Verse 11
Paul summarized the content of his prayer in the form of a wish to conclude this section of the epistle (1 Thessalonians 1:2 to 1 Thessalonians 3:13).
"It is characteristic of Paul’s letters that he frequently slips into some short prayer." [Note: Morris, The First . . ., p. 110.]
The apostle asked God his Father and Jesus his Lord to clear the way so he and his fellow missionaries could return to Thessalonica. He addressed two members of the Godhead in prayer. He regarded both of these as God as is clear from his use of a singular verb ("direct") with a plural subject. "Himself" emphasizes Paul’s dependence on God to grant his request.
"We often wonder why the Christian life is so difficult to live, especially in the ordinary everyday relationships of life. The answer may very well be that we are trying to live it by ourselves. The man who goes out in the morning without prayer is, in effect, saying, ’I can quite well tackle to-day myself.’ . . . John Buchan once described an atheist as ’a man who has no invisible means of support.’" [Note: Barclay, p. 229.]
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