Untitled Sermon (3)

Prayer

God is One and Three, Spirit, personal, relational, great, perfect, eternal, self-existent, self-sufficient, immutable, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, Holy, righteous, true, truthful, faithful, love, creator, the sustainer, the owner of creation, Lord and sovereign over all, the lawgiver, is the judge, is the savior

The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) Chapter 3

Chapter 3

3:3, 4 Paul did not promise the followers of Jesus a life of ease or public approval, nor did Jesus (Mark 8:34; John 15:18–21). Rather, Paul’s consistent message of encouragement to newly planted churches was that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).

3:8 For now we live. Paul’s anxiety (2 Cor. 11:28) over the stability of the church amid its persecutions had been so intense that Timothy’s report of the Thessalonians’ solid faith brought the apostle a comfort and joy akin to a foretaste of resurrection from the dead.

3:11 Paul addresses God the Father and the Lord Jesus jointly in prayer, indicating their equality and showing that Christ is very God of very God (see Introduction: Characteristics and Themes). The answer to this prayer for reunion came several years later (Acts 20:1).

3:13 blameless in holiness. The example of Paul’s team (2:10) as well as their instruction (4:1–3) emphasized the call for the Thessalonians’ faith in the Lord Jesus to be expressed in holy living, particularly with respect to sexual purity and marital faithfulness (4:3–8). Blameless holiness will be central to his closing benediction to these believers (5:23).

at the coming of our Lord Jesus. The work of sanctification already begun in believers is incomplete and will be brought to glorious completion at the second coming of the Lord (5:23; cf. 1 Cor. 1:8; Phil. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:3; Jude 24).

his saints. Lit. “holy ones.” Either the angels who will accompany Christ at His return (2 Thess. 1:7; cf. Matt. 13:39, 48, 49; 16:27), human saints (2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 19:14), or both.

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,

7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

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.

8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

9 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,

9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;

12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

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. 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.

13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the dcoming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

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Timothy has seen the Thessalonians and returned with good news

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Paul has been anxious about the Christians at Thessalonica, in case persecution and temptation have snatched away their faith. As he has been unable to visit them himself, he has sent Timothy on his behalf. Timothy has returned with the wonderful news that they are well, faithful—and longing to see him! Paul wishes all the more that he could go back to teach and encourage them.

Paul prays for the Thessalonians

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Paul sees this work as a spiritual battle. It is Satan who is preventing him returning to Thessalonica (2:18). He prays that God the Father and Jesus will clear the way. Everything is flowing towards the return or ‘presence’ of Christ. Paul uses a popular Greek work, ‘parousia’, for the coming of Jesus. He will return with his ‘holy ones’—his vast army of angels (; ).

A ‘parousia’ is an official visit by the emperor or some other important person—with crowds lining the roads and the local authorities coming to greet him. It is important to be ready for such a moment—our lives clean (3:13) and our duties done (2:19).

Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 641). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg.

Chapter 3

3:3, 4 Paul did not promise the followers of Jesus a life of ease or public approval, nor did Jesus (; ). Rather, Paul’s consistent message of encouragement to newly planted churches was that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” ().

3:8 For now we live. Paul’s anxiety () over the stability of the church amid its persecutions had been so intense that Timothy’s report of the Thessalonians’ solid faith brought the apostle a comfort and joy akin to a foretaste of resurrection from the dead.

3:11 Paul addresses God the Father and the Lord Jesus jointly in prayer, indicating their equality and showing that Christ is very God of very God (see Introduction: Characteristics and Themes). The answer to this prayer for reunion came several years later ().

3:13 blameless in holiness. The example of Paul’s team (2:10) as well as their instruction (4:1–3) emphasized the call for the Thessalonians’ faith in the Lord Jesus to be expressed in holy living, particularly with respect to sexual purity and marital faithfulness (4:3–8). Blameless holiness will be central to his closing benediction to these believers (5:23).

at the coming of our Lord Jesus. The work of sanctification already begun in believers is incomplete and will be brought to glorious completion at the second coming of the Lord (5:23; cf. ; ; ; ).

his saints. Lit. “holy ones.” Either the angels who will accompany Christ at His return (; cf. , , ; ), human saints (; ), or both.

6. Faith and love. This form of expression should be the more carefully observed by us in proportion to the frequency with which it is made use of by Paul, for in these two words he comprehends briefly the entire sum of true piety. Hence all that aim at this twofold mark during their whole life are beyond all risk of erring: all others, however much they may torture themselves, wander miserably. The third thing that he adds as to their good remembrance of him, refers to respect entertained for the Gospel. For it was on no other account that they held Paul in such affection and esteem.

8. For now we live. Here it appears still more clearly that Paul almost forgot himself for the sake of the Thessalonians, or, at least, making regard for himself a mere secondary consideration, devoted his first and chief thoughts to them. At the same time he did not do that so much from affection to men as from a desire for the Lord’s glory. For zeal for God and Christ glowed in his holy breast to such a degree that it in a manner swallowed up all other anxieties. “We live,” says he, that is, “we are in good health, if you persevere in the Lord.” And under the adverb now, he repeats what he had formerly stated, that he had been greatly pressed down by affliction and necessity; yet he declares that whatever evil he endures in his own person does not hinder his joy. “Though in myself I am dead, yet in your welfare I live.” By this all pastors are admonished what sort of connection ought to subsist between them and the Church—that they reckon themselves happy when it goes well with the Church, although they should be in other respects encompassed with many miseries, and, on the other hand, that they pine away with grief and sorrow if they see the building which they have constructed in a state of decay, although matters otherwise should be joyful and prosperous.

9. For what thanksgiving. Not satisfied with a simple affirmation, he intimates how extraordinary is the greatness of his joy, by asking himself what thanks he can render to God; for by speaking thus he declares that he cannot find an expression of gratitude that can come up to the measure of his joy. He says that he rejoices before God, that is, truly and without any pretence.

10. Praying beyond measure. He returns to an expression of his desire. For it is never allowable for us to congratulate men, while they live in this world, in such unqualified terms as not always to desire something better for them. For they are as yet in the way: they may fall back, or go astray, or even go back. Hence Paul is desirous to have opportunity given him of supplying what is wanting in the faith of the Thessalonians, or, which is the same thing, completing in all its parts their faith, which was as yet imperfect, Yet this is the faith which he had previously extolled marvellously. But from this we infer, that those who far surpass others are still far distant from the goal. Hence, whatever progress we may have made, let us always keep in view our deficiencies, (ὑστερήματα,) that we may not be reluctant to aim at something farther.

From this also it appears how necessary it is for us to give careful attention to doctrine, for teachers were not appointed merely with the view of leading men, in the course of a single day or month, to the faith of Christ, but for the purpose of perfecting the faith which has been begun. But as to Paul’s claiming for himself what he elsewhere declares belongs peculiarly to the Holy Spirit, (,) this must be restricted to the ministry. Now, as the ministry of a man is inferior to the efficacy of the Spirit, and to use the common expression, is subordinate to it, nothing is detracted from it. When he says that he prayed night and day beyond all ordinary measure, we may gather from these words how assiduous he was in praying to God, and with what ardour and earnestness he discharged that duty.