Bible Commentaries
1 Thessalonians 3

Verses 1-13

III 2. ’deacon of God’: another reading, ’fellowworker of God’, is also well attested; cf.1 Corinthians 3:9.3-4. cf.Acts 14:21.5. ’The Tempter’ is Satan; cf. Matthew 4:3.

6-10. Timothy’s favourable report filled him with joy and gave him fresh life. 10. ’accomplish those things that are wanting’: to complete their catechetical instruction so abruptly broken off, cf.Acts 17:5.

11-13 A Prayer for the Thessalonians— He prays God not only to bring him to them but to enlarge their charity and keep them in readiness for the coming (Parousia) of Christ.

11. ’direct’: this verb is singular in the Greek, thus showing that the two Persons, Father and Son, share the same divine nature.

13. Christians are to direct all their attention to preparation for the Last Judgement, of which the Particular Judgement at the hour of death is in a sense merely the anticipation.—’the saints’: probably the angels, cf.Zach 14:5; Matthew 25:31; the souls of the just do not seem to be included under the term here. The ’Amen’ is possibly a liturgical addition.