AP

The Goal of Every Christian Ministry

‘Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. For (Greek: ὅτι) now we live, if (Greek: ἐάν) you stand firm in the Lord.’ (1 Thess 3:7 -8)

In 1 Thessalonians 3:7 – 8, Paul expresses his care and love for brothers and sisters in the Church of Thessalonica. Verse 8 explains why Paul is encouraged when he hears about the faith of Thessalonian believers in Lord Jesus. The conjunction word ὅτι carries the contextual meaning of “because” and is translated as “for” in most modern English translations (CSB, ESV, NASB95, NET, NIV, NKJV and NRSV). According to the Book of Acts (Acts 17:1 – 10), Paul and his team faced strong opposition and persecution against their ministry in Thessalonica. Eventually, they escaped and left the city at night. Despite all these difficulties, Paul did not lose heart. On the contrary, when he heard from Timothy about the faith and love of Thessalonica converts (1Thess 3:6), he wrote down this golden principle of Christian ministry – ‘For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord.’ (1 Thess 3:8)

With the use of ἐάν (translated as “if”), this verse is classified as a third-class conditional statement in Greek grammar in order to illustrate a condition and consequence principle. In this case, “you stand firm in the Lord” is the conditional sentence, and “now we live” is the consequence sentence. From Paul’s perspective, he would consider his life of Christian ministry is very much worth it. Note the use of the emphatic word “now” in the sentence. It is worthwhile because brothers and sisters whom he serves stand firm in the Lord Jesus. How then does Paul live as a Christian worker? The answer can be found in the Scriptures as follows:

Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing. Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches.  (2 Cor 11: 24 – 28)

Dear brothers and sisters, do not lose heart (Jesus’ favourite word of encouragement in Matt 9:2, 22; 14:27; Mark 6:50; 10:49; John 16:33; Acts 23:11) when you face obstacles and difficulties in your ministry work. Your effort has never been poured out in vain, and our Lord Jesus remembers every bit of it. (Rev 7:15 – 17)

One more thing may be said about verse 8. Paul uses ἐάν to construct third-class conditional statements 95 times in his letters. In the New Testament text, the mood of the verb in the conditional is mostly subjunctive which indicates a possibility of occurrence. If this is the case, the verse would become: “For now we live, if you ‘may stand firm’ (verb in subjunctive mood) in the Lord.” As an exception to all his previous usages, Paul uses an indicative form of the verb, ‘stand firm’. He affirms their faith in Christ and urges them to continue to walk with their Lord. Paul’s Christian ministry is not about a good life or reputation. It is all about the ones whom he serves – their daily walk with Lord Jesus. This is the goal of every Christian ministry; it is the goal that will bring glory to the Lord Jesus. (John 13:34)  

– John Kho