1 Thessalonians 3

     3:1-13.  See the introduction at chapter 1, and the verses from Acts 17 & 18 cited there.  The Thessalonians surely could not have helped being moved by Paul’s concern for them, knowing that he risked his life to reach them with the gospel.  And had it not been for Jason and others paying his bail, and removed him beyond danger, he would perhaps have perished.   But now Timothy has returned to Paul in Corinth with the news he longed to hear.  He rejoices, and prays that he might return to complete what was lacking in their faith (10); i.e., to teach more fully at certain points the doctrines of the faith.  This he begins to do in the rest of the epistle.  In particular, Paul has much to say about the Lord’s return, a subject he first introduced in 1:10, 2:19, and now again in 3:13.  This will be a major theme, not only for the rest of 1 Thessalonians, but for 2 Thessalonians as well.  If only all the eschatological books written since were as brief and sane, there would be a lot fewer paper shortages, and a lot less amusement in the courts of the enemy.