Reference: Thessalonians, First Epistle To The
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THESSALONIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1.Occasion and date.
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Howbeit, ordering them to go forth outside the high-council, they began to confer one with another, Saying - What are we to do with these men? For, indeed, that a notable sign hath come to pass through their means, unto all who are dwelling in Jerusalem, is manifest, and we cannot deny it ! read more. Nevertheless, lest it further spread abroad among the people, let us charge them with threats, to be no more speaking upon this name, to any soul of man.
And, on the coming sabbath, almost all the city, was gathered together, to hear the word of God. But, the Jews, seeing, the multitudes, were filled with jealousy, - and began speaking against the things which, by Paul, were being spoken, defaming them. read more. And Paul and Barnabas, speaking boldly, said - Unto you, was it necessary, that the word of God should first be spoken: seeing ye are thrusting it from you, and, unworthy, are judging yourselves of the age-abiding life, lo! we turn unto the nations;
Moreover, appointing unto them by vote, in each assembly, elders, praying with fastings, they commended them unto the Lord on whom they had believed.
And, some from among them, were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great throng, and, of the chief women, not a few.
And, some from among them, were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great throng, and, of the chief women, not a few.
And, some from among them, were persuaded, and cast in their lot with Paul and Silas; also, of the devout Greeks, a great throng, and, of the chief women, not a few.
But, they who were conducting Paul, brought him as far as Athens, and, receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy, that with, all possible speed, they would come unto him, they departed. But, while, in Athens, Paul was expecting them, his spirit within him was being urged on, seeing how the city was given to idols.
When, however, both Silas and Timothy had come down from Macedonia, Paul began to be urged on in the word, bearing full witness unto the Jews that, Jesus, was, the Christ.
For we know that - -if, our earthly tent-dwelling, should be taken down, we have, a building of God, a dwelling not made by hand, age-abiding in the heavens.
For, unto me - living, is Christ, and, dying, gain. But, if living in flesh, is Christ , this, unto me, is a fruit of work, - and, what I shall choose, I make not known: read more. I am held in constraint, however, by reason of the two, - having, the coveting, to be released, and to be with, Christ, for it were far better! But, to abide still in the flesh, is more needful for your sake;
If by any means I may advance to the earlier resurrection, which is from among the dead:
For, our citizenship, in the heavens, hath its rise; wherefore, a Saviour also, do we ardently await, - The Lord Jesus Christ, - Who will transfigure our humbled body, into conformity with his glorified body, according to the energy wherewith he is able even to subdue, unto himself, all things.
Let, your considerateness, be known unto all men. The Lord, is near: -
Because of the hope that is lying by for you in the heavens, of which ye heard before, in the word of the truth of the glad-message,
Giving thanks unto the Father that hath made you sufficient for your share in the inheritance of the saints in the light, Who hath rescued us out of the authority of the darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy - unto the assembly of Thessalonians in God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, - favour unto you, and peace!
For, they themselves, concerning us, do tell - what manner of entrance we had unto you, and how ye turned unto God from the idols - to be serving a living and true God, And awaiting his Son out of the heavens - whom he raised from among the dead, - Jesus: Who is to rescue us out of the anger that is coming.
But we became gentle in your midst, - as though, a nursing mother, had been cherishing her own children: Thus, yearning after you, we could have been well-pleased to impart unto you - not only the glad-message of God, but, our own lives also, - because, very dear to us, had ye become. read more. For ye remember, brethren, our toil and hardship: night and day, working, so as not to be a burden unto any of you, we proclaimed unto you the glad-message of God, Ye, are witnesses - God also, how kindly and righteously and blamelessly, unto you who were believing, we were found to behave; Even as ye know how, unto each one of you, we were as a father unto his own children, consoling you, and soothing, and calling o witness, - To the end ye might be walking in a manner worthy of God, who is calling you unto his own kingdom and glory,
For, ye, became, imitators, brethren, of the assemblies of God which are in Judaea, in Christ Jesus, in that, the same things, ye, also suffered by your own fellow-countrymen, even as, they, also by the Jews:
For, ye, became, imitators, brethren, of the assemblies of God which are in Judaea, in Christ Jesus, in that, the same things, ye, also suffered by your own fellow-countrymen, even as, they, also by the Jews: Who have both slain the, Lord, Jesus - and the prophets, and, us, have persecuted, and, unto God, are displeasing, and, unto all men, are contrary, -
Who have both slain the, Lord, Jesus - and the prophets, and, us, have persecuted, and, unto God, are displeasing, and, unto all men, are contrary, - Hindering us from speaking, unto the nations, that they might be saved, to the filling up of their own sins, continually; but anger hath overtaken them at length.
Hindering us from speaking, unto the nations, that they might be saved, to the filling up of their own sins, continually; but anger hath overtaken them at length.
Hindering us from speaking, unto the nations, that they might be saved, to the filling up of their own sins, continually; but anger hath overtaken them at length. Now, we, brethren, having been bereaved away from you, for the season of an hour, - in presence, not in heart, gave more abundant diligence, your face, to behold, with much longing; read more. Wherefore, we desired to come unto you - even, I, Paul, both once and again, - and, Satan, thwarted us.
Wherefore, no longer concealing our anxiety, we were well-pleased to be left in Athens, alone,
Wherefore, no longer concealing our anxiety, we were well-pleased to be left in Athens, alone, And sent Timothy - our brother, and God's minister in the glad-message of the Christ - that he might confirm and console you over your faith,
And sent Timothy - our brother, and God's minister in the glad-message of the Christ - that he might confirm and console you over your faith,
For this cause, I also, no longer concealing my anxiety, sent, that I might get to know your faith, lest by any means he that tempteth, should have tempted you, and, in vain, should have been our toil. But, when, just now, Timothy came unto us, from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, - and that ye have good remembrance of us, continually, longing to see, us, - even as, we also, to see you,
But, when, just now, Timothy came unto us, from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, - and that ye have good remembrance of us, continually, longing to see, us, - even as, we also, to see you, For this cause, were we consoled, brethren, over you, in all our necessity and tribulation, through your faith; read more. Because, now, we live, - if only, ye, stand fast in the Lord.
Now may, our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus, make straight our way unto you: And, you, may the Lord cause to abound and excel in your love one toward another, and toward all, - even as, we, do toward you: read more. To the end he may confirms your hearts, faultless in holiness, before our God and Father, in the Presence of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
For the rest, brethren, we request and exhort you, in our Lord Jesus, that, even as ye received from us, how ye must needs walk and please God, - even as ye also do walk, that ye would abound still more. For ye know what charges we gave you, through the Lord Jesus. read more. For, this, is a thing willed of God, your sanctification, - that ye should abstain from unchastity, That ye should know, each one of you, how, of his own vessel, to possess himself in sanctification and honour: Not with a passion of coveting, - just as even the nations who know not God, - Not over-reaching and defrauding, in the matter, his brother; because, an avenger, is the Lord, concerning all these things, - even as we before told you, and solemnly called you to witness. For God did not call us, with a permission of impurity, but, in sanctification. Therefore, indeed, he that disregardeth - it is, not a man, he disregardeth, but God, - Who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you. But, concerning brotherly love - no need, have ye, that we be writing unto you; for, ye yourselves, are, God-taught, to the loving of one another; - And, in fact, ye are doing it unto all the brethren who arein the whole of Macedonia; but we exhort you, brethren, to abound still more, And to be ambitious to be quiet, and to be attending to your own affairs, and to be working with your hands, - even as, unto you, we gave charge - That ye should walk reputably toward those without, and, of no one, have, need. But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are falling asleep, - lest ye be sorrowing, even as the rest also, who are without hope; For, if we believe that, Jesus, died, and rose again, so, also will, God, bring forth with him, them who have fallen asleep through Jesus; For, this, unto you, do we say, by a word of the Lord, - that, we, the living who are left unto the Presence of the Lord, shall in nowise get before them who have fallen asleep;
For, this, unto you, do we say, by a word of the Lord, - that, we, the living who are left unto the Presence of the Lord, shall in nowise get before them who have fallen asleep; Because, the Lord himself, with a word of command, with a chief-messenger's voice, and with a trumpet of God, shall descend from heaven, - and, the dead in Christ, shall rise, first, read more. After that, we, the living who are left, together with them, shall be caught away, in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: - and, thus, evermore, with the Lord, shall we be! So then, be consoling one another with these words.
But, concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, - ye have, no need, that, unto you, anything be written; For, ye yourselves, perfectly well know - that, the day of the Lord, as a thief in the night, so, cometh; read more. As soon as they begin to say - Peace! and safety! then, suddenly, upon them, cometh destruction, - just as the birth-throe unto her that is with child, - and in nowise shall they escape. But, ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that, the day, upon you, as upon thieves, should lay hold; For, all ye, are, sons of light, and sons of day, - we are not of night, nor of darkness: Hence, then, let us not be sleeping, as the rest, but let us watch and be sober: - For, they that sleep, by night, do sleep, and, they that drink, by night, do drink: - But, we, being of the day, let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and, for helmet, the hope of salvation. Because God did not appoint us unto anger, but unto acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ: - Who died for us, in order that, whether we be watching or sleeping, together with him, we should live. Wherefore be consoling one another, and building up, each the other, - even as ye are also doing. Now we request you, brethren, - to know them who are toiling among you, and presiding over you, in the Lord, and admonishing you;
Now we request you, brethren, - to know them who are toiling among you, and presiding over you, in the Lord, and admonishing you; And to hold them in very high esteem, in love, their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves, read more. But we exhort you, brethren - admonish the disorderly, soothe them of little soul, help the weak, be longsuffering towards all: See that none, evil for evil, unto any, do render: but, evermore, what is good, be pursuing, towards one another, and towards all: Evermore, rejoice, Unceasingly, pray, In everything, give thanks, - for, this, is a thing willed of God, in Christ Jesus, towards you: The Spirit, do not quench, Prophesyings, do not despise, But, all things, put to the proof - what is comely, hold ye fast: From every form of wickedness, abstain. But, the God of peace himself, hallow you completely, and, entire, might your spirit, and soul, and body, - so as to be unblameable in the Presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, - be preserved! Faithful, is he that is calling you, - who, also will perform. Brethren! be praying for us also. Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you, by the Lord, that the letter be read unto all the brethren! The favour of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you.
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, became, imitators, brethren, of the assemblies of God which are in Judaea, in Christ Jesus, in that, the same things, ye, also suffered by your own fellow-countrymen, even as, they, also by the Jews:
Wherefore, no longer concealing our anxiety, we were well-pleased to be left in Athens, alone, And sent Timothy - our brother, and God's minister in the glad-message of the Christ - that he might confirm and console you over your faith,
And sent Timothy - our brother, and God's minister in the glad-message of the Christ - that he might confirm and console you over your faith, That, no one, might be shrinking back in these tribulations. For ye, yourselves, know, that, hereunto, are we appointed;
That, no one, might be shrinking back in these tribulations. For ye, yourselves, know, that, hereunto, are we appointed; For, even when we were with you, we told you beforehand - we are destined to suffer tribulation! even as it also came to pass, and ye know.
For, even when we were with you, we told you beforehand - we are destined to suffer tribulation! even as it also came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, I also, no longer concealing my anxiety, sent, that I might get to know your faith, lest by any means he that tempteth, should have tempted you, and, in vain, should have been our toil.
For this cause, I also, no longer concealing my anxiety, sent, that I might get to know your faith, lest by any means he that tempteth, should have tempted you, and, in vain, should have been our toil. But, when, just now, Timothy came unto us, from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, - and that ye have good remembrance of us, continually, longing to see, us, - even as, we also, to see you,
But, when, just now, Timothy came unto us, from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, - and that ye have good remembrance of us, continually, longing to see, us, - even as, we also, to see you,
But, when, just now, Timothy came unto us, from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, - and that ye have good remembrance of us, continually, longing to see, us, - even as, we also, to see you, For this cause, were we consoled, brethren, over you, in all our necessity and tribulation, through your faith;
For this cause, were we consoled, brethren, over you, in all our necessity and tribulation, through your faith; Because, now, we live, - if only, ye, stand fast in the Lord.
Because, now, we live, - if only, ye, stand fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we render back, unto God, concerning you, on occasion of all the joy wherewith we rejoice, for your sakes, before our God? -
For what thanksgiving can we render back, unto God, concerning you, on occasion of all the joy wherewith we rejoice, for your sakes, before our God? - Night and day, making very abundant entreaties, that we may see your face, and fit in the things which are lacking in your faith?
Night and day, making very abundant entreaties, that we may see your face, and fit in the things which are lacking in your faith? Now may, our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus, make straight our way unto you: read more. And, you, may the Lord cause to abound and excel in your love one toward another, and toward all, - even as, we, do toward you: To the end he may confirms your hearts, faultless in holiness, before our God and Father, in the Presence of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
That ye should know, each one of you, how, of his own vessel, to possess himself in sanctification and honour: Not with a passion of coveting, - just as even the nations who know not God, - read more. Not over-reaching and defrauding, in the matter, his brother; because, an avenger, is the Lord, concerning all these things, - even as we before told you, and solemnly called you to witness. For God did not call us, with a permission of impurity, but, in sanctification. Therefore, indeed, he that disregardeth - it is, not a man, he disregardeth, but God, - Who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
But we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are falling asleep, - lest ye be sorrowing, even as the rest also, who are without hope; For, if we believe that, Jesus, died, and rose again, so, also will, God, bring forth with him, them who have fallen asleep through Jesus; read more. For, this, unto you, do we say, by a word of the Lord, - that, we, the living who are left unto the Presence of the Lord, shall in nowise get before them who have fallen asleep; Because, the Lord himself, with a word of command, with a chief-messenger's voice, and with a trumpet of God, shall descend from heaven, - and, the dead in Christ, shall rise, first, After that, we, the living who are left, together with them, shall be caught away, in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: - and, thus, evermore, with the Lord, shall we be! So then, be consoling one another with these words.