1 Thessalonians 3:6

Ἄρτι δὲ ἐλθόντος Τιμοθέου πρὸς ἡμᾶς�ʼ ὑμῶν. But now that Timothy, at this moment, has come to us from you. From Acts 18:5 it would appear that Timothy had joined Silas before arriving at Corinth, where the two found St Paul (see Introd. p. xxi.). Ἄρτι (√αρ, as in ἀραρίσκω, to fit or join) means just now or then, at this, or that, juncture; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Corinthians 14:7; Galatians 4:20, &c. The temporal adjunct qualifies the two participles jointly, ἐλθόντος … καὶ εὐαγγελισαμένου; it is needless and awkward to carry it past them to παρεκλήθημεν: Timothy had come with his tidings at the nick of time, just when such refreshment was needed; see note on 1 Thessalonians 3:7, and the Introd., pp. xxxiii., lxiii. Ἀφʼ ὑμῶν bears emphasis; it was news “from you” that St Paul was pining for; cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:8, and 1 Thessalonians 2:19 f.

ἐλθόντος … καὶ εὐαγγελισαμένου ἡμῖν τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν�, has come … and brought us the good news of your faith and love. Nowhere else in the N.T. is εὐαγγελίζομαι (εὐαγγέλιον) used of any other but “the good news”; see, however, in the O.T. (LXX) 1 Ki. 31:9; 2 Ki. 1:20; 1 Paral. 10:9. There is a fine play upon the word: Timothy’s report was, in effect, gospel news, as it witnessed to the power of God’s message (λόγος θεοῦ ὅς ἐνεργεῖται ἐν ὑμῖν, 1 Thessalonians 2:13); and it was the best of news to Paul and Silas—a very “gospel” coming to them in return for the Gospel they had brought to the readers (1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, &c.). For πίστις καὶ�, comprising together the whole Christian life, cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (and note), 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Ephesians 1:15; Philemon 1:5-7; 1 John 3:23, &c.

καὶ ὅτι ἔχετε μνείαν ἡμῶν�, and (reporting) that you keep a good remembrance of us at all times: this was reciprocal (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 f.). “A good” is a well-disposed, kindly “remembrance” (cf. notes on ἀγαθός, 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:16); and ἔχειν μνείαν (cf. 2 Timothy 1:3) is “to hold, maintain a recollection”—so of other faculties or exercises of mind (1 Thessalonians 4:13; Philippians 1:23; Colossians 3:13; 1 Timothy 1:19, &c.); μνείαν ποιοῦμαι, “to express the recollection” (scil. in word), 1 Thessalonians 1:2. Bound up with the concern of the Apostles for the faith of the persecuted Thessalonians was the fear, dictating the self-defence of 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 and the explanations of 1 Thessalonians 2:17 to 1 Thessalonians 3:5, lest the attachment of the latter to their fathers in Christ should have been weakened through absence and by the detractions of the enemies of the Gospel (see Introd. pp. xxxiv. f.). It was a great relief to find that this goodwill had never wavered. The ὅτι clause is co-ordinate with τὴν πίστιν κ. τὴν�, and serves to expand τὴν�.

This “good remembrance” the Thessalonians cherish, ἐπιποθοῦντες ἡμᾶς ἰδεῖν καθάπερ κ.τ.λ.—while you long to see us, just as we indeed (to see) you; cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 f., for this latter longing. Ἐπιποθέω (cf. Romans 1:11; Philippians 1:8; Philippians 2:26; 2 Timothy 1:4; only in James 4:5; 1 Peter 2:2, in the N.T. outside St Paul) denotes a tender yearning towards an absent beloved. The affection as well as the esteem of their disciples remained with the Apostles; the longing for reunion was equal on both sides. For καθάπερ, see 1 Thessalonians 2:12; and for the antithetic ἡμεῖς ὑμᾶς (thrice in this verse), cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20.