1 Thessalonians
Book Outhne
Key theme: The coming of Christ for the church
Key verses: ,
I. Paul Remembers ()
A. How the church was born ()
B. How the church was nurtured ()
C. How the church was established ()
II. Paul Exhorts () (How the church should walk)
A. In holiness ()
B. In harmony (, )
C. In honesty (, )
D. In hope ()
E. In helpfulness ()
Book Overview
A father took his son to a large city museum, thinking that the visit would entertain the boy. But for two hours the lad did nothing but sigh and complain. Finally, in desperation he said to his father, “Dad, let’s go someplace where things are real!”
Some people feel that way when they read the Bible. They think they are in a religious museum, looking at ancient artifacts that have no meaning for life in today’s scientific world. But they are wrong. No book published has more meaning for our lives, and more relevance to our problems, than the Bible.
Two of Paul’s earliest letters are 1 and 2 Thessalonians. (It is possible that Galatians was written first.) These two letters were written to real people who were experiencing real problems in a world that was not friendly to their Christian faith. You and I can easily identify with these people, because we live in a similar world and face many of the same problems. Once you understand the background, the burden, and the blessing of these two letters, you will see how up-to-date and practical they are.
First Thessalonians is a letter from a spiritual father to his children. Paul pictured the church as a family (the word translated “brothers and sisters” is used nineteen times in the first letter and nine times in the second), and he reminded them of what God had done for them through his ministry.
Each New Testament letter has a special message, or blessing, that is uniquely its own. Romans, for example, emphasizes the righteousness of God and shows that God is righteous in His dealings with both sinners and believers. First Corinthians focuses on the wisdom of God and 2 Corinthians on the comfort of God. Galatians is the freedom letter, and Philippians is the joy letter while Ephesians stresses the wealth that we have in Christ Jesus.
What is the special blessing in the message of 1 Thessalonians? It is the message of the return of Jesus Christ and how this vital doctrine can affect our lives and churches and make us more spiritual. Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with reference to the coming of Jesus Christ, and each reference relates the doctrine to a practical aspect of Christian living.
“Be Transformed”
An issue that is becoming very pressing is the distinction between the lifestyles of Christians and non-Christians. As divorce rates have soared among believers and the moral failures of pastors and church public figures have been splashed across the headlines, the gap in lifestyles seems to be closing. If our lives as followers of Jesus don’t demonstrate the transforming power of Christ in us, how can we expect others to be willing to commit themselves to Jesus?
One time when Christians should be markedly different is when they are faced with death and grieving. Few of us will get through life without having to handle grief. The Thessalonians were faced with the fact that believers among them were dying and yet Jesus had not returned. They were a little confused. So Paul addressed their fears, assuring them (and us) that grief for Christians can be markedly different (). The gospel transforms grief. “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (). Note that he was not telling believers not to grieve; he was telling us to grieve differently.
For a non-believer, when a loved one dies, grief is a combination of loss of companionship, the sobering realization of the finality of death, and the fear for their own coming death. For believers, grief does express our temporary loss of companionship with loved ones, but we also experience the assurance that we shall see them again. When the Lord returns, “we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (). A nonbeliever has nothing to look forward to beyond death, and grief is a sad and bitter reminder of that future. Christians can certainly weep, but we can also smile through the tears in anticipation that we will see both Christ and our loved ones sometime soon.
Greeting
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Their Good Example
2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
4knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
5For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
9For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Paul’s Conduct
1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.
3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
8So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
10You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Their Conversion
15who 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,
16forbidding 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.
Longing to See Them
18Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
20For you are our glory and joy.
Concern for Their Faith
3that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
4For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.
5For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
Encouraged by Timothy
6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—
7therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.
8For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,
10night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
Prayer for the Church
11Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
13so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Plea for Purity
2for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
4that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
6that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
7For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
A Brotherly and Orderly Life
12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
The Comfort of Christ’s Coming
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Day of the Lord
2For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
4But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
5You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
10who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Various Exhortations
13and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
15See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16Rejoice always,
17pray without ceasing,
18in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
20Do not despise prophecies.
21Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition
24He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Annotations for 1 Thessalonians
Faith, hope, and love are the three cardinal virtues of the Christian life, and the three greatest evidences of salvation. Faith must always lead to works (). Love is also an evidence of salvation; we serve Christ because we love Him. The third evidence of salvation is hope, looking forward for Jesus Christ to return ().
Paul says that the Thessalonians “became followers of us and of the Lord.” It is important that young Christians respect spiritual leadership and learn from mature believers. Just as a newborn baby needs a family, so a newborn Christian needs the local church and the leaders there. It is not enough for us as mature believers to win souls; we must also watch for souls and encourage new Christians to obey God’s Word.
Even though they were new believers, the Thessalonians set a good example that encouraged the surrounding assemblies. Churches must never compete with one another in a worldly manner, but they can encourage one another in good works. In every way, the church at Thessalonica was exemplary. The secret was found in their faith, hope, and love, for these are the spiritual motivators of the Christian life.
It is the responsibility and privilege of each local church to share the message of salvation with the lost world. At the end of each of the four gospels and at the beginning of the Book of Acts, there are commissions for the churches to obey. Many congregations are content to pay a staff to do the witnessing and soul-winning. But in New Testament churches, the entire congregation was involved in sharing the good news (; ).
The word translated “wait” means “to await someone with patience and confidence, expectantly.” Waiting involves activity and endurance. Some of the Thessalonian believers quit their work and became idle busybodies (), arguing that the Lord was coming soon. But if we really believe the Lord is coming, we will prove our faith by keeping busy and obeying His Word.
Paul says that we are “entrusted with the gospel.” A manager is someone entrusted with something valuable. He does not own what his master possesses, but he responsibly uses the treasure that belongs to his master. Joseph was a manager in the household of Potiphar (). He managed his master’s affairs and used all his master’s goods to promote his master’s welfare. Every manager one day must give an account of his stewardship (, ). Stewards who are found unfaithful will lose their rewards. The message of the gospel is a treasure God has entrusted to us. We must not bury it; we must invest it so it will multiply and produce “spiritual dividends” to God’s glory.
, Some Christians try to win friends and influence people by appealing to their egos. A true minister of the gospel deals honestly (but lovingly) with sin and judgment and leaves the unbeliever with nothing to boast of in himself. Paul’s method was as pure as his motive: He presented the Word of God in the power of the Spirit, and trusted God to work.
, The signature character trait of a manager is faithfulness; the signature trait of the mother is gentleness. As an apostle, Paul was a man of authority, but he always used his authority in love. The “children” in Christ sensed His tender loving care as He nurtured them. He was indeed like a loving mother who cared for her children.
The nursing mother eats the food and transforms it into milk for the baby. The mature Christian feeds on the Word of God and then shares its nourishment with the younger believers so they can grow (). A nursing child can become ill through reaction to something the mother has eaten. The Christian who is feeding others must be careful not to feed on the wrong things himself.
As a father, Paul shows his care and provision for the church. The father works to support his family. Even though the Christians in Philippi sent financial help (, ), Paul still made tents and paid his own way. No one could accuse him of using his ministry for his own profit. Fathers must live so that they are good examples to their children. He could call the Thessalonian believers as witnesses that his life had been exemplary in every way. His life was devout, honest, and faultless. A father must not only support the family by working and teach the family by being a good example, he must also take time to teach the family members. Paul knew the importance of teaching these new believers the truths that would help them grow in the Lord.
Paul has shown us how to raise spiritual babies. We must be faithful managers, loving mothers, and concerned fathers. If we are not faithful to God, we may find ourselves becoming doting mothers and pampering fathers. Children need discipline as well as love. In fact, discipline is one evidence of love. As a result of Paul’s work, the church at Thessalonica prospered in spite of persecution and shared the gospel with others for miles around.
The Word of God within us is a great source of power in times of testing and suffering. If we appreciate the Word (the heart), appropriate the Word (the mind), and apply the Word (the will), then as a whole person we will be controlled by God’s Word and He will give us the victory.
Here is one of the great values of the local church: We stand together in times of difficulty and encourage one another. It was when Elijah isolated himself from the other faithful Israelites that he became discouraged and wanted to quit. One reason Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica was to encourage the believers (see ). A lonely saint is very vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. We need each other in the battles of life.
Paul did not say that he would receive a crown, though this is suggested. He said that the saints themselves would be his crown when he met them at the judgment seat. To be sure, some of the believers in the church were not living as they should, and some were a burden to Paul. But when he looked ahead and saw them in glory, they brought joy to his heart.
The fact that God promises rewards to us is another evidence of His grace. God could demand our service simply on the basis of all He has done for us. Our motive for serving Him is love. In His grace, He gives us rewards so that we may have something to give Him in return.
In the first two chapters, Paul explained how the church was born and nurtured. Now he dealt with the next step in maturity: how the church was to stand. The key thought in this chapter is “stand[ing] fast” (v. ).
The term Paul used to describe Timothy (“fellow laborer”) emphasizes companionship and work. Timothy was not afraid to work. He had faithfully served with Paul () and knew how to minister in the churches. It is a demanding thing to establish new Christians. They have many problems and often do not grow as fast as we think they should. Teaching them requires love and patience, and Timothy had these qualities.
God’s Word is one of the best tools for establishing new Christians in the faith. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He used the Word of God to defeat him (). Paul admonished the Ephesian believers to take “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” () in their battle against Satan and his demonic assistants.
A working knowledge of the Bible is essential for spiritual growth and stability. God’s Word is food to nourish us (), light to guide us (), and a weapon to defend us (). “This is what the Lord says!” is our sure foundation. One reason God has established local churches is that believers might grow in the Word and, in turn, help others to grow (; ).
Catalyst
Paul earnestly prayed, “night and day,” for the Thessalonians. In his prayer in , he made three specific requests:
First, he prayed that their faith might mature (v. ). Paul had asked God to make it possible for him to minister to them personally, but God did not answer that request. Paul longed to see them again; he longed to minister to them and “perfect what is lacking in [their] faith,” meaning to adjust, equip, or furnish.
Paul’s second request was that their love might grow and overflow (v. ). Times of suffering can be times of selfishness. Persecuted people often become very self-centered and demanding. What life does to us depends on what life finds in us; and nothing reveals the true inner man like the furnace of affliction. True Christian love is shown not only to believers, but also “to all.” We love one another, but we also love the lost and our enemies. Abounding love must not be bound. It must be free to overflow and touch all people.
Paul’s third request was for their holiness of life (v. ). Again, it is the return of Jesus Christ that motivates the believer to live a holy life. Our Lord’s return is also a source of stability in the Christian life. Where there is stability, there can be sanctity, and where there is holiness, there is assurance. The two go together.
Paul’s prayer teaches us how to pray not only for new believers, but for all believers. We should pray that their faith will mature, their love grow, and their character and conduct be holy and blameless before God.
Go to the
Pleasing God means much more than simply doing God’s will. It is possible to obey God and yet not please Him. Jonah is a case in point. He obeyed God and did what He was commanded, but his heart was not in it. God blessed His Word, but He could not bless His servant. As we read the Word, and as we fellowship in worship and service, we get to know the heart of God, and this opens us up to the will of God.
A holy life involves a right relationship with God the Father (who called us), God the Son (who died for us), and God the Spirit (who lives within us). It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that makes our body the temple of God (, ). Furthermore, it is by walking in the Spirit that we get victory over the lusts of the flesh (.). To despise God’s commandments is to invite the judgment of God and also to grieve the Spirit of God.
, Just as God’s love is a holy love, so our love for God and for one another ought to motivate us to holy living. The more we live like God, the more we will love one another. If a Christian really loves his brother, he will not sin against him (v. ).
God causes our love to increase “more and more” by putting us into circumstances that force us to practice Christian love. Love is the “circulatory system” of the body of Christ, but if our spiritual muscles are not exercised, the circulation is impaired. The difficulties that we believers have with one another are opportunities for us to grow in our love. This explains why Christians who have had the most problems with each other often end up loving one another deeply, much to the amazement of the world.
, The obedient Christian will live a holy life by abstaining from sexual sin; a harmonious life by loving the brethren; and an honest life by working with his hands and not meddling in the affairs of others. When unsaved people see Christ magnified in this kind of a life, they will either oppose it with envy or desire to have it for themselves. Either way, God is glorified.
God gave Paul a special revelation concerning the resurrection and the return of Christ (see ). What Paul taught agreed with what Jesus taught (; ). And God’s revelation is based on the historic fact of Christ’s resurrection. Since our Savior has conquered death, we need not fear death or the future (.). The authority of God’s Word gives us the assurance and comfort we need. Whether we Christians live or die, we have nothing to fear because Jesus will come either with us or for us! The fact of His return is a comfort to our hearts.
The Christian doctrine of resurrection assures us that death is not the end. The grave is not the end. The body goes to sleep, but the soul goes to be with the Lord (). When the Lord returns, He will bring the soul with Him, will raise the body in glory, and will unite body and soul into one being to share His glory forever. This gives us comfort and assurance in the face of death.
, In the Bible, the word “day” can refer to a twenty-four-hour period or to a longer time during which God accomplishes some special purpose. In the word means twenty-four hours, but in it describes the entire week of Creation. The “day of the Lord” is that time when God will judge the world and punish the nations. At the same time, God will prepare Israel for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His kingdom.
Paul instructs us to live expectantly but not rashly. Expecting Christ’s return does not mean putting on a white sheet and sitting atop a mountain. That is the very attitude God condemned (, ). But it does mean living in the light of His return, realizing that our works will be judged and that our opportunities for service on earth will end. It means to live “with eternity’s values in view.”
The sober-minded believer has a calm, sane outlook on life. He is not complacent, but neither is he frustrated and afraid. He hears the tragic news of the day, yet he does not lose heart. He experiences the difficulties of life, but he does not give up. He knows his future is secure in God’s hands, so he lives each day creatively, calmly, and obediently.
We must never permit the study of prophecy to become purely academic, or a source of tension or argument. Paul closed this section with the practical application of the prophetic Scriptures: encouragement and edification. The fact that we will meet our loved ones again and forever be with the Lord is a source of encouragement (), and the fact that we will not endure God’s wrath during the day of the Lord is another source of encouragement (). The first is positive, and the second is negative, and both are comforting.
The truth of our Lord’s imminent return encourages us to keep pure () and to do faithfully whatever work He has assigned to us (). It also encourages us to attend church and love each other (). Knowing that we shall be with the Lord strengthens us in the difficulties of life () and motivates us to win the lost ().
It is tragic when believers neglect or ignore the local church. No family is perfect and no local church is perfect, but without a family to protect him and provide for him, a child would suffer and die. The child of God needs the church family if he is to grow, develop his gifts, and serve God.
, In spite of their limitations, God’s spiritual leaders should be respected and obeyed—unless it is obvious that they are out of God’s will. As the spiritual leaders of the church meet together, plan, pray, and seek and follow God’s will, we can be sure that God will rule and overrule in the decisions they make. The result of the church family following the spiritual leaders will be peace and harmony in the church.
Apart from God’s Word, we have no certain revelation from the Lord. Worship that ignores the Bible is not spiritual. There may be emotion—and even commotion—but unless there is spiritual truth, the Holy Spirit is not at work. The three admonitions in these verses go together and help us understand how the Holy Spirit works in Christian worship.
The closing verses of 1 Thessalonians contain not only a heartfelt benediction for his readers, but also a request from Paul for prayer. One of Paul’s habits involved starting his letters with descriptions of the way he was already praying for those to whom he was writing. But he ended his letters with a request for prayer. He emphasized the corporate nature of the body of Christ. When we pray diligently for other believers we can expect them to pray for us.
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