Chapter 3

1 Thessalonians 3:1 - It was no flippant desire that Paul and his companions had to visit Thessalonica again. Many times in the Christian world a minister will do things out of a sense of duty. He is asked to call on someone at home. He goes to the house, knocks on the door, and breathes a sigh of relief when they are not home. In 2:18, Paul expresses their desire to see the Thessalonians again, but was hindered by Satan. Some would think their duty fulfilled at that point. "I tried, but it didn't happen." Not so with Paul. In 3:1 he said they could not endure it any longer. They had to see how the Thessalonians were doing, so they sent Timothy (vs. 2). What did Paul have to endure? There was anguish in his soul and anxiety in his mind about how they were holding up under the trials and persecution. (Later in vs. 5, he is concerned about their faith.)

1 Thessalonians 3:3 - "...we have been destined for this" (NASB). The word "destined" comes from the Greek word Keimai, which means "be laid, store up, destined or appointed." Paul uses this word in the sense that afflictions are stored up for us on earth. They cannot be avoided. We all have a certain amount of affliction to suffer.