1 Thessalonians 2:17 - But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.
Paul wrote this letter to share his concern for the Thessalonian Christians he had been forced to leave so quickly. Recognizing the persecution they were facing, he assured them of his fatherly love and of his desire to return. He spoke of his joy over the reports he was hearing about their commitment to Christ.
Persecution of Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 1:6 - You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-15 - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men
1 Thessalonians 3:3 - so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
Paul's Love for the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 - We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 - For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Paul's Desire to Return:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 - But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 - So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 - Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Thessalonian Commitment to Christ:
1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 - And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 - Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
Today, we can use this letter as a model for the relationship of love that should develop between pastors and the church.
Paul wrote this letter to share his concern for the Thessalonian Christians he had been forced to leave so quickly. Recognizing the persecution they were facing, he assured them of his fatherly love and of his desire to return. He spoke of his joy over the reports he was hearing about their commitment to Christ.
Persecution of Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 1:6 - You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-15 - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men
1 Thessalonians 3:3 - so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
Paul's Love for the Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 - We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 - For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Paul's Desire to Return:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 - But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 - So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
1 Thessalonians 3:10 - Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Thessalonian Commitment to Christ:
1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 - And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 - Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
Today, we can use this letter as a model for the relationship of love that should develop between pastors and the church.
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