1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Paul's Concern for Their Faith

Because he had been forced to leave Thessalonica and prevented from returning, he reached a point where his concern for the church made him decide to be left in Athens alone. Kelcy says the original for "to be left" is sometimes used to describe a loved one who has left in death. Paul would have keenly felt loneliness in a city filled with idolatry, as Athens was, so sending Timothy away was like saying goodbye to a loved one who had died (1 Thessalonians 3:1).

That sense of being alone, coupled with the descriptive terms he went on to use, help us see just how great a help Timothy was to the apostle. Timothy was a brother in God's family and a servant of, or some manuscripts say with, God. It is only in the gospel that anyone can work for or with the Father. Timothy's assignment in Thessalonica was to stabilize the brethren and encourage them in their faith. Young ones always need special attention to encourage proper growth.

Even a dog which will bite might wag his tail and cause us to drop our guard, believing he is friendly. The words "should be shaken" describe just such an occasion. Surrounded by persecutors, a Christian might have been deceived by a false teacher who appeared friendly. Paul sent Timothy to avoid such drawing away and warned them that the lot of all Christians is to suffer (1 Thessalonians 3:2-3; John 15:19; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12).

Paul and his companions had repeatedly warned the brethren, when they were in Thessalonica, that suffering would come. As he wrote this letter to them, the persecution had come and they should not have been surprised. Neither did the apostle want them to allow some to make them believe suffering proved their religion empty or false. It is obvious Paul was concerned that they might "fall from grace" and, therefore, could not wait any longer to hear whether they had remained firm in the faith. Paul knew how the tempter had prevented him from coming to them and was concerned lest Satan would lead them away from the faith. Paul did not want his work among them to come to nought (1 Thessalonians 3:4-5; 1 Peter 2:12-16).