Reference: Thessalonians, First Epistle to The
Hastings
THESSALONIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE
1.Occasion and date.
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But having ordered them to go out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a signal miracle hath been wrought by them, is manifest to all that dwell at Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. read more. Yet that it spread no farther among the people, let us severely threaten them, that they speak no more to any man in this name.
And the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together, to hear the word of God. But the Jews seeing the multitudes, were filled with zeal, and spake against the things spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. read more. Then Paul and Barnabas speaking boldly, said, It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold! we turn to the Gentiles.
And when they had ordained them presbyters in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.
And some of them believed, and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the principal women.
And some of them believed, and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the principal women.
And some of them believed, and were joined to Paul and Silas, and a great number of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the principal women.
And they that conducted Paul, brought him as far as Athens, and having received an order to Silas and Timothy, to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now, while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him, seeing the city wholly given to idolatry.
And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in spirit, and testified to the Jews, that Jesus was the Christ.
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour, and what I should chuse, I know not. read more. For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, for it is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
If by any means I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
who mind earthly things) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, acccording to the mighty working, whereby he is able even to subject all things to himself.
Let your gentleness be known to all men; the Lord is at hand.
For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again to my necessities.
your love to all the saints) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven,
Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Grace be unto you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
For they themselves declare concerning us, what manner of entrance to you we had, and how ye turned from idols to God, to serve the living and true God, And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he hath raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.
But we were gentle in the midst of you, even as a nurse cherisheth her own children. So, loving you tenderly, we were ready to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but our own souls also, because ye were dear to us. read more. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses and God, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted every one of you, as a father his own children, And charged you to walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God in Christ Jesus, which are in Judea; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they likewise from the Jews:
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God in Christ Jesus, which are in Judea; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they likewise from the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men.
Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: but wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: but wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: but wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, laboured with great desire the more abundantly to see your face. read more. Wherefore we would have come to you (even I Paul) once and again, but Satan hindered us.
Therefore when we could bear no longer, we thought good to be left at Athens alone,
Therefore when we could bear no longer, we thought good to be left at Athens alone, And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,
And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,
Therefore when I could bear no longer, I sent to know your faith, left by any means the tempter should have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus was come to us from you, and had brought us the good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also to see you:
But now when Timotheus was come to us from you, and had brought us the good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you, in, all our affliction and distress by your faith. read more. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Now our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love towards one another and towards all men, as we also do towards you, read more. That he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness (before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) with all his saints.
It remaineth then, brethren, that we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, that ye abound therein more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. read more. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; That every one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in passionate desire, as the Gentiles who know not God. That none circumvent or defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these things, as we have also told you before and testified. For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man but God; who hath also given you his Holy Spirit. Touching brotherly love, we need not write to you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia; but we exhort you, brethren, that ye increase more and more, And that ye study to be quiet and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk decently toward them that are without, and may want nothing. Now we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe, that Jesus died and rose again, so will God bring with him those also that sleep in Christ. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them that are asleep.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them that are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. read more. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write to you. For ye yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. read more. When they say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all children of the light and children of the day: we are not children of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the others, but let us awake and keep awake. For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day keep awake, having put on the breast-plate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we may live together with him. Wherefore comfort one another and edify one another, as also ye do. Now we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labour among you,
Now we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake, and be at peace among yourselves. read more. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be long suffering toward all men. See that none render to any man evil for evil, but ever follow that which is good, both to one another and to all men. Rejoice evermore: Pray without ceasing: In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and may the whole of you, the spirit and the soul and the body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Salute all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord, that this epistle be read to all the brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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 followers of the churches of God in Christ Jesus, which are in Judea; for ye also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, as they likewise from the Jews:
Therefore when we could bear no longer, we thought good to be left at Athens alone, And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,
And sent Timotheus our brother and minister of God and our fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith, That no one might be moved by these afflictions; for ye know that we are appointed hereto.
That no one might be moved by these afflictions; for ye know that we are appointed hereto. For when we were with you we told you before, we should be afflicted; as it came to pass, and ye know.
For when we were with you we told you before, we should be afflicted; as it came to pass, and ye know. Therefore when I could bear no longer, I sent to know your faith, left by any means the tempter should have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
Therefore when I could bear no longer, I sent to know your faith, left by any means the tempter should have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus was come to us from you, and had brought us the good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also to see you:
But now when Timotheus was come to us from you, and had brought us the good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also to see you:
But now when Timotheus was come to us from you, and had brought us the good tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you, in, all our affliction and distress by your faith.
Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you, in, all our affliction and distress 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 sake before our God?
For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy wherewith we rejoice for your sake before our God? Night and day praying exceedingly, that we may see your face, and perfect that which is wanting in your faith.
Night and day praying exceedingly, that we may see your face, and perfect that which is wanting in your faith. Now our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way unto you. read more. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love towards one another and towards all men, as we also do towards you, That he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness (before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) with all his saints.
That every one of you know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in passionate desire, as the Gentiles who know not God. read more. That none circumvent or defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these things, as we have also told you before and testified. For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man but God; who hath also given you his Holy Spirit.
Now we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe, that Jesus died and rose again, so will God bring with him those also that sleep in Christ. read more. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them that are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we be ever with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.