 20:23; 2Co 1:8; Eph 3:13; Phil 4:14; Col 1:24; 2Th 1:4; Rev 1:9), namely that of the unbelieving Jews and countrymen (1Th 2:14 cp. Act 17:5).

3. “You yourselves know,” was a phrase that Paul used to affirm what he had taught them and to defend against the false allegations of the persecutors (1Th 1:5; 2:1, 5, 11; 2, 3:3, 4; 4:2, 9; 5:2).

4. They themselves were fully aware, because Paul had taught them that all believers have been destined for persecution.

a) The word “destined” (keímai) literally means to lie something down. Figuratively it can mean to appoint or destine. The literal translation is that “we are continually being destined (pres pass ind) for affliction.” In other words God has predestined to allow afflictions to come upon the believer, yet God is watching over the whole scenario. Therefore every true obedient believer will suffer persecution (2Ti 3:12).

b) Why? Jesus answered that question when He said that the world hated Him (Joh 15:18) and because He chose believers out of the world, the world would hate believers (Joh 15:19), and believers are not greater than their Master that they should be exempted from persecution (Joh 15:20).

c) Believers share in the suffering of Christ so that they might share in the glory of Christ (Rom 8:17).

d) Phil 1:29 states that it has been granted that believers should suffer for the sake of Christ.

e) Paul taught this to all believers and afflictions were part of his message to strengthen the churches (Act 14:22).

f) However, this was not a reference to the Great Tribulation which Jesus spoke of in Mat 24:21 though the word for “Tribulation” is thlipsis.

B. [1Th 3:4] - This concept was so important that Paul had taught them this in “advance” (prolegō - to say beforehand) even though he had only been with them three weeks (Act 17:2).

1. Paul wanted to make sure the Thessalonians expected affliction, so that when it came they were not shaken and thought that God had abandoned them. This was the impetus behind Timothy’s second visit.

2. And true to the principle, “it came to pass” both for Paul and for the Thessalonian believers.

III. THE THESSALONAINS WERE NOT TEMPTED BY THE TEMPTER (5)

A. [1Th 3:5] - Paul especially was concerned for the Thessalonians. When he was no longer able to bear (pres part - stégō - same word and tense as vs. 1) not knowing about the Thessalonians, he sent Timothy to find out about their faith.

1. Paul’s concern was that the Tempter (ho peirázōn) did not tempt (epeírasen) the Thessalonians to impede their faith or cause them return to paganism.

2. Paul very well knew Satan’s strategies from the Scriptures and experience.

a) Satan successfully tempted the first Adam by questioning God’s Word and goodness (Gen 3:1).

b) Satan unsuccessfully tempted the second Adam (Christ) in an attempt to prey on His hardship and twist the truth (Mat 4:4).

c) Satan sometimes successfully tempts some so that they fall away after receiving persecution (Mar 4:16-17).

d) Paul intimates all these sentiments in his second letter the Thessalonians, But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. (2Th 3:3).

3. If this would have happen, Paul would have considered his labor among them as useless (“vain” - kenos).

IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Believers must not allow persecution or Satan to unsettle them, impede their faith, or fall away.

B. Believers must understand that they have been called to share in Christ’s sufferings so that they can share in Christ’s glory (Rom 8:17).

C. Believers are called alongside, with the Holy Spirit, to support and encourage one another in the faith.

1. By grounding them in the faith by teaching the truths and doctrines of the Word.

2. By sharing with them the whole counsel of God, which includes suffering for the sake of Christ.

3. By encouraging others whether they are being persecuted, experiencing trials, or personally struggling. A very practical way to do this is to talk to them at church, call them, have lunch with, invite them over, whatever, so long as we are able to strengthen and encourage them in the faith through the Word.