Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 16

Paul Sends Timothy to Establish & Strengthen them in their Faith Part 3

1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. KJV

Many over the years have questioned how could Paul have imparted so much of the Christian Doctrine and Teaching to the newly converted people in the city of Thessalonica, seeing that he was forced out of said city after only 3 weeks to 1 month (Acts 17:2) & (Acts 17:10), but it is not reasonable, responsible, or right for any one of us during any era of the Church to question the Word of God and that is exactly what Paul's letters to theses believers in Thessalonica is the Word of God, therefore, he says this to them reminding them of what he had taught them on the subject of persecution, "For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know." (1 Thessalonians 3:4) (KJV). It is our responsibility to here the Word of God and not question it, but believe it as it is written. Paul, however, (unlike many of us today, myself included) like all of the Apostles was not one to waist time, instead he went about trying to redeem all the time that was given to him by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in order that men and women would be saved and built up in the faith just as he declared with these words to the believers in Corinth, "Have you been supposing [all this time] that we have been defending ourselves {and} apologizing to you? [It is] in the sight {and} the [very] presence of God [and as one] in Christ (the Messiah) that we have been speaking, dearly beloved, and all in order to build you up [spiritually]." (2 Corinthians 12:19) (Amplified Bible) and also as he declared to the believers in the region of Galatia with these words, "So then, as occasion {and} opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers]." (Galatians 6:10) (Amplified Bible).

Paul uses the little English phrase 'we told you before' which is translated by one Greek word prolego meaning to say beforehand, that is, predict, forewarn: - foretell, tell before. Paul perhaps presented this to the people, even as he was presenting to them the Gospel of Grace in order that they would not be under some false illusions that they would have ease or health, wealth, and prosperity upon coming to faith in Jesus Christ, for Paul certainly knew from first hand experience that this was not so as our Lord Jesus showed to him along his sojourn and pilgrimage (Acts 9:16), so Paul likewise made this (most likely) one of his first teachings to these new converts in Thessalonica. As we know (from Dr. Luke documentation Acts 17:1-10), this is exactly what happened as soon as Paul, Silas, and Timothy presented the Gospel there and God the Holy Spirit converted the souls of many sinners there. This persecution continued for the believers in Thessalonica and this is why Paul could no longer wait, but he needed to know how they were doing physically, but more importantly spiritually, had they stood their ground 'in Christ'? or had the devil had success in bringing so much of the spirit or demon of fear to them, that they had turned away from faith in Christ, these questions were ever present in  the mind of this great Apostle, so he declares to them in this stage of his first letter these words, "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain." (1 Thessalonians 3:5) (KJV). It was the sure fact and reality that Paul knew that the devil would use wicked men and women to persecute these new believers in Thessalonica that he sent Timothy to them (even though he needed Timothy with him). Paul could no longer endure the not knowing their state or condition, so he makes the sacrifice and sends Timothy to them that he might know where they stood in their relationship to Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul uses the little English phrase 'to know' which is translated by one Greek word ginosko which is a prolonged form of a primary verb; meaning to “know” (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications be aware of, feel, have knowledge, perceive, be resolved, be sure, understand. Paul wanted his mind to be put to rest for his restlessness over their condition by having a report brought back to him one way or another. Paul perhaps being mindful of the troubles that were brought to the Galatian believers wanted to stop (if possibly) the same things happening in Thessalonica, as we are reminded of what took place in Galatia by these words of Paul written to them, "O you poor {and} silly {and} thoughtless {and} unreflecting {and} senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated {or} bewitched {or} cast a spell over you, unto whom--right before your very eyes--Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly {and} graphically set forth {and} portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law {and} doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] Are you so foolish {and} so senseless {and} so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? Have you suffered so many things {and} experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)--if it really is to no purpose {and} in vain?" (Galatians 3:1-4) (Amplified Bible), so with this experience with the Galatians fresh in his mind Timothy is sent to do just that.

The truth is who our Lord Jesus Christ is (John 14:6) and the lie is who the devil is (John 8:44), so Paul wanted to know if the tempter (the devil) had through the spirit or demon of fear influenced them to turn away from the truth of the Gospel and of the Word of God in order to stop the persecution as some in Galatia had been tempted to do as Paul wrote to them with these words of concern, "You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding {and} following the Truth? This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ]. A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole Church]. [For my part] I have confidence [toward you] in the Lord that you will take no contrary view of the matter {but} will come to think with me. But he who is unsettling you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation], why am I still suffering persecution? In that case the Cross has ceased to be a stumbling block {and} is made meaningless (done away)." (Galatians 5:7-11) (Amplified Bible). When Paul says 'our labor be in vain', he is not saying that his preaching the true Gospel of Christ or the Gospel of Grace was empty, but on the contrary, what he means is that his concern was that some of their professions of faith 'in Christ' was in vain or empty, meaning that some may have pretended regeneration and new birth by God the Holy Spirit because some family or friends had truly been born again and they did not want to feel left out.

"Greek, 'that we are about (we are sure) to suffer according to the appointment of God (1Thessalonians 3:3). 'Even (exactly) as it both came to pass and ye know'; ye know both that it came to pass, and that we foretold it. The correspondence of the event to the prediction powerfully confirms faith: 'Forewarned, forearmed' [Edmunds]. The repetition of 'ye know,' so frequently, is designed as an argument, that being forewarned of coming affliction, they should be less readily 'moved' by it." JFB Commentary

"In persecution, people are tempted to apostatize from God, in order to avoid suffering. In afflictions of other kinds, Satan often tempts the sufferer to murmur and complain; to charge God with harshness, partiality, and severity, and to give vent to expressions that will show that religion has none of its boasted power to support the soul in the day of trial; compare Job 1:9-11. In all times of affliction, as well as in prosperity, we may be sure that 'the Tempter' is not far off, and should be on our guard against his wiles. And our labour be in vain - By your being turned from the faith." Albert Barnes

"And our labour be in vain: in preaching the Gospel among them; not with respect to God, to whom the Word never returns void and empty; nor with regard to the Apostles, whose judgment was with the Lord, and their work with their God, who will of His own grace reward them; but with respect to the Thessalonians, to whom, should Satan gain his point, it would be of no use and service, for which the concern was. The Ethiopic version reads, 'and your labour be in vain': in receiving the Apostles, embracing and professing the Gospel, and suffering for it; see Galatians 3:4 but the common reading is best, and agrees with what the Apostle elsewhere says, Galatians 4:11." 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…