Reference: Thessalonians, First Epistle To The
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THESSALONIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1.Occasion and date.
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But after commanding them to go outside of the council, they conferred among each other, saying, What will we do to these men? For that indeed a notable sign has happened by them, is apparent to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. read more. But that it may not spread on further among the people, let us threaten them with threats to speak no longer in this name, to not one man.
And on the coming Sabbath almost all the city was assembled to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled of envy, and contradicted the things spoken by Paul, contradicting and slandering. read more. But having spoken boldly, Paul and Barnabas said, It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to you, but since ye thrust it away, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
And having appointed elders for them in every congregation, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
And some of them were persuaded, and joined with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great quantity, and of the prominent women not a few.
And some of them were persuaded, and joined with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great quantity, and of the prominent women not a few.
And some of them were persuaded, and joined with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great quantity, and of the prominent women not a few.
And those who brought Paul led him as far as Athens. And after taking a command for Silas and Timothy, that they should come to him quickly, they departed. But while Paul waited for them in Athens, his spirit was aroused within him, seeing the city being completely idolatrous.
And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was being held by the Spirit, fully testifying to the Jews, Jesus the Christ.
For we know that if the earthly house of our tent were destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to live in flesh, this is fruit of labor to me, then what I will choose I know not. read more. And I am constrained by the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, being far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary because of you.
For our citizenship exists in the heavens, from which also we await a Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our lowliness, in order for it to become similar in form to the body of his glory, according to the working of his power even to subject all things to himself.
Let your meekness be known to all men. The Lord is near.
because of the hope being reserved for you in the heavens, which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the good-news
Giving thanks to the Father who made us qualified for the share of the portion of the sanctified in light. Who rescued us out of the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the congregation of Thessalonians in God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ.
For they report about us what kind of entrance we had with you, and how ye turned to God from the idols to serve a living and TRUE God, and to await his Son from the heavens whom he raised from the dead--Jesus--who rescues us from the coming wrath.
nevertheless we became gentle in the midst of you, as a nurse cherishes her own children. Thus being desirous of you, we were pleased to impart to you, not only the good-news of God, but also our own souls, because ye have become beloved to us. read more. For ye remember, brothers, our labor and the hardship. For, laboring night and day in order not to burden any of you, we preached to you the good-news of God. Ye are witnesses, and God, how piously and justly and blamelessly we became to you who believe, just as ye know, as each one of you as a father of his own children, imploring you, and comforting, and solemnly declaring for you to walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
For ye, brothers, became imitators of the congregations of God, which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because ye also suffered the same things by your own countrymen, just as also they by the Jews.
For ye, brothers, became imitators of the congregations of God, which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because ye also suffered the same things by your own countrymen, just as also they by the Jews. The men who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and who persecuted us, and are not pleasing to God, and are contrary to all men.
The men who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and who persecuted us, and are not pleasing to God, and are contrary to all men. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, in order to fill up their sins always. But wrath came upon them finally.
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, in order to fill up their sins always. But wrath came upon them finally.
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, in order to fill up their sins always. But wrath came upon them finally. But we, brothers, who were orphaned from you for the time of an hour, in presence not in heart, hastened more earnestly to see your face, with much desire. read more. Therefore we wanted to come to you, indeed I, Paul, even once and again, and Satan hindered us.
Therefore, no longer covering over it, we preferred to be left behind in Athens alone.
Therefore, no longer covering over it, we preferred to be left behind in Athens alone. And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a helper of God, and our fellow workman in the good-news of the Christ, in order to establish you and to encourage you about your faith,
And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a helper of God, and our fellow workman in the good-news of the Christ, in order to establish you and to encourage you about your faith,
Because of this, I too, no longer covering over it, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow he who tempts was tempting you, and our labor became in vain. But now of Timothy, having come to us from you, and having proclaimed good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us, just as we also you,
But now of Timothy, having come to us from you, and having proclaimed good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us, just as we also you, because of this, brothers, we were encouraged toward you in all our affliction and necessity through your faith. read more. Because now we live, if ye stand firm in Lord.
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward each other, and toward all men, just as also we toward you, read more. in order to establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his sanctified.
Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you, and summon in Lord Jesus, that just as ye received from us how ye ought to walk and to please God, that ye may abound more. For ye know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. read more. For this is the will of God, your sanctification, for you to abstain from fornication, for each of you to know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and reverence, not in passion of lust, as also the Gentiles who have not known God, not to transgress and to cheat his brother in the affair, because the Lord is vengeful about all these things, as also we forewarned you and solemnly testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he who disregards, disregards not man, but God, who also gave his Holy Spirit to you. But about brotherly love ye have no need to write to you, for ye yourselves are taught by God in order to love each other. For ye are also doing it toward all the brothers in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, to abound more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to do your own things, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you, so that ye may walk properly toward those outside, and may have nothing lacking. But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that ye may not grieve, as also the others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and arose, so also those who became asleep through Jesus, God will bring with him. For this we say to you in the word of Lord, that we who are alive, who remain for the coming of the Lord, will no, not precede those who became asleep.
For this we say to you in the word of Lord, that we who are alive, who remain for the coming of the Lord, will no, not precede those who became asleep. Because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the arch-agent, and with a trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, read more. then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up simultaneously with them in clouds to the Lord's gathering in the air. And so we will always be with Lord. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
But about the times and the seasons, brothers, ye have no need to be written to you. For ye yourselves know accurately that the day of Lord so comes as a thief in the night. read more. For when they say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction approaches them, as the woman having birth pangs in her womb, and they will, no, not escape. But ye, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day would seize you as a thief. Ye are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as also the others, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are intoxicated get drunk at night. But we, being of the day, should be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and a helmet, the hope of salvation. Because God appointed us not for wrath, but for an acquired possession of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. So that, whether we are awake or sleep, we should live together with him. Therefore encourage each other, and build ye up one by one, just as ye also are doing. And we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you, and who lead you in Lord, and who admonish you,
And we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who labor among you, and who lead you in Lord, and who admonish you, and to esteem them with exceptional love because of their work. Live peaceably among yourselves. read more. And we encourage you, brothers, admonish the unruly, strengthen the weak-spirited, help the infirmed, be patient toward all. See that not any man repays evil for evil to any man, but always pursue the good, both for each other and for all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything express thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not disdain prophecies, but examine all things. Hold firm the good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And may the God of peace himself sanctify you thoroughly. And may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you, who also will do it. Brothers, pray about us. Salute all the brothers by a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord that the letter be read to all the holy brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you. Truly.
Smith
Thessalo'nians, First Epistle to the,
was written by the apostle Paul at Corinth, a few months after he had founded the church at Thessalonica, at the close of the year A.D. 62 or the beginning of 53. The Epistles to the Thessalonians, then (for the second followed the first after no long interval), are the earliest of St. Paul's writings --perhaps the earliest written records of Christianity. It is interesting, therefore, to compare the Thessalonian epistles with the later letters, and to note the points of These differences are mainly
1. In the general style of these earlier letters there is greater simplicity and less exuberance of language.
2. The antagonism to St. Paul is not the same. Here the opposition comes from Jews. A period of five years changes the aspect of the controversy. The opponents of St. Paul are then no longer Jews so much as Judaizing Christians.
3. Many of the distinctive doctrines of Christianity were yet not evolved and distinctly enunciated till the needs of the Church drew them out into prominence at a later date. It has often been observed, for instance, that there is in the Epistles to the Thessalonians no mention of the characteristic contrast of "faith and works;" that the word "justification" does not once occur; that the idea of dying with Christ and living with Christ, so frequent in St. Paul's later writings, is absent in these. In the Epistles to the Thessalonians, the gospel preached is that of the coming of Christ, rather than of the cross of Christ. The occasion of this epistle was as follows: St. Paul had twice attempted to re-visit Thessalonica, and both times had been disappointed. Thus prevented from seeing them in person, he had sent Timothy to inquire and report to him as to their condition.
Timothy returned with more favorable tidings, reporting not only their progress in Christian faith and practice, but also their strong attachment to their old teacher.
The First Epistle to the Thessalonians is the outpouring of the apostle's gratitude on receiving this welcome news. At the same time there report of Timothy was not unmixed with alloy. There were certain features in the condition of the Thessalonian church which called for St. Paul's interference and to which he addresses himself in his letter.
1. The very intensity of their Christian faith, dwelling too exclusively on the day of the Lord's coming, had been attended with evil consequences. On the other hand, a theoretical difficulty had been felt. Certain members of the church had died, and there was great anxiety lest they should be excluded from any share in the glories of the Lord's advent. ch.
2. The Thessalonians needed consolation and encouragement under persecution. ch.
3. An unhealthy state of feeling with regard to spiritual gifts was manifesting itself. ch.
4. There was the danger of relapsing into their old heathen profligacy. ch.
Yet notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the condition of the Thessalonian church was highly satisfactory, and the most cordial relations existed between St. Paul and his converts there. This honorable distinction it shares with the other great church of Macedonia, that of Philippi. The epistle is rather practical than doctrinal. The external evidence in favor of the genuineness of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians is chiefly negative, but this is important enough. There is no trace that it was ever disputed at any age or in any section of the Church, or even by any individual till the present century. Toward the close of the second century from Irenaeus downward. we find this epistle directly quoted and ascribed to Paul. The evidence derived from the character of the epistle itself is so strong that it may fairly be called irresistible.
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For ye, brothers, became imitators of the congregations of God, which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because ye also suffered the same things by your own countrymen, just as also they by the Jews.
Therefore, no longer covering over it, we preferred to be left behind in Athens alone. And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a helper of God, and our fellow workman in the good-news of the Christ, in order to establish you and to encourage you about your faith,
And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a helper of God, and our fellow workman in the good-news of the Christ, in order to establish you and to encourage you about your faith, for no man to be disturbed by these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are set for this.
for no man to be disturbed by these afflictions. For ye yourselves know that we are set for this. For also when we were with you we foretold you that we were going to be oppressed, just as it also happened, and ye know.
For also when we were with you we foretold you that we were going to be oppressed, just as it also happened, and ye know. Because of this, I too, no longer covering over it, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow he who tempts was tempting you, and our labor became in vain.
Because of this, I too, no longer covering over it, sent in order to know your faith, lest somehow he who tempts was tempting you, and our labor became in vain. But now of Timothy, having come to us from you, and having proclaimed good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us, just as we also you,
But now of Timothy, having come to us from you, and having proclaimed good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us, just as we also you,
But now of Timothy, having come to us from you, and having proclaimed good news to us of your faith and love, and that ye always have a good recollection of us, longing to see us, just as we also you, because of this, brothers, we were encouraged toward you in all our affliction and necessity through your faith.
because of this, brothers, we were encouraged toward you in all our affliction and necessity through your faith. Because now we live, if ye stand firm in Lord.
Because now we live, if ye stand firm in Lord. For what thanks can we repay God about you, for all the joy in which we rejoiced because of you before our God,
For what thanks can we repay God about you, for all the joy in which we rejoiced because of you before our God, praying night and day above extraordinary in order to see your face and to mend the deficiencies of your faith?
praying night and day above extraordinary in order to see your face and to mend the deficiencies of your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. read more. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love toward each other, and toward all men, just as also we toward you, in order to establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his sanctified.
for each of you to know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and reverence, not in passion of lust, as also the Gentiles who have not known God, read more. not to transgress and to cheat his brother in the affair, because the Lord is vengeful about all these things, as also we forewarned you and solemnly testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he who disregards, disregards not man, but God, who also gave his Holy Spirit to you.
But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who are asleep, so that ye may not grieve, as also the others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and arose, so also those who became asleep through Jesus, God will bring with him. read more. For this we say to you in the word of Lord, that we who are alive, who remain for the coming of the Lord, will no, not precede those who became asleep. Because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the arch-agent, and with a trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up simultaneously with them in clouds to the Lord's gathering in the air. And so we will always be with Lord. Therefore encourage each other with these words.