I.
I guess what most holds my attention in this passage is seeing how Paul speaks of thankfulness and joy and yet also of discouragement and concern (should I rather say fear) for the community of believers in Thessalonica.

The passage begins with Paul mentioning he “… constantly give(s) thanks …” and ends with a concern that “our labor has been in vain.”

Spend some time with Paul’s words and notice the depth of emotion and concern he brings to his letter to these disciples.

II.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 (NRSVue)

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins, but wrath has overtaken them at last.

As for us, brothers and sisters, when for a short time we were made orphans by being separated from you—in person, not in heart—we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again—but Satan blocked our way. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for. In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.

III.
Paul tells the disciples in Thessalonica “you are our glory and joy!”

Read the passage again and see if you find clues to why Paul can make such a statement.

As you read the passage, what do you notice that hinders Paul’s joy?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}