The chief city of the province of Achaia of the Roman Empire, where the apostle Paul preached the gospel to the philosophical Greeks (Acts 17:15-34).

Some MSS read, minister of God. A minister of God is God's fellow worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1). What a privilege! What a blessing!

Or, exhort, comfort.

If we are established in the faith (v. 2), afflictions will work out for our good (Rom. 8:28) according to God's purpose in His appointment. Otherwise, we may be shaken by the tempter (v. 5) through the afflictions.

Or, destined, set, located. God has destined, appointed, that we should pass through afflictions. Hence, afflictions are God's allotted portion to us, and He has set us, located us, in a situation of afflictions.

Imperfect tense, indicating repeated action.

The subtle devil, the old serpent, who tempted Eve (Gen. 3:1-6; 1 Tim. 2:14).

The aim of the subtle tempter is to destroy the gospel work accomplished through God's fellow workers, so that it would be in vain.

The apostle was in Corinth after leaving Athens (Acts 17:15-16; 18:1, 5). It was in Corinth that he wrote this lovely letter to the dear saints in Thessalonica for their encouragement.

The sound condition of the believers is always a comfort to God's fellow workers, who work on them and bear them as a burden.

Or, distress. See note 1 Cor. 7:26² and note 2 Cor. 12:10^3b.

The believers' standing firm in the Lord ministers life to the apostles.

Standing firm in the Lord is in contrast to being shaken from the faith (v. 3).

Or, perfect. The verb form of the Greek word in 2 Cor. 13:9 (see note 2 Cor. 13:9^2b). The believers in Thessalonica, being young in the Lord, were still lacking in their new faith. The apostle realized this with much loving concern for them. This was his reason for writing this Epistle.

In Greek, make straight here is singular. This indicates that the apostle considered that God the Father and the Lord Jesus are one. How good to have our way in the ministry made straight by such a One! And how beautiful are the footsteps of the apostles in their carrying out of this One's ministry for the fulfilling of His purpose!

The apostle's concern for the young believers was first in regard to their faith (vv. 2-10) and then in regard to their love, which issues from faith and works together with faith (Gal. 5:6; 1 Tim. 1:14 and note 1 Tim. 1:14^2c). Such love is an indication of growth in life (1 Thes. 1:3).

The establishing of the believers' hearts blameless issues from faith and love, as mentioned in the preceding verses. This spontaneously produces the hope of the coming back of our dear Lord, in whom we believe and whom we love. Hence, again we see that faith, love, and hope are the implied factors in the construction of this Epistle.

Inwardly, our heart must be established in holiness; outwardly, our body must be preserved in sanctification (1 Thes. 4:4; 5:23). This is so that we may have a holy life, and this holy life is for the church life.

See note Rom. 1:2³.

See note 1 Thes. 2:19^1d.

Believers in Christ (see note Rom. 1:2³ and note 1 Cor. 1:2^6d), including the Old Testament saints (Dan. 7:18, 21-22, 25, 27; Zech. 14:5).