READING TIME: 1-2 MINUTES
January 10, 2019
What did Paul mean when he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 3:8 that we really live if we stand firm in the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 3:8: “for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord” (NASB).
In this verse, the word “really” is in italics because it was added by the translators for purposes of clarification. When Paul said to the Thessalonians, “for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord” he did not mean that if they continued to stand firm in the Lord then Paul and his companions would go to heaven when they die! Rather, he means that they would find true satisfaction and an abundant life knowing that their labors had not been in vain (v. 4).
Paul’s use of “live” in this verse compares nicely with the Lord’s teaching on the need of His followers to lay down their lives to gain them (Matt 16:24-28). In this case, Paul gave of himself to the Thessalonians and he was reaping a fuller life as a result of their continuance in what he taught them.
Quite often Paul encouraged believers to continue to persevere by asking them to “stand firm” (cf. 1 Cor. 16:13; 2 Cor. 1:24; Gal. 5:1; Eph. 6:11, 13, 14; Phil. 1:27; 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:15; 1 Pet. 5:12).
Amid their afflictions, it was a great encouragement to know that all their suffering was worth it. Their beloved disciples were doing well. This was “life” indeed.
For more information, see my two posts (which are very similar) about finding and losing life in Matthew 10:39 (May 23, 2019, and June 21, 2019).
Sources Used
Constable, Dr. Thomas L. Notes on 1 Thessalonians: 2019 Edition. < https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/1thessalonians/1thessalonians.htm>.
Dillow, Joseph. Final Destiny: The Future Reign of The Servant Kings: Fourth Revised Edition. Grace Theology Press, note 979.
Wilkin, Robert N. “The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians.” The Grace New Testament Commentary. Ed. Robert N. Wilkin. Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010. 937.