1 Thessalonians 3:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

“Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left alone in Athens.” That is, we chose and preferred it.

Although I could not come to you, nevertheless I could not bear separation from you. Therefore I myself was pleased to remain in Athens.

Since we encountered an obstacle to coming to you, we sent Timothy, who is our brother and to whom the divine Gospel has been entrusted. We sent him not to propose another teaching to you, but to establish you in the former teaching and to comfort you.

He was to help you bear courageously the snares of the adversaries, not to waver, and not to retreat from your former resolve. Here it should be noted that the Apostle called the one entrusted with the Gospel of Christ “a minister of God.” By this he teaches that he acknowledges the Son as no less than the Father.

When something happens to the helmsman, either the chief of the rowers or the first of the sailors takes his place. He becomes helmsman not by self-will, but for the salvation of the ship.

Recalling the sending of Timothy to the Thessalonians, the Apostle speaks of the chief reason for this mission. Namely, separation from them was unbearably painful to him.

Therefore he resolved rather to remain alone in Athens, provided only that he might have proper news of the Thessalonians and not leave them without strengthening and consolation. He hoped to attain this through the Apostle Timothy.

At the same time the Apostle speaks of Timothy, calling him his brother, God’s servant, and his fellow worker. By this he shows, on the one hand, Timothy’s dignity, and on the other, whom he was depriving himself of by sending him to Thessalonica.

Thus the Apostle could not personally comfort the Thessalonians. Therefore, unable to remain any longer in uncertainty about them, he and Silvanus resolved to stay alone in Athens. They sent Timothy, his faithful fellow laborer, to Thessalonica, so that he might persuade the Thessalonian Christians not to be troubled in afflictions. For Christians, the Apostle observes, are appointed by God Himself to endure afflictions in this life.

“Therefore” indicates a conclusion from what preceded. The Apostle desired to be with the Thessalonians himself. Since this could not take place, he resolves to accomplish the desired communion with them in the person of another, a trusted man.

Or it may be taken thus: since your standing in the faith is so important to me that in it lies my joy and crown of boasting, and since I do not know your condition, I hasten to send to you to learn what is happening with you.

Ignorance concerning you became unbearable to me. It was eased by the hope of soon being with you. But when this proved difficult to accomplish, patience failed.

The conclusion, verse 5, agrees with this: since you are a crown, I sent, lest our labor be in vain.