Paul's Anxiety
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 (ESV)
But
since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in
heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to
face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but
Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting
before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our
glory and joy.
3 Therefore
when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens
alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, four brother and God’s coworker1 in the
gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one
be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for
this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we
were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.
5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about
your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor
would be in vain.
Commentary
Paul mourns that he was not able to
stay in Thessalonica his leaving was rather abrupt (see Acts 17:1-12). He
wanted them to know that they were kept in his heart. Paul greatly desired to
see them again but the door to Thessalonica was closed. It is unclear what Paul
means by “Satan hindered us.” Suggestions have been made that maybe it was the “thorn
in Paul’s side” mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:7 but no one is sure.
Them we hear that Paul’s joy, and
crown of boasting is the church Thessalonians. The Greek for crown here means a
victor’s crown of laurels for winning an athletic competition. Paul evidently
took great pride in these believers who were under intense pressure to not
follow Paul as he followed Jesus.
Paul was anxious over the state of
these believers. That somehow, they would have fallen away. When he could no
longer stand to be in the dark regarding their situation, he sent Timothy by
himself back to the Thessalonians to find out how they were doing. Paul could
have used the advice he later writes the Philippian’s in Chapter 4 verse 6 MSG “ Don’t fret or worry. Instead of
worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers,
letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness,
everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s
wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.[1]”
Paul feels so bound up with the church
at Thessalonica that “ If Paul is unable to present the Thessalonians to the
Lord Jesus, then Paul’s work is void and there is no crown of boasting for him,
no divine commendation for his work.”2 So Paul sends Timothy back to
the church to see how things are going, and report back to Paul to ease his
anxiety. Most pastors have probably experienced anxiety for their churches. One
thing we can learn from scripture is that a pastor like the rest of us can rest
in the promises of God to relieve our suffering. “(Ps 127:1 – 2; Jer 17:7 – 8;
Matt 6:25 – 34; Luke 12:22 – 31).”3
Something
Paul wanted the believers to know is that afflictions are bound to come. The
question is not if some trial will come upon you but when it will come upon you.
If we can only respond to theses afflictions in a Godly way, we can know the
peace that passes understanding.
As Paul will soon see
his fears a groundless. Timothy will soon come back with an excellent report of
the faith of his beloved church.
[1]
Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The
Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress,
2005), Php 4:6–7.
2Byron,
John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 99).
Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition
3Byron,
John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 92).
Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
Comments
Post a Comment