1 Thessalonians 3:3 – Located for Afflictions

3 No one is to be swayed by these afflictions, for you yourselves are aware that we are located for this.

The Thessalonians had experienced firsthand what Paul meant by “these afflictions.” The evangel had not brought them an easy path. That is precisely why Paul had sent Timothy to establish and console them. The afflictions did not need to disappear; the Thessalonians were not to be swayed by them.

That is also what the unusual Greek word sainō expresses. It occurs here in the passive and denotes being moved or brought out of a fixed position. Opposite this stands the establishing of the previous verse. The pressure came from outside, but it did not need to move them from their place. Timothy’s establishing and consoling served that very purpose.

Paul gives a remarkable reason for this: they already knew that Paul and his coworkers were “located for this.” The continual opposition could easily foster the thought that Paul’s message was therefore precisely not confirmed by God. But Paul reverses that reasoning. What gave the Thessalonians reason to be swayed was, for him, actually a confirmation. What could cause them to doubt Paul’s message belonged to the very path for which he and his coworkers were located. Timothy was to establish them in this as well.

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