mh_parser/vol_split/52 - 1Thessalonians/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="iTh.iv" n="iv" next="iTh.v" prev="iTh.iii" progress="65.85%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="iTh.iv-p0.1">F I R S T   T H E S S A L O N I A N
S.</h2>
<h3 id="iTh.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iTh.iv-p1">In this chapter the apostle gives further evidence
of his love to the Thessalonians, reminding them of his sending
Timothy to them, with the mention of his design therein and his
inducements so to do, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.1-1Thess.3.5" parsed="|1Thess|3|1|3|5" passage="1Th 3:1-5">ver.
1-5</scripRef>. He acquaints them also with his great satisfaction
at the return of Timothy, with good tidings concerning them,
<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.6-1Thess.3.10" parsed="|1Thess|3|6|3|10" passage="1Th 3:6-10">ver. 6-10</scripRef>. And concludes
with fervent prayer for them, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.11-1Thess.3.13" parsed="|1Thess|3|11|3|13" passage="1Th 3:11-13">ver.
11, to the end</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="iTh.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3" parsed="|1Thess|3|0|0|0" passage="1Th 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iTh.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.1-1Thess.3.5" parsed="|1Thess|3|1|3|5" passage="1Th 3:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Thess.3.1-1Thess.3.5">
<h4 id="iTh.iv-p1.6">The Mission of Timothy. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iTh.iv-p1.7">a.
d.</span> 51.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iTh.iv-p2">1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we
thought it good to be left at Athens alone;   2 And sent
Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer
in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you
concerning your faith:   3 That no man should be moved by
these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed
thereunto.   4 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.   5 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p3">In these words the apostle gives an account
of his sending Timothy to the Thessalonians. Though he was hindered
from going to them himself, yet his love was such that he could not
forbear sending Timothy to them. Though Timothy was very useful to
him, and he could not well spare him, yet Paul was content, for
their good, <i>to be left alone at Athens.</i> Note, Those
ministers do not duly value the establishment and welfare of their
people who cannot deny themselves in many things for that end.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p4">I. The character he gives of Timothy
(<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.2" parsed="|1Thess|3|2|0|0" passage="1Th 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>): <i>We sent
Timotheus, our brother.</i> Elsewhere he calls him his son; here he
calls him brother. Timothy was Paul's junior in age, his inferior
in gifts and graces, and of a lower rank in the ministry: for Paul
was an apostle, and Timothy but an evangelist; yet Paul calls him
brother. This was an instance of the apostle's humility, and showed
his desire to put honour upon Timothy and to recommend him to the
esteem of the churches. He calls him also a minister of God. Note,
Ministers of the gospel of Christ are ministers of God, to promote
the kingdom of God among men. He calls him also his fellow-labourer
in the gospel of Christ. Note, Ministers of the gospel must look
upon themselves as labourers in the Lord's vineyard; they have an
honourable office and hard work, yet a good work. <i>This is a true
saying, If any man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good
work,</i> <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.3.1" parsed="|1Tim|3|1|0|0" passage="1Ti 3:1">1 Tim. iii. 1</scripRef>. And
ministers should look upon one another, and strengthen one
another's hands, not strive and contend one with another (which
will hinder their work), but strive together to carry on the great
work they are engaged in, namely, to preach and publish the gospel
of Christ, and to persuade people to embrace and entertain it and
live suitably thereto.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p5">II. The end and design why Paul sent
Timothy: <i>To establish you and to comfort you concerning your
faith,</i> <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.2" parsed="|1Thess|3|2|0|0" passage="1Th 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. Paul
had converted them to the Christian faith, and now he was desirous
that they might be confirmed and comforted, that they might
confirmed in the choice they had made of the Christian religion,
and comforted in the profession and practice of it. Note, The more
we are comforted, the more we shall be confirmed, because, when we
find pleasure in the ways of God, we shall thereby be engaged to
continue and persevere therein. The apostle's design was to
establish and comfort the Thessalonians concerning their
faith,—concerning the object of their faith, namely, the truths of
the gospel, and particularly that Jesus Christ was the Saviour of
the world, and so wise and good, so powerful and faithful, that
they might rely upon him,—concerning the recompence of faith,
which was more than sufficient to balance all their losses and
reward all their labours.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p6">III. The motive inducing Paul to send
Timothy for this end, namely, a godly fear or jealousy, lest they
should be moved from the faith of Christ, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.3" parsed="|1Thess|3|3|0|0" passage="1Th 3:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. He was desirous that no man, no
one among them, should be moved or shaken in mind, that they should
not apostatize or waver in the faith. And yet,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p7">1. He apprehended there was danger, and
feared the consequence.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p8">(1.) There was danger, [1.] By reason of
<i>affliction</i> and persecution for the sake of the gospel,
<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.3" parsed="|1Thess|3|3|0|0" passage="1Th 3:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. These
Thessalonians could not but perceive what afflictions the apostles
and preachers of the gospel met with, and this might possibly
stumble them; and also those who made profession of the gospel were
persecuted, and without doubt these Thessalonians themselves were
afflicted. [2.] By reason of the tempter's subtlety and malice. The
apostle was afraid lest by any means the tempter had tempted them,
<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.5" parsed="|1Thess|3|5|0|0" passage="1Th 3:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. The devil is a
subtle and unwearied tempter, who seeks an opportunity to beguile
and destroy us, and takes all advantages against us, both in a time
of prosperity and adversity; and he has often been successful in
his attacks upon persons under afflictions. He has often prejudiced
the minds of men against religion on account of the sufferings its
professors are exposed to. We have reason therefore to be jealous
over ourselves and others, lest we be ensnared by him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p9">(2.) The consequence the apostle feared was
lest his labour should be in vain. And thus it would have been, if
the tempter had tempted them, and prevailed against them, to move
them from the faith. They would have lost what they had wrought,
and the apostle would have lost what he laboured for. Note, It is
the devil's design to hinder the good fruit and effect of the
preaching of the gospel. If he cannot hinder ministers from
labouring in the word and doctrine, he will, if he be able, hinder
them of the success of their labours. Note also, Faithful ministers
are much concerned about the success of their labours. No one would
willingly labour in vain; and ministers are loth to spend their
strength, and pains, and time, for nought.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p10">2. To prevent this danger, with its bad
consequence, the apostle tells them what care he took in sending
Timothy, (1.) To put them in mind of what he had told them before
concerning suffering tribulation (<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.4" parsed="|1Thess|3|4|0|0" passage="1Th 3:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), he says (<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.3" parsed="|1Thess|3|3|0|0" passage="1Th 3:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), <i>We are appointed
thereunto,</i> that is, unto afflictions. So is the will and
purpose of God that <i>through many afflictions we must enter into
his kingdom.</i> Their troubles and persecutions did not come by
chance, not merely from the wrath and malice of the enemies of
religion, but by the <i>appointment of God.</i> The event only came
to pass according as God had determined, and they knew he had told
them before it would be; so that they should not think it strange,
and, being fore-warned, they should be fore-armed. Note, The
apostles were so far from flattering people with an expectation of
worldly prosperity in religion that, on the contrary, they told
them plainly they must count upon trouble in the flesh. And herein
they followed the example of their great Master, the author or our
faith. Besides, it might prove a confirmation of their faith, when
they perceived that it only happened to them as was predicted
before. (2.) To know their faith, that so he might inform the
apostles whether they remained stedfast under all their sufferings,
whether their faith failed or not, because, if their faith did not
fail, they would be able to stand their ground against the tempter
and all his temptations: their faith would be a <i>shield, to
defend them against all the fiery darts of the wicked,</i>
<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.6.16" parsed="|Eph|6|16|0|0" passage="Eph 6:16">Eph. vi. 16</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iTh.iv-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.6-1Thess.3.10" parsed="|1Thess|3|6|3|10" passage="1Th 3:6-10" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Thess.3.6-1Thess.3.10">
<h4 id="iTh.iv-p10.5">The Mission of Timothy. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iTh.iv-p10.6">a.
d.</span> 51.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iTh.iv-p11">6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us,
and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye
have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as
we also <i>to see</i> you:   7 Therefore, brethren, we were
comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your
faith:   8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
  9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for
all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;  
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face,
and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p12">Here we have Paul's great satisfaction upon
the return of Timothy with good tidings from the Thessalonians, in
which we may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p13">I. The good report Timothy made concerning
them, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.6" parsed="|1Thess|3|6|0|0" passage="1Th 3:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Without
question, he was a willing messenger of these good tidings.
<i>Concerning their faith,</i> that is, concerning their
stedfastness in the faith, that they were not shaken in mind, nor
turned aside form the profession of the gospel. <i>Their love</i>
also continued; their love to the gospel, and the ministers of the
gospel. For they had a good and a kind remembrance of the apostles,
and that constantly, or always. The names of the apostles were very
dear to them, and the thoughts of them, and what they themselves
had received from them, were very precious, insomuch that they
<i>desired greatly to see them again,</i> and receive some
spiritual gift from them; and there was no love lost, for the
apostle was as desirous to see them. It is happy where there is
such mutual love between minister and people. This tends to promote
religion, and the success of the gospel. The world hates them, and
therefore they should love one another.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p14">II. The great comfort and satisfaction the
apostle had in this good report concerning them (<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.7-1Thess.3.8" parsed="|1Thess|3|7|3|8" passage="1Th 3:7,8"><i>v.</i> 7, 8</scripRef>): <i>Therefore, brethren, we
were comforted in all our affliction and distress.</i> The apostle
thought this good news of them was sufficient to balance all the
troubles he met with. It was easy to him to bear affliction, or
persecution, or fightings from without, when he found the good
success of his ministry and the constancy of the converts he had
made to Christianity; and his distress of mind on account of his
fears within, lest he had laboured in vain, was now in a good
measure over, when he understood their faith and the perseverance
of it. This put new life and spirit into the apostle and made him
vigorous and active in the work of the Lord. Thus he was not only
comforted, but greatly rejoiced also: <i>Now we live, if you stand
fast in the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.8" parsed="|1Thess|3|8|0|0" passage="1Th 3:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. It would have been a killing thing to the apostles if
the professors of religion had been unsteady, or proved apostates;
whereas nothing was more encouraging than their constancy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p15">III. The effects of this were thankfulness
and prayer to God on their behalf. Observe, 1. How thankful the
apostle was, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.9" parsed="|1Thess|3|9|0|0" passage="1Th 3:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>. 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. 2. He prayed for them night and day
(<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.10" parsed="|1Thess|3|10|0|0" passage="1Th 3:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), evening and
morning, or very frequently, in the midst of the business of the
day or slumber of the night lifting up his heart to God in prayer.
Thus we should pray always. And Paul's prayer was fervent prayer.
He prayed exceedingly, and was earnest in his supplication. Note,
When we are most thankful we should always give ourselves to
prayer; and those we give thanks for have yet need to be prayed
for. Those whom we most rejoice in, and who are our greatest
comforts, must be our constant care, while in this world of
temptation and imperfection. There was something still lacking in
their faith; Paul desired that this might be perfected, and to see
their face in order thereunto. Note, (1.) The best of men have
something wanting in their faith, if not as to the matter of it,
there being some mysteries or doctrines not sufficiently known or
believed by them, yet as to the clearness and certainty of their
faith, there being some remaining darkness and doubtings, or at
least as to the effects and operations of it, these being not so
conspicuous and perfect as they should be. And, (2.) The ministry
of the word and ordinances is helpful, and to be desired and used
for the perfecting of that which is lacking in our faith.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iTh.iv-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.11-1Thess.3.13" parsed="|1Thess|3|11|3|13" passage="1Th 3:11-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Thess.3.11-1Thess.3.13">
<h4 id="iTh.iv-p15.4">Apostolic Prayer. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iTh.iv-p15.5">a.
d.</span> 51.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iTh.iv-p16">11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord
Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.   12 And the Lord make
you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward
all <i>men,</i> even as we <i>do</i> toward you:   13 To the
end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,
even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all
his saints.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p17">In these words we have the earnest prayer
of the apostle. He desired to be instrumental in the further
benefit of the Thessalonians; and the only way to be so while at a
distance was by prayer for them, together with his writing or
sending to them. He desired that their faith might be perfected,
which he could not be the proper cause or author of; for he
pretended not to dominion over their faith, nor to have the
donation of it, and he therefore concludes with prayer for them.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p18">I. Whom he prays to, namely, God and
Christ. Prayer is a part of religious worship, and all religious
worship is due unto God only. Prayer is here made to God, even the
Father and our Father; and also to Christ, even our Lord Jesus
Christ. Therefore Jesus Christ our Lord is God, even as God our
Father is God. Prayer is to be offered to God as our Father. So
Christ taught his disciples to pray; and so the Spirit of adoption
prompts them to pray, to cry, <i>Abba Father.</i> Prayer is not
only to be offered in the name of Christ, but offered up to Christ
himself, as our Lord and our Saviour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p19">II. What he prays for, with respect to
himself and his fellow-labourers, and on behalf of the
Thessalonians.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p20">1. He prays that himself and
fellow-labourers might have a prosperous journey to them by the
will of God, that their way might be directed to them, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.11" parsed="|1Thess|3|11|0|0" passage="1Th 3:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. The taking of a journey
to this or that place, one would think, is a thing depending so
much on a man's own will, and lies so much in his own power, that
Paul needed not by prayer to go to God about it. But the apostle
knew that <i>in God we live, and move, and have our being,</i> that
we depend upon God in all our motions and actions, as well as for
the continuance of life and being, that divine Providence orders
all our affairs and that it is owing thereto if we prosper therein,
that God our Father directs and orders his children whither they
shall go and what they shall do, that our Lord Jesus Christ in a
particular manner directs the motions of his faithful ministers,
those stars which he holds in his right hand. Let us acknowledge
God in all our ways, and he will direct our paths.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iTh.iv-p21">2. He prays for the prosperity of the
Thessalonians. Whether he should have an opportunity of coming to
them or not, yet he earnestly prayed for the prosperity of their
souls. And there are two things he desired for them, which we
should desire for ourselves and friends:—(1.) That they might
increase and abound in love (<scripRef id="iTh.iv-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.12" parsed="|1Thess|3|12|0|0" passage="1Th 3:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), in love to one another and in love to all men.
Note, Mutual love is required of all Christians, and not only that
they love one another, but that they also have a charitable
disposition of mind and due concern for the welfare of all men.
Love is of God, and is the fulfilling of the gospel as well as of
the law. Timothy brought good tidings of their faith, yet something
was lacking therein; and of their charity, yet the apostle prays
that this might increase and abound. Note, We have reason to desire
to grow in every grace, and have need of the Spirit's influence in
order to growth in grace; and the way to obtain this is by prayer.
We are beholden to God not only for the stock put into our hands at
first, but for the improvement of it also. And to our prayer we
must add endeavour. To excite this in the Thessalonians the apostle
again mentions his love, his abounding love, towards them. The more
we are beloved, the more affectionate we should be. (2.) That they
might be established unblamable in holiness, <scripRef id="iTh.iv-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.3.13" parsed="|1Thess|3|13|0|0" passage="1Th 3:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. This spiritual benefit is
mentioned as an effect of increasing and abounding love: <i>To the
end that he</i> (the Lord) <i>may establish your hearts.</i> Note,
The more we grow and abound in grace, and particularly in the grace
of love, the more we are established and confirmed in it. Note
also, Holiness is required of all those who would go to heaven, and
therein we must be unblamable; that is, we must act in every thing
so that we may not in the least contradict the profession we make
of holiness. Our desire should be to have our hearts established in
holiness before God, and be preserved safe, to the coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ; and that we may be unblamable before God, even
the Father, now, and be presented blameless before the throne of
his glory, when the Lord Jesus shall come with all his saints.
Note, [1.] The Lord Jesus will certainly come, and come in his
glory. [2.] When he comes, his saints will come with him: <i>They
shall appear with him in glory.</i> [3.] Then the excellency as
well as the necessity of holiness will appear, because without this
no hearts shall be established at that day, nor shall any one be
unblamable, or avoid everlasting condemnation.</p>
</div></div2>