Verses 1-5. Paul had ardently desired to see these dear young Christians again, in whom he had found such a warm response to the truth he preached, but as the way was not opened up by the Lord for him to see them, he concluded to stay in Athens alone. He sent Timotheus, a brother in the truth, and one who labored with him in the work, as a minister of God's glad tidings of Christ, to confirm them in the truth and to comfort and to encourage them concerning their faith.
He thought of the persecutions they might still be passing through, and had already explained to them that such trials must come on all those who would live godly in Christ Jesus, and they knew already of the things he had suffered.
Phil. 1:29 tells that it is given to all believers to suffer for Christ in this world that hated Him. Yet he was afraid that some wile of the enemy might come to tempt and lead them away from the Lord, and in his deep exercise and prayer he sent Timotheus to see them lest his labor as a servant should be in vain. The answer is:
Verses 6-10. "But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity (love), and that you have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you. Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”
What a true, faithful, loving servant of God the apostle proved himself to be. He was no hireling that would flee from the enemy of the sheep. He was a much tried servant, and was still ready to lay down his life for the sheep, after the pattern of his Master (Col. 1:24).
How it cheers his heart to hear of their faith and love still abounding as when he was present with them, and then of their good remembrance of him always, and of their great desire to see him again, just as he desired to see them. So that his cup of, affliction and distress was alleviated, and his heart comforted to hear of their progress and of their firm faith. And he writes,
“For now we live if ye stand fast in the Lord! For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?" His loving heart yearned over them for their good as the dear flock of Christ.
But Paul, though an apostle, was not the Master. He was only a servant, and had to wait on the Lord for his orders where and when to go, and all such servants are honored (Prov. 27:18; John 12:26). It seems a number of years passed before he was allowed to be with them again. The Lord had other servants who could carry on the work who also companied Paul (Acts 20:4).
Verse 11. "Now God our father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you." He thus submits himself to the will of God, and casts them on the tender affection of the Father's heart for His children, who orders ever what is best for them according to His perfect wisdom which takes them all into account for their good in both spiritual and temporal things.
“And our Lord Jesus Christ." This leads us to think of them as an assembly of which He is Head, and Son over God's house. The apostle eared for them in their need for their progress and development in spiritual things.
In Eph. 4:11-16 we see that this provision of Christ the Head of His assembly, will not cease till we are all perfected in glory with Him.
Verse 12. "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another; and toward all, even as we do toward you: to the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
The apostle's desire for them is that the Lord may make them increase and abound in love, and puts in, "as we do toward you." This power of love maintains the heart in the presence of God, and to find its joy there in light and desires it for all saints, that they may be kept sensibly in communion in their hearts. This is the development of the divine nature in us. Love is the bond of perfectness (Col. 3:14), the true means of holiness.
The heart is kept from the thoughts and ways of the flesh, as long as the soul is enjoying the pure light of the presence of God. And the apostle prays that the Lord may make them to increase and abound in love, in order to establish their hearts unblameable in holiness before God our Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, with all His saints.
This is our actual and present hope. We are awaiting for that appearing or manifestation, where all His saints will come with Him, unblameable in holiness. We taste the love, and enjoy the sense of His holiness in us now, but then we will be in all His perfection. It will be the accomplishment of Phil. 1:6.
We shall see Him in glory; we shall see all the saints in whom He will be admired, and see them then as we would like to see them now. He will be glorified in His saints, who will have been then taken up already to be forever with Him. They were given to Him of the Father, and they are the precious fruit of His work upon the cross. He will present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, and manifest His glory to be admired in them when He comes with them.