There were the native Greek mystery religions, celebrating Dionysis and the sex and drinking cult. i. d. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins: Here Paul revealed what offended the religious persecutors of the Thessalonians so much. What Every Christian Should Know about the Protestant Reformation. His design was not to enrich himself by preaching the gospel; so far from this, he did not stipulate with them for bread. i. 20 For ye are our glory and joy. We wanted to come to you but Satan hindered us: It wasnt that Paul did not want to visit the Thessalonians. a. Poetical Books And further, when he shall come, all must appear in his presence, or before him. Paul had the discernment to know. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point They were contrary to all men. He did not flatter them with fain hopes, nor indulge them in any evil work or way, promising them life, and so daubing with untempered mortar. He knew what it was like to speak boldly for the Lord even in much conflict. 2. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. It is always concealed by a noble sounding goal. Paul means by the phrase, night and day, that he started work before dawn; the usage is regular and frequent. He was willing to run hazards, and venture his soul, or life, in preaching the gospel. II. Though some among the Thessalonians had accused Paul of ministering out of self interest, but Paul simply asks the Christians in Thessalonica to remember the gentle character of his ministry among them. He ministered from an understanding of his identity in Jesus. Not everyone receives this message as the word of God. The whole case is like that of the Irishman who tried to upset evidence by non-evidence. By the manner of their receiving the word of God: When you received the word of God, which you heard of us, you received it, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God. John Schultz Because it was evident to everyone that Pauls ministry in Thessalonica was a success, it is better to see it as a reference to the character of Pauls ministry. Away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face: Paul knew that the Thessalonians appreciated the comfort he gave, but they wondered why he didnt come and bring this comfort in person. Can ye call God to witness that in preaching it ye have no end in view by your ministry but his glory in the salvation of souls? He repeated the same idea in passages like Philippians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 11:1. ii. 3. For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. It is not to be named with any of the words proper to religions in general [of that day]. (Morris). Even his bodily absence was but for a short time, the time of an hour. iii. a. i. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. As they did, they were not alone, because those among the churches of God have often suffered persecution. He didnt need fancy introductions or lavish praise. Those are also to blame who, in hearing the word, look no further than to the ministry of men, who are only, or chiefly, pleased with the elegance of the style, or the beauty of the composition, or the voice and manner in which the word is preached, and expect to receive their advantage herein. i. Not everyone receives this message as the word of God. Biblical Commentary (Bible Study) 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: We would do well to stop occasionally to remind ourselves that chapter and verse markers were not part of the original text, but were added later to help us navigate the scriptures. 2:1-12) Or do ye enter into the priesthood for a morsel of bread, or for what is ominously and impiously called a living, a benefice? Is God witness that, in all these things, ye have no cloak of covetousness? But wo to that man who enters into the labour for the sake of the hire! i. Proud member The gospel of Christ, at its first setting out in the world, met with much opposition; and those who preached it preached it with contention, with great agony, which denoted either the apostles' striving in their preaching or their striving against the opposition they met with. The reasons are contained, v. 4. i. There were shrines to many Egyptian gods: Isis, Sarapis, Anubis. 5 26) not to be desirous of vain glory; his ambition was to obtain that honour which comes from God, John 5 44. The Greek term has rather the idea of using fair words as a means of gaining ones own ends., ii. He accommodated himself to all men's capacities, and became all things to all men. And to these things this whole epistle exhorts the Thessalonians. Johannine Writings Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. Paul gave both his care and his knowledge to the Thessalonians. Pauls statement of defense falls into two parts, a negative and a positive It is his practice first to sweep away the false, and then with the ground cleared to set forth the positive presentation of the truth. (Hiebert). It means the place of contest, and then the contest itself a race, a struggle, a battle. Thomas on covetousness: Pleonexia is self-seeking of all types, a quest for anything that brings self-satisfaction. Paul's Instructions to the Thessalonians 4:1--5:28 A. Minor Prophets And as a nursing mother bears with frowardness in a child, and condescends to mean offices for its good, and draws out her breast, cherishing it in her bosom, so in like manner should the ministers of Christ behave towards their people. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. His desire and endeavour were to return again very soon to Thessalonica. Some people like to say that there is a word of God, but that we cant be sure of what He says. ii. ii. The matter of the apostle's thanksgiving and glorying on behalf of the Thessalonians was, (1.) 1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. The Commendation and Thanksgiving ( 1 Thess. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? He earnestly desired and endeavoured to see them again: We endeavoured more abundantly to see your face with great desire, v. 17. Paul denied his rights and took a higher standard upon himself. You can also change some of your preferences. In this chapter the apostle puts the Thessalonians in mind of the manner of his preaching among them, ver 1-6. There can be no doubt that there was some worthy and particular motive which induced him to refrain from claiming his rights, for in other churches he exercised the privilege accorded to him as the others had done. (Calvin). For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? For what end God has preserved them distinct from all the people of the earth among whom they sojourn, we cannot pretend to say; but it must unquestionably be for an object of the very highest importance. This is indeed the great motive to sincerity, to consider that God not only seeth all that we do, but knoweth our thoughts afar off, and searcheth the heart. He knew what it was like to speak boldly for the Lord even in much conflict. b. Four witnesses saw him commit a murder. Because it was evident to everyone that Pauls ministry in Thessalonica was a success, it is better to see it as a reference to the character of Pauls ministry. He was able to say, "For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile." He and his companions were perfectly open about everything. If this is the case, then Satans roadblock got Paul started on writing letters to the churches. i. Yet when they do not receive it, it reflects upon them, not upon the message. v. Supposing that we have ascertained that hindrances in our way really come from Satan, WHAT THEN? III. b. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. b. This meant that he didnt spend his life trying to seek and earn the acceptance of man. They serve an enormously valuable purpose, but they sometimes create an artificial break in the text that hinders, Johannine Writings b. Those who by faith receive the word find it profitable. Wisdom Literature Hear this, ye that preach the Gospel! Yet most people today have never heard of John Gill. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. i. This was necessary assurance because they were persecuted by religious people and might wonder if these other religious people were in fact right before God in their persecuting. It was, therefore, a work of God that, although Paul had suffered various misfortunes and indignity, he appeared unaffected, and did not hesitate to launch an assault on a large and wealthy city for the purpose of leading its people captive to Christ. (Calvin). This was necessary assurance because they were persecuted by religious people and might wonder if these other religious people were in fact right before God in their persecuting. True grace is of a most masculine, disengaged, noble nature, and remits nothing of its diligence either for fear of a frown or hope of a reward. (Trapp). There is power in the word of God to change lives. He could tell them that they should walk worthy of God because his life and message were consistent. 2. Date of Writing: The Book of 1 Thessalonians was written in approximately A.D. 50. A good example this is, to be imitated by all the ministers of the gospel. Where greed and ambition hold sway, innumerable corruptions follow, and the whole man turns to vanity. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Paul was very careful about his own life. Major Prophets 1. If this is the case, then Satans roadblock got Paul started on writing letters to the churches. He mentions their faithful discharge of the work and office of the ministry, v. 11, 12. Upon himself and fellow-labourers. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. In every city where the apostles went to preach the gospel the Jews stirred up the inhabitants against them. The Greek intellectual and philosophical traditions were also represented. Pauls enemies said he left town quickly because he was a self-serving coward. He was willing to spend and be spent in the service of men's souls; and, as those who give bread to the hungry from a charitable principle are said to impart their souls in what they give (Isa 18 10), so did the apostles in giving forth the bread of life; so dear were these Thessalonians in particular to this apostle, and so great was his love to them. Coming of Christ is a PURIFYING HOPE,Chapters 3:14:12 A. Timothy brings a good report of Thessalonians,Chapter 3:1-8 vv. As seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Paul was comfortable in the idea of other Christians following his example. In the chapter's opening, Paul explains his reason for writing. i. 2. His satisfaction came from his relationship with Jesus, not from the praise of people.
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