Good News. 1st Thessalonians 3:6 There are close bonds that connect us to God's people because of the shared faith. The suffering one experiences when going through the fires of affliction affects others because we are members of the same body. When the adversary attacks someone with whom we share fellowship in the same assembly, we want to help that person through the difficulty they are facing. In times of blessing, we also share in their joy. The news Timotheus brought to Paul from Thessalonica about the saints there gave him special joy within himself, a joy he also shared with God. The Lord's people were not only standing firm themselves, but others were also being blessed as the Gospel sounded forth from them.
This is the only time Paul used the phrase “good tidings” or “good news” to refer to anything other than the Gospel. His joy stemmed from the good news of “your faith” – a right attitude toward God; “your love” – a right attitude toward others; and “your great desire to see us” – a right attitude toward Paul.
Preachers and teachers find great joy in seeing the benefits of their work in others. When they are faithful themselves and strong in faith toward others, there is a special fruitfulness because the love of God is expressed through them. An outreach to those around us is motivated by “the love of Christ which constrains us.” This demonstrates the reality of faith in Christ. It cannot be denied or dismissed as insignificant. Not only does it encourage mature believers who invest time and effort in new believers, but it also brings joy and true meaning to the lives of those just starting in the faith. They can recognize the value of their Christian testimony. They also learn to appreciate more those who had an interest in bringing them to Christ. The messengers are blessed; the new believers are blessed, and God is blessed.