What do you know about 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10?

A1 Scripture

B1 But now Timothy came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, greatly desiring to see us, just as we do you. Therefore, brothers, by your faith we were comforted about you in all our affliction and distress. For now we live, if you remain steadfast in the Lord. For what thanks can we again give to God for you, for all the joy that we enjoy in the presence of our God because of you. Day and night praying over and over that we might see your face and might perfect what is lacking in your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10, WEL).

B2 But now when Timothy came to us from you, and brought good news to us of your faith and your love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also long to see you— because of this we were encouraged, brothers, in regard to you in all our affliction and distress by your faith. For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. For whatever thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we are rejoicing because of you in the presence of our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and to perfect what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10, EMTV)

A2 Outline

B1 Timothy's report

C1 Came

C2 Good news

D1 Their faith

D2 Their love

D3 Paul and the preachers were not forgotten

D3 Wanting to see Paul and the preachers

B2 Paul and the preachers' response--comforted

B3 A condition--remain steadfast in the Lord

B4 Thanks to God

B5 Our joy

B6 Our prayers

C1 To see them

C2 To increase their faith

A3 Notes

B1 1 Thessalonians 3:6

C1 The word "good news" is euaggelizō.

D1 It means good news

D2 It is the same word as is translated "gospel."

E1 And it happened that on one of the days [while] he was teaching the people in the temple [courts] and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes approached together with the elders (Luke 20:1, LEB).

E2 And I saw another angel flying directly overhead1, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who reside on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and language and people, (Revelation 14:6 LEB)

D3 The good news here refers to the good news that Timothy brought to Paul and the preachers in Athens.

E1 You can tell that Paul is excited.

E2 One of Paul's main concerns is that the new believers continue in the Gospel, doctrine, and living the Christian life.

E3 Our text references their faith and love.

F1 Faith in this sense is the Christian faith which includes

G1 Doctrine

G2 The Christian life

F2 Love here is the love for

G1 God

G2 Brethren

G3 Paul and the preachers

D4 Cross references

E1 [Like] cold water14 upon a weary soul,15 [so too is] good news from a distant place. (Proverbs 25:25 LEB)

E2 But now, [because]3 Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us4, desiring to see us just as also we [desire to see] you, (1 Thessalonians 3:6 LEB)

D5 Regarding fellowship

E1 Our first fellowship is with God--Matthew 18:20

E2 Then each other

F1 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (Malachi 3:16, NKJV)

F2 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3, NKJV)

F3 BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalms 133:1, NKJV)

B2 1 Thessalonians 3:7

C1 It is a wonderful thing when news of someone's faithfulness to Christ brings encouragement to other believers.

C2 Things about encouragement

D1 "From people--"And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus." (Acts 4:36, EMTV)

D2 From the Holy Spirit--"Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." (Acts 9:31, EMTV).

D3 Christian leaders--"Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words." (Acts 15:32, EMTV).

D4 All of us to each other--"...but encourage yourselves every day, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13, EMTV).

C3 Affliction and distress

D1 Real Christians experience because they live and preach Christ

D2 Affliction

E1 Examples (See E3 below)

E2 Christ taught--These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, EMTV).

E3 Paul and the preachers at Thessalonica. (Acts 17:5-9)

E4 The word affliction is thlipsis

F1 Literally means "pressure," that is, pushing down or squeezing something

F2 Used more for physical abuse than emotional abuse

D3 Distress

E1 The Greek word is anagkē

E2 It means constraint, that is, something that hold us back or preventing us from doing something

E3 It can be applied to emotional abuse, anguish, emotional pain whether from physical illness, disability, or even torture.

E4 Christians can expect these things because the natural person hates God, hates God's ways (lifestyle), and hates His rule and rules, so they fight against His representatives.

D4 How God helps us in affliction and distress

E1 His love. These hard things Christians face do not separate us from God. (Romans 8:35)

E2 His strength. We would falter and shrink under most afflictions but God strengthens us. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

E3 His deliverance. This doesn't always happen but does happen often. Even if we die, we go to heaven. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

E4 His example. The Lord Jesus suffered as well as us to the point of death. (John 15:18-20)

E5 His promises. He does promise to help. (Matthew 5:10)

E6 His training. God uses these things to strengthen our faith, weed out bad habits, and build character. (James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:7, Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 12:9)

B3 1 Thessalonians 3:8

C1 If

D1 Here stands as a condition.

D2 A condition for what? Life!

D3 The Bible clearly teaches that we can fall from faith even into apostasy.

D4 The blessings of God will come from our being steadfast.

D5 This can only happen with God's strength and Holy Spirit.

D6 We cannot do this on our own.

D7 This is not a work to "keep" our salvation, for we already have it.

D8 It does refer to, in its plain, normal sense, that if we want God's blessings our attitude must be to want to do God's will, ask in prayer, and believe in His help.

C2 Stand fast

D1 The Greek word is steko

D2 It means to persevere, to hand in there, to stand firm, to remain true regardless of what happens. We don't have a fair weather faith but a living faith.

D3 Some verses

E1 "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he shall be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14 4 EMTV). [The word in bold is this word; the non-bold word is different.]

E2 "Be watchful, stand fast in the faith, be courageous, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16 13 EMTV)

E3 "Therefore, my beloved and longed for brothers, my joy and crown, in this way stand fast in the Lord, beloved." (Philippians 4 1 EMTV)

D4 To stand fast is to continue in the same Gospel, same doctrine, and same lifestyle as taught by the Lord Jesus and the Apostles.

E1 These things do not change in time.

E2 They do not evolve.

E3 It is the same in every country and culture.

E4 Murder, for example, is wrong according to the Bible.

E5 It makes no difference where or when.

E6 The style of clothes is different in various cultures and time, which is OK.

B4 1 Thessalonians 3:9

C1 Thanksgiving

D1 The Greek word is eucharistia

D2 The word means giving thanks, thanksgiving. If I thank someone for something, I "eucharistia" them

D3 * things about thankfulness

E1 Jesus practiced it (John 11:41).

E2 Is a form/way of worship (Psalm 50:14, Hebrews 12:28).

E3 A grievous sin (Romans 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:2).

E4 Should be a common trait (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

E5 When we worry, we should pray for help and be thankful (Philippians 4:6).

C2 Joy

D1 The Greek word is chara

D2 It means joy, delight.

D3 Paul is stating that because of the faithful steadfastness of the Thessalonians, he is so very happy, ecstatic even, and offers thanksgiving to God.

D4 Are we like Paul?

B5 1 Thessalonians 3:10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and to perfect what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3 10 EMTV)

C1 Praying to see them. It was important to Paul to see this for himself, to teach them more, and to enjoy their faithfulness to Jesus Christ. It is also important for the Thessalonians to have fellowship, to share the great things that God has helped them with, and to share what they have learned by studying God's doctrine.

C2 Perfect, that is, to find out if there were any deviations from what Paul had taught them and correct it.

C4 Lacking This refers to questions that have arisen regarding the things they have been taught.

1 Thessalonians Study

Chapter 2:1-12


 




 

A1 Scriptures

B1 For you yourselves know, brothers, regarding our coming to you, that it was not in vain. But suffering before and being spitefully treated at Philippi, just as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God with much conflict. For our exhortation was not from error nor from uncleanness, nor in deceit, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who is testing our hearts. For neither were we using flattering speech, as you know, nor covering up greed, God is our witness. Nor seeking glory from men, neither from you, nor from others, even though we were able to carry weight as apostles of Christ. But we proved to be gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. In this way longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we were among you that believe; as indeed you know how each one of you, as a father to his own children, we exhorted, and comforted you, and imploring you, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, EMTV)

B2 Our friends, you yourselves know that our visit to you was not a failure. You know how we had already been mistreated and insulted in Philippi before we came to you in Thessalonica. And even though there was much opposition, our God gave us courage to tell you the Good News that comes from him. Our appeal to you is not based on error or impure motives, nor do we try to trick anyone. Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives. You know very well that we did not come to you with flattering talk, nor did we use words to cover up greed—God is our witness! We did not try to get praise from anyone, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we could have made demands on you. But we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children. Because of our love for you we were ready to share with you not only the Good News from God but even our own lives. You were so dear to us! Surely you remember, our friends, how we worked and toiled! We worked day and night so that we would not be any trouble to you as we preached to you the Good News from God. You are our witnesses, and so is God, that our conduct toward you who believe was pure, right, and without fault. You know that we treated each one of you just as parents treat their own children. We encouraged you, we comforted you, and we kept urging you to live the kind of life that pleases God, who calls you to share in his own Kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, GNB92)

A2 Outline--The work in Thessalonica

B1 Known

C1 To Thessalonians

C2 To Philippians

B2 Mistreatment in Philippi

C1 Mistreated

C2 Insulted

B3 Acceptance in Thessalonica--God's strength to preach

B4 The Gospel preached

C1 Not based on

D1 Error

D2 Impure motives

D3 Trickery

C2 Based on

D1 Truth

D2 Commissioned by God

C3 Motive for doing so

D1 Not to please people

D2 To please God (who examines us)

C4 Method

D1 No flattering speech

D2 Not based on greed

D3 Not seeking fame from people

D4 Not demanding

D5 Gentle

D6 With love

D7 Being self-supporting

C5 Our conduct was

D1 Pure

D2 Right

D3 Blameless

D4 As loving father

E1 Actions

F1 Exhort

F2 Comfort

F3 Implore

E2 Purpose

F1 Live to please God

F2 Who called us

G1 To His kingdom

G2 To His glory

A3 Notes

B1 Verse 1 Coming to and preaching at Thessalonica was not fruitless. Paul here is happy at the response to the Gospel.

B2 Verse 2

C1 In light of the treatment they received at Philippi, they were more than pleased at the treatment of the Thessalonians. At Philippi they were thrown into jail and were beat. You can read this in Acts 16:22-24.

C2 The maltreatment they received at Philippi did not slow down their evangelistic endeavors as they remained bold to preach Christ and His Gospel. The Greek word for bold has the idea of being upfront about what the Gospel was, so that they did not water it down, make it more socially acceptable. It also has the idea of not waiting to be asked, necessarily, but initiating the conversation. This boldness was with God's help, see Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29-31, Acts 9:27-29, etc.

C3 The idea of contention deals with anxiety (so the Greek word means) and conflict. We all have a certain fear, but with God's help we can.

B3 Verse 3

C1 The Gospel they preached was the true Gospel as taught by Jesus himself.

C2 The preaching was not done with error, impurity, or trickery.

D1 Error would be a false Gospel.

D2 Impurity would be with false motives, a preaching without telling the full truth.

D3 Trickery implies a sales pitch. A type of preaching to get numbers. The Gospel demands and God has ordered that the Gospel be preached purely and plainly without false motives or uses gimmicks or simply a sales pitch.

B4 Verse 4

C1 Since God has entrusted them to preach His Gospel, they wanted to do so.

C2 The idea of entrust not only involves a commission but a responsibility. God is saying (so to speak), "I trust you to do this, so carry out this desire of mine as if I were to do it myself."

C3 God checks them to see if they are doing it correctly. He knows both the delivery (of their speech) but also their motives.

B5 Verse 5

C1 They preached the message without flattery or greed.

C2 Flattery is telling someone things that person wants to hear, thus manipulating them. These would be false converts.

C3 Greed would be to make money at the expense of telling the Gospel purely. It is asking for money as in when seeing the people have conviction of guilt and the truth of the Gospel tell them, "You cannot be saved without giving us some money." Today too many people, especially those on TV give a sales pitch that involves giving money. The so called preacher makes the money with the hearers losing money.

B6 Verse 6

C1 Paul and his companions did not want any honor or glory from anyone. They wanted to be good, acceptable servants of Jesus Christ obeying their master.

C2 They could have asked for financial help but did not. They rather worked.

B7 Verse 7

C1 The bossing, demanding preacher that is too commonly met, is not God's way. He is gentle and so should be those who live and teach Jesus Christ.

C2 Gentleness is a mark of a Christian and Christianity rather than the demanding, threatening message sometimes heard.

C3 This does not mean however to cower in fear. No, we must be bold and tell people the truth even if they do not want to hear it.

B8 Verse 8

C1 They were happy to preach the Gospel.

C2 They would also do anything possible to help them in their Christian life. This might be giving food or other physical needs as well as spiritual blessings.

B9 Verse 9

C1 They worked to make money so to not be a burden to any of the people.

C2 Their motive was to avoid false accusations of being money grubbers and so show a good example of why work is good. If these preachers can and do work for money, so can anyone. There is no place for laziness.

B10 Verse 10

C1 God and the Thessalonians were witnesses that what Paul is writing is true.

C2 They wanted to be pure, right, and blameless.

D1 Pure as to their words and actions. This also refers to giving the true Gospel and Christian life.

D2 Right as be just. Just is a legal term of being obedient to a standard. The standard here is God's standard. We are not Jews, so we do not follow Old Testament Law. We are Christians and follow New Testament law.

D3 Blameless in that no one could accuse them of error in doctrine or life. They preached and lived a pure Gospel as taught and lived by Jesus himself.

B11 Verse 11

C1 Comparing themselves to fathers who teach and care about their children. The interpretation is how to preach and live the Gospel, but an application can be seen in how fathers are to act towards their children.

C2 Exhort is to encourage. "Come on, you can do it." "Let's do this together; we can do it."

C3 Comfort is when a mistake is made to not condemn but to use the time to point out the error and how to correct it. We all have a tendency to remember and not repeat something that was uncomfortable to us. Fathers (and preachers) need to not be judgmental but to honestly point our errors and how to correct them.

C4 Implore is to urge them on to improve in their Christian life, to not be complacent where they are, but to still read, and study the Scriptures, to pray, to help others, to live the Gospel, etc.

B12 Verse 12

C1 Since we are Christians, we need to live up to Christ's standards. We are not to compromise or to be so tolerant that our faith becomes private.

C2 God calls. This is His invitation. God initiates but expects and desires us to respond.

C3 His Kingdom is not just in heaven, but it is here as well. We have the instructions of the kingdom (all 1,000 rules in the New Testament). We have to live by those rules in heaven, so we might as well start living that way now.

C4 His glory refers to the glory of God. Since He is glorious, His kingdom is glorious. When people see our lives, they should see the reflection of God in what we see and to.