1 Thessalonians Chapter 3

My Notes on the book of 1 Thessalonians. – Chapter 3

Chapter 3 is shorter, only 13 verses. But there is a lot of meat in here.

Let’s briefly overview how Paul got to this point in writing this letter. It is important to note that Paul was unable to go to certain areas and was only permitted in places for a short time, and I’ll give my uneducated opinion of why this may have happened. But let’s go over how Paul got to this point when writing this first letter to the Thessalonian church.

The visit to the Thessalonians was on Paul’s second missionary journey. Paul had to leave Philippi after he was beaten and thrown in prison for healing a slave girl from an evil spirit. When in prison, other events happened, which led to a guard and his family giving their lives to Jesus. Then when day came, the magistrates told Paul to leave the city. Paul said his goodbyes to Lydia and the brothers and made his way to Thessalonica.

Paul and team landed in Thessalonica and stayed there for three weeks. Making a living selling tents, and teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus the Messiah. Paul would teach in the synagogue, and some of the Jewish people became Jews for Jesus, and many devout Greeks and leading women did as well. Now some of the Jewish people were jealous and began a riot. Long story short, Paul had to leave immediately in the middle of the night.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy went to Berea, which was reasonably close to the city of Thessalonica. Paul again began to preach the gospel in the local synagogue, and many Jews became Jesus followers, as did the Greeks. However, the Jews who were against Jesus from Thessalonica found out that Paul was preaching and teaching in Berea, so they made their way to him. Paul learned about this, and his team made him leave by boat to Athens.

 Paul had to leave every city because he was proclaiming the gospel of Jesus. Remember what Jesus told his disciples? You will be hated for my name’s sake. It’s a guarantee. But hold on, there is also a promise in what Jesus spoke. “and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved“. Matthew 10:22. When you speak, or teach, or pray in the name of Jesus, there is a good chance you will be hated. Of course, we don’t have persecution in the United States like the early church. But other countries in the world must meet in secret; otherwise, they WILL be persecuted. Hold on to the promise, “the one who holds on to the end will be saved”. Hold on!

Dr. Luke writes the book of Acts and mentions in Acts 17:15 – Paul wants Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as they can. But Paul “sent Timothy our brother, and coworker, in the gospel of Christ to establish and exhort you in your faith.” -1 Thessalonians 3:2. Paul sent Timothy, Silas, and possibly others to help strengthen their (Thessalonians) faith in Christ. Paul was not selfish. He knew Timothy and Silas needed to help be the pastors of the surrounding churches and establish other key people, as you should note in the letters he wrote to Timothy. In the first five verses, Paul explains that he (Paul) was destined to suffer for the name of Jesus. He couldn’t stay any longer, but he wanted to, but there were many roadblocks in his way.

Paul could not preach and teach wherever he wanted. For those who live in the United States, we are blessed to be able to preach and teach the gospel without fear of someone trying to put us in prison. You can’t say that about other parts of the world. It is a crime in some parts of the world to preach and teach the name of Jesus. Getting back to Paul, as you can see on the map below, Paul was sent away by the Christian brothers and sisters to Athens. Paul had to travel by sea. He was a wanted man. It states in the scripture that Silas and Timothy remained there, in Berea, and they were also within walking distance to Thessalonica. They (Silas and Timothy) became the pastors of these churches.

In the remaining verses in chapter 3, Paul explains that Timothy has returned and given Paul a refreshing report on the church in Thessalonica. Even after Paul’s three weeks there, and even after some tribulation or a better word may be trials. They have remained faithful in their trust in Jesus. Sweet words from Timothy to Paul. Paul says that all that he has been through, the torture and pain physically and emotionally, has been worth it for the church’s continued growth. He longs to see them again and wants to help them on their faith journey.

As I mentioned above, Paul was not always able to go to certain places and stay in a place very long. It may have been a frustration to Paul, but I believe it was an overall blessing for us over the two thousand years. If Paul were able to stay and explain everything to the Thessalonians in Paul’s timetable, He would have never written these Letters to the church’s. We (the big church) would have missed out on certain Christian doctrines, disciplines, and much more. So, because Paul only had a few weeks in Thessalonica, it means he gets to explain in his letter back to them the rapture of the church. That gets explained at the end of his letter.

Stay tuned for chapter 4.