Relief! 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10.
Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners,
Previously we saw how for fear that persecution might cause the Thessalonian believers to cave in and abandon the faith, Paul and his companions sent Timothy to check on them. Now Timothy has returned to Corinth and brought with him a
Report (v. 6). The news of the Thessalonians is encouraging because of their faith and Love. This is probably not just love for God but also love for the evangelists, which must have been demonstrated in their treatment of Timothy. This love was evidenced by their Longing. As the evangelists longed for the Thessalonians, so the Thessalonians longed for them. Nothing is more encouraging than love returned.
Revival (vv. 7-8). The evangelists had worried themselves sick about the Thessalonians. But now they get the good news that the Thessalonians are not only pining for the evangelists, they are also steadfast in their faith. This rejuvenates the spirits of the evangelists so that they can excitedly declare, “For now we live if you are standing fast in the Lord.
Reiteration (vv. 9-10). Paul and his companions remind the Thessalonians how glad they are that the Thessalonians are standing firm. They now long, even more, to be able to visit, so that they can “supply what is lacking” in their faith. This is not to imply that the faith of the Thessalonians was deficient. Rather, their instruction in the faith was deficient, because the evangelists had had to leave abruptly before they had a chance to ground the believers in the faith. The Thessalonians had so little to go on, yet they faithfully clung to the little they knew. What an indictment on many of us who have great knowledge and little to show for it.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.