Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 14

Paul Sends Timothy to Establish & Strengthen them in their Faith

1 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: KJV

Seeing then what Paul has just said to them in the last two verses of how they are the cause of his joy now and in heaven, Paul goes on to declare to them why he sent Timothy to them when he did as he says here, "Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;" (1 Thessalonians 3:1) (KJV). Paul needed to know what was happening with these new believers in Thessalonica, so he sacrificed his own comfort and care by sending Timothy to them and remaining alone in Athens, Greece. Paul was among people with very sharp minds of philosophy that were not bent to spiritual things at all, for these people worshipped every type of man-made fabricated 'god' imaginable, so it would have been very beneficial for Paul to have Timothy stay with him to share in the presenting our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to these people as the True and Only God who made all things by His Own Hand and Power.

We recall that Dr. Luke documented for us how Paul was sent away from Thessalonica into Berea upon the attack against them because of the conversion of many in Thessalonica, but the Jews followed them into Berea so Paul was sent off again and at this time seperated from Silas and Timothy, "But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] was also preached by Paul at Beroea, they came there too, disturbing {and} inciting the masses. At once the brethren sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as soon as possible, they departed." (Acts 17:13-15) (Amplified Bible). Of course it was never Paul's intentions or desrie to be seperated from Silas and Timothy at this time, but circumstances dictated otherwise.

Paul was not concerned that much for Silas and Timothy because they were now well grounded in the faith and in the Word of God, but the new converts in Thessalonica were not so being still at this time 'babes in Christ', so this prompts Paul's inner desire or yearning to know their physical and more important spiritual condition. Paul uses the English word 'forbear' to express this deep desire he had to know what was their status and this word is translated by the Greek word stego meaning (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently): to suffer, that is, to hold out as to anything, to bear with, to endure. In other words, such time had elasped or passed by that caused Paul to act because he could no longer take the not knowing, so it is likely that he got word back to Timothy in Berea to go back to Thessalonica. Paul was perhaps still urged to stay away from that city because of what happened there with the Jews at the beginning of his ministry there, so instead he sent the less reconizable Timothy back to check on the new converts in Thessalonica.

It was on account of Paul's dear and devout love for the souls of these new believers that he wanted to know of their spiritual condition as he had already declared to them with these words in the previous Chapter, "But since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a little while in person, [of course] not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great longing to see you face to face, Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered {and} impeded us." (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18) (Amplified Bible). Paul was bursting as if his desire and emotions were as a water tight containter about to burst through being overfilled with water, so was Paul's anxiety or angst over these believers. Paul sends Timothy to them because of his great trust in and faith in Timothy to edify them or build them up in their faith, even as he Paul would do, so he says to them after he could take it any no longer, "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:" (1 Thessalonians 3:2) (KJV).

Paul declares to them three (3) things that make Timothy (despite his youth) as Paul wrote later to Timothy instructing him with these words concerning his youth, "Let no one despise {or} think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Till I come, devote yourself to [public and private] reading, to exhortation (preaching and personal appeals), and to teaching {and} instilling doctrine." (1 Timothy 4:12-13) (Amplified Bible) that make Timothy the capable representative of the Apostle Paul before these new believers in Thessalonica. First, Timothy was their brother, that is, their spiritual brother in the Body of Jesus Christ. Secondly, Timothy was a minister of God, that is, specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon: - deacon, minister, servant appointed as such surely by the Apostle Paul. Thirdly, Timothy was a fellowlabourer in the Gospel of Christ, that is, Timothy (like the Apostle Paul) was declaring the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ to all sinners everywhere.

Therefore, Paul being confident in Timothy sent him to them in order 'to establish' them in their faith in Christ. The little English phrase here 'to establish' is translated by one Greek word sterizo meaning to set fast, that is, (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm: - fix, establish, stedfastly set, strengthen. Timothy also was 'to comfort' them and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word parakaleo meaning to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): In other words, it was Timothy's job to make sure that these new believers in Thessalonica were well grounded and rooted in the Word of God and all that it reveals and declares about our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and what are all of our spiritual blessings in Him as well as our responsibilities to Him now that we are a part of His Body the Church.

"The Apostle Paul had extreme confidence in Timothy irregardless of his young age in comparison to others, and that was because he showed himself to be faithful to Christ and to Paul when others like Hymenaeus and Alexander blasphemed the Word of God (1 Timothy 1:20) and Demas forsook Paul (2 Timothy 4:10), but Timothy was always there and ready for what ever assignment Paul had for him to take on." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"It appears from the statement here that Timothy had joined him there, but such was his solicitude for the Church at Thessalonica, that he very soon after sent him there, and chose to remain himself alone at Athens. Why he did not himself return to Thessalonica, is not stated. It is evidently implied here that it was a great personal inconvenience for him thus to part with Timothy, and to remain alone at Athens, and that he evinced the strong love which he had for the Church at Thessalonica by being willing to submit to it. What that inconvenience consisted in, he has not stated, but it is not difficult to understand, (1) he was among total strangers, and, when Timothy was gone, without an acquaintance or friend. (2) the aid of Timothy was needed in order to prosecute the work which he contemplated. He had requested that Timothy should join him as soon as possible when he left Berea Acts 17:15, and he evidently felt it desirable that in preaching the Gospel in that city he should have all the assistance he could obtain. Yet he was willing to forego those comforts and advantages in order to promote the edification of the Church at Thessalonica." Dr. John Gill.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…