1 Thessalonians 3:1-5·~1 min

Timothy’s Visit

Paul says that when he could bear the separation no longer, he accepted being left behind and sent Timothy, God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonians in their faith.

S¹o when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens. ²We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

Timothy was sent so that no one would be unsettled by the afflictions that had come, since suffering was something Paul had already told them to expect. Paul says that when he could no longer bear the uncertainty, he sent to learn about their faith for fear that the tempter had succeeded and the labor had proved empty.

³so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this. ⁴Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass. ⁵For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and that our labor might have been in vain.

Section summaryPaul explains that when he could no longer endure the uncertainty of separation, he chose to remain behind and send Timothy to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonians in their faith. The purpose was to keep them from being shaken by the afflictions that had come, since suffering was already part of what Paul had warned them to expect, and he feared the tempter might have undermined their faith and rendered the labor fruitless.

Role in the chapterThis opening section reveals the pastoral pressure created by distance and persecution. It shows that Paul's concern is not mere affection only, but the stability of the church's faith under trial.