Chapter 3 overview
Good Tidings of Faith and Charity
-vs 1-3
Paul and those who were with him longed greatly after the Thessalonians. Finally, they could stand it no longer and sent Timothy to see how they did and to comfort them and establish them in the faith, so that they would not be moved when afflictions came.
-vs. 4-5
Paul had warned the Thessalonians that afflictions would come. Yet, he still was concerned for them. He did not want them to become weary and give in to temptation from the devil.
-vs. 6-7
Paul and the others rejoiced at the good news that Timothy brought back. Timothy brought back good tidings of their faith and their charity and also of their good remembrance of Paul and his team and their desire to see them. This made all the affliction and distress worth it.
-vs. 9-10
Their faithfulness brought Paul and the others great joy. They saw the answers to their earnest prayers.
-v.11
Now they desired of the Lord that they all might return to see the Thessalonians.
-v.12
They prayed for the Lord to cause the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love to each other and to all people.
-v.13
Their earnest prayer was for God to establish their hearts unblameable in holiness before God so that they could be found pure and ready when Jesus comes with all his saints.