Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 3
1Thess 3:4
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
I should have included this verse 4 in the last installment, for it joins appropriately with verse 3 “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
It continues the discussion of the doctrine of “suffering” for the believer in this present time. Please see last gleaning.
Again, the “tribulation” discussed here is not “the great tribulation” or the events spoken about to come to pass in the last book in the Bible “Revelation” or events in “Daniel” or the material Jesus Christ’s discusses in Matt 24 and Mark 13, or other prominent places in scripture discussing the last times. These are the afflictions and tribulations that:“…worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”(Rom 5:3-5); and such like that the believers saved by grace through faith experience until the catching up of the body of Christ.
“as it came to pass” -the explosion of emotion and chaos and riot after the Jews got upset in Acts 17.
1Thess 3:5
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
For the cause that they are enduring afflictions and tribulations, Paul could not wait – He sent Timothy to them – to know if they were still standing on their foundation: “to know” their “faith”.
Here again we have the tempter references (in Chapter 2, referred to Satan); we should not be ignorant of his devices. In Matt 4 and Luke 4, the devil shows up to tempt Christ, and he used and twisted scripture to do it, but Christ used scripture appropriately to deal with the temptations – which should be some pretty valuable advice for us in dealing with our temptations… scripture! Ah, yes!
Paul also references their labor (him, Silas, and Timothy’s) being in vain if the Thessalonians would have departed from what they had taught them. Not vain as they lost their salvation – but that they had resorted back to conforming to the world. But the passion here is from Paul because he truly loves and cares for these brethren, and I think that comes out in the verses.
1Thess 3:6-8
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Reference Acts 18:5 “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia,…”, Timothy came back and gave the report back to Paul, the good report. Brotherly love is evident in the verses.
Verse 7, comfort coming from the love of the brethren.
Verse 8, they have a piece of their livelihood tied up in these believers: “For now we live, if…” truly their spirits were uplifted by the good news and knowing that they will continue on in grace doctrine.
Grace and Peace James
For now I live, if…
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