Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 17

Paul Receives News from Timothy about the Thessalonians Part 1

1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 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: KJV

Paul had only one desire when he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica and that was to know the spiritual state and condition of the new believers in Christ in that Church. Timothy returned from his mission and brought Paul the news of the truth as he saw and witnessed it for himself. Upon Timothy's returned, many Bible Scholars (of who I am not one, but I am a lover of the Word of God) believe that after Timothy was reunited with the Apostle Paul that he (Paul) then sits down to write this first letter to the Church in Thessalonica. This makes perfect sense seeing that Paul includes here (in the letter) Timothy's report on the Church there as he declares with these words, "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:" (1 Thessalonians 3:6) (KJV). Paul had to be patient and wait for Timothy to return before he went and wrote something to these new believers that could have discouraged them instead of encouraging them. The little English phrase 'brought us good tidings' is translated by one Greek word euaggelizo which means simply to bring, declare, or announce good news.

In other words, it was what Paul had longed for since their seperation from one another, that is, he being snatched away from the new Church there well before his wanting to leave because of the intense and violent physical persecution that occured there (Acts 17:5-10). Paul was hurried away by the other brethren in order that what happened to him in Lystra (where he was stoned to death) (Acts 14:19) would not occur there in Thessalonica. The other brethren wanted to protect Paul by getting him as far away from the persecution there as possible, however, Paul had still much to impart to the new believers there and sought a way he could return, but as he stated earlier in this same letter, Satan hindered him as he said with these words, "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).

It was the condition of their faith that concerned Paul and now he had received news that their faith in Christ and love for Christ and one another had withstood all of the devil's violent assaults upon it and this news was to Paul exactly as the Proverb says, "Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far [home] country." (Proverbs 25:25) (Amplified Bible). Surely, Paul had often times imagined, supposed, thought, and even truly believed that this would be the news to him from brother Timothy, but after what he had witnessed in Galatia, he still had that fear or concern that they might have been moved away from the Gospel and the truth by the persecution, but instead his souls thirst was quenched by Tiomthy's report. But not only had Timothy reported of their steadfastness in the faith, but he also told the Apostle Paul of how much the believers there longed for him to return to them and Paul uses the little English phrase 'desiring greatly' to describe their longing and this little phrase is translated by one Greek word epipotheo meaning (to yearn); to dote upon, that is, intensely crave possession of, to earnestly desire, to greatly long after.

In other words, the persecution was far from causing these new Thessalonian believers to turn away from Paul, but it made them feel even closer to Paul and they wanted to be in the physical presence of Paul that they might learn more and more from Paul about our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and how they might suffer patiently to bring glory to God as Paul had done on numerous occassions. In other words, the devils plots, ploys, and plans to use fear to turn these new believers in Thessalonica against the Apostle Paul blew up in his face as they often do because as Paul declared to the believers in Corinth concerning forgiving one another also applies concerning our being loyal to one another and in so doing we will be safe and protected so long as Paul said we remain unbendable, unfaltering, and unshakable in our doing what these words of Paul declare is our ability in Christ to do and that is, "To keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles {and} intentions." (2 Corinthians 2:11) (Amplified Bible).

Paul's own soul (as we stated above) was put at ease by the good report brought to him from Thessalonica by Timothy and so he expresses his feelings concerning their steadfastness in Christ with these words speaking of what it meant to know this for him, "Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:" (1 Thessalonians 3:7) (KJV). Nothing aided the Apostle Paul more than knowing (with certainty) that those whom he preached the Gospel of Christ to, continued in the faith, in love, and in the truth of the Word of God. This brought great peace to the inner man of the Apostle Paul, for we must remember how concerned he always was over the Churches (even more than his own safety and physical well being) as he said himself with these words, "And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care {and} anxiety for all the Churches!" (2 Corinthians 11:28) (Amplified Bible). This man was truly a lover of God the Father's children, his brethren, that he could not rest without knowing their spiritual condition and in so knowing that of these Thessalonian believers, that is, their faith being firm and rock solid 'in Christ' he was comforted in all of his suffering and hurting because of the many attacks from Jews and Gentiles for his speaking the truth in love.

"Paul knew that as long as believers stood their spiritual ground against the devil and his onslaughts, they would be taken care of by our Lord Jesus Christ and when he learned that the new believers in Thessalonica (whom he spent the least amount of time with face to face) were standing strong in their faith 'in Christ', then his hardships and trouble (for the sake of the Gospel) seemed to be but a light thing compared to knowing these believers were safe eternally." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"We have already seen that he and Silas stayed behind at Thessalonica, when Paul was obliged to leave it; for the persecution seems to have been principally directed against him. When Paul came to Athens, he sent pressingly to him and Silas to come to him with all speed to that city. We are not informed that they did come, but it is most likely that they did, and that Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to comfort and build up these new converts. After Paul had sent away Timothy, it is likely he went himself straight to Corinth, and there Timothy soon after met him, with the good news of the steadiness of the Thessalonian Church." Adam Clarke

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…