1 Thessalonians 3:1

1 THESS. 3

The chain of events which puts this chapter in focus was as follows:

Paul left Silas and Timothy at Berea, proceeding to Athens (Acts 17:14,15).

On arriving in Athens he urgently summoned them to join him.

They did so at once, and Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1-12).

Silas was sent to another part of Macedonia (Berea?) (Acts 18:5).

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth (Acts 18:1).

Both Silas and Timothy joined Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:6).

This epistle was written shortly after the reunion of the three in Corinth.[1]

It will be noted that many details are omitted, but the above sequence of events would seem to include all the information available.

The chapter is largely devoted to the expression of Paul's concern over the fate of the beloved converts left in Thessalonica when Paul was compelled to flee, due to Jewish-instigated opposition from the city magistrates, and of the apostle's joy upon receiving the good news of their fidelity to the Lord and of their love for Paul (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10). It concludes with a fervent prayer that he might be spared to visit them again, and that the Thessalonians might abound and increase in their love of both God and man (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13). Regarding his prayerful hope to "see your face again," "The prayer was answered some years later" (Acts 20:1).[2]

[1] Ronald A. Ward, Commentary on 1,2Thessalonians (Waco, Texas: Word Books, Publisher, 1973), p. 81.

[2] J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 988.

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone; (1 Thessalonians 3:1)

The significance of Paul's being left alone derives from the fact of his enemies seeking to kill him, the threat being so serious that an escort guarded his journey to Athens. The poignant mention of "alone" in this verse suggests that Paul recognized the danger of his unguarded exposure; and as his name was already known throughout Athens following his address on Mars Hill, he must have been very apprehensive of what could easily befall him. Thus his consent to be left alone derived from a genuine love of converts and the utmost unselfishness on his own part.

We could not longer forbear ... The "we" of this clause is certainly epistolary, or editorial, the "we" standing for Paul alone. This has been disputed, even by such a reputable scholar as Kelcy who stated that "The word from which `alone' comes is plural in the Greek, indicating that Paul meant to include Silvanus,"[3] even referring to Paul's companions as among `the writers' of 1Thessalonians. It is true, of course, that "alone" is plural in the Greek, but Paul might very well have meant that the Lord was with him and that he was never alone (in the singular); besides, in any epistolary usage, all of the members of a sentence are in apposition with the plural "we" anyway. Many scholars support the view taken here:

Some refer the plural to Paul, Silas and Timothy; others to Paul and Silas, as Timothy had been sent to Thessalonica; but it is to be restricted to Paul, as is evident from 1 Thessalonians 3:5, and inasmuch as Paul was left alone in Athens; the plural being used here for the singular.[4]

Here the "we" is purely epistolary, referring to Paul himself.[5]

The word "alone" in 1 Thessalonians 3:1 and the parallel between "we sent" (1 Thessalonians 3:2) and "I sent" (1 Thessalonians 3:5) suggest that the plural here is not to be taken literally.[6]

"Alone" at the end of the verse (1 Thessalonians 3:1) is also plural ([@monoi]), although it is quite clear that it refers to Paul only.[7]

The plural (for alone) does not decide the issue either way.[8]

[3] Raymond C. Kelcy, The Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians (Austin, Texas: R. B; Sweet Company, Inc., 1968), p. 64.

[4] P. J. Gloat, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 21 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 55.

[5] A. M. Stibbs, New Bible Commentary, Revised (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970), p. 1158.

[6] Peter E. Cousins, A New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 494.

[7] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1,2Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956), p. 61.

[8] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, 1Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1955), p. 82.