1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

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, to be left alone at Athens. Note, Those ministers do not duly value the establishment and welfare of their people who cannot deny themselves in many things for that end.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10

3:1-10 So, when we could not stand it any longer, we made up our minds to be left all alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy our brother and God's servant in the good news of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, to see that none of you is beguiled into leaving the faith because of these afflictions, for you yourselves know that that is the very work that God has appointed us to do. For, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we Christians always suffer for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:1

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear ,.... Or "bear", as the word properly signifies; or "bear that", as the Ethiopic version reads; that is, "that desire", as the Arabic version renders it; that ardent and longing desire of seeing them again, expressed in the latter part of the preceding chapter; which was as fire in their bones, and was retained with great pain and uneasiness; but now they could hold it no longer, and like Jeremiah, Jeremiah 20:9 were weary with forbearing, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:2

And sent Timotheus our brother ,.... In a spiritual relation, having the same heavenly Father, and belonging to the same Jerusalem, which is free, and the mother of us all; of the same household and in the same relation to Christ, the firstborn among many brethren; or their brother in the ministry, who was employed in the same business, and did the same work they did; or he is so called, on account of that strict and intimate friendship which subsisted between them, by virtue of which they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:3

That no man should be moved by these afflictions ,.... Which the apostle endured for the sake of preaching the Gospel among them, and which he feared might be a means of troubling their minds, of shaking their faith, and moving them from the hope of the Gospel; for though none of these things moved him, who was an old soldier of Christ, and used to hardness, and an apostle of Christ; yet these were young converts, and not used to such things, and therefore might be staggered at them, and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:4

For, verily, when we were with you ,.... In presence, in person, as they then were in heart and affection; when they were first among them, and preached the Gospel to them: we told you before ; before it came to pass; that we should suffer tribulation : which they might say by virtue of Christ's prediction to all his disciples, that they should have tribulation in the world; and upon its being the common case of God's people, and the usual way through which they enter the kingdom;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 3:5

For this cause, when I could no longer forbear ,.... Or "bear" the above vehement desire of seeing them, or of hearing from them. Here the apostle speaks in the singular number, and seems to intimate, as if what was said before of the like kind is to be understood singly of him; for these words are a repetition and summary of the foregoing, with some diversity: I sent to know your faith; how it stood, whether it was staggering through these afflictions, or firm; whether it was weak or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 3:1

Wherefore, when we could no longer, etc. - The apostle was anxious to hear of their state, and as he could obtain no information without sending a messenger express, he therefore sent Timothy from Athens; choosing rather to be left alone, than to continue any longer in uncertainty relative to their state. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 3:2

Timotheus, our brother - It appears that Timothy was but a youth when converted to God; he had now however been some years in the work of God; Paul therefore calls him his brother, being one of the same Christian family, a son of God by adoption: elsewhere he calls him his own son, 1 Timothy 1:2 ; and his dearly beloved son, 2 Timothy 1:2 ; because he was brought to the knowledge of the true God, and to salvation by Christ, through the apostle's instrumentality. See the preface to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 3:3

That no man should be moved - That is, caused to apostatize from Christianity. We are appointed thereunto - Εις τουτο κειμεθα· We are exposed to this, we lie open to such, they are unavoidable in the present state of things; as the Latins say, sic est sors nostra , "this is our lot." God appoints nothing of this kind, but he permits it: for he has made man a free agent. read more

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