Reference: Thessalonians, First Epistle to The
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THESSALONIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1.Occasion and date.
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And having commanded them to depart out from the assembly, they conferred with one another, saying, What can we do to these men? for that a notable miracle has been wrought by them is indeed manifest to all dwelling at Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it; read more. but that it may extend no further unto the people, let us threaten them to speak no more in this name to any one of men.
And on the following Sabbath almost all the city came together to hear the word of the Lord. And the Jews seeing the multitudes, were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the word spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. read more. And Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly, said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you: since you have rejected it, and judge yourselves not worthy of eternal life, behold we now turn to the Gentiles.
And electing elders for them in every church, praying with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
And certain ones of them were persuaded, and identified themselves with Paul and Silas, and of the pious Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
And certain ones of them were persuaded, and identified themselves with Paul and Silas, and of the pious Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
And certain ones of them were persuaded, and identified themselves with Paul and Silas, and of the pious Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
But having embarked Paul, they led him even to Athens: and receiving commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they departed from him. But Paul waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, seeing the city devoted to idolatry.
And when both Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was straitened with the word, witnessing to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle may be taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
For Christ is my life, and death is my gain. But if to live in the flesh, this shall be to me the fruit of the work, indeed I know not what I shall ask. read more. But I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; for this is far better: but to remain in the flesh is safer on account of you.
if perchance I may attain unto the resurrection which is out from the dead.
For our citizenship is in the heavens; whence we are indeed looking for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who will transform the body of our humility, similitudinous to the body of his own glory, according to the energy by which he is able indeed to subdue all things to himself.
Let your clemency be made known to all men; the Lord is nigh.
because also in Thessalonica both once and twice you sent to my need.
on account of the hope which awaits you in the heavens, which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
giving thanks to the Father, who has made us worthy unto a participation of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us from the power of darkness, and transplanted us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
for they proclaim concerning what kind of reception we had unto you; and how you turned to God from the idols, to serve the true and the living God, and to await his Son out of the heavens, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus the one delivering us from the wrath to come.
but we were gentle in the midst of you, as if a nurse may cherish her children; being so desirous of you, that we are anxious not only to give the gospel of God, but our own souls, because you are beloved unto us. read more. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil: night and day working, that we should burden no one of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God, how sacredly and righteously and blamelessly we were unto you who believed: as you know, exhorting each one of you, as a father of his own children, and comforting you, and testifying, that you walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Jesus Christ: because you suffered the same things from your fellow tribes, as they also from the Jews;
For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Jesus Christ: because you suffered the same things from your fellow tribes, as they also from the Jews; who even killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and are displeasing to God, and hostile to all men;
who even killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and persecuted us, and are displeasing to God, and hostile to all men; forbidding that we should speak to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved; that they may fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
forbidding that we should speak to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved; that they may fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
forbidding that we should speak to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved; that they may fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. But, brethren, we having been absent from you for the space of an hour, in presence, not in heart, we were the more exceedingly anxious to see your face with much desire. read more. Because we wish to come to you, I Paul indeed both once and twice; and Satan hindered me.
Therefore no longer containing, we delighted to be left alone at Athens;
Therefore no longer containing, we delighted to be left alone at Athens; and we sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to establish you, and exhort you concerning your faith;
and we sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to establish you, and exhort you concerning your faith;
Therefore I indeed, no longer containing, sent that I might know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter tempted you, and our labor may be in vain. But Timothy, having already come to us from you, and proclaimed to us the good news of your faith and your divine love, and that you always have a good mention of us, longing to see us, as we do to see you;
But Timothy, having already come to us from you, and proclaimed to us the good news of your faith and your divine love, and that you always have a good mention of us, longing to see us, as we do to see you; therefore we were comforted, brethren, over you in all our distress and tribulation on account of your faith; read more. because we now live, if you stand in the Lord.
But God himself, even our Father, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you: and the Lord fill you and cause you to superabound in divine love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also do towards you; read more. in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness in the presence of God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints: amen.
Finally therefore, brethren, we pray you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how it behooves you to walk about and to please God, as you do indeed walk about, in order that you may abound more and more. For you know what promises we gave unto you through our Lord Jesus. read more. For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, as indeed the Gentiles who do not know God; that one should overreach and defraud his brother in a business transaction: because the Lord is the avenger concerning these things, as we indeed before told you and witnessed to you. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore the one rejecting (sanctification), does not reject man, but God, who indeed gives to you his Holy Spirit. But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I write to you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another with divine love; for you indeed are doing the same thing unto all the brethren in all Macedonia. And we exhort you, brethren, that you abound more and more; and that you aspire to be quiet, and to prosecute your own employments, and work with your hands, as we proclaimed unto you; in order that you may walk about circumspectly toward the aliens, and you may have need of nothing. For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep; in order that you may not sorrow, even as those having no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and is risen, so also will God bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. For we speak this to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, can not anticipate those who are asleep,
For we speak this to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, can not anticipate those who are asleep, because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; read more. then we who are alive, who are left, will at the same time along with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be always with the Lord. So comfort one another with these words.
But concerning the times and seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write to you; for you yourselves know well, that the day of the Lord is so coming like a thief in the night. read more. When they may say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman in gestation; and they can not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may overtake you like a thief: for you are all the sons of light, and the sons of day: we are not of night, nor of darkness; then therefore let us not sleep like the rest, but watch and be sober. For those sleeping, sleep in the night; and those who are drunken, get drunk in the night: but let us, who are of the day, be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and divine love; and the helmet, the hope of salvation: because God did not put us forth unto wrath, but unto the obtainment of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one having died for us, in order that, whether we are awake or asleep, we shall at the same time live with him. Therefore exhort one another, and edify either the other, as you indeed are doing. But we intreat you, brethren, to know those who are laboring among you, and standing before you in the Lord, and admonishing you;
But we intreat you, brethren, to know those who are laboring among you, and standing before you in the Lord, and admonishing you; and that you yourselves esteem them exceedingly in divine love for the sake of their work. Live in peace among yourselves. read more. And we, exhort you, brethren, admonish the unruly, comfort the small-souled people, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. See that no one may return evil for evil to any one; but always pursue good toward one another, and toward all. Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you. Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesying; but prove all things; and hold fast to the beautiful; abstain from every evil sight. And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless, in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is the one calling you, who indeed will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you in the name of the Lord, that this epistle shall be read to all the brethren. The grace 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, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Jesus Christ: because you suffered the same things from your fellow tribes, as they also from the Jews;
Therefore no longer containing, we delighted to be left alone at Athens; and we sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to establish you, and exhort you concerning your faith;
and we sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God in the gospel of Christ, in order to establish you, and exhort you concerning your faith; that no one should be shaken in these tribulations. For you know that for this we are appointed.
that no one should be shaken in these tribulations. For you know that for this we are appointed. For indeed, when we were with you, we foretold you that we are about to suffer tribulation; as indeed took place, and you know it.
For indeed, when we were with you, we foretold you that we are about to suffer tribulation; as indeed took place, and you know it. Therefore I indeed, no longer containing, sent that I might know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter tempted you, and our labor may be in vain.
Therefore I indeed, no longer containing, sent that I might know your faith, lest perhaps the tempter tempted you, and our labor may be in vain. But Timothy, having already come to us from you, and proclaimed to us the good news of your faith and your divine love, and that you always have a good mention of us, longing to see us, as we do to see you;
But Timothy, having already come to us from you, and proclaimed to us the good news of your faith and your divine love, and that you always have a good mention of us, longing to see us, as we do to see you;
But Timothy, having already come to us from you, and proclaimed to us the good news of your faith and your divine love, and that you always have a good mention of us, longing to see us, as we do to see you; therefore we were comforted, brethren, over you in all our distress and tribulation on account of your faith;
therefore we were comforted, brethren, over you in all our distress and tribulation on account of your faith; because we now live, if you stand in the Lord.
because we now live, if you stand in the Lord. For what thanks are we able to render unto God in your behalf, for all the joy with which we rejoice on account of you before our God;
For what thanks are we able to render unto God in your behalf, for all the joy with which we rejoice on account of you before our God; night and day praying incessantly that we may see your face, and perfect the deficiencies of your faith?
night and day praying incessantly that we may see your face, and perfect the deficiencies of your faith? But God himself, even our Father, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you: read more. and the Lord fill you and cause you to superabound in divine love toward one another, and toward all, even as we also do towards you; in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness in the presence of God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints: amen.
that each one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, as indeed the Gentiles who do not know God; read more. that one should overreach and defraud his brother in a business transaction: because the Lord is the avenger concerning these things, as we indeed before told you and witnessed to you. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore the one rejecting (sanctification), does not reject man, but God, who indeed gives to you his Holy Spirit.
For we do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep; in order that you may not sorrow, even as those having no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and is risen, so also will God bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. read more. For we speak this to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of the Lord, can not anticipate those who are asleep, because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, will at the same time along with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be always with the Lord. So comfort one another with these words.