1 Thessalonians 3:6-8 6But now, after Timothy came to us from you and brought us good news of your faith and love and that you always have good memory of us while longing to see us just as we also long to see you,7 for this reason, brothers [and sisters], in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;8because now we live since you are standing firm in the Lord.
This is a complex sentence with several participles dependent in meaning upon the main verb we were comforted. It is helpful to see how each phrase points to this main idea. Simply stated, verse 6 points to verse 7. In verse 6, Paul reflects on how his concern for the spiritual well-being of the Thessalonians in their suffering has been relieved by news from Timothy. Timothy’s news is described in three ways, two of which use genitive absolute temporal participles (after he came and after he brought). The first is simply the idea that he returned to Paul. Acts 18:5 suggests that he caught up with Paul in Corinth and gave a report on the situation in Thessalonica. Second, Paul describes the report of good news (euangelisamenou, the same word for “gospel” but used in a general sense) of how the Thessalonians’ faith and love were growing and that Paul did not need to fear that the tempter was tempting them away from their faith in Christ (verse 5).
Third, Timothy reported that they wanted to see Paul again, just as Paul wanted to see them again. They had good memory (ethete mneian agathēn), which basically means that they had Paul in their thoughts. Specifically, their thoughts about Paul are summarized in another participial phrase expressing their longing (epipothountes) to see him. Paul uses this word in his letters to express the deep desire of believers to be with one another particularly how he yearned to be with the churches or persons he had discipled in their faith (Romans 1:11; 2 Corinthians 9:14; Philippians 1:8; 2:26; 2 Timothy 1:4). This passion for fellowship was inspired by a deep desire to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
Verse 7 expresses Paul’s main idea, that he, Silas, and Timothy were comforted by the report that the Thessalonians were growing in their faith and standing strong in the Lord. despite the obstacles they faced. Paul and the brothers were facing their own distress and affliction, but this report gave them inspiration to keep going in their mission. Paul’s statement in verse 8 is almost hyperbolic in that this report inspired them to live and not give up.
From my own personal experience, investing ourselves in people who do not grow can be a great discouragement and can lead to ministry burnout. Seeing people respond to our teaching and preaching encourages us to keep going. Most ministry leaders give themselves so that people will grow in their faith in Jesus. Pastors are not (or should not be) in ministry for money, glory, or any personal gain. Yet, they are also human and need encouragement from the flock. When the sheep ignore the efforts of the shepherd, it not only hurts the shepherd but also opens the sheep up to danger. Paul’s account in this letter shows how important mutual support and encouragement is in our spiritual growth.
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