Paul’s Desire to Return to Thessalonica
Introduction
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 is a deeply personal section where the Apostle Paul expresses his intense love and concern for the young church in Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 2:17- 3:5 NLT
Paul’s Desire to Return to Thessalonica
17 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. 18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. 19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
3:1 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
Examine the Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 2:17- 3:5 NLT
Paul’s Desire to Return to Thessalonica
17 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while
Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica.
Acts 17:1-10 NLT
Paul Preaches in Thessalonica
17:1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” 4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
8 The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9 So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.
10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
- Paul and Silas left Thessalonica because of persecution.
This separation from the Thessalonians was not Paul’s choice.
The Thessalonians were losing their spiritual parents.
The Thessalonians had been “orphaned” by Paul’s forced departure.
This was a deep emotional loss for Paul and his co-workers.
(though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.
Though physically absent, Paul says he remained spiritually and emotionally close.
- Paul longed to be with the new believers in Thessalonica.
Paul had similar, but maybe not as intense, feelings toward other believers. He says this to the Colossians:
Colossians 2:5 NLT
5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you.
In 1 Corinthians 5:3 Paul addresses the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 5:3 NLT
3 Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit.
Paul speaking to the Philippians.
Philippians 1:7 NLT
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart.
18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again,
- Paul tried repeatedly to go back to Thessalonica.
Paul’s desire to visit the Thessalonians was urgent and persistent.
but Satan prevented us.
- Satan hindered their return to Thessalonica.
Paul attributes his inability to return not to chance or mere human opposition, but to Satan’s hindrance.
Paul knew who the enmy was:
Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
Paul looks ahead to Christ’s second coming -a key theme throughout 1 Thessalonians.
A crown was the prize in the Greek games.
- The Thessalonians are the present source of Paul’s greatest joy. There is immense joy in seeing people come to faith in Christ and grow spiritually.
Paul really cared for these Thessalonians.
- The lasting fruit of ministry—students transformed by the gospel and persevering in faith—is the teacher’s greatest reward, hope, and cause for rejoicing on the day Christ returns.
3:1 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2 and we sent Timothy to visit you.
- Paul’s emotional burden for the Thessalonians reached a breaking point; he had to know how they were doing.
Timothy returns to Thessalonica.
- Sending Timothy to Thessalonica was a sacrifice on Paul’s part.
He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith,
Timothy acted as Paul’s trusted delegate.
Timothy was a worthy substitute.
- Timothy was sent to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonians in their faith.
This was a big responsibility for Timothy.
Clearly, Paul thought very highly of Timothy.
Paul maintained contact with the church at Thessalonica by sending Timothy and writing letters. There is no biblical record that specifically says that Paul revisited the church at Thessalonica, however Acts 20:1-6 implies that Paul was in the area during his third missionary journey.
Refer to a map of Paul’s third missionary journey.
Acts 20:1-6 NLT
Paul Goes to Macedonia and Greece
20:1 When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them. Then he said good-bye and left for Macedonia. 2 While there, he encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through. Then he traveled down to Greece, 3 where he stayed for three months. He was preparing to sail back to Syria when he discovered a plot by some Jews against his life, so he decided to return through Macedonia.
4 Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 They went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 After the Passover ended, we boarded a ship at Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas, where we stayed a week.
After traveling through Macedonia, he came to Greece (which included the area around Thessalonica), where he stayed for three months. While the text doesn’t explicitly state that he was in Thessalonica during this time, it is strongly inferred that he visited the churches there to encourage them. The list of companions who sailed with him from Philippi (a nearby city) to Troas includes Thessalonians, suggesting Paul had been in the area.
3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.
4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know.
- Suffering for the faith is often part of a Christian’s life.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 NLT
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 NLT
14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.
- Suffering for Christ is a privilege.
Philippians 1:29 NLT
29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.
- When your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
1 Peter 2:21 NLT
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
1 Peter 4:19 NLT
19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
Again Paul mentions “the tempter” (Satan)—connecting back to 2:18.
Satan is a powerful foe.
Satan is a strong and dangerous enemy
- Satan is constantly working against God’s purposes, trying to lead people away from truth and righteousness.
Satan is clever and deceptive.
Matthew 13:38-39 NLT
38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.
Mark 4:15 NIV
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
John 8:44 NLT
44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 Peter 5:8 NLT
tay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Final thought:
3 John 4 NLT
4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.
