1 Thessalonians 3:1
Wherefore when we [by this plural Paul means himself only] _could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone_;... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore when we [by this plural Paul means himself only] _could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone_;... [ Continue Reading ]
and sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith [fearful lest the infant church should succumb to temptation or to persecution, and unable longer to endure his want of information concerning it, Paul had sent Timoth... [ Continue Reading ]
that no man [of you] _be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed_. ["We" refers to all Christians, and Theophylact sagely remarks, "Let all Christians hear this." As to the doctrine, see Matthew 13:21; Mark 10:30; John 15:18; John 16:33; Acts 4:22]... [ Continue Reading ]
For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know. [As to the affliction which Paul foretold and which came upon them, see Acts 17:5-9]... [ Continue Reading ]
For this cause [because he feared that persecution might cause them to apostatize] _I also, when I could no longer forbear_ [resuming the thought of verse 1], _sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means_ [and Satan has many] _the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain_. ... [ Continue Reading ]
But when Timothy came even now [suggesting that Paul wrote on the day of Timothy's arrival, or very soon after] _unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we, also to see you_;... [ Continue Reading ]
for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith [Since Paul would be comforted as to the Thessalonians by the good news of their condition brought by Timothy, the "distress and affliction" must have referred to other matters which disturbed... [ Continue Reading ]
for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. [The good news made Paul relish and enjoy life, just as his afflictions and distress had been to him a kind of death. Comp. 1 Corinthians 15:31]... [ Continue Reading ]
For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God. [Paul felt that he could not be thankful enough for the joy which the faith of the Thessalonians gave him; not a joy arising from worldly or personal pride in them, but a joy s... [ Continue Reading ]
night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? ["Night," says Joseph de Maistre, "is a great chapter in the Psalms, to which David often recurs." Paul, like David, employed much of the night in meditation and prayer. At such times he... [ Continue Reading ]
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:... [ Continue Reading ]
and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you;... [ Continue Reading ]
to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. [The "you" of verse 12 is emphatic, and stands in contrast with "our" of verse 11, as though Paul said "the Lord direct our way to you, but whether he does s... [ Continue Reading ]