The Humanness of the Apostles, 1 Thess 3:1-5

The Humanness of the Apostles

1 Thess 3:1-5

The Apostles show themselves to be very human in how they relate to their situations in life, the people who are dear to them, the realities of the Christian ministry and so many more items that the list could go on for some time.

The Apostles and those who traveled with them were not some sort of super-saints with greater sanctification than we have available to us or even greater abilities for the mechanics of teaching and ministry. There are a couple of places where the Apostle Paul writes about his contemptible presence among the church in person, yet strong and assertive in his epistles to them. I believe that is found in 1 Cor 10-13 where his strongest words are found.

These men are ordinary men with an extraordinary calling. When the scriptures talk about 'not many mighty' being called, it is talking about these men and the rest of the disciples. Paul is the best educated and the one who achieved a lot humanly speaking. But, outside of his conversion and his place in the founding of Christian churches, I wonder how much we would know about him. His fame is wrapped up in what he became for Christ's cause and the gospel.

It is in 1 Thess that we find Paul's apostolic humility. He does not view his authority to be higher than that of Silas or even Timothy. Their authority is ultimately in the Holy Scriptures and their Lord, the Lord of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is not ashamed to use the collective pronouns we and us when referring to them all. There are only a few times when Paul's individual concerns come through. Then he is quick to go back to the us and we formulas of speaking.

The Apostolic Band share common concerns for the work of the gospel, the church in Thessalonica, their close circle of contacts and fellow-ministers and their many friends.

As it has been the case on a number of the sermons from 1 Thessalonians, we will also look at a couple of passages in the book of Acts to help us understand the context and setting of Paul. It is in Acts that we see how he ended up in Athens all on his own. And, it is in Acts that we find when Timothy joined the apostolic band. Both of those realities are important when trying to understand the Apostles and their concern for the spread of the gospel in Greek cities and their general concern for all the other churches, especially those in which they had a role in bringing them to life.

So let's read our text from 1 Thess 3:1-5 and then get into our texts for the morning.

1. Apostolic Concern

1 Thess 3:1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure (3:5) it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

2. A Spiritual Biography of Timothy

 ² and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ,

3. The Spiritual Work of Timothy

to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

4. The Purpose of this Work

 ³ that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

5. The Place of Suffering in the Christian Life

 ⁴ For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

6. Apostolic Concern Revisited

 ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure (3:1) it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Let's look at the text:

1. Apostolic Concern

1 Thess 3:1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure (3:5) it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,

Have you ever found it difficult to be patient about something? This is perhaps true when waiting for something important or someone beloved by you to arrive for a visit. This was even stronger in the Ancient world. They didn't communicate like we do. They did not travel like we can. If someone was to come for a visit they would come by land or sea. Inland cities might have a river up which some could take another boat. But, a lot of people arrived unannounced at the destinations. All people might know is that so and so is on his way to be with us sometime in the next few weeks or months. Times were expressed in vague terms.

What was it that Apostles could no longer endure? It is seeing or hearing from the believers in Thessalonica. This passage is really the second part of what we find at the end of Chapter Two. There we found the apostles longing to see the brethren. It is when they could not put up with the lack of information any more that they decided to act.

It was their decision. There was no extraordinary sign from God as to what they should do. There is not a hint of them seeking any sort of divine direction or guidance. And, this is why: It is always right and godly to be concerned about other Christians--our brothers and sisters in the Lord. It is always right to seek to be knowledgeable about those we love in the faith. And, given their shared experiences, the spiritual mothers and fathers wanted to know how their spiritual offspring were doing. TO use another mmetaphor borrowed from many places, the shepherds were concerned about the sheep.

The concern was so great that the further travels of the Apostolic band were affected by it. We read. 1B we thought it good to be left in Athens alone….

There are some who say a man on his own in the Christian ministry is never the will of God. They would see the ministry as defective or even more strongly, illegitimate. They have an argument with God and his word because they do not know the Word. There are many times in the New Testament where one man is ministering on his own planting churches (Paul and Phillip among others), giving special oversight to churches (Timothy and Titus) or ministering in churches (many fellow-laborers mentioned in the Apistles.)

Turn over to Acts 17. Let's start reading at verse ¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.

This is the same group of thugs we saw in Thessalonica. They travelled over to Berea when they heard Paul was preaching there. They stirred up the crowds of Bereans--more evidence that not the entire city was more "noble" or fair-minded. They were quickly stirred up to act like brutes--or dare we say the unbelievers in Thessalonica.  Yet, it is right to assume the believers in Berea did not take part in this riot.

So, the apostolic Band seeing the situation develop, consulted together to see what the wisest course of action would be. It is a very ordinary manner in which the decision is found. It was not a hard decision to make. Nothing overtly spiritual was needed, though prayer might be assumed.

 ¹⁴ Then immediately the brethren sent Paul away, to go to the sea;

The brethren were Silas and Timothy, the other two of the writers of the epistle of 1 Thessalonians. They have this wonderful shared history that the Apostles know and the church in Thessalonica knows because of the ministry of Timothy among them--though we haven't been properly introduced to Timothy in the text.

14b but both Silas and Timothy remained there [in Berea]. ¹⁵ So those who conducted Paul brought him to Athens;

Word was sent back to Silas and Timothy, an apostolic command, interestingly enough,

and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him with all speed, they departed.

This left Paul in Athens on his own having been conveyed there by sea.

Once they were all together again, a decision was made to send someone to help them and gather news about them. This messenger with double-duty would be Timothy, Paul's special son in the faith. Look at the words used to describe him: It makes somewhat of a….

2. A Spiritual Biography of Timothy

 ² and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ,

Even years after this, Paul wrote to Timothy to not let anyone despise him because of his youth. So, he was a young man with a great deal of Christian maturity.

The Apostolic Band considered him a minister of God, a somewhat informal title for those who served the churches or in a church. Timothy is considered a fellow-laborer in the gospel of Christ.

When did Timothy become such an important part of the Apostolic Team? Doesn't it seem like he had been around for years?

We first meet Timothy in Acts 16. Let's turn there: Working backwards from Athens, we have a short time in Berea, a few weeks in Thessalonica, some time in Philippi, All of these were to fulfill what is called the Macedonian call. Prior to this, the Apostolic band was in Lystra and Derbe. This is where they met Timothy. He had been with the Apostles weeks or a couple of months, rather than many months or years.  This enhances our understanding of Timothy's maturity: Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. "And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. ² He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.

He impressed the believers in those places and he must have also impressed the Apostle Paul….

³ Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took himand circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. ⁴ And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Such was the ministry of the Apostolic Band with the addition of Timothy. It would be for a long time that Timothy would be a part of this work.

Have you ever wondered: How was Timothy prepared so seemingly quickly for the Christian ministry? How is it that a young man could be so mature in faith and life to be taken by the Apostle Paul on his missionary journey. This question might have never entered your mind before, but I believe the answer is an important one, especially for the church today. A modern church that has grown pessimistic and superficial in so many ways.

Timothy was prepared at home by his mother and grandmother. Have you ever realized that? Timothy, that did so much in the Apostolic Church was trained for ministry by the faithful teaching ministry of his mother Lois, and his grandmother Eunice.

Turn to the Book of 1 Timothy. 1:5 … when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Mothers and grandmothers who believe the true faith and live it out can have a profound effect upon their children and their childrens' children.

My mother has said on many occasions that she must have done something right for two of her sons to have turned out as Christian ministers. I don't think it is because of anyone's merit. We don't know what our children will become. Jim has two sons who are now Christian ministers. That's another generation in the family. Jim didn't think that would happen when they were growing up. But, they are young, but mature in the faith. There is something about living in a pastor's household that gives a lot of discernment and understanding to children. The same thing happens in homes when there is a strong maternal presence of godliness in the home. With two generations of this in Timothy's household, he was twice blessed.

Look at what else Paul wrote:

10b But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra

These things helped in Timothy's practical training as a Christian minister. The home and the church were the two main influences in his life.

Their shared history brought a closeness in the faith between spiritual father and son…. Paul continues….

—what persecutions I endured. And out ofthem all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

What did he say? Do we really believe it? Paul knew what it was to be delivered by the hand of God. He knew more suffering for the gospel was coming. He prepares Timothy for it. All who just desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer some degree of persecution.

In our day, we stand for heterosexual marriage among a sea of people without morals at all. We stand for marriage at the only place for marital relations and the world think we are old-fashioned until they start telling us their stories of how they were hurt permanently by being active too early. We stand for the value of human life from zygote through Fetus to birth and beyond. Only to meet with arguments against coathangers and infanticide medicines. There are other issues that will be harder and harder for Christians to believe and practice, but we must to maintain a Christian and biblical identity. We must follow the faith that has been delivered to us, just as it had been to Timothy. This si what Paul wrote to Timothy that seems so relevant today--

 ¹³ But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

From childhood. Are we training our children to be spiritually mature from their childhood. This isn't homeschooling. This is life-coaching them in godliness in accord with the truth. DO you teach your sons as if they are the next generation of churchmen who will replace us? Is it possible, your son could be one of the Timothys of the next generation--every generation needs a few of them. DO you teach you children to live godly with the expectation of suffering for it? When experience is married to truth, we end up with powerfully spiritual men and women who can't help but effect the generation to come. Back to 1 Thess 3.

That is why the ….

3. The Spiritual Work of Timothy is so important….

to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,

If you noticed the list of places Paul wrote to Timothy were all places after Timothy had become a part of the Apostle's traveling entourage. It was their shared history. If anything would have turned Timothy away from the Christian ministry, it would have been the experiences of those months with Paul.

Though young, his maturity exceeded that of others. Timothy's gifts and graces were such that he could be sent to Thessalonica to further set them on a right foundation and to strengthen them in the faith. TO encourage and to comfort are to give strength to others. The church needed the strength to endure--all of the thugery already manifest by the Jews against those who believed. This is why young Timothy was sent….

4. The Purpose of this Work

 ³ that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

Paul knew what they were going through and the implication is if Paul the Apostle know, so did his omniscient God.

The worst of these afflictions should not come as waves of earthquakes to displace you in any way. They are real afflictions, but as we find the word endure in verses 1 & 5, we understand the importance of enduring all things for the sake of the gospel.

Why be unshaken--because you are appointed to this. It is in God's decree that his people will suffer some degree of tribulation and suffering. It is nothing new. The only real difference is this: in our day more of it comes from within Christendom than from outside. That is not to say the world never picks on the church and believers, they do. It is to point out that what Paul says about his future is coming to pass.

5. The Place of Suffering in the Christian Life

 ⁴ For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

The work of the gospel is not preaching happy and uplifting sermons about practical matters all the time. The purpose it to prepare you to be biblical Christians to withstand in the evil day all that comes at us--and it will. The Christian life is a calling to troubles, trials and suffering.

Years ago there was a popular gospel tract that began, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. That may not be true according to our ordinary understanding of wonderful. The reality is that God may have a plan for your life that is full of wonder as you ask yourself, why did they do this or why is this issue so important to this person or these people now? I wonder that all the time.

We need to push people on to maturity, not confirm them in superficiality.

6. Apostolic Concern Revisited

 ⁵ For this reason, when I could no longer endure (3:1) it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Even the Apostle was concerned about the work of the tempter. His apostolic authority and power did not extend to other places and the power of the evil one. As we will see later on in this epistle, all he could do is prayer for them in line with the truth and the ordinary work of God in his churches.

Paul and the others had worked hard and prayed hard for this Church. He wanted to be re-assured that it was not all in vain. In his mind, it could have been.

I guess, Paul did not know about the name it and claim it doctrine. Paul knew nothing of the prosperity gospel. What he knew is plain old-fashioned Apostolic plodding along. One step at a time, though many places at the same time.

No wonder Paul wrote about the false apostles in Corinth in this manner: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. ²⁴ From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city,in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

In all of this Paul saw himself as weak. I can sympathize with that. Yet, my hope is still in the power of God to encourage and establish his own.