Reference: Thessalonians, First Epistle to The
Hastings
THESSALONIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1.Occasion and date.
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But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a remarkable sign hath been wrought by them is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. read more. But that it spread no further among the people, let us strictly forbid them with threats to speak any longer in this name to any one.
And on the next sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with indignation, and spoke against what was spoken by Paul, contradicting and reviling. read more. Then Paul and Barnabas said boldly and plainly, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you; but seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of the everlasting life, lo! we turn to the gentiles.
And having appointed for them elders in every church, they prayed with fasting, and commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed.
And some of them were convinced, and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the women of high rank not a few.
And some of them were convinced, and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the women of high rank not a few.
And some of them were convinced, and joined themselves to Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the women of high rank not a few.
And they who conducted Paul brought him to Athens; and having received a commandment to Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city full of idols.
And when both Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was wholly engaged in the word, testifying to the Jews, that Jesus was the Christ.
For we know that, if our earthly tenthabitation be destroyed, we have a building provided by God, a house not made with hands, everlasting, in the heavens.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh, if this is to me the fruit of my labor, then what I should choose, I cannot say; read more. but I am held in a strait by the two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; for it is far better; but to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.
if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
For the country of which we are citizens is heaven, whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humiliation so that it shall be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working of the power with which he is able to subdue all things to himself.
Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessity.
on account of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
giving thanks to the Father, who enabled us to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light; who rescued us from the empire of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son;
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be to you, and peace.
For they themselves are reporting concerning us what kind of reception we had among you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the coming wrath.
But we were gentle in the midst of you, even as a nurse cherisheth her own children; so having a strong affection for you, we were willing to impart to you, not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls, because ye became dear to us. read more. For ye remember, brethren, our labor and toil, how laboring night and day, that we might not be burdensome to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and so is God, how holily, and righteously, and unblamably we conducted ourselves toward you that believe; as ye know how we exhorted, and encouraged, and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye should walk in a manner worthy of God, who is calling you to his own kingdom and glory.
For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews;
For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews; who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and drove us out, and please not God, and set themselves against all men,
who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and drove us out, and please not God, and set themselves against all men, hindering us from speaking to the gentiles that they may be saved,to fill up their sins always! But the wrath is come upon them to the end.
hindering us from speaking to the gentiles that they may be saved,to fill up their sins always! But the wrath is come upon them to the end.
hindering us from speaking to the gentiles that they may be saved,to fill up their sins always! But the wrath is come upon them to the end. But we, brethren, having been bereaved of you for a short time, separated in body, not in heart, used the greater endeavors with much earnestness to see your face. read more. Wherefore we purposed to come to you, that is, I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we chose to be left at Athens alone,
Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we chose to be left at Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and a fellowlaborer with God in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to encourage you in your faith,
and sent Timothy, our brother and a fellowlaborer with God in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to encourage you in your faith,
For this cause, when I too could no longer forbear, I sent in order to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should prove in vain. But when Timothy just now came to us from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you;
But when Timothy just now came to us from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you; for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction by your faith; read more. for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Now God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we do in love toward you; read more. in order that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.
Furthermore then, brethren, we beseech you, and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received from us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye are walking, ye would abound still more; for ye know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. read more. For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication; that every one of you should know how to procure for himself his own vessel in purity and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the gentiles who know not God; that no one should go beyond and overreach his brother in the matter; because the Lord is the avenger in respect to all these things, as we also told you before and solemnly testified. For God did not call us to live in uncleanness, but in purity. He therefore that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who also gave to you his Holy Spirit. But concerning brotherly love there is no need of writing to you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, to abound in love still more; and to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk becomingly toward those without, and may have need of nothing. But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are sleeping, that ye may not sorrow, as others do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then also will God, through Jesus, bring again with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are living, we who are left till the coming of the Lord, shall not anticipate those who have fallen asleep.
For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are living, we who are left till the coming of the Lord, shall not anticipate those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first; read more. then we who are living, we who are left, shall be caught up together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. So then comfort one another with these words.
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, there is no need of writing to you; for ye yourselves know full well, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. read more. When they are saying, Peace and safety; then doth sudden destruction come upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief; for ye all are sons of light, and sons of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Let us not sleep, then, as others, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunken, are drunken in the night; but let us, as we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation; for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should together live with him. Wherefore, encourage one another, and edify one another, as indeed ye are doing. And we beseech you, brethren, to know those who labor among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
And we beseech you, brethren, to know those who labor among you, and preside over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake. Be at peace among yourselves. read more. Moreover we exhort you, brethren, admonish the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be forbearing to all. See that none render evil for evil to any one; but ever follow that which is good, both toward one another and toward all. Be always joyful. Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you. Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings, but prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. And may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved whole, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. I adjure you by the Lord, that this letter be read to all the holy 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 Judaea in Christ Jesus; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they have from the Jews;
Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we chose to be left at Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and a fellowlaborer with God in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to encourage you in your faith,
and sent Timothy, our brother and a fellowlaborer with God in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to encourage you in your faith, so that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for yourselves know that to this we are appointed;
so that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for yourselves know that to this we are appointed; for even when we were with you, we told you before that we are to suffer affliction, just as it came to pass, and ye know.
for even when we were with you, we told you before that we are to suffer affliction, just as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I too could no longer forbear, I sent in order to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should prove in vain.
For this cause, when I too could no longer forbear, I sent in order to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should prove in vain. But when Timothy just now came to us from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you;
But when Timothy just now came to us from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you;
But when Timothy just now came to us from you, and brought us good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you; for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction by your faith;
for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction by your faith; for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice for your sakes before our God;
For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may supply that which is lacking in your faith?
night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may supply that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; read more. and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we do in love toward you; in order that he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.
that every one of you should know how to procure for himself his own vessel in purity and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the gentiles who know not God; read more. that no one should go beyond and overreach his brother in the matter; because the Lord is the avenger in respect to all these things, as we also told you before and solemnly testified. For God did not call us to live in uncleanness, but in purity. He therefore that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who also gave to you his Holy Spirit.
But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are sleeping, that ye may not sorrow, as others do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then also will God, through Jesus, bring again with him those who have fallen asleep. read more. For this we say to you in the word of the Lord, that we who are living, we who are left till the coming of the Lord, shall not anticipate those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a loud summons, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are living, we who are left, shall be caught up together with them in clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. So then comfort one another with these words.