Parental Affection. 1Thessalonians 3:1 Under pressure to leave Thessalonica, Paul and his companions went to Berea. However, the Jews who had incited the people in Thessalonica followed them to Berea and did the same thing there. Paul seemed to be the main target of their hostility because he was the leader and likely preached the most. As a result, some people escorted Paul to Athens, while he left Silas and Timothy in Berea.
Problems, trials, and opposition are not always caused by sin. Nor are they necessarily a result of our lack of faith in God. Often, these are the means the Lord uses to further His work and keep His servants pressing forward with the commission He gave. Another reason is that through these same things, our character is developed, and we learn how to be sensitive to the needs of others who are going through similar “trials of faith,” which are more “precious than gold that perishes.” Godly living, obedience to our Lord, and commitment to the word of God will be opposed by our three main enemies – the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Paul was alone in Athens when he sent word to Timothy to go to Thessalonica to check on the believers and report back what he found. The concern of a spiritual father for new converts is inevitable. That is part of spiritual parenthood. The Lord Jesus Christ had commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. This can be done in a relatively short time in each location. However, making disciples of converts requires a lot of time and personal attention. Baptizing those who demonstrate true faith can be accomplished quickly, but then comes the long process of teaching them to observe all the things the Lord Jesus taught and commanded to be passed on to others. Doing something good once does not qualify as “observing all things.” It is God’s plan that His people continually practice spiritual truths and teach others to do the same. That is the principle of multiplication.