“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 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, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4.

The history of this first landing in Europe during the second missionary journey of the Apostle Paul is given in Acts 16:11-17:34.

While there were other stops made after these, this is all we will concern ourselves with at this time.

The outline goes like this, the first stop was at Philippi where the gospel was accepted by a woman named Lydia, in time the evangelists were driven out by angry Gentiles who first beat them illegally then asked them to leave.

They continued their journeyed until they reached Thessalonica where again the gospel was met with gladness and a church established (it is this church that 1 and 2 Thessalonians is written to), but then Paul and his colleagues were opposed by jealous Jews and driven out.

Again, upon their arrival at Berea they were well received until these same angry Jews came and stirred up the populace and forced Paul to leave, while Silas and Timothy remained behind temporarily.

It is this period during Paul’s sojourn in Athens that he made his oration on Mars Hill (aka, the Areopagus; lit. Hill of Ares). See Acts 17:16-34; there is information given in this oration that is well worth your consideration.

From Athens he journeyed on to Corinth (Acts 18), where he was finally joined by Silas and Timothy. Corinth is the city from which it is felt that both letters to the Thessalonians were written.

The Apostle Paul refers to the various afflictions they encountered when he writes as follows.

“For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.” 1 Thessalonians 3:4.

Before entering Thessalonica, Paul and Silas who were Roman citizens, were illegally beaten and thrown into prison in Philippi as noted earlier, see Acts chapter 16. And in the next two cities they were spitefully treated; so the Thessalonians were well aware that these men, “…are appointed to this” 1 Thessalonians 3:3b.

“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.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5.

The tempter is the same person referred to in 1 Thessalonians 2.

“Therefore we wanted to come to you – even I, Paul, time and again – but Satan hindered us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:18.

In many ways the possible perils to the Thessalonian church were the same as they are in this country today, they were surrounded by a pagan culture given over to superstition, and sexual immorality of the basest kind.

Another possible avenue that Satan might have used is mentioned in the book of Galatians. In fact if Galatians were written before this letter to the Thessalonians, Paul may well have already experienced this problem caused by Satan.

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9.

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? – just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” Galatians 3:1-7.

Judaizers had come in and told the Galatians that faith alone was not enough to get them to heaven, but they had to keep the law which was not just the Law of Moses.

Moses’ law had been expanded with many interpretations added to it, until it had become a huge grindingly ponderous monster that burdened anyone who came under it. Scripture says this about the Law of Moses, without the added burden of manmade rules.

“…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16.

“How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?” Job 25:4-6.

“Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.” Psalm 143:2.

Many folks make the mistake of thinking that Satan wants us to do evil, lie, cheat, murder, and lust. But the truth is that he is just as content for us to be good, because people who are good do not think that they need a savior.

After all they are doing the best they can, and what more can God ask? The tragedy is that hell will probably have just as many good people in it as bad ones.

It is only when a person realizes that there is no way they can measure up to Gods standards by keeping the law, and they finally throw up their hands and cry out, “God be merciful to me a sinner”; then the gospel of Christ becomes the answer to their prayers.

“For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Romans 10:11-13.

God created us knowing that we would never measure up to His standard of holiness, which is impossible since He is infinitely holy. At the same time He cannot have sin in His presence. This is a great chasm between the Creator and His creation.

The fact is that it is not possible for men to measure up to God’s standards. So the only viable option was for Him to make a way for us from His end. Jesus Christ is the only answer to the problem.

By paying the debt of sin for us, God can, when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, see us as pure in Christ.

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Just how this works is hard to understand, but I know this; the God who created the universe and everything in it, meaning the atoms, the elements, invented the physical laws that holds it all together, set everything up to run like a fine watch; created human beings with an eternal soul, and a rational functioning mind (with free will); this omniscient God who even knows how many hairs are on our heads, all 7.8 plus billion heads, must have thought long and hard on how Christ was going to effect our salvation.

It is difficult to think of a created, mortal man coming up with a better plan – yet in their arrogance they do all the time. It is God’s world, God’s rules; it is time that men got over themselves.

“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 – therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8.

When Paul could no longer stand it he sent Timothy from Athens to Thessalonica to check on the health of the church there, Timothy returned to Paul who was now in Corinth, verse 6 above is the results of Timothy’s visit.

Some feel that the construction of this verse infers that Paul immediately wrote the letter to the Thessalonians after he had received Timothy’s report.

Again this would indicate that both letters were written from Corinth where, according to Acts 18:5-11, the apostle encountered more persecution and also spent 18 months.

The good news Paul received was not how many folks attend services, how big is the church building, or how many outreach programs do they have; the good news was about their faith and love.

These two graces, faith and love are always found together because they are dependent upon each other.

“…remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father…” 1 Thessalonians 1:3.

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other…” 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13.

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…” Ephesians 1:15-16.

This faith is first of all saving faith in Christ, and then a faith in the promises of God and for stepping out in them as being real, not hoping against hope that they are real.

Faith in God realizes that He gave His Son for all men, meaning that He loves all men, and as the Father is, so should the children be. We love first our brothers and sisters and seek the best for them. Without jealousy, envy, and strife; these are the tools Satan uses to destroy the church.

We then mourn for the world with the realization that they are headed for destruction, those whom God loves. If the Father loves the lost, we too love them by the Holy Spirit and reach out where possible, and pray for them when rejected or unable to speak to them ourselves. If one has faith in God, it will manifest itself in love.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:7-11.

Verse 7 sums up the heart of these evangelists.

“…therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.” 1 Thessalonians 3:7.

All that these men had gone through, and were continuing to go through was made worthwhile seeing that the Thessalonians were growing in the faith, and had not been led astray by anyone.

Your Faith and Love, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-8 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 9-5-13 updated on 12-31-20.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.