“…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith…“
Timothy receives his marching orders. Paul asks Timothy to walk all the way from Athens in southern Greece back to Thessalonica three hundred miles to the north and then […]
Archive for June, 1999
“…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith…”
and encourage you
The second mission of Timothy was to “encourage” the Thessalonians. The word “encouraged” connotes to cause someone to be consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means. […]
“…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith…”
concerning your faith
The word “concerning” is literally on behalf of. Paul sent Timothy to establish and encourage the Thessalonians on behalf of their faith. Faith under trial needs both […]
“…that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this“
that
The word “that” gives us the goal of Timothy’s trip: establishing and encouraging the Thessalonians.
no one should be shaken by these afflictions;
The words “no one” indicate that it is Paul’s desire that not even one […]
“…that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this“
for
The word “for” establishes the reason why duress should not shake the faith of believers: this is in God’s divine design for them.
you yourselves know
The Thessalonians knew they would face tribulation because Paul told them when […]
“For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know“
For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you
Paul says he kept on telling them when he was with them about the persecution to come [imperfect tense]. He […]
“For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain“
For this reason,
The reason Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica was the subtlety of Satan in discouraging the new church.
when I could no longer […]
“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you…“
But now
Paul now contrasts his apprehension about the state of Thessalonian spirituality with the good […]
“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you…”
and brought us good news of your faith and love,
Two characteristic attitudes of the Thessalonians […]
“…therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith“
Verses seven through nine give Paul’s response to Timothy’s report.
therefore,
The “therefore” draws an inference from verse six.
brethren,
Paul appeals to the common heritage in Christ that he had with the Thessalonians.
in all our affliction and distress
“Affliction” refers to […]