1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 - Awakening Thanksgiving And Intercession
At the outset observe that marginal reading by which Timothy is described as a fellow-worker with God. What a wonderful phrase, and yet it is applicable to all true workers for God! Think what it must have been for a young artist to be permitted to collaborate with Michelangelo! No thought of his own comfort interfered with Paul's efforts for the young churches he had planted; he was only eager that they should be established and comforted amid the storm of persecution that swept over them. There is only one path for the followers of Jesus, and it is lined with flints and flecked with blood.
Though the waters surged up to Paul's heart, he could bear anything, if only his work stood fast. What he suffered was as nothing compared with his joy at the stability of his charges. As he wrought day and night at his handicraft, so he prayed day and night for them. The stitches put into the tent cloth were accompanied by the holy threads of prayerful intercession. He only longed that Christ would make a straight thoroughfare to them, and would keep them blameless and strong. [source]
Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 3
1Paul testifies his great love to the Thessalonians, 5partly by sending Timothy unto them to strengthen and comfort them; 7partly by rejoicing in their well-doing; 10and partly by praying for them, and desiring a safe coming unto them
Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 3:8
If ye stand fast [εαν υμεις στηκετε] Condition of first class, εαν ean and present active indicative (correct text, not στηκητε stēkēte subj.) of στηκω stēkō late form from perfect εστηκα hestēka of ιστημι histēmi to place. [source]
Stand fast [στήκετε] The sense of firm standing is derived from the context, and does not inhere in the word. In Mark 3:31; Mark 11:25, it means simply to stand. Comp. Philemon 4:1. It does not occur earlier than N.T. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 3:8
Luke 19:40If these shall hold their peace [εαν ουτοι σιωπησουσιν] A condition of the first class, determined as fulfilled. The use of εαν ean rather than ει ei cuts no figure in the case (See note on Acts 8:31; note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8; and the note on 1 John 5:15). The kind of condition is determined by the mode which is here indicative. The future tense by its very nature does approximate the aorist subjunctive, but after all it is the indicative. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:15Stand fast [στηκετε] Present imperative active of the late present στηκο stēko from εστηκα hestēka (perfect active of ιστημι histēmi). See note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8. Hold the traditions (krateite tas paradoseis). Present imperative of krateō old verb, to have masterful grip on a thing, either with genitive (Mark 1:31) or usually the accusative as here. κρατειτε τας παραδοσεις Paradosis (tradition) is an old word for what is handed over to one. Dibelius thinks that Paul reveals his Jewish training in the use of this word (Galatians 1:14), but the word is a perfectly legitimate one for teaching whether oral, by word (κρατεω dia logou), or written, by epistle of ours (Παραδοσις di' epistolēs hēmōn). Paul draws here no distinction between oral tradition and written tradition as was done later. The worth of the tradition lies not in the form but in the source and the quality of the content. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 says: “I received from the Lord what I also handed over (δια λογου paredōka) unto you.” He praises them because ye “hold fast the traditions even as I delivered them unto you.” The tradition may be merely that of men and so worthless and harmful in place of the word of God (Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:6-8). It all depends. It is easy to scoff at truth as mere tradition. But human progress in all fields is made by use of the old, found to be true, in connection with the new if found to be true. In Thessalonica the saints were already the victims of theological charlatans with their half-baked theories about the second coming of Christ and about social duties and relations. Which ye were taught First aorist passive indicative of παρεδωκα didaskō to teach, retaining the accusative of the thing in the passive as is common with this verb like doceo in Latin and teach in English. [source]
1 John 5:15And if we know [και εαν οιδαμεν] Condition of first class with εαν ean (usually ει ei) and the perfect active indicative, assumed as true. See 1 Thessalonians 3:8; Acts 8:31 for the indicative with εαν ean as in the papyri. “An amplification of the second limitation” (D. Smith). [source]
What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 3:8 mean?
Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 3:8
Condition of first class, εαν ean and present active indicative (correct text, not στηκητε stēkēte subj.) of στηκω stēkō late form from perfect εστηκα hestēka of ιστημι histēmi to place. [source]
The sense of firm standing is derived from the context, and does not inhere in the word. In Mark 3:31; Mark 11:25, it means simply to stand. Comp. Philemon 4:1. It does not occur earlier than N.T. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 3:8
A condition of the first class, determined as fulfilled. The use of εαν ean rather than ει ei cuts no figure in the case (See note on Acts 8:31; note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8; and the note on 1 John 5:15). The kind of condition is determined by the mode which is here indicative. The future tense by its very nature does approximate the aorist subjunctive, but after all it is the indicative. [source]
Used absolutely, as 2 Thessalonians 2:15. Mostly in Paul. See on 1 Thessalonians 3:8. [source]
Present imperative active of the late present στηκο stēko from εστηκα hestēka (perfect active of ιστημι histēmi). See note on 1 Thessalonians 3:8. Hold the traditions (krateite tas paradoseis). Present imperative of krateō old verb, to have masterful grip on a thing, either with genitive (Mark 1:31) or usually the accusative as here. κρατειτε τας παραδοσεις Paradosis (tradition) is an old word for what is handed over to one. Dibelius thinks that Paul reveals his Jewish training in the use of this word (Galatians 1:14), but the word is a perfectly legitimate one for teaching whether oral, by word (κρατεω dia logou), or written, by epistle of ours (Παραδοσις di' epistolēs hēmōn). Paul draws here no distinction between oral tradition and written tradition as was done later. The worth of the tradition lies not in the form but in the source and the quality of the content. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23 says: “I received from the Lord what I also handed over (δια λογου paredōka) unto you.” He praises them because ye “hold fast the traditions even as I delivered them unto you.” The tradition may be merely that of men and so worthless and harmful in place of the word of God (Mark 7:8; Colossians 2:6-8). It all depends. It is easy to scoff at truth as mere tradition. But human progress in all fields is made by use of the old, found to be true, in connection with the new if found to be true. In Thessalonica the saints were already the victims of theological charlatans with their half-baked theories about the second coming of Christ and about social duties and relations. Which ye were taught First aorist passive indicative of παρεδωκα didaskō to teach, retaining the accusative of the thing in the passive as is common with this verb like doceo in Latin and teach in English. [source]
Condition of first class with εαν ean (usually ει ei) and the perfect active indicative, assumed as true. See 1 Thessalonians 3:8; Acts 8:31 for the indicative with εαν ean as in the papyri. “An amplification of the second limitation” (D. Smith). [source]