1 Thessalonians 3:1–2

To Paul, visiting Athens, it was no small trial to give up the company of his true and beloved child in the faith. But there was no other way to satisfy his affectionate concern for the Thessalonians. He knew they were only babes in the faith. He knew too that they faced enemies, both Jewish and Gentile, as subtle as they were determined and unscrupulous. He himself was about to face Satan in a stronghold of his religious influence and philosophical thinking. No one had yet preached the name of Jesus there. And he did not even have fellow believers with whom to pray and take counsel.

With the urgency of love he could no longer hold back from getting in touch with them. With the unselfishness of love he gave up, for a time, the company and help of Timothy, his fellow worker at Athens. He sent him to Thessalonica to establish and comfort these tried saints about their faith. Timothy was not sent to try to remove the trial, but to support their faith in the trial.

It is hard to imagine that Paul waited long before sending Timothy ("we could bear it no longer": 3:1). It is just as hard to think much time passed between Timothy's return and the writing of this letter. So the Thessalonians were still young converts when Paul wrote. Most likely only a few months had gone by since their conversion.

What is it that really establishes people? The ministry of the truth. Timothy was a very remarkable young man, though perhaps a little timid. So the apostle says, "Let no one despise you for your youth." Do you know what the apostle says about Timothy? "I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare." He was a very devoted young man… The church of God today would be all the better for a legion of Timothys. The Thessalonians were much established by that visit.

Grace alone could call people into such a path. Grace alone can sustain them in it, and grace does not fail. Still the Lord works by means — by Paul's sending, by Timothy's going and comforting the saints, and by their joy in the comfort, whatever the pressure of affliction.

If the desire of the apostle was to establish and comfort them in the trial, the effort of the enemy was to move them (v. 3) and to tempt them (v. 5). Satan would try to use these afflictions to move them off the path of faith their feet had been set in. He would tempt them to leave the circle of God's people by drawing them back into the world.

Sorrows surrounded him, and so did the opposition of men — in a word, the afflictions of the gospel. In the middle of it this news refreshes the apostle's spirit. He is himself strengthened. The faith of the labourer is the means of blessing to souls, and it generally measures the outward character of the work. In return, the faith of the Christians who are the fruit of his labours is a source of strength and encouragement to him.

Paul had been kept from coming in person, very likely by the violence of the persecution Satan raised against him. But he had sent Timothy to comfort and encourage them. Here again, as chapter 3 opens, we see in Paul the marks of a true father in Christ. He was at Athens, an especially hard and difficult city. There he felt the need of support and encouragement from like-minded fellow workers more than in most places. Yet he would sacrifice himself and stay behind alone, so that Timothy might shepherd the souls of these young believers. Timothy would establish them just when Satan was aiming to overthrow them through their afflictions.

Timothy is the model of a devoted and faithful servant of the Lord. Paul was full of praise for this companion and co-worker. In 1 Thessalonians 3:2 he calls Timothy "our brother and minister of God and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ."

This verse comes to us with a text that varies in the manuscripts. But if we read "fellow-worker of God", as in the margin, then "fellow-worker with God" will not do. It is not the thought at all, however pleasing it may be to human nature. God uses labourers as His work-fellows; but He is no work-fellow of theirs. It is irreverent.

His work was first to establish them. That means giving them the ministry of the Word, which is the basis for firm, solid stability in standing for God. Then he was to comfort or encourage them. Establishing has more to do with teaching. Encouraging is more like shepherding, or pastoral work. How good it is when we see both together.

What is it that truly establishes people? The ministry of the truth. Timothy was a very remarkable young man, though perhaps a little timid. That is why the apostle says, "Let no one despise you for your youth." God's assembly today would be all the better for an army of Timothys, for that visit did much to establish the Thessalonians.

Love was urgent, so he could no longer hold back from getting in touch with them. Love was unselfish, so he went without the companionship and help of Timothy, his fellow worker at Athens. He sent him to Thessalonica instead, to establish and comfort these tried saints about their faith. Paul did not send Timothy to try to remove the trial, but to support their faith in the trial. It was the same when trial came on Peter. The Lord could say, "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail." The Lord does not pray that Peter might escape the trial. Peter needed it, so that he might learn his own heart. He prays that in the trial Peter's faith might not break down.

Timothy brought good news of their faith and love. So the apostle could break out into thanks and joy for their sakes before God, and he lets them know it in his first letter.