1 Thessalonians 3:6

3:6-10 Thankfulness to God is very imperfect in the present state; but one great end of the ministry of the word is to help faith forward. That which was the instrument to obtain faith, is also the means of increasing and confirming it, namely, the ordinances of God; and as faith cometh by hearing, so it is confirmed by hearing also.

1 Thessalonians 3:6 . Ἄρτι , now ) Immediately after the arrival of Timothy, he writes these things with fresh joy and the most tender affection. Consonant with this is the εὐαγγελισαμένου , a striking participle.— ἐπιποθοῦντες , desiring greatly [having a yearning desire]) This is the sign of a good conscience.

{2} But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: (2) Because they have to this point gone so well forward, he exhorts them again to make an end of the rest of the journey, seeing that in doing so they will do him their apostle a great pleasure.

Verse 6. - But now when Timotheus came from you unto us. Timothy, as we learn from the Acts, in company with Silas, joined Paul at Corinth ( Acts 18:15 ), and brought him information concerning the state of the Thessalonian Church. And brought us good tidings ; the same word which is elsewhere employed for preaching the gospel. The information which Timothy brought to the apostle was as it were a gospel to him (comp. Luke 2:10 , "Behold I bring you good tidings"). Of your faith and charity. The good tidings which Timothy brought referred to the spiritual condition of the Thessalonians - their faith had not been shaken and their love had not waxed cold under the persecutions to which they were exposed; and along with their faith and love was the affection which they bore to the apostle, and their earnest desire to see him. And that ye have constant remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you. The affection between the Thessalonians and the apostle was mutual. 1 Thessalonians 3:6

6. Join "now" with "come"; "But Timotheus having just now come from you unto us" [Alford]. Thus it appears (compare Ac 18:5) Paul is writing from Corinth. your faith and charity—(1Th 1:3; compare 2Th 1:3, whence it seems their faith subsequently increased still more). Faith was the solid foundation: charity the cement which held together the superstructure of their practice on that foundation. In that charity was included their "good (kindly) remembrance" of their teachers. desiring greatly—Greek, "having a yearning desire for." we also—The desires of loving friends for one another's presence are reciprocal.

(6) “We were in great anxiety, for fear you should have fallen away, and sent Timothy to see if all was well; but now, all anxiety is over.” Timotheus came.—According to the usual interpretation of 1Thessalonians 3:1-2, adopted above, this will mean that Timothy had already returned from his mission to Thessalonica, as related in Acts 18:5, and the occasion of this present letter will be St. Paul’s relief at the news brought by him. Brought us good tidings.—An enthusiastic word, generally rendered, “preached us the gospel.” Faith and charity.—The first signifies the confidence in God which enabled them to endure (“that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in Thy mercy”); the second, the tenderness with which they helped one another through. Good remembrance.—Not merely “clear, vivid remembrance” (as we say, “to remember well”), but “a good, kind remembrance,” as the explanation in “desiring,” &c, shows. The word “good” bears the same significance in Matthew 20:15; Romans 5:7; 1Peter 2:18. If the Thessalonians had been beginning to fall away, they would not have cared to see their teachers.

We had bfore an account of Timothy’s sending, now of his return, wherein we have the message he brought, and the effect thereof upon the apostle. The message may be considered: 1. As to its new coming: But now when Timotheus came, & c.; so that this Epistle seems to be written presently upon his return. 2. As to the good account it brought of them: it brought good tidings (the same word is here used that expresseth in the Greek the glad tidings of the gospel) of their faith, that it continued still stedfast; and of their charity, or love, that they had love joined with their faith, and their faith working by love, which showed it was living, and of a right kind. And that ye have good remembrance of us always; they forgot him not, though absent some length of time from them; and it was a good remembrance, joined with love and esteem of his person, and of his ministry amongst them; and it was always, which implies the constancy of it. Desiring greatly to see us; and not satisfied with this good remembrance of him being absent, they greatly desired his presence, to see him and his fellow labourers. And to answer their love on his part, he addeth, as we also to see you. By all which he seeks to satisfy them of his continued care and remembrance of them, which was the effect of this message.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us - To Corinth, after he had been sent to Thessalonica; Acts 18:5 ; compare notes on 1 Thessalonians 3:2 . And brought us good tidings - A cheerful or favorable account. Greek "evangelizing;" that is, bringing good news. Of your faith - Of your faithfulness or fidelity. Amidst all their trials they evinced fidelity to the Christian cause. And charity - Love; notes, 1 Corinthians 13:1. And that ye have good remembrance of us always - That is, probably, they showed their remembrance of Paul by obeying his precepts, and by cherishing an affectionate regard for him, notwithstanding all the efforts which had been made to alienate their affections from him. Desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you - There was no disposition to blame him for having left them, or because he did not return to them. They would have welcomed him again as their teacher and friend. The meaning of this is, that there was between him and them a strong mutual attachment.

6 . But now when Timotheus came from you unto us ] But when Timothy came even now unto us from you (R. V.): this rendering puts due emphasis on the words “from you” (it was Timothy’s coming with news from Thessalonica that relieved the Apostle’s mind); and it gives the proper meaning and connection to the introductory “now,” which qualifies “came” and denotes just now, at this juncture . Timothy’s return has been anxiously awaited; and no sooner has he arrived and told his story, than Paul sits down and writes out of a full heart this affectionate and grateful letter. For Timothy brought us glad tidings of your faith and love (R. V.). “Brought-glad-tidings” forms a single word in the Greek, the same that everywhere else in the N.T. signifies “ the glad tidings”—the news of God’s salvation and of the coming of His kingdom. Hence the peculiar force of the word here.

This was gospel news, witnessing to the truth and enduring power of God’s message; for this reason it was glad tidings to the Apostle from the Thessalonians (“now we live ,” 1 Thessalonians 3:7 )—a gospel sent to him in return for his gospel brought to them (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:2 , &c.). of your faith and charity ] for these comprise the whole Christian life, and imply the “hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” added to them in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ; comp. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 ; Ephesians 1:15 ; Philemon 1:5-7 ; 1 John 3:23 : “that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another.” This is the sum of our religion. Read, faith and love (R. V.). and that ye have good remembrance of us always ] So that the Thessalonians reciprocate Paul’s feelings towards them; he “remembers” them “without ceasing” (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ), they equally remember him. Good is kindly, well-disposed remembrance ; their sufferings and the slanders of his enemies might have alienated their minds from the missionaries, but it was otherwise. “Remembrance” represents the same Greek noun as “mention” in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ; following make it has a more active, following have a passive signification. desiring greatly ] R. V., in one word, longing ,—which renders fitly a delicate Greek verb, rare except In St Paul, that denotes yearning regret for an absent beloved object (comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 , “ bereaved of you”).