Teaching Notes I THESSALONIANS 4 and 5
Hugh Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
& & &
The first Quarantine in the USA since 1918 continues. I have lost count of the days at this point. It is day 26 or something.
& & &
"The grass withers and the flower [fades], but the word of [the Lord] endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8."
& & &
This Book almost certainly written by Paul. It is addressed to the church in Thessalonica, in modern-day Greece. It is likely the first of Paul's letters, probably written by the end of AD 51 or 52.
l THESSALONIANS 4 and 5
Chapter 4. Immorality. Love. The Lord's Coming
Immorality, 1-8, was common among heathen
peoples. It may
be that, in his report of the general
steadfastness of the Thessa-
lonian Christians, Timothy had mentioned some
cases of moral
laxness, which occasioned this exhortation.
“Sanctification”, 3,
as here used. means sexual purity.
"Vessel", 4, seems to mean
“body”, though some think it means “wife”,
that is, fidelity to
the marriage vow, or, that in order to avoid
immorality, each
should have his own wife. "Wrong his
brother", 6, that is, invade
the rights of another’s home, of which some
may have been
guilty.
Brotherly Love, 9-12. It seems that those who had means, "of
Whom there were many, Acts 17:4, were taking
the doctrine of
Christian charity seriously, and were
dispersing their means to
the poorer brethren of all the Macedonian
churches. This was
an
opportunity for those who were inclined
to be lazy,
and
they were
making the most of
it. As Paul commended the
charitable, he rebuked the lazy. To be
willing to live off of their
neighbors was
contrary to every
principle of brotherly
love.
Able-bodied
beggars,‘ they were glad
for others to
practice
'brotherly love, while they themselves
exhibited the essence of
self-love. It looked bad to those outside the
Church.
The Lord's Second Coming, 13-18. Here we come
to the main
topic of the Epistle. Its mention in every
chapter implies that
Paul must have given it particular emphasis
in his preaching at
Thessalonica.
Though it is commonly spoken of as the Lord‘s
“Coming" or
“Appearing", it is specifically called
“Second” coming in Heb
9:28. Jesus’ word, “again”, in Jn 14:3, means
a second time. Sò it
is perfectly proper and Scriptural to speak
of it as the “Second
Coming”.
It is mentioned or referred to in almost
every NT book. The
chapters in which it is explained most fully
are Mt 24,25: 21;
I Thes 4,5; II Pet 3.
The Thessalonian Epistles are commonly
regarded as the earliest
written NT books. They are about the Lord’s
Coming again. The
last of the NT books is Revelation, of which
the final word is,
"I come quickly”, “Even so, come, Lord
Jesus", Rev 22:20. Thus
the NT
begins, and thus it ends.
“Fallen asleep", 14, is a Scriptural
expression for the Christian’s
death, Mt 27:52; Jn 11:11; Act's 7:60; 13:36;
I Cor 15:6,18;20,51;
II Pet 3:4. It is found often in Christian
epitaphs In the cata-
combs. Jesus taught it. It must be true. Only
asleep. One day
We shall awake. Glorious morning. This does
not mean lapse into
a state of unconsciousness till the day of
resurrection. There is
an intermediate state of conscious bliss, Pps
1:23.
“With a shout, the voice of the archangel,
and the trump of
God”, 16. This is similar to Jesus’ words, Mt
24:30-31. It may be
literal. “The clouds”, 17, will be his
triumphal chariot. He went
away ’in the “clouds”, Acts 1:9; and so will
return, Rev 1:7.
The angels will be with him, mall the glory
of heaven, Mt
25:31. The saints of past ages will be
raised, those still in the
flesh will be changed, and, as Enoch and
Elijah were translated,
the whole Church will rise in joyful welcome
to the Returning
Savior, to be with Him forevermore. It
thrills us through and
through to think of it.
Chapter 5. The Lord's Coming
Its Suddenness, 1-11. There is nothing here to indicate when
it will be. Only that, whenever it is, it
will be with unexpected
suddenness. “Signs" will precede the
Coming, so that patient
believers may feel that it is near, while the
world generally
scoffs at the idea. But even those who are
watching are warned.
lest they be caught off guard. It will be ”as
a “thief in the
night”, 2. Jesus had said-that over and over,
Mt 2436,42; 25:13;
Mk 13:32-37; Lk 12:39,46; 21:25-35; and with
solemn earnestness
warned his disciples to “watch”. For note as
to the time of His
Coming see under II Thes 2 and II Pet 3.
Honor Pastors, 12-13. Seeing it was a very
young church, the
pastors must have been, quite largely,
novices. Yet the people
were urged to love and esteem them. When
church members love
their pastor, and are at peace among
themselves, other things
being equal, the church is sure to grow.
Fifteen Exhortations, 14-22. Beautiful. So
characteristic of Paul.
Thus he closes most of his Epistles, however
abstract, argumenta
tive, or abstruse, with exhortations to
peace, long suffering, joy,
prayer, thankfulness, and every good.
"Spirit and Soul and Body”, 23.
“Spirit" and “soul” are often
used synonymously, but here there seems to be
a distinction.
“Soul", the principle of life.
“Spirit", the organ of communion
with God. Christ redeems the entire human
personality. The
language certainly contemplates the
resurrection of the body;
“Holy Kiss”, 26. The kiss, between persons of the same sex,
On the cheek, was a common mode of salutation
in many ancient
countries. It became a custom in the
churches. As its use as a
salutation passed its use in the churches
ceased.
"Read to all the Brethren”, 27. This shows that Paul intended
his
Epistles to be read in the churches. That is what the NT
books
were written for, Col 4:16; I Tim 4:13; Rev 1:3.
& & &
From The Bible Project (c)
& & &
& & &
1
Thessalonians 4 New International Version (NIV)
Living
to Please God
4 As
for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order
to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the
Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave
you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It
is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual
immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a
way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who
do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take
advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit
such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to
be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this
instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you
his Holy Spirit.
9
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you
yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do
love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and
sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a
quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as
we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so
that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Believers
Who Have Died
13
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep
in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God
will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the
Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the
coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ
will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so
we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these
words.
1
Thessalonians 5 New International Version (NIV)
The
Day of the Lord
5
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to
you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief
in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will
come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not
escape.
4
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should
surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of
the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us
not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those
who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But
since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a
breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint
us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10
He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together
with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as
in fact you are doing.
Final
Instructions
12
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among
you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the
highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive,
encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make
sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is
good for each other and for everyone else.
16
Rejoice always,
17 pray continually,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for
this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19
Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test
them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your
whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25
Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers
and sisters.
28
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
& & &
& & &
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN. © 1927 - 1959, 1964
& & &
Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
& & &
Just as a Post Script.
If one is looking for the classic doctrine of the "rapture", it did not come into existence until after 1830. I will leave it to you and God to sort out the details of the "rapture".
& & &
END
No comments:
Post a Comment