Written by David Self Monday, 08 December :00 - Last Updated Friday, 05 December :53

Transcription

1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview December 14, 2008 "When Others Helped You" Background & Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 Motivation: Paul fought battles on at least two sides. He was planting new congregations while fighting off false teachers from established congregations. In this chapter, we see some of Paul's credentials as a teacher. I. Bold Teachers (1-4) A. The Apostles Effective Witness (2:1-2) 1. Factual "For you yourselves know, brethren..." (1) Paul had evidently learned of continued criticism in Thessalonica. After leaving the city and arriving at Berea. Luke commented " These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica..." (Acts 17:11). The expression " you yourselves know " or something like it is used six times in these twelve verses. Paul's defense rests upon their fair treatment of the facts. 2. Fruitful "our coming to you was not in vain" (1) The word translated " in vain " can also mean failure, ineffective, worthless, without purpose, empty or lacking earnestness. Although Paul's visit was brief and his departure sudden, he felt that the fruit would remain because " you received the word of God...not as the words of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. " (13) 1 / 12

2 3. Faithful "even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi " (2) In Acts 16:16-40 we read of Paul and Silas' beating and imprisonment. Although it was illegal because of Paul's Roman citizenship, the incident was probably being used by Paul's critics as evidence of his unsavory character. It is a credit to God's strength that Paul was not discouraged by the experience in Philippi, but entered Thessalonica faithfully proclaiming the same gospel. 4. Forthright "we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. " (2) "in much conflict" is translated "in spite of strong opposition " in the NIV. Explore the Bible Commentary (Fall, 2001) (p. 21): "In spite of the problems in Philippi, Paul had entered Thessalonica boldly and had persisted in proclaiming the same gospel that triggered the opposition in Philippi. Paul's willingness to witness in Thessalonica in spite of strong opposition was not a matter of bull-headedness or personality type. Opposition' translates a term used to describe an athlete's struggle or strenuous effort to overcome an opponent. The opposition is not named: Paul only noted that it was strong.' Indirectly, Paul's steadfastness in the face of persecution witnessed to the genuineness of his motives. People usually suffer only for what they believe in and take seriously." B. The Apostles' Motives (2:3-6a) 1. Appeal "For our exhortation" (3) Exhortation can variously be interpreted appeal, entreaty, request, consolation, comfort, or encouragement. It obviously refers to his appeal for the Thessalonians to come to Christ. In reaction to charges of wrong motives, Paul insists that he is... a. Assured "did not come from error" The word for error can also mean deceit, delusion or false doctrine. Paul's critics were attacking the truthfulness of his teaching, claiming that he was delusional. You'll remember that Jesus faced the same charge (Mark 3:21). Later, Festus charged Paul with being mad (Acts 26:24). William Barclay states "The Christian standards can be so different from the standards of the world that he who follows them with a single mind and a burning enthusiasm can appear to other men to be off his head." 2 / 12

3 The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians ", (p. 188) b. Apparent "did not come from... uncleanness" The charge here was that Paul had impure or unworthy motives. The word for uncleanness is often used for sexual impurity. Paul's teachings on love (I Cor. 13:4-8) and the symbolic kiss-of-peace (5:26) were often deliberately misinterpreted by unbelievers to cast the early church in a distorted light. c. Authentic "nor was it in deceit" The NIV translates this phrase "nor are we trying to trick you ;" the Twentieth Century New Testament uses " any intention of misleading you. " 2. Approved "we have been approved by God" (4) To paraphrase John Bunyan: "All the criticism in the world means nothing to me if I sense God's approval; all the commendation in the world means nothing if I don't get that approval." Perhaps Paul was being accused by the legalists of being a "man-pleaser" because he taught of grace and liberty. II. Caring Teachers (5-8) A. Caring Actions 1. Appropriate "neither at any time did we use flattering words...nor a cloak of covetousness " (5) Flattering is always used in the Greek for "flattery whose motive is gain" (Barclay, p. 189) Therefore, it is linked to the cloak or mask of covetousness (greed). Quite frankly, the early church and the modern church have in common the presence of unscrupulous people who are motivated by a quick buck. From some TV/radio preachers to panhandlers who "show up" on Sundays, dishonest people often see the church as an "easy mark." A true minister of the gospel will not be motivated by "filthy lucre." (I Tim. 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7, 11; I Pet. 5:2) 3 / 12

4 2. Apostle "we might have made demands as apostles of Christ" (6) Another charge Paul faced was that he was "out to make a name for himself." His reply: " Nor did we seek glory from men." Paul's focus was on the message (1:5). B. Caring Attitudes 1. Loyal "we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children " (7) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1704: 2:7 "Paul uses the imagery of the nursery at feeding time. Paul didn't feed on them; he fed them. The Greek word trophos (meaning nursing mother') is a tender and vivid picture of Paul's heart for the church. It should move the Thessalonians to hold him in high regard so that his influence might continue throughout the lifetime of his spiritual children. The word cherishes' further emphasizes the nursing mother's' activity as well as her attitude." 2. Loving "affectionately longing for you" (8) As opposed to the critic's charges of insincerity Paul claims to have labored out of a heart of love. He offered two bits of evidence: a. "we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God" Paul, Silas and Timothy did not travel to Thessalonica to get anything or sell anything, rather, they came to give something precious away. b. "but also our own lives" The Macedonians were later commended by Paul for sacrificial giving and that they "first gave themselves to the Lord." (2 Cor. 8:5) In light of this evidence, the Thessalonians should be reassured that they "had become dear to us.&q uot; The expression is built around the Greek word agape 4 / 12

5 , the term exclusively used of God's sacrificial love for us. III. Devout Teachers (9-12) A. Hard Worker "laboring day and night that we might not be a burden to you " (9) Paul was a bi-vocational pastor. His craft of tent making (Acts 18:3) consumed long hours. The typical leather worker would labor from sunup to sundown just to earn enough for food and lodging. Paul's preaching ministry, therefore, went well into the night (Acts 20:7). He wrote to the Corinthians that he often went without sleep (2 Cor. 11:27). And why did he make these sacrifices when other apostles were entitled to free room and board (I Cor. 9:1-6)? Because God called Paul to a ministry of church planting. While he would accept offerings from established churches (the Philippian church supported him while in Thessalonica, Phil 4:16), he did not " want to be a burden " to newly established works. Also, because the nature of Paul's ministry precluded him from staying in any one church very long (Ephesus was the exception), he did not want to come into a city with his hand out for an offering. Paul's admonition to work (4:11-12, 5:14) was strengthened by his personal example. B. Good Example 1. Manner "you are witnesses and God also..." (10) a. devoutly - "holy," "justly" - they were set apart, fully devoted. b. justly - "righteous," "upright" They conformed to God's standards. c. blamelessly - "without reproach" Their reputation among God and His people was impeccable. 5 / 12

6 2. Method "as a father does his own children" (11) a. exhorted - "encourage," "console" - A loving father trains by encouragement. b. comforted - "soothing" - A loving father helps heal hurts (2 Cor. 1:3-5). c. charged - "solemnly plead," "by solemn injunctions" - A loving father urges his children to adopt the proper lifestyle and to assume certain responsibilities. 3. Motivation "that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory " (12) Why should anyone respond to Paul's teaching, change his/her lifestyle and take on new responsibilities? Paul made it clear that the motivation was not to please Paul or even to live a fulfilled life. The ultimate motivating factor was to please God. " walk worthy" does not imply that we could ever deserve or earn God's riches (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Cor. 8:9). Rather, " walk worthy " (Eph. 4:1-3; Gal. 5:16; Rom. 8:1-4; Col. 2:6-7) describes behavior that is suitable or appropriate for one whom God " calls." (I Cor. 1:18-31) IV. Receptive Learners (13-16) A. Receiving God's Message (13) 1. Appreciation "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing... " Paul had expressed appreciation in 1:2-3 for the Thessalonians' faith, hope and love. Here he gives thanks for their salvation experience. 6 / 12

7 2. Acknowledgment "because when you received the word of God which you heard from us " In 1:5, Paul wrote of preaching the gospel: " For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance." But preaching is only one side of the equation; having been preached, the gospel must be received. J. Vernon McGee comments in Thru the Bible, vol. 5, pp. 383: "How do you receive the Word of God? Do you receive it as the Word of God? Or do you get angry? Does the hair stand up on the back of your neck? Twice in all my years of ministry I was approached by a man after a sermon and asked if I had him in mind when I preached the sermon that morning. My friend, I didn't even know those men were there! They were giving themselves an added sense of importance that wasn't justified. But the real issue is that they weren't receiving the Word of God as the Word of God. The Word should go out as the Word of God, and it should be received as the Word of God. And, my friend, if you will receive it that way, then it will be able to work in you, and there's blessing there for you. Otherwise, you are wasting your time in church." (Rev. 3:16) 3. Acceptance "you welcomed it" This phrase is also translated "you received it " (KJV), " you accepted it " (RSV and NIV). We speak of " receiving " Christ as Savior or " accepting " God's free gift of eternal life. Both expressions are correct. The Evangelism Explosion presentation of the gospel is summarized in five statements: a. Heaven is a free gift; it's not earned or deserved. (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6:23b; Rom. 4:25) b. Man is a sinner and cannot save himself. (Rom. 3:23; Matt. 5:18) c. God is merciful and doesn't want to punish us (I John 4:8b), but He is just and must punish sin. (Ex. 34:7b) 7 / 12

8 d. Jesus Christ is the infinite God/Man (John 1:1, 14) who died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and purchase a place in heaven for us. (Is. 53:6) e. Saving faith is not merely head knowledge (James 2:19) or temporal in nature; saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life. (Acts 16:31) 4. Authority "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God" Believer's Study Bible, p. 1705: " 2:13 Nowhere is there a more lucid affirmation in the New Testament that the apostles considered their words to be the very vehicles of the word of God. In fact, the notable contrast between the words of men and the words of God is stressed. The phrase effectively works in you; ( energeitai, Gk.( means to energize.' Almost always New Testament writers use this term for some form of supernatural activity." (2 Tim. 3:16; John 14:6, 17:17; Heb. 4:12) 5. Affirmation "Which also effectively works in you who believe" Paul has already mentioned the fruits of this effective work: a. Faith, hope, love (1:3) b. Fully devoted followers (1:4-10) c. Comfort as from a loving mother (2:7) d. Loving affection (2:8) e. Changed conduct based on instructions from a loving father (2:11-12) 8 / 12

9 B. Enduring Persecution (14-16) 1. Suffering "For you also suffered..." (14) Paul writes that just as the Jerusalem church suffered at the hands of the Jews, so the Thessalonian church was suffering persecution at the hands of the Gentiles " your own countrymen." The issue of suffering for the cause of Christ is addressed throughout the New Testament (1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:8, 12, 2:9; Hebrews 2:10, 10:32, 13:3; James 5:10-11; I Peter 2:19-25, 3:14, 4:12; Rev. 1:9) The problem is easy to state: If God is all powerful and He loves us, why will He not protect us from suffering? a. Reasons for Suffering 1. Natural Causes: Cancer, hurricanes, and earthquakes all cause suffering. But they are all results of the fallen creation in which we live. To blame God for suffering of this kind is to say that it should have happened to someone else, i.e. God is not fair. 2. Moral Causes: Crime, religious persecution and alcoholism all cause suffering as well. However, these are not natural, but are the result of sinful moral choices. Christians are not exempt from moral evil caused by sinful people. The world will not be perfect until Christ transforms it. For the Christian, God promises comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-5) and sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9) in the time of suffering. b. Results of Suffering We're also taught that suffering can produce Christian virtues (James 1:2-4; Rom. 5:3-5). Rarely does a Christian mature rapidly when all is going well. We lapse too quickly into independence and self-sufficiency. On a global scale, the nations that have the least impact for Christ tend to be the wealthiest. (I Tim. 6:4-19) America is now the third largest recipient of missionaries. On the other hand, Chinese Christians have been impoverished and persecuted for decades, yet the church is one of the faster growing in the world. 9 / 12

10 2. Sins "they do not please God and are contrary to all men" (15) Paul lists the transgressions of those who are persecuting the church; the charges are aimed at the Jews but, for the most part, apply also to Gentiles: a. "who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets" (15) This indictment would seem to apply only to Jews; however, theologically, Christ died for the sins of all. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (a predominantly Gentile church) " Christ died for our sins " (I Cor. 15:3). The Jews are not solely responsible for nailing Jesus to the cross; He said in the garden " Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:53, NIV). Considering that one angel destroyed the Assyrian army of 185,000 soldiers (2 Kings 19:35), we can safely say that no man forced Jesus onto the cross (John 10:18). b. "have persecuted us" (15) The persecution Paul experienced generally was initiated by Judaizers but involved Gentile persecutors as well; the riot at Ephesus concerned the goddess Artemis, a cause no Jew would have condoned (Acts 19:24 ff). c. "forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved" (16 cf. 1:10) This charge is leveled exclusively at the Jews. The crux of the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15) revolved around the issue of Gentile conversion. 3. Satisfactions "but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost" (16) Paul is writing to innocent Christians experiencing suffering by those persecuting the church. He provides several insights into the ultimate justice God provides. a. Delayed Judgment Is Not Neglected Judgment: Believer's Study Bible, p. 1705: 2:16 " Fill up the measure of their sins ' points out the reality that the persecutors of believers are sometimes allowed to continue their sinful conduct. The evil nature of their actions will become a matter of record, and God's 10 / 12

11 response of judgment will unquestionably be seen as an administration of righteousness. There is a limit to God's patience, and the fact that the wrath of God is spoken of here in the present (not future) tense affirms the certainty that it is in the process of coming even now." (Gen. 15:16; Ps. 135; Rev. 6:16-17, 19:15) b. Delegated Judgment Is Accurate Judgment: When a Christian endures suffering at the hand of another, the natural reaction is to seek vengeance. But God clearly states " Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord." (Rom. 12:19) Paul writes to the Thessalonians " Be patient; God in His timing will settle accounts." A big test of faith is allowing God to settle accounts. (I Pet. 5:10-11) c. Divine Judgment Is Sure Judgment: Paul writes of a future judgment. Wrath as a present-time event " has come upon them." The wheel of God's judgment may appear to grind exceedingly slow, but it grinds exceedingly fine. A major aspect of Christian maturity is learning to resolve conflict. Conflict in families, in the church, and in Christian relationships often occurs in the environment of anger. Unfortunately, trying to resolve conflict sometimes places us in the basket filled with "fruits of the flesh": " hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy. " (Gal. 5:20-21, NIV). We must learn to trust God to settle accounts. (Heb. 12:3-15) True abiding faith in Him will allow us to release anger and vindictiveness. Only then can we make peace with others. Application: - 1. The gospel is God's message to transform people. (Rom. 12:1-2) - 2. Suffering results from a variety of causes but can help mature us. (Rom. 8:28; I Pet. 4:17) - 3. Conflict can only be resolved when we submit ourselves to God's perfect judgment. (Rom. 5:1) Leader Pack Item 5: Poster: Lesson Outline; Item 6: Handout: Christian Boldness 11 / 12

12 Illustrator: p. 64: "Labor: A Pauline View" Notes: **You may access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: y.org/ ; 12/13 - Preschool/Children's Christmas Party; 12/ FBA Lower School Christmas Program; 12/ FBA Primary School Christmas Program; 12/20 - Shane & Shane Concert 7:00; 12/24 - Christmas Eve Services - 5:00 & 11pm; 12/28 - Christmas/New Year's weekend - all three worship services, Afshin Ziafat preaching, no Bible classes. 12 / 12