Month: January 2020

I am certain that I never did grow in grace one-half so much anywhere as I have upon the bed of pain. ~ Charles Spurgeon

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions.

• The biblical account tells us that Jewish persecution caused Paul to move from Thessalonica to Berea and then to Athens (Acts 17.1-15). It also suggests that Timothy and Silas stayed in Berea when Paul moved on to Athens (17.14,15). We are not told when, but at some point, Paul is joined in Athens by Timothy and possible Silas. Timothy is then dispatched from Athens to provide strength (“establish”) and encourage (“exhort”) faith within the persecuted congregation in Thessalonica. Timothys third purpose is mentioned in verse 3a.
• “brother” – a term frequently used as a designation for fellow believers.
• “God’s coworker” – Paul often used the term “fellow worker” for someone who was engaged in mission efforts along side him. Here, however, he refers to Timothy as “God’s coworker”, thus identifying him as one who had his own ministry and could be trusted to adequately “establish” the church there.
• Not only is Paul supporting Timothy’s trustworthiness and authority to accomplish the further building of the church, he is also communicating the value of the church by sending such an individual.
• “that no one be moved” – literally means “to shake”. It is best understood to mean one is upset or agitated.

Continue reading “Journey Through 1 Thessalonians: Chapter 3”

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

• As is Paul’s usual custom, the epistle begins with salutations from Paul and others in his company, a naming of the recipients, and a short blessing.
• Interestingly, 1 & 2 Thess. are the only epistles in which Paul does not add a description of himself or those with him (Compare to Colossians 1.1). Perhaps this is due to the early writing of these epistles or his comfort level with the church.
• The writing also suggest that the epistle’s authorship is actually shared between the three men listed. The first person plural pronoun “we” is used throughout the book.
• “Silas” – see Acts 15.22-34. An abbreviated form of the longer, Silvanus. Leader in the church in Jerusalem. Also ministered at the church in Antioch. Accompanied Paul on his 2nd missionary journey (Acts 15.40).
• “Timothy” – Originally from Lystra. Mother was a messianic jew and his father was a non-believing Greek. Constant companion to Paul throughout his ministry, Paul’s “son in the faith”.
• “church” – the term church, in it’s broadest meaning can simply refer to an assembly of social, religious, or political gatherings.
• However, Paul gives the reader a couple of qualifiers which sets this group apart from others. “In God the Father” – 1) “God” – meaning the God of the Old Testament, whom both Jews and Christians worshipped, and 2) “the Father” – carries the ideas of authority and benevolence. “and the Lord Jesus Christ” – Jesus is designated as “the Christ” the promised one from the Old Testament and as “Lord” or Master. Jesus’ designation as “Lord” become more widely used after his resurrection, though it isn’t completely absent in gospel narratives.
• “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
      and gave him the name that is above every name,
   that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
   and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2.9-11)

Continue reading “Journey Through 1 Thessalonians: Chapter 1”