1 Thessalonians. Chapter 4-5

Transcription

1 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4-5 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NIV) Reference: NIV, Copeland and Constable Commentaries

2 Why Did Paul Write This Epistle? In view of this epistle's contents, Paul had at least three purposes in mind when he wrote: First, he wanted to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica who were making good progress in their new faith (1:2-10) Second, he desired to correct misinformation about himself and his fellow missionaries that some of his critics in Thessalonica were circulating (2:1 3:13) Third, he wrote to give additional instruction that would contribute to the Thessalonians' spiritual growth (4:1 5:24) Whereas we regard 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus as the Pastoral Epistles, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are every bit as pastoral and personal, as is 2 Corinthians They reveal much about "Paul's pastoral zeal and his intense interest in the spiritual well-being of his converts"

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4 Paul in Thessalonica - Ministry, Troubles, and Aftermath When the unbelieving Jews heard of the conversion of the non-jews, whom the missionaries were discipling, they stirred up a gang of men, who attacked the house of Jason Paul and his friends had been staying with Jason Unable to find the missionaries, the mob dragged Jason before the magistrates, who simply commanded him to keep the peace Convinced of the danger to Paul and Jason, the Christians sent Paul and Silas away from the city, by night, to Berea (Acts 17:10) Paul and his party began their evangelistic work in Berea in the synagogue, as was their custom. However, when many Jews there believed, the Thessalonian Jews came down to Berea and stirred up more trouble (Acts 17:10-13) At this point the Berean Christians sent Paul away to Athens, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea (Acts 17:14) Then, having been sent for by Paul, Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens, but he soon sent Silas back to Philippi and or Berea, and sent Timothy back to Thessalonica (1 Thess. 3:13; Acts 17:15)

5 Paul in Thessalonica - Ministry, Troubles, and Aftermath Later, both men returned to Paul while he was practicing his trade in Corinth (Acts 18:3, 5), with a gift from the Christians in those Macedonian towns (2 Cor. 11:9; cf. Phil. 4:15) Timothy's report of the conditions in the Thessalonian church led Paul to write this epistle Some of the Thessalonians apparently believed that Jesus Christ was about to return momentarily, and had consequently given up their jobs and become disorderly (cf. 1 Thess. 4:11; 5:14) Some worried about what had happened to their loved ones who had died before the Lord had returned (4:13,18) Persecution from the Gentiles as well as the Jews still oppressed the believers (2:17 3:10), who were nevertheless holding fast to the truth, and eager to see Paul again (3:6-8) Some of those outside the church, however, remained hostile to Paul (2:1-12). There appears to have been some misuse of spiritual gifts in the assembly, as well as an unfortunate tendency on the part of some to return to their former habits involving sexual impurity (4:1-8; 5:19-21)

6 Walk in Holiness (1 st Thess 4:1-8) Paul encourages the Thessalonians to walk in holiness To please God (1-2) An exhortation in the Lord Jesus to abound more and more (1) According to the commandments Paul gave them through the Lord Jesus (2) To abstain from sexual immorality (3-8) For this is the will of God, their sanctification (3) That each one know how to posses his own vessel (4-5) In sanctification and honor (4) Not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God (5) That no one take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter (6) Because the Lord is the avenger of such things (6a) As Paul forewarned and testified (6b) For God called us in holiness, not to uncleanness (7) To reject this is to reject God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit (8)

7 Walk in Love and Diligence (1 st Thess 4:9-10) Walk in love (9-10) As taught by God (9) Concerning brotherly love, Paul really did not need to write anything (9a) For they were taught by God to love one another (9b) To increase more and more (10) Indeed, their love was manifest toward all the brethren throughout Macedonia (10a) Yet Paul urges them to increase in their love even more (10b) Walk in diligence (11-12) To work with their hands (11) They should aspire to lead quiet lives, to mind their own business (11a) Working with their own hands, as Paul commanded them (11b) To walk properly toward outsiders (12) Conducting themselves properly toward those outside (12a) So that they may lack nothing (12b)

8 Walk In Hope (1 st Thess 4:13-18) With no sorrow concerning those who have died (13-14) Paul does not want them to be ignorant (13) Concerning those who have fallen asleep (13a) Lest they sorrow as others who have no hope (13b) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (14) For we shall be rejoined with them when Christ returns (15-18) Those who are alive when Christ comes will not precede those who are asleep (15) The Lord Himself will descend from heaven (16) With a shout With the voice of an archangel With the trumpet of God And the dead in Christ will rise first (16b) Then we who are alive and remain... (17) Shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord (17a) And thus we shall always be with the Lord (17b) Therefore comfort one another with these words (18)

9 Walk In The Light (1 st Thess 5:1-11) The Lord will come as a thief in the night (1-4) Concerning times and seasons, Paul did not need to write to them (1) They understood that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2) It will come unexpectedly upon many, and such will not escape (3) But they are not in darkness, so that day would overtake them as a thief (4) We are to be sons of the light and sons of the day (5-8) We are not to be of the night or of darkness (5) Therefore we must watch and be sober, unlike those who sleep and get drunk (6-7) Those of the day are to be sober, and properly attired by putting on... (8) The breastplate of faith and love The hope of salvation as a helmet God has appointed us to salvation (9-11) He did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ (9) Who died for us, that whether dead or alive, we should live together with Him (10) Therefore we need to comfort and edify one another (11)

10 Walk In Obedience (1 st Thess 5:12-22) With respect to those over us (12-13) To recognize those... Who labor among us (12c) Who are over us in the Lord (12b) Who admonish us (12c) To esteem them highly in love for their work's sake (13a) To be at peace among ourselves (13b) With concern for one another (14-15) We are exhorted to... Warn those who are unruly (14a) Comfort the fainthearted (14b) Uphold the weak (14c) Be patient with all (14d) To render not evil for evil to anyone (15a) To always pursue what is good for yourselves and for all (15c) With joy, prayer, and thanksgiving (16-18) Rejoicing always (16) Praying without ceasing (17) Giving thanks in everything (18) Not quenching the spirit, but still testing all things (19-22) They were not to quench the Spirit, nor despise prophesies (19-20) Yet they were to test all things; holding fast to that which is good, and abstaining from all forms of evil (21-22)

11 Conclusion (1 st Thess 5:23-28) A prayer for them (23-24) That the God of peace sanctify them completely (23a) That their whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (23b) Reminding them that the One who calls them is faithful, who will also do it (24) A request for prayer in Paul s behalf (25) Final Charge To greet all the brethren with a holy kiss (26) That this epistle be read to all the brethren (27)

12 Next Week I Thessalonians 4-5