1 Thessalonians 2:13, 3

New Living Translation (Chapter 2)

13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Truly the Word of God)

The word translated “received” is the Greek word paralambano, which means “to embrace intellectually.”

a] Personal life: believing in God requires us to be accountable to Him and His ways, and to Have fear of judgement if we stray.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Truly the Word of God)

There are those who say, “I believe that the Bible is inspired and that it contains God’s Word,” but with them I disagree. The Bible doesn’t contain God’s Word; the Bible is God’s Word. Whenever liberal theologians say the Bible contains God’s Word, the implication is that it might also contain man’s word. If I say, “Part of Scripture is God’s Word, but part is man’s ideas or myths,” I become the ultimate judge, deciding what is God’s Word and what are man’s thoughts.

Look at the the statement ‘all truth is God’s truth’. Is This how people try to get around submission to God’s truth as stated in the Bible

Agree or disagree?

zThis chapter deals with trouble , and how God uses it to strengthen us.

1 Thessalonians 3:1–13 (NLT)

1 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens,

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

Paul, Silas, and Timothy went to Berea after being driven out of Thessalonica. They taught the Word to the Bereans, who were good students. But the same people who drove Paul out of Thessalonica followed him to Berea, forcing them to leave for Athens.

who was ‘we’ in vs. 1? Paul and some Bereans who accompamied him

2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

“We made it to Athens, but we couldn’t wait to see how you were doing. We sent our brother Timothy to find out,” writes Paul.

Timothy was not only a brother, but also a minister. The word “minister” means “servant.” As a true minister of God, Timothy’s heart was not to be served, but to serve. He was not one who said, “Who cares if there’s no room for the ambulance? I’ve got my clergy sticker, so I can park right in front of the hospital.” No, Timothy did not take advantage of his position because he was a true minister.

The word “fellow-laborer” literally means “team player.” People headed for ministry must be team players because they are to be linked to the rest of the body in submission and humility.

What 2 things did timothy do when he went back to Thessolinica?

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:2)

Paul called Timothy our brother, suggesting equality in the Lord’s work with Paul and Silas. In relation to the Lord, Timothy was a hardworking servant, suggestive of his zeal and humility. He was a brother-servant in spreading the gospel of Christ.

Timothy’s mission was to have been a positive blessing and help to the Thessalonian Christians. He was to strengthen (stērizai; cf. v. 13) them, to make them firm and solid in the faith. He was also sent to encourage (parakalesai; cf. 2:12) them by providing what they needed to fight the good fight of faith, individually and collectively. Much of the ministry of the apostles was devoted to grounding new converts in the faith, a ministry as necessary today as it was in the first century.

3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.

what troubles is Paul talking about?

4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

A. W. Tozer was right when he said, “Before God can use a person greatly, He must allow that person to be hurt deeply.” This isn’t because God is mean, but because He knows we can’t comfort others unless we’ve been comforted ourselves.

Trials not only enable us to comfort others, but they purify our own faith. That’s why Peter said, “Don’t think it strange concerning the fiery trials that come your way. They are sent to test and purify your faith” (1 Peter 4:12).

What happens when you are in a fiery trial? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego will tell you: Jesus shows up ( Daniel 3:25). That’s why James tells us to count it all joy when we fall into trials (James 1:2).

“Whoopee! A trial! How wonderful!” Crazy? Not really, because if you have this mind-set in your difficult times, you will see Jesus in a way that will blow your mind, warm your heart, and bless your socks off!

Trials don’t make or break us, gang. They simply reveal what’s inside. When I’m driving and hit a bump, the tea that splashes out of the mug on my dashboard was there before the bump. The bump doesn’t put the tea in. It just shows what was already in the cup. That’s what trials do.

“I’m angry because of what he or she did to me.” No. The anger was already there. The bump just brought it out. Truly, the only way a man can really know how he’s doing is through bumpy, discouraging, heartbreaking times, for they reveal his heart.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:3)

Paul added his own stabilizing reminder that trials are not necessarily a sign of God’s disfavor, but are part of every Christian’s legacy. When trouble comes, Christians often react by doubting that they are where God wants them to be; they often think that they have done something wrong and that God must be displeased with them. Even some mature Christians react this way, as evidenced by Paul’s words of reassurance to Timothy many years later. “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” ( 2 Tim. 3:12). Yet storms often come to believers to make them able to stand firm, rather than to blow them away (cf. 2 Cor. 4:15–16).

3:4. Paul reminded his readers that when he was with them he kept telling them to expect persecution. And circumstances had turned out just as he had predicted. This reminder would have helped calm them down

5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

What was Paul Anxious aBout?

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:5)

They could, however, have ceased to walk by faith, not trusting God in all circumstances of life. Paul’s concern was that his labor might have been in vain, not that their faith had been in vain. Paul’s reference to the tempter is mindful of Satan’s activity in the Garden of Eden ( Gen. 3) and in the Judean wilderness (Matt. 4). Paul saw Satan as using the persecution the Thessalonians were undergoing in order to lure them away from what they knew to be God’s will, namely, perseverance in the midst of trials. He was concerned that Satan might snatch away the seed Paul had sown before it had a chance to put down stabilizing, fructifying roots.

6 But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you.

7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith.

8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

what feelings did paul and coworkers have when Timothy returned?

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

“The greatest joy I could possibly have,” John wrote, “is to hear that those to whom I ministered are walking in truth” ( 3 John 4). Paul has the same heart. “Even though we’re going through persecutions,” he writes, “they’re worth it if you’re doing well.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:6)

3:6. But contrasts Paul’s previous anxiety with his present relief at the report of Timothy who returned to Paul in Corinth. Rather than bringing bad news that the Thessalonians’ faith had wavered, Timothy had brought good news that their faith was bearing fruit in love. This good news was as thrilling to Paul as the gospel; he used the same Greek word for both messages.

3:7. Timothy’s report came as sweet relief to the missionaries. They were indeed brethren, bound not only by the bonds of life in Christ, but also by the bonds of love for one another. As Paul and more recently Timothy had been sources of encouragement to the Thessalonians in their persecution, so now the babes in Christ had provided encouragement to their elder brethren who had been persecuted by fears about that church’s condition.

3:8. Nothing filled the apostles with joy like news that their converts were standing firm in the Lord. This was the desired result in all their ministry; in this they found their greatest fulfillment. “Standing firm” (stēkete; cf. 2 Thes. 2:15) in the faith is really “standing firm in the Lord.” Such a relationship strengthens one to withstand the storms of life.

9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.

Paul went through problems that would make any of ours look like peanuts, yet he did well because he wasn’t concerned for himself. “All I care about,” he said, “are those with whom I’ve shared the gospel—my kids in the faith.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:9)

3:9. The force of Paul’s rhetorical question is, “We cannot thank God enough for you because of all the joy you have brought to our hearts by your endurance in these trials.” It is noteworthy that Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians’ behavior; he did not take credit for this. Paul acknowledged that their endurance was really a tribute to the work of God in them (cf. Phil. 2:13). He commended the Thessalonians, but also recognized and acknowledged the hand of God at work in their lives.

10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

Paul took advantage of sleepless nights to pray for these people whom he had only known for three weeks, but with whom his spirit was inextricably linked.

As proud as he was of the Thessalonian believers, Paul knew there were still areas in which they needed encouragement and guidance.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:10)

3:10.. Paul wanted to supply what was lacking in their faith. (The word for “supply” is katartisai; ) “to prepare” [NIV] and “for the equipping” [NASB].) The Thessalonians were like tender young plants; their tender roots held them firm against the present storm, but they still needed to grow and mature. This is the first explicit reference to deficiencies in their spiritual condition—deficiencies due more to immaturity than to waywardness. Up till now Paul described them as having the characteristics of new Christians. Now he said they were deficient in certain respects, as a child is deficient in comparison with an adult. In chapters 4 and 5 Paul ministered to some of these deficiencies.

11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon.

12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

There come points in my walk when I say, “You know, I’m doing pretty good.” I get comfortable as apathy begins to creep into my heart. Through Paul, the Spirit says to me, “I want you to increase. I rejoice in what’s happening in your life, but may your love for Me grow to an ever-deepening measure.”

“I was just getting comfy,” we cry, “when my boss said, ‘You’re through,”’ when my girlfriend said, ‘Goodbye,’ when my coach said, ‘On the bench.”’

“Great!” the Lord says. “I want to refine and use you as the wine of my Spirit flows through you. For that to happen, there will be regular seasons where you are poured. Otherwise you’ll become cloudy and dull as you settle for less. I love you too much for that.”

Instead of, “Poor me,” we must be those who say, “Pour me, Father—that I may increase and abound in love.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:11)

3:12. The Thessalonians were already noted for their love, but Paul prayed that it might abound—increase (pleonasai) and overflow (perisseusai)—even more. “Genuine Christian love … is the one thing in the Christian life which cannot be carried to excess” (Hiebert, The Thessalonian Epistles, p. 155). The image of love overflowing its container suggests that Christian love is something that wells up from within a person naturally. Paul was concerned that it overflow to everyone, not just to Christians in the church. His love was their model.

13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 3)

“Regardless of the cost, I want you to abound and increase in love,” Paul writes, “so that you will be ready for eternity.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:13)

3:13. The Thessalonians needed strengthening by God in their inner beings. The word strengthen (stērizai), used by Paul in verse 2, describes Timothy’s strengthening of the Thessalonians in their faith. Paul did not pray that they would be sinless; that was impossible. He prayed that they would be blameless (cf. 2:10), that is, that after they sinned they would deal with it as God requires and so be free from any reasonable charge by their fellowmen. Before God they should be holy, separated to God in their hearts and habits. Paul longed that when Jesus Christ would return He would find them blameless before men and holy before God. The holy ones accompanying Christ at His coming are probably the souls of the saints who have departed this life and gone to be with Christ, whose bodies will be resurrected when He comes (4:16). That is, they are Christians rather than angels.