Frameworks:
1 Thessalonians 3
For
preliminaries see chapter 1
[Chapter
Synopsis: Their concerns for them, and being thwarted
from going to them, meant they ended up sending Timothy alone
to encourage them, and he reported they were standing strong despite
persecution, so they prayed for God to bless them even more]
v.1-5
Our worries for you meant we sent Timothy to support you
v.6-8
Timothy's report about you
v.9,10
Our Prayers for you
v.11-13
Their desires for them
v.1-5
Our worries for you meant we sent Timothy to support you
[Passage
Synopsis: we were so concerned for you that we sent Timothy
to come and encourage you]
v.1
(we felt so frustrated,
we decided most of us would have to stay here in Athens) So
when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left
by ourselves in Athens.
v.2,3
(but we sent
Timothy who we trust implicitly) We
sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God's service
in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage
you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these
trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
v.4
(for we had
warned you about impending persecution) In
fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would
be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
v.5
(so we just
had to send him to find how you were) For
this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out
about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had
tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain.
v.6-8
Timothy's report about you
[Passage
Synopsis: he reported you were doing well]
v.6
(he came back
with a glowing report of you) But
Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good
news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always
have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just
as we also long to see you.
v.7
(so we were
encouraged by your faith) Therefore,
brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were
encouraged about you because of your faith.
v.8
(because ‘in
Christ' you are standing strong) For
now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
v.9,10
Our Prayers for you
[Passage
Synopsis: so we thank God for you all the time
v.9
(so we can't
just help thanking God for you) How
can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have
in the presence of our God because of you?
v.10
(constantly
praying that we can come to your with more blessings) Night
and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply
what is lacking in your faith.
v.11-13
Their desires for them
[Passage
Synopsis: we ask Him to let us come to you but that you
will grow in love and be strengthened in Him]
v.11
(we ask that
He open the way for us to come) Now
may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear
the way for us to come to you.
v.12
(and for Him
to help your love grow even more) May
the Lord make your love increase
and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours
does for you.
v.13
(and that He
strengthen you to be ready for whenever Jesus comes again)
May he strengthen your hearts
so that you will be blameless
and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus
comes with all his holy ones.
(CONTINUE
to CHAPTER 4)