Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 18

Paul Receives News from Timothy about the Thessalonians Part 2

1 Thessalonians 3:8-10 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? KJV

As we saw documented in the last study/commentary, we were given a vivid word picture by this great Apostle of what his inner man was going through as he awaited the return of brother Timothy to him with the news of what was happening in the Thessalonian Church, as he (Paul), the one who wrote these words, "Be anxious for nothing" (Philippians 4:6), yet it does not take a Doctorate in Theology to discern from his words here that he was somewhat upset, unquieted, and uneasy in his inner man over what had become of these believers in Thessalonica, seeing they were perhaps the one Church that he spent the list amount of time with after their conversion to Christ. Perhaps this also fueled his reasoning and desire to spend as much time in his next stop the city of Corinth after many there turned from idols to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as we find again documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "And one night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, 'Have no fear, but speak and do not keep silent; For I am with you, and no man shall assault you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.' So he settled down among them for a year and six months, teaching the Word of God [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God]." (Acts 18:9-11) (Amplified Bible).

Having said all of this, we now find Paul eased and lighten from the self imposed burdened he felt over not being able to get back to them face to face as he says so with these words, "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 3:8) (KJV). Paul's use of the little English phrase 'stand fast' is the reason for his once anxiety over them and now his comfort over them seeing that they are doing just what this phrase means as it is translated by one Greek word steko which means to be stationary, that is, (figuratively) to persevere: - stand (fast). In other words, Paul (who trusted brother Timothy completely) learned from Timothy's report to him that these new believers are persevering, persisting, and even powerfully continuing in their faith 'in Christ' individually and collectively as a Church Body despite all of the intense persecution aimed at them and at other believers (like the Apostle Paul) in other places apart from Thessalonica, they have not moved away from the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of Grace in order to make the persecution stop. This is why Paul says that 'now we live', meaning we are energized, aroused, or raised up to a higher level of excitement in our ministry work, for we now know that the Gospel has taken root and is growing within your body of new believers, that is, that they are still steadfastly maintaining a close walk with God.

Paul goes on to express to them in more detailed language what their steadfastness has meant to him and the other believers with him with these words, "For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;" (1 Thessalonians 3:9) (KJV). It was never enough for Paul to just preach the Gospel everywhere he went, but it was Paul's most urgent desire to see God the Holy Spirit convert sinners to Christ upon hearing the 'good news' and then to see the new believers persevere in the face of the devil's onslaughts and attacks that Paul (having experienced many himself) knew were sure to follow every believer in Jesus Christ during his time and during every time until our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ returns to gather up His saints in the Rapture (as Paul taught these very Thessalonian believers all about). Paul uses the English word 'joy' speaking of himself and those with him of their emotions, excitement, and enthusiasm over the rock solid firmness of their faith in Christ and this word is translated by the Greek word chara meaning cheerfulness, that is, calm delight: - gladness. Then Paul immediately uses the little English phrase 'we joy' which is translated by one Greek word chairo which is a primary verb meaning to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off. In other words, the news of the Thessalonian believers brought back to Paul by brother Timothy prompted the producing of 'joy' within Paul by the Holy Spirit and he joyed, that is, was full of cheer replacing the doubt, dread, and discomfort he felt over not knowing how they were handling the persecution against them for their faith in Jesus Christ.

Finally, Paul informs them once again how much he placed them in his prayers to God the Father with very sharp and strong language as he says so with these words, "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" (1 Thessalonians 3:10) (KJV). Although the Apostle had received a good report back from brother Timothy, this did not totally satisfy him, for he knew they would even be better of if he himself could get back to them to impart from our Lord Jesus Christ some spiritual gift to them just as he had said to the Roman believers with these words, "I keep pleading that somehow by God's will I may now at last prosper {and} come to you. For I am yearning to see you, that I may impart {and} share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen {and} establish you; That is, that we may be mutually strengthened {and} encouraged {and} comforted by each other's faith, both yours and mine." (Romans 1:10-12) (Amplified Bible).

Paul uses the English word 'exceedingly' to describe the vigor, vitality, and virosity of his prayers to God the Father to open up a way for him to get back to Thessalonica and this English word is translated by the Greek word perissos meaning by implication excessive; violently; with preeminence: - more abundantly, or vehemently. In other words, Paul could not and would not except his being forced out of that city being there such a short time, so he bombarded the Throne of God the Father with constant prayer that he might get back there. Paul wanted, as he puts it to them in order that he 'might perfect that which is lacking in your faith' and the little English phrase 'might perfect' is translated by one Greek word katartizo meaning to complete thoroughly, that is, repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust: - fit, frame, mend, restore. In other words, Paul wanted to be their face to face with them to answer their questions concerning faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and continue teaching them all that our Lord Jesus had and was imparting to him that they might be complete, consistent, and constant. Paul was not declaring their faith to be flawed, but he knew that every new believer needs to be instructed in the Word of God in order to be able to walk in the truth and wage the spiritual warfare.

"That I might have the opportunity of giving you the fullest instructions in the doctrine of Christ, that ye might have every thing in the most ample detail; so that the great outlines of truth which you already know may be filled up, that ye may be perfectly fitted to every good word and work." Adam Clarke

"He was full of joy, and full of praise and thanksgiving. When we are most cheerful we should be most thankful. What we rejoice in we should give thanks for. This is to rejoice before our God, to spiritualize our joy. Paul speaks as if he could not tell how to express his thankfulness to God, or his joy and rejoicing for their sakes. But he was careful God should not lose the glory of the comfort he received in the welfare of his friends. His heart was enlarged with love to them and with thanksgiving to God. He was willing to express the one and the other as well as he could. As to thankfulness to God, this especially is very imperfect in the present state; but, when we come to heaven, we shall do this work better than now we can." Matthew Henry

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…