Peter Barnes: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
SERMON NOTES: PRAYING FOR CHRIST’S PEOPLE (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)
– two prayers or two prayer-wishes. One is very specific, concerning Paul’s desire to return to Thessalonica – read 3:11. The other is more general, and concerns the spiritual growth of the Thessalonian Christians.
- Praying for a specific outcome.
-3:11. Not quite like 1 Chron.29:18; Psalm 25:4-5. They are more general prayers, and more directly spiritual. The prayer-wish in the Thessalonian verse is quite specific – 2:17-18; 3:6, 10. We cannot be certain of the answer – Rom.1:10; 1 Cor.4:19.
– although Paul did get his prayer-wish – Acts 20:1-4.
– Paul refers to the Father and the Lord Jesus in verse 11, but uses a singular verb. He does something similar in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.
- Praying for love leading to holiness in others.
– 3:12-13a. Paul prays that He would increase the love the Thessalonians have for one another and for all. He will press this home later in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. See Gal.5:13-15, 22-23; 6:2.
– growing in love means being established or strengthened (which is better) in holiness. Again, Paul will pick this up later, especially in the section on sexual ethics – 4:1, 3a; 5:23. This is not legalism; this is no enemy of grace; it is the expression of grace..
- Keeping the end in view.
– 3:13b. He mentions three things there: our appearance before our God and Father; the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. The King will come for His kingdom; He will come with all His saints.
Calvin: ‘This thought ought to arouse in us a desire for holiness.’