1 Thessalonians ~Chapter 3/Thursday Bible Study

In this letter, Paul wanted the ^Believers in *Thessalonica to see the **Christ in His totality.

Christ is the Believer's hope of salvation both now and at His coming. When He returns, He will deliver (1:10; 5:4-11); reward (1:19); perfect (3:13); resurrect (4:13-18), and sanctify (5:23) all who trust Him.

Throughout this letter is an unmistakable emphasis upon steadfastness in the Lord (3:8) and a continuing growth in faith and love, in view of the return of Christ (1:3-10; 2:12-20; 3:10-13; 4:1 thru 5:28). The theme is not only the returning of Christ, but also the life of the Believer in every practical relationship - each aspect of which can be transformed and illuminated by the glorious prospect of His eventual return.

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1 Thessalonians ~ Chapter 3/Thursday Bible Study

Timothy's Visit to Thessalonica

"So, when we could no longer bear it, we thought it best that we should return to Athens alone. And then we sent ^^Timothy on to you. He is ***Elohim's servant, our brother and fellow-worker in the #Gospel of Christ. His mission (errand, task, assignment) was to strengthen (prop up, sustain, nerve up, energize, refresh, restore, tone up) you and to encourage (cheer, inspire) you in the Faith. We  want no one to lose courage (heart, spirit, soul; nerve, grit) because of his troubles (distress, disturb, annoy, vex, bother, worry), for even you know that troubles are bound (leap, spring) to come. We, too, had warned (tip off = alert) you of this when we were with you, that trials (testing) would soon befall (happen to) us, and what we said has come to pass, as you know.

On this account (matter), when I could no longer bear (stand up under) the suspense (waiting), I sent him to you that I might learn about your faith, dreading (fearing) to think that perhaps the tempter (luring) *!Satan had persuaded (argue into) you to forsake (leave, turn back on) it, and then our labor would have been in vain (for nothing). Timothy has now returned to us from you. He brings us good news about your faith and love. He tells us also that you always remember us kindly and long (strong desire) to see us, just as we think of you and long to see you once more. These things have cheered us, brethren, in the  midst of all our afflictions (troubles) and needs. Especially the news about your faith has brought cheer. It brings to us renewed life when we hear that you stand firm in the ****Lord. (vv. 1-8)

Paul's Gratitude to Elohim

How can we give Elohim sufficient thanks in your behalf for all the joy you give us as we come before Him? Indeed, we pray early and late that we may see your faces once more and that we may help you in supplying what is lacking (empty) in your faith. May Elohim our Father and the Lord Yeshua Ha'Mashiach, then, guide our steps to you! May the Lord increase (gain) your love toward one another and to all men, and make it overflowing (more than), even as is our love for you! And so may He make your hearts strong, free from fault and holy (perfect) before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Yeshua Ha'Mashiach, together with all His ^^^Saints!" (vv. 9-13)

^Believers: worshiper; worshippers.

*Thessalonica = (θεσσαλονίκη, in classical writers also θεσσαλονικεία and θετταλονίκη); In Paul's time, Thessalonica was a large and important town of Macedonia = a prominent seaport with commercial success, and the Capital of Macedonia with roughly 200,000 in population; visited by Paul on several occasions, and the seat of a Church to which two of his letters were addressed. This prosperous city was located on the Via Ignatia, the main road from Rome to the East, within sight of Mount Olympus, legendary home of the Greek pantheon.

**Christ (from the Hebrew word, Ha’Mashiach ישוע המשיח & the Greek word, Christos/khris-tos) = The Anointed, Yeshua the Messiah, in both languages.

Yeshua Ha’Mashiach: is Hebrew for “Jesus the Messiah”; the name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua.

***Elohim (Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים, romanized: ʾּlōhīm: [(eloˈ(h)im]) is a Hebrew word meaning "Gods – Father, Son, & Holy Spirit". Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity “Behold, the Lord – the Lord is One”, particularly the God of Israel.

****Lord Jesus Christ (in Greek: Kyrios Iēsous Christos) = the most formal title for Jesus (Yeshua). It occurs often in the New Testament letters.

The word “Lord” has a wide range of uses; it can be a simple respectful “Sir” or a more formal, “Master.” But the New Testament also uses “Lord” of God. The word “Christ” is the anglicized form of the Greek word meaning “anointed one” or “Messiah.” “Lord Jesus Christ” reminds us that Jesus is both the promised Messiah and our God.

*!Satan = the prince of evil spirits and adversary of God.

#Gospel = teaching or revelation of Christ; the living Word of God.

^^Timothy = son of the devout Jewish woman, Eunice, and a Greek father, Timothy became a follower of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach when Apostle Paul preached the Gospel in Lystra, Timothy’s hometown. Paul invited the young convert to accompany him on his second missionary journey; and was sent to Thessalonica to strengthen the fellowship there. After another journey with Paul, Timothy was sent to Corinth to straighten out some problems upsetting the fellowship there.

Timothy later looked after Paul during Paul’s imprisonment. Timothy subsequently was asked to go to Ephesus to represent Paul, and received the two letters from Paul that bear Timothy’s Name. Timothy – these letters reveal, was like a son to Paul. The last word in the New Covenant

About this sensitive, sickly, but faithful young helper was that he was imprisoned but finally released. Acts 16:1, 17:14-15, 18:5, 19:22 & 20:4; Romans 16:21; 1 Corinthians 4;17 & 16:10; 2 Corinthians1:1 & 19; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 3:2, & 6; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 & 2 Timothy; Philemon 1; and Hebrews 13:23.

^^^Saint = In its most basic sense, a saint is a “holy one,” someone who is set apart for Elohim’s special purposes. As a result, every follower of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is a Saint. In most of his letters, the Apostle Paul refers to the recipients as saints, including the church at Corinth, where there were significant moral and theological problems! The New Covenant writers draw their use of the word saints (“holy ones”) from the Old Covenant. Particularly important is Exodus 19:5-6, where Elohim refers to Israel as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” 1 Peter 2:9 applies this same language to believers: “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

**1 Thessalonians 2: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2023/03/1-thessalonians-chapter-2thursday-bible.html