SENDING TIMOTHY St. Paul sent his disciple Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians to support them during their sufferings, because he himself could not go to them, then Timothy went back with good report about them. 1. Sending Timothy v. 1-5 2. Timothy’s report v. 6-13 1. SENDING TIMOTHY “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” (v. 1,2) St. Paul did not write to the Thessalonians that we chose Timothy for you, but in great wisdom, he clarified that for his love for them, he preferred to be deprived of Timothy’s help, in order to send him to them. He declares that out of his great love he is sending Timothy to them. He preferred to stay alone in Athens that they may enjoy his company. Truly, this verse reveals St. Paul’s wisdom, love, and humility. On one side, he was extremely wise, for he did not mention what was heard among the Thessalonians that St. Paul had ignored them and sent them Timothy instead of himself going to them. But he defended himself in an indirect way so he does not hurt St. Timothy’s feelings whenever this epistle is read, and in the mean time to put away all the gossiping to ruin his love for them. He also revealed his love for them, for he emphasized that sending Timothy is a sacrifice on his part. He also revealed his humility by saying that he desperately needed Timothy! If some had stirred some gossips about sending Timothy, yet he wanted to clarify that he is sending them the dearest person he has. He 29 described him by three characteristics, his brother, minister of God and fellow laborer. He did not mean just to praise Timothy but to show that he offered them the best brother. He tried to calm them down by telling them that there is no one greater than Timothy to send to them. If they had expected him to visit them, yet he is sending them the best; he is God’s minister. Accept him as if you are accepting God Himself; he is a fellow laborer with St. Paul and they have common experiences in the ministry! Sending Timothy to them shows his fatherhood, for he could not hear about their sufferings without sending Timothy to comfort and confirm them! The purpose of sending Timothy to them is “that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this” (v. 3). St. Paul did not ask God to remove this affliction, but asked that they should not to be shaken by these afflictions. Thus, the purpose of sending Timothy was to confirm them during the tribulation. St. John Chrysostom commented on St. Paul’s saying, “That we are appointed to this,” that afflictions became part of the believer’s life, that he is appointed to accept affliction for the sake of Christ. It seems that the Thessalonians were not affected by the sufferings that had to go through, but they were affected by the sufferings that St. Paul had to go through in every city. St. John Chrysostom said: [The disciples worry because of the sufferings that befall their teachers. St. Paul encountered many difficulties, for he said, “Satan hindered us” (1 Thess. 2:8). He also said that he wanted to go to them once and twice but he could not; which shows how many afflictions he had to go through. Thus, they worried about him more than about the tribulations that befell him. This is like a soldier who does not get worried when he is wounded as much as when he sees his leader get wounded1.] To comfort them, he reminded them of his talks about the cross, temptations, and sufferings as essential matters in the life of faith. He 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 3. 30 said, “For in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain” (v. 4, 5). As a spiritual father, he is revealing to them the difficulty of the spiritual road, but in the mean time, he is hurrying to help them and support them. St. John Chrysostom said: [(St. Paul) is telling them not to worry, for these tribulations are expected to happen. This is exactly like what the Lord Jesus told His disciples, “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe” (John 14:29). This is very comforting when the Teacher tells His disciples what will happen, like the doctor when he tells his patient what will happen to him; the sick person becomes less worried. We rejoice amidst tribulations since the Lord Jesus had foretold us about them1.] St. Paul with the spirit of prophecy is confirming that we are appointed for that, so every suffering we encounter is by God’s permission. St. Paul is confirming that all what had happened to them was because of temptation, where the devil is trying to spoil the apostolic work in them, and destroy all what he had built through preaching the Gospel. That is why Timothy is going to them to make sure that the devil has not destroyed what he has built. St. Paul feels that every weakness befalling on his people, touches his labor and crown, and makes him lose his joy. He is telling them, in an indirect way, that sending Timothy is not demeaning to them, but it touches the essence of his ministry, and their success is his success, and their weakness is destruction to his labor! 2. TIMOTHY’S REPORT ABOUT THEM “But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you” (v. 6). Timothy did not only give a report about their spiritual and 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 4. 31 psychological conditions, but was also a gospel, for he said that Timothy brought them good news of their faith and love. St. Paul preached to the Thessalonians and they responded by their faith and love, which comforted his heart. Their faith was not shaken by the many tribulations they had to go through, for Timothy brought good news of their faith and love, and they were eager to see St. Paul. They love St. Paul, although he was absent in the flesh, and they do not cease to remember him, not only while performing miracles but also while enduring afflictions! St. Paul could not hide his feelings, for he said that he also desires to see them. This is the mutual love between a father and his children or a shepherd and his sheep, while being in the fiery furnace. St. Paul continues: “Therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith” (v. 7) The word “comforted” does not mean enjoying some rest, but enjoying some power too. The faith of the church of the Thessalonians was a great support to St. Paul who encountered many tribulations from beatings and imprisonment in Philippi (Acts 16:23) and yelling at him in Thessalonica (Acts 16:5), and these were repeated in Berea, Athens, and Corinth. During these afflictions, he heard about their faith and that they were not shaken during his tribulations. St. John Chrysostom comments on the words “our affliction and distress” by saying: [He did not ask them to thank him because he is suffering for them. But he thanks them for they were steadfast in his sufferings, as if he is telling them that the harm will befall them more than him, although he is the one suffering1.] He considered that his wounds do not harm him as much as it harms his disciples if they are not steadfast in the faith. Seeing them steadfast, he rejoiced amidst his sufferings and considered this as a source of comfort to him. St. John Chrysostom said: [A good teacher’s main concern is what affects his disciples, thus he says, “We are comforted when you are steadfast in the faith.”] It is amazing that St. Paul is the one suffering for the Gospel, but seeing his disciples steadfast amidst tribulations, he was 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 4. 32 comforted and he praised them. He confirms what he said by saying, “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God” (v. 8, 9) St. Paul is declaring that he lives when he hears about their steadfastness in all the tribulations they encountered. The success of his children is the joy of his life, and their stumbling is his death! It is amazing that he does not say that we rejoice if you stand fast in the Lord, but that “we live.” Hence, a shepherd considers his people as his life! St. Paul does not want the Thessalonians to be attached to his person, but to God Himself, for he said, “if you stand fast in the Lord.” St. Augustine said that St. Paul he did not want them to be steadfast in him but in the Lord, for “Neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Cor. 3:7)1. What rejoices a wise shepherd is the steadfastness of his people and not their attachment to his person. This report which Timothy gave to St. Paul, stirred in him the desire to offer God a sacrifice of thanksgiving to give back some of the debt. He said, “For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God” (v. 9). He was very eager to see their faces and perfect their faith, for he said, “Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you” (v. 10, 11). St. John Chrysostom sees that his desire to see them, praying day and night to see their faces, is an indication of his joy for their spiritual fruits, like a farmer who hears that his land became fruitful, so he was eager to see it. What does he mean by saying “Perfect what is lacking in your 1 Sermons on N.T. 54:4. 33 faith”? Timothy has shown a joyful report about their steadfastness in the faith. Saying to perfect what is lacking in their faith, St. Paul means that he is eager for their continuous spiritual growth toward perfection. No matter how great our faith is, we have to ask God to perfect what is lacking in our faith and in the faith of our brothers. The more we walk in the road of virtues, the more we entreat Him to perfect what is lacking in our faith until we reach the full stature of Christ. He asks God to remove all obstacles, which the devil has put to hinder him from visiting them, for he said, “May our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you” (v.11) Finally, he prays that God may make them continuously grow in love, not only toward him, but also toward each other, whether believers or unbelievers. Perfect love for every one is an indispensable matter in sanctifying the heart by the Holy Spirit. He continues, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (v. 12,13). St. John Chrysostom said: [Love makes them blameless1.] The purpose of our faith is a holy life in the Lord, for without sanctification we cannot see God (Heb. 12:14). The basis of a holy life is “love;” since the holy life is enjoying the fellowship with God and He lives in us. God Himself is “love” (1 John 4:8). And in His second coming, He cherishes the love that is in His children, for He calls them to His kingdom prepared since the foundation of the world, and He punishes the evil from entering to His kingdom because they did not have love (Matt. 25:41-46). The Lord Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, grants us love and makes it grow in us (v.12). St. Ambrose said: [What does he mean by the Lord make you increase in love, and establish your hearts blameless in holiness? He means that holiness is a gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess. 2:13)2.] And St. Basil1 confirms that St. Paul, saying the Lord, refers to 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 4. 2 Of the Holy Spirit 3:14. 34 the Holy Spirit. 1 On the Holy Spirit, 21.
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