Chapter Nine: It’s All in the Family (1 Thessalonians 5:12–28)
Key theme: The coming of Christ for the church
I.PAUL REMEMBERS—chapters 1–3
A.How the church was born—1
B.How the church was nurtured—2
C.How the church was established—3
II.PAUL EXHORTS—chapters 4–5
(How the church should walk)
D.In hope—4:13–5:11
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. No wonder William Lyon Phelps, for years called “Yale’s most inspiring professor,” said: “I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without a 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.
You can visit Thessalonica today, only the travel guide will call it Thessaloniki. (It used to be known as Salonika.) It is an important industrial and commercial city in modern Greece and is second to Athens in population. It served as an important Allied base during World War I. In World War II it was captured by the German army, and the Jewish population of about 60,000 persons was deported and exterminated.
It is an ancient city, originally named Therma from the many hot springs adjacent to it. In 315 B.C. it was renamed Thessalonica after the half sister of Alexander the Great. When Rome conquered Macedonia in 168 B.C., the city was made capital of that entire province. In Paul’s day 200,000 people lived there, most of them Greeks, but also many Romans and a strong Jewish minority. Today it has a population of 300,000, and is one of the few cities that has survived from the New Testament era of apostolic ministry.
Dr. Luke explained how Paul came to Thessalonica and how the church was founded (). Paul went to Macedonia in response to a “call” from a man in Macedonia who said, “Come over into Macedonia and help us” (). Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy arrived first in Philippi where they led Lydia and her household to Christ and there established a church. Paul and Silas were arrested on false charges, beaten, and put into jail. But God delivered them and they were able to lead the jailer and his household to faith in Christ.
After encouraging the new believers, Paul and his friends left Philippi (though Luke probably stayed behind temporarily) and headed for the important city of Thessalonica. They bypassed Amphipolis and Apollonia (), not because they had no burden for the people in those cities, but because Paul’s policy was to minister in the large cities and then have the believers reach out into the smaller towns nearby. It is about 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica.
Paul’s commission was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles (; ), but he always started his ministry among the Jews. The local synagogue was the place where the Old Testament Law was known and revered. Paul could get a sympathetic hearing in the synagogue, at least until persecution began. Furthermore, there were always many Gentile “God-fearers” in the synagogues, and through them Paul could begin a witness to the pagan Gentiles. Add to this Paul’s great burden for the Jews (; ), and the historical principle of “to the Jew first” (), and you can see why Paul and his associates began their work in the synagogue.
It is interesting to study the words Luke used to describe Paul’s public ministry in the synagogue (). Reasoned means “to discourse using questions and answers.” Perhaps “dialogue” would be a good synonym. Opening simply means “explaining.” Paul would read a portion of the Old Testament Scriptures and explain their meaning with reference to Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Alleging literally means “to lay beside.” Paul put the Scriptures before them in an orderly manner, showing them how they harmonized. Preach means “to proclaim, to announce.” Paul did not simply teach the Scriptures; he proclaimed Christ and urged his listeners to receive Him by faith.
We can learn much from Paul’s approach to evangelism. He used the Word of God, and he declared the Son of God. He started where the people were and led them into the truth of the Gospel. (When Paul preached to Gentiles, he started with the God of Creation, since they had no knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures. See ; )
He ministered in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, and the Lord worked in power. Many people believed in Jesus Christ and were saved, including a number of high-ranking women. However, the unbelieving Jews began to oppose the work, and Paul and his helpers had to leave the city. They went forty miles to Berea and there had a good ministry; but the Jews from Thessalonica followed them and caused trouble. It was then that Paul left for Athens, and from there to Corinth.
How long did Paul minister in Thessalonica? Does the statement “three Sabbath days” () mean three weeks only, or that he preached in the synagogue only three weeks but continued in another place? We know that Paul was there long enough to receive two “home missions offerings” from the church in Philippi (). Also, Paul worked at his tentmaking trade to support himself (; ).
If Paul were there only three weeks, he certainly taught the new Christians a great deal of basic Bible doctrine. As we study these two letters, we will discover that almost every major doctrine of the Christian faith is mentioned.
Even though Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was not a long one, it was solid enough to leave behind a thriving church. When he left for Athens, Paul told Timothy and Silas to remain there and help the new church and then to join him later. When they did meet again, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to encourage the Christians and assure them of his love and concern. (He had tried to go back twice, but was hindered; .) It was when Timothy rejoined Paul at Corinth and gave him the report on the new church that Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians. He wrote 2 Thessalonians just a short time later.
All of this background teaches us several helpful lessons. Obviously, God uses people. God did not send angels to evangelize Thessalonica; He sent a converted Jewish rabbi and his friends, including a young man who was part Jew, part Gentile. God still uses people—dedicated people who will obey His leading and share His message.
Here is a second lesson: the Gospel is still “the power of God unto salvation” (). It did not require years to set up a church in Thessalonica. God’s power was effective in changing lives, and a church was founded in less than a month. Paul reminded them that the Gospel came to them not “in word only, but also in power in the Holy Spirit” ().
Finally, Satan still opposes the Gospel and persecutes God’s people; but persecution can be a means of growth. As we study these two letters, we will see that God’s Spirit strengthens and encourages suffering saints as they go through the difficulties of Christian life.
Why did Paul write these two letters? First, he wanted to assure his friends of his love and concern. After all, he left the city hastily at night, and he did not want them to think he had deserted them. Also, Paul’s enemies were attacking his character and telling the new believers that their leader was really a greedy charlatan who preached religion in order to make money (1 Thes. 2). There were plenty of itinerant rogues in Greece who did just that, and some were spreading the word that Paul was one of them. In this letter, Paul assured his readers of his love for them and his honesty in ministering to them.
He had a second purpose in view: he wanted to ground them in the doctrines of the Christian faith, particularly with reference to Christ’s return. It appears that the church was going through severe persecution, and this is always a time of temptation to compromise and give in to discouragement. By reminding them of the truths of the Christian faith and what God had done for them in Christ, Paul encouraged them to stand firm and maintain their strong witness.
He also encouraged them to live holy lives. Keep in mind that temptations to immorality were rife in the cities then, and that sexual sins were not condemned by most people. These letters emphasize purity of life—a concept that needs to be emphasized in our churches too.
The new Christians were confused about the return of Jesus Christ. Paul had told them that the Lord would return in the air and take them home, but some of their number had died. The bereaved ones wondered if their Christian dead would be included in the “catching up” of the church. Paul explained this in .
But there was a second confusion. Because the persecutions were so intense, some of the believers thought that “the Day of the Lord” had arrived. (It is possible that a forged letter contributed to this confusion. See .) Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to explain this doctrine and to assure them that the Day of the Lord had not yet arrived.
Finally, in this letter, Paul sought to correct some weaknesses in the church. Some members were not respecting and honoring their spiritual leaders as they should (). Others were refusing to work, arguing that the soon-coming of the Lord made this the logical thing to do (). There was some confusion in their public services that also needed correcting ().
Confusion still exists about Bible prophecy, with radio and television preachers contradicting each other (and the Bible) and upsetting the saints. Is the coming of the Lord near? Must any signs take place before He can return? Will God’s people have to go through the Day of the Lord (the Tribulation) before He can return? Paul answered these important questions in these two inspired letters.
And what about the matter of practical holiness? It is not easy for Christians to avoid the pollutions of the world. The sex promoters offer their wares at almost every newspaper stand and drugstore. Immorality and infidelity are common themes of radio and television programs as well as of popular music. The bad examples of famous people make it easier for young people to say, “Everybody is doing it!”
In addition to being more cautious in daily living, we also need more order and respect in our local churches. I have discovered that lack of respect for spiritual leadership is the main cause of church fights and splits. What Paul wrote in and is greatly needed today.
In all fairness to church officers, I realize that some pastors do not deserve to be followed. They are not spiritual; they do not pray; and they have no concern for the lost. They are merely using the ministry to make an easy living. A pastor must not demand respect; he must command respect, as did Paul, by his dedicated life and sacrificial ministry.
First Thessalonians is a letter from a spiritual father to his children. Paul pictured the church as a family (the word “brethren” or “brother” is used nineteen times in the first letter and nine times in the second), and he reminded them of what God did for them through his ministry.
The second letter was written to correct certain wrong ideas—and wrong practices—relating to the doctrine of the Lord’s return.
We have seen the background of the letters, and the burden that motivated Paul to write them. We shall now consider the blessing of these letters and discover what they can mean to us.
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 and 2 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. Here is a summary:
—stability in Christian living
In other words, Paul did not look on this doctrine as a theory to be discussed, but as a truth to be lived. These letters encourage us to live “in the future tense” since Jesus could appear at any time. We are to practice the promise of His return in our manner of life.
Turning to 2 Thessalonians, we discover additional truth concerning future events and the church. Keep in mind that the second letter was written to correct the confusion regarding our Lord’s return. Some believers thought the Day of the Lord (the time of Tribulation) had arrived, and they wondered when the Lord would appear. Perhaps the best way to grasp the major messages of the two letters is by contrast:
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
Christ comes in the air for His church ()
Christ comes to the earth with His church ()
A sudden secret rapture that can occur at any time
A crisis that is part of a predicted program
Can occur today
Can occur only after certain events happen
The Day of Christ
The Day of the Lord
I realize that godly men differ in their interpretations of prophecy, particularly the matter of the church escaping or entering the time of Tribulation. My own position is that the church will be taken to heaven before the Tribulation, and then will return to the earth with the Lord to bring the Tribulation to a close (). I see 1 Thessalonians emphasizing the Rapture of the church and 2 Thessalonians, the revelation of the Lord with the church when He comes to judge.
However, the practical spiritual lessons of these truths should not be lost in debates over interpretations. I am encouraged to read what Dr. Leon Morris wrote in his excellent commentary on the Thessalonian epistles in The New International Commentary (Eerdmans, 1959), p. 152.
In his discussion of , Dr. Morris faced the matter of whether believers will escape the Tribulation or be left on earth to pass through that terrible event. “The language of this chapter could be understood either way,” he stated, and then affirmed his own position that the church will go through the Tribulation. Then he added: “But I fully recognize that other interpretations are possible, and suggest that it is not wise for any of us to condemn those who see such passages differently.”
In other words, we can disagree without being disagreeable. My own conviction is that we shall be delivered from “the wrath to come” (; ). I believe the Lord wants us to live in the constant expectation of His coming. I have studied carefully the excellent defenses of the other positions, and I respect the men who hold to them. But I must lovingly disagree with them.
Paul did not write these letters to stir up a debate. His desire was that these letters bless our lives and our churches. The doctrine of the Lord’s return is not a toy to play with, or a weapon to fight with, but a tool to build with. Believers may disagree on some of the fine points of Bible prophecy, but we all believe that Jesus Christ is coming again to reward believers and judge the lost. And we must all live in the light of His coming.
Your study of these letters should give you assurance for the future, encouragement in witnessing and walking with the Lord, comfort in the loss of Christian loved ones, and stability in a world that is very unsure of itself.
No doubt you have heard some preacher say, “If you ever find the perfect church, please don’t join it. If you do, it won’t be perfect anymore!”
Since local churches are made up of human beings, saved by God’s grace, no church is perfect. But some churches are closer to the New Testament ideal than others. The church at Thessalonica was in that category. At least three times in this letter, Paul gave thanks for the church and the way it responded to his ministry (; ; ). Not every pastor can be that thankful.
What characteristics of this church made it so ideal and such a joy to Paul’s heart?
The word church in means “a called-out people.” Whenever you read about a call in the Bible, it indicates divine election—God is calling out a people from this world (). Seven times in John 17, our Lord referred to believers as those whom the Father gave to Him out of the world (, , , , ). Paul stated that he knew the Thessalonians had been chosen by God ().
The doctrine of divine election confuses some people and frightens others, yet neither response is justified. A seminary professor once told me, “Try to explain election, and you may lose your mind. But explain it away—and you may lose your soul!”
We will never understand the total concept of election this side of heaven. But we should not ignore this important doctrine that is taught throughout the Bible. Let’s notice some obvious facts about divine election.
Salvation begins with God. “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation” (). “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” (). “He [the Father] hath chosen us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (). The entire plan of salvation was born in the heart of God long before man was created or the universe formed.
Salvation involves God’s love. Paul called these saints “brethren beloved”—not only beloved by Paul (see ), but also beloved by God. God’s love made Calvary possible (), and there Jesus Christ died for our sins. But it is not God’s love that saves the sinner; it is God’s grace. God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve, and God in His mercy does not give us what we do deserve. This explains why Paul often opened his letters with, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” ().
Salvation involves faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (). Paul, Silas (Silvanus is the Roman spelling), and Timothy brought the Gospel to Thessalonica and preached in the power of God (). Some people who heard the message believed and turned from their vain idols to the true and living God (). The Spirit of God used the Word of God to generate faith (). Paul called this “sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” ().
Salvation involves the Trinity. As you read this letter, you discover the doctrine of the Trinity. Christians believe in one God existing in three Persons: God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Keep in mind that all three Persons are involved in our salvation. This will help you escape dangerous extremes that either deny human responsibility or dilute divine sovereignty—for both are taught in the Bible.
As far as God the Father is concerned, I was saved when He chose me in Christ before the world began. As far as God the Son is concerned, I was saved when He died for me on the cross. As far as God the Holy Spirit is concerned, I was saved one Saturday night in May 1945, when I heard the Word and trusted Jesus Christ. At that moment, the entire plan fell together and I became a child of God. If you had asked me that night if I was one of the elect, I would have been speechless. At that time I knew nothing about election. But the Holy Spirit witnessed in my heart that I was a child of God.
Salvation changes the life. How did Paul know that these Thessalonians were elected of God? He saw a change in their lives. If you put next to , You will get the picture:
your work of faith
you turned to God from idols
your labor of love
to serve the living and true God
and patience of hope
to wait for His Son from Heaven
The person who claims to be one of God’s elect, but whose life has not changed, is only fooling himself. Those whom God chooses, He changes. This does not mean they are perfect, but they are possessors of a new life that cannot be hidden.
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 (). It has been said, “We are not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.” If the Thessalonians had continued to worship their dead idols while professing faith in the living God, it would have proved that they were not among God’s elect.
Love is also an evidence of salvation: “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (). We are “taught by God to love one another” (). We serve Christ because we love Him; this is the “labor of love” that Paul mentioned. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” ().
The third evidence of salvation is hope, waiting for Jesus Christ to return (). The return of Jesus Christ is the dominant theme of both of these Thessalonian letters. Unsaved people are not eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return. In fact, when our Lord catches His church up into the air, unsaved people will be totally surprised ().
Faith, hope, and love are evidences of election. These spiritual qualities are bound together and can come only from God. For further evidence, see these passages: ; ; ; ; ; ; .
A local church must be composed of elect people, those who have been saved by the grace of God. One problem today is the presence, in the church family, of unbelievers whose names may be on the church roll, but not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Every church member should examine his heart to determine whether he has truly been born again and belongs to God’s elect.
From the very inception of this church, Paul looked to them with joy and gratitude as Christians worthy of the name. They were examples in several areas of their lives.
They received the Word (v. ). The Gospel came to them through the ministry of Paul and his associates. Many traveling preachers and philosophers in that day were only interested in making money from ignorant people. But the Holy Spirit used the Word in great power, and the Thessalonians responded by receiving both the message and the messengers. In spite of the persecution in Philippi, Paul and Silas had been “bold … to speak … the Gospel” (); and the people believed and were saved. They never lost that eagerness for the Word of God ().
They followed their spiritual leaders (v. ). The word “followers” is actually “imitators.” These new believers not only accepted the message and the messengers, but they also imitated their lives. This led to severe persecution. 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. “Obey them that have the [spiritual] rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls” (). 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.
They suffered for Christ (v. ). In turning from idols to serve God, these believers angered their friends and relatives, and this led to persecution. No doubt some of them lost their jobs because of their new faith. Just as the Jewish unbelievers persecuted the believers in Judea, so the Gentile unbelievers persecuted the Thessalonian believers (). Faith is always tested, and persecution is one of the tests (; ).
They encouraged other churches (v. ). Christians either encourage or discourage each other. This principle applies also to churches. Paul used the churches of Macedonia as a stimulus for the Corinthian church to give to the missionary offering (). 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 “provoke unto love and to 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.
Their “work of faith and labor of love” expressed itself in their sharing of the Gospel with others. They were both “receivers” (the Word came to them, ) and “transmitters” (the Word went out from them, ). Each believer and each local church must receive and transmit God’s Word.
The verb sounded out actually means “to sound as a trumpet.” But the Thessalonians were not “tooting their own horns” as did the Pharisees (). They were trumpeting forth the Good News of salvation, and their message had a clear and certain sound to it (). Wherever Paul went, the people told him about the faith of the Thessalonian believers.
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 (; ).
A recent survey of church growth indicated that 70 to 80 percent of a church’s growth is the result of friends witnessing to friends and relatives to relatives. While visitation evangelism and other methods of outreach help, the personal contact brings the harvest.
But election and evangelism go together. The person who says, “God will save those He wants to save and He doesn’t need my help!” understands neither election nor evangelism. In the Bible, election always involves responsibility. God chose Israel and made them an elect nation so that they might witness to the Gentiles.
In the same way, God has chosen the church that we might be witnesses today. The fact that we are God’s elect people does not excuse us from the task of evangelism. On the contrary, the doctrine of election is one of the greatest encouragements to evangelism.
Paul’s experience at Corinth () is a perfect illustration of this truth. Corinth was a wicked city, and it was not easy to start a church there. The people were godless sinners (), but Paul preached the Word faithfully. When persecution arose from the Jewish unbelievers, Paul moved from the synagogue into the house of Justus. Then the Lord encouraged Paul: “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (). The fact that God had His elect in Corinth encouraged Paul to remain there for a year and a half.
If salvation were the work of man, we would have every right to be discouraged and quit. But salvation is the work of God, and He uses people to call out His elect. “He called you by our Gospel” (). The same God who ordains the end (the salvation of the lost) also ordains the means to the end (the preaching of the Gospel). There is no conflict between divine sovereignty and human responsibility, even though we cannot reconcile the two.
We need more churches today where the people are enthusiastic to share the message of salvation with others. As I write this, 2.4 billion people in our world have no visible witness of the Gospel in their midst, or no church body. In spite of the outreach of radio, television, and the printing press, we are losing ground in the work of reaching the lost. Are you an enthusiastic Christian? Is your church enthusiastic about witnessing?
Their work of faith made them an elect people, for they turned to God from their idols and trusted Jesus Christ. Their labor of love made them an exemplary and enthusiastic people as they lived the Word of God and shared the Gospel. Their patience of hope made them an expectant people, looking for their Saviour’s return.
In these verses, Paul related the second coming of Christ to their salvation. Because they had trusted Christ, they looked for His return with joyful expectancy and knew that they would be delivered “from the wrath to come” (). Paul repeated this truth in , and he amplified it again in .
When they worshiped idols, the Thessalonians had no hope. But when they trusted “the living God,” they had a living hope (see ). Those of us who have been brought up in the Christian doctrine cannot understand the bondage of pagan idolatry. Before Paul came to them with the Gospel, these people were without hope and “without God in the world” (). Read Psalm 115 for a vivid description of what it is like to worship an idol.
Christians are “children of the living God” (). Their bodies are the “temples of the living God” (), indwelt by the “Spirit of the living God” (). The church is “the church of the living God” (); and for His church, God is preparing “the city of the living God” (). The living God has given us a living hope by raising His Son Jesus Christ from the dead.
Two aspects of the Lord’s return must be distinguished. First, Jesus Christ will come in the air for His church (). This will usher in a period of Tribulation on the earth (). At the close of this period, He will return to the earth with His church (; ), defeat His enemies, and then set up His kingdom ().
The word translated “wait” in 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. Our Lord’s Parable of the Pounds () teaches that we must “occupy” (be busy; in this case, invest the money) till He returns.
Christians are waiting for Jesus Christ, and He may return at any time. We are not waiting for any “signs”; we are waiting for the Saviour. We are waiting for the redemption of the body () and the hope of righteousness (). When Jesus Christ returns we shall receive new bodies (), and we shall be like Him (). He will take us to the home He has prepared (), and He will reward us for the service we have given in His name ().
A local church that truly lives in the expectation of seeing Jesus Christ at any time will be a vibrant and victorious group of people. Expecting the Lord’s return is a great motivation for soul-winning () and Christian stability (). It is a wonderful comfort in sorrow () and a great encouragement for godly living (). It is tragic when churches forget this wonderful doctrine. It is even more tragic when churches believe it and preach it—but do not practice it.
Paul remembered how this church was born (), and he gave thanks for their spiritual characteristics: they were elect, exemplary, enthusiastic, and expectant. But churches are made up of individuals. When you and I speak of the church, we must never say “they.” We should say “we.” We are the church! This means that if you and I have these spiritual characteristics, our churches will become what God wants them to become. The result will be the winning of the lost and the glorifying of the Lord.
What every church should be is what every Christian should be: elect (born again), exemplary (imitating the right people), enthusiastic (sharing the Gospel with others), and expectant (daily looking for Jesus Christ to return).
Perhaps it is time for an inventory.
Chapter 1 of 1 Thessalonians introduced us to Paul the evangelist. This chapter introduces us to Paul the pastor, for it explains how the great apostle cared for the new believers in the churches that he founded. Paul considered “the care of all the churches” () a greater burden than all the sufferings and difficulties he experienced in his ministry ().
Just as God uses people to bring the Gospel to the lost, so He uses people to nurture the babes in Christ and help lead them to maturity. The church at Thessalonica was born through the faithful preaching of the apostle and his helpers, and the church was nurtured through the faithful pastoring that Paul and his friends gave to the infant church. This helped them stand strong in the midst of persecution.
In these verses, Paul reminded them of the kind of ministry he had as he taught and cared for the young church. Three pictures of his ministry emerge.
Paul had been “put in trust with the Gospel” (). It was not a message that he made up or that he received from men (). Paul looked on himself as a steward of God’s message.
A steward owns nothing, but possesses and uses everything that belongs to his master. Joseph was a steward 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 steward one day must give an account of his stewardship (). If he is found unfaithful, he will suffer.
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 think that the church’s only responsibility is to protect the Gospel from those who would change it (). But we also must share the Gospel; otherwise, we are protecting it in vain.
Faithfulness is the most important quality a steward possesses (). He may not be popular in the eyes of men; but he dare not be unfaithful in the eyes of God. “Not as pleasing men, but God who trieth [testeth] our hearts” (). The Christian who “plays to the grandstands” will lose God’s approval. When we see the characteristics of Paul’s ministry as a steward, we understand what faithfulness means.
The manner of his ministry (vv. ). Paul and Silas had been beaten and humiliated at Philippi; yet they came to Thessalonica and preached. Most of us would have taken a vacation or found an excuse not to minister. Paul was courageous—he was not a quitter. He had a “holy boldness” that was born of dedication to God. Like the other Apostles before him, Paul boldly proclaimed the Good News (, , ).
His preaching was “with much contention.” This is an athletic term that means “a contest, a struggle.” The Greek world was familiar with athletic contests, and Paul often used this idea to illustrate spiritual truths (; ; ). He used this same word in where he pictured the Christian life as an athletic contest that demanded dedication and energy. It had not been easy to start a church in Philippi, and it was not easy to start one in Thessalonica.
The message of his ministry (v. ). “For the appeal we make does not spring from error” (NIV). Here he assured them that his message was true. Six times in this letter he mentioned the Gospel. This message of Christ’s death and resurrection () is a true message and is the only true Gospel (). Paul received this Gospel from God, not from man. It is the only Good News that saves the lost sinner.
The motive of his ministry (v. ). He was not guilty of “uncleanness,” for his motives were pure. It is possible to preach the right message with the wrong motives (). Unfortunately, some people in Paul’s day used religion as a means for making money. Paul did not use the Gospel as “a cloak to cover his covetousness” (). He was open and honest in all his dealings, and he even worked at a trade to earn his own support (see ).
Paul was very sensitive about money matters. He did not want to give anyone a reason to accuse him of being a religious salesman (). As an apostle, he had the privilege of receiving support. But he gave up that right in order to be free from any possible blame that would disgrace the ministry.
The method of his ministry (vv. ). Paul did not use guile or trickery to win converts. The word translated “guile” carries the idea of “baiting a hook.” In other words, Paul did not trap people into being saved, the way a clever salesman traps people into buying his product. Spiritual witnessing and “Christian salesmanship” are different. Salvation does not lie at the end of a clever argument or a subtle presentation. It is the result of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit ().
Often we hear, “I don’t care what your method is, just so long as your message is right.” But some methods are unworthy of the Gospel. They are cheap, whereas the Gospel is a costly message that required the death of God’s only Son. They are worldly and man centered, whereas the Gospel is a divine message centered in God’s glory.
Paul’s enemies in Thessalonica accused him of being a cheap peddler of this new message. They said that his only motive was to make money. In describing himself as a faithful steward, Paul answered these critics; and Paul’s readers knew that he told the truth. (Trace that phrase “as ye know” in ; , , ; ; ; .) Paul appealed to the witness of God () and to their own witness. He had “a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men” ().
Paul abhorred flattery (). David also hated this sin. “They speak vanity everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak” ().
I once read that a flatterer is a person who manipulates rather than communicates. A flatterer can use either truth or lies to achieve his unholy purpose, which is to control your decisions for his own profit.
Some people even flatter themselves. “For he flatters himself in his own eyes” (, RSV). This was the sin of Haman, that evil man in the Book of Esther. He was so interested in flattering himself that he even plotted to slaughter all the Jews to achieve that goal.
Some people try to flatter God. “Nevertheless they [Israel] did flatter Him [God] with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues” (). Flattery is another form of lying. It means saying one thing to God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him ().
Some Christians try to win friends and influence people by appealing to their egos. A true ministry 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 emphasis of the steward is faithfulness; the emphasis of the mother is gentleness. As an apostle, Paul was a man of authority; but he always used his authority in love. The babes in Christ sensed his tender loving care as he nurtured them. He was indeed like a loving mother who cared for her children.
It takes time and energy to care for children. Paul did not turn his converts over to baby-sitters; he made sacrifices and cared for them himself. He did not tell them to “read a book” as a substitute for his own personal ministry (though good Christian literature can help young believers to grow).
Paul had patience with the new Christians. Our four children are into adulthood now, but I can assure you that my wife and I needed a great deal of patience before they reached that state. (To even things up, our parents needed patience with us!) Children do not grow up instantly. They all experience growing pains and encounter problems as they mature. Paul’s love for them made him patient, because love suffers long, and is kind ().
Paul also nourished them. can read “even as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” What is the lesson here? A nursing mother imparts her own life to the child. This is exactly what Paul wrote in . You cannot be a nursing mother and turn your baby over to someone else. That baby must be in your arms, next to your heart.
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.
Besides making sacrifices, having patience, and giving nourishment, a mother also protects her child. It was this fact that enabled King Solomon to discover which woman was the real mother of the living child (). Paul was willing to give not only the Gospel but his own life as well. His love for the Thessalonians was so great he would die for them if necessary.
But it is not easy to be a “nursing mother.” Even Moses felt the burden of caring for God’s people. “Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that Thou shouldest say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which Thou didst swear to their fathers’?” (, NASB) But if we do not nurse the new Christians on the milk of the Word, they can never mature to appreciate the meat of the Word ().
Paul considered himself a “spiritual father” to the believers at Thessalonica, just as he did toward the saints at Corinth. “For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the Gospel” (, NASB). The Spirit of God used the Word of God in Paul’s ministry, and many people in Thessalonica were born again into the family of God.
But the father not only begets the children; he also cares for them. As he defended his own work against false accusations, Paul pointed out three of his duties as the spiritual father to the Thessalonicans.
His work (v. ). 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. Later on, Paul used this fact to shame the lazy Christians in the Thessalonican church ().
Paul used the words “labor and travail.” J.B. Phillips translated these words “our struggles and hard work.” “Toil and hardship” would be another translation. It was not easy to make tents and minister the Word at the same time. No wonder Paul toiled “night and day” (). He toiled because he loved the believers and wanted to help them as much as possible. “For I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children” ().
His walk (v. ). Fathers must live so that they are good examples to their children. He could call the Thessalonican believers as witnesses that his life had been exemplary in every way. None of the members of the assembly could accuse Paul of being a poor example. Furthermore, God had witnessed Paul’s life; and Paul was not afraid to call God as a witness that he had lived a dedicated life, while caring for the church family.
His life was holy. In the Greek, this means to “carefully fulfill the duties God gives to a person.” Our word pious is close to it, if you think of piety at its best and not as some fake kind of religion. This same word is applied to the character of God in and .
His life was also righteous. This refers to integrity, uprightness of character, and behavior. This is not the “righteousness of the Law” but the practical righteousness that God works out in our lives as we yield to Him ().
Paul’s life was also unblamable. Literally, this word means “not able to find fault in.” His enemies might accuse him, but no one could level any charge against Paul and prove it. Christians are supposed to be “blameless and harmless” as they live in this world ().
His words (vv. ). 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 speak to the family members. Paul knew the importance of teaching these new believers the truths that would help them grow in the Lord.
Paul dealt with each of the believers personally. “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children” (, NIV). As busy as he was, Paul still had time for personal counseling with the members of the assembly. While it is good for church leaders to address the larger group, spending time with people on a one-to-one basis is also needed. Our Lord was never too busy to speak to individuals, even though He preached to great multitudes. To be sure, this is difficult and demanding work. But it is rewarding work that glorifies God.
Paul encouraged the new believers. This is what a father does with his children, for children are easily discouraged. New Christians need someone to encourage them in the Lord. The word exhorting in our Authorized Version means “to call to one’s side, to encourage.” It does not mean that Paul scolded them. Rather, it means he encouraged them to go on with the Lord.
I once received a letter from a radio listener who thanked me for the encouragement of the messages she had heard. “When we go to church,” she wrote, “all our pastor does is scold us and whip us. We really get tired of this. It’s refreshing to hear some words of encouragement!”
Paul also comforted them. This word carries the same idea of “encouragement,” with the emphasis on activity. Paul not only made them feel better, but he made them want to do better. A father must not pamper a child; rather, he must encourage the child to go right back and try over again. Christian encouragement must not become an anesthesia that puts us to sleep. It must be a stimulant that awakens us to do better.
Finally, Paul charged them. This word means that Paul “testified to them” out of his own experience with the Lord. It carries the idea of giving personal witness. Sometimes we go through difficulties so that we may share with new Christians what the Lord has done. God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (, NIV).
We who are parents know that our children (especially teenagers) do not like to hear us say, “Now, back when I was a kid …” But this is an important part of training a family. It is a wonderful thing when a “spiritual father” can encourage and help his “children” out of his own experience with the Lord. “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord” ().
What was the purpose for this fatherly ministry to the believers? His aim was that his children might “walk worthy of God” (). Just as a father wants to be proud of his children, so the Lord wants to get glory through the lives of His children. “I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth” (, NASB). Paul ministered to them in such a personal way because he was teaching them how to walk.
Every child must learn how to walk. He must have good models to follow. Paul admonished them to walk “worthy of the Lord” (see and ). We are to walk worthy of the calling we have in Christ Jesus (). God has called us; we are saved by grace. We are a part of His kingdom and glory. One day we shall enter the eternal kingdom and share His glory. This assurance ought to govern our lives and make us want to please the Lord.
The verb in is in the present tense: “who is continually calling you.” God called us to salvation (), and He is constantly calling us to a life of holiness and obedience. “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; because it is written, ‘Be ye holy, for I am holy’ ” ().
This passage gives us a beautiful example of New Testament follow-up. Paul has shown us how to raise the babies. We must be faithful stewards, 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.
No wonder the church at Thessalonica prospered in spite of persecution, and shared the Gospel with others for miles around. They had been born right (1 Thes. 1) and nurtured right (1 Thes. 2). This is a good example for us to follow.
It was not easy to be a Christian in Thessalonica where believers faced persecution and suffering. Their situation explains Paul’s choice of words: affliction (; ), which means “pressure from circumstances”; suffered (), the same word used for our Lord’s sufferings; persecuted (), meaning “driven out and rejected”; contrary (), used of winds that blow against and hinder progress; and hindered (), which pictures a road so broken up that travel is blocked.
Yet in the midst of suffering, the Thessalonian Christians experienced joy. They received Paul’s ministry of the Word “in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (). Paul certainly was burdened for his brethren who were going through suffering, and yet he also had joy (). It was a fulfillment of our Lord’s promise, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” ().
Churches do experience “growing pains” as they seek to win the lost and glorify the Lord. We may not experience the same kind of political and religious persecution that the early Christians suffered (though in some parts of the world today the persecution is just as intense as it was then). Yet if we are living “godly in Christ Jesus,” we will suffer for His sake (). In this paragraph, Paul explained the divine resources we have in times of suffering and persecution.
The church has been founded on the Word of God (), the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The same Word that brings us salvation also enables us to live for Christ and endure suffering for His sake. Paul was thankful that the saints in Thessalonica had the right spiritual attitudes toward the Word of God. This helped them endure in the hour of suffering.
They appreciated the Word. They did not receive it as the word of men; they received it as the Word of God. We must never treat the Bible as any other book, for the Bible is different in origin, character, content, and cost. The Bible is the Word of God. It was inspired by the Spirit of God () and written by men of God who were used by the Spirit (). God’s Word is holy, pure, and perfect (). The Bible was written at great cost, not only to the writers, but to Jesus Christ who became Man that the Word of God might be given to us.
The way a Christian treats his Bible shows how he regards Jesus Christ. He is the living Word (, ), and the Bible is the written Word; but in essence they are the same. Both are bread (; ), light (; ), and truth (; ). The Holy Spirit gave birth to Jesus Christ through a holy woman (), and He gave birth to the Bible through holy men of God (). Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God forever (), and the Word of God will live forever (; , ).
It may be a personal prejudice, but I dislike seeing a Bible on the floor or at the bottom of a stack of books. If I am carrying several books with my Bible, I try to remember to put the Bible on the top. If we appreciate the Bible as the inspired Word of God, then we will reveal this appreciation in our treatment of the Bible.
Would you rather have your Bible than food? Job said, “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (). God’s Word is bread (), milk and meat (), and even honey (). Mary chose the Word, but her sister Martha got involved in making a meal (). Mary got the blessing while Martha lost the victory.
Would you rather have God’s Word than money? The believer who wrote Psalm 119 made it clear that God’s Word meant more to him than “all riches” (), “thousands of gold and silver” (), “fine gold” (), and even “great spoil” ().
I recall a young couple I sought to help in one of my churches. They had a lovely little son, but they were very careless about attending church and Sunday School. The little boy was not getting the Christian training he needed. A visit to the home told me why: the father wanted more money and so he worked on Sundays to make double time. He did not have to work on the Lord’s Day, but he wanted the money rather than God’s Word. He earned more money, but he was never able to keep it. The little son became ill and the extra money went to doctors.
Would you rather have God’s Word than sleep? “My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Thy Word” (, NASB). The Jews had three night watches: sunset to 10, 10 to 2, and 2 until dawn. The psalmist gave up sleep three times each night that he might spend time with the Word. But some Christians cannot get out of bed on Sunday morning to study the Word.
If we are going to be victorious in suffering, we must appreciate the Word. But there is a second attitude we must show toward the Bible.
They appropriated the Word. Paul used two different words for “received”: the first means simply “to accept from another,” while the second means “to welcome.” One means “the hearing of the ear,” while the other means “the hearing of the heart.” The believers at Thessalonica did not only hear the Word; they took it into their inner man and made it a part of their lives.
The Lord Jesus repeatedly warned people about the wrong kind of hearing, and His warnings are still needed. “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear” (). In other words, “Take heed that you hear.” Use every opportunity you have to hear the Word of God.
But He gave another warning in : “Take heed what ye hear.” How often believers hear the Word of God in Sunday School and church, and then get in their cars, turn on the radio, and listen to programs that help erase the impressions made by the Word. When we visited church congregations in Great Britain, my wife and I were impressed with their practice of sitting down after the benediction. They meditated on the Word and allowed the Spirit to minister to them. This is far better than rushing out of church and joking with friends.
Our Lord’s third warning is in : “Take heed therefore how ye hear.” Many people are careless hearers and cannot apply themselves to listen to the teaching of God’s Word. These people have “itching ears” and want religious entertainment (). Some of them are “dull of hearing” (), too lazy to apply themselves and pay attention. One of these days our churches will be hungry because of a famine “for hearing the words of the Lord” (). Too many churches have substituted entertainment for the preaching of God’s Word, and many people no longer welcome the Word of God.
How do we appropriate the Word? By understanding it and receiving it into our hearts, and by meditating on it so that it becomes part of the inner man. Meditation is to the spiritual life what digestion is to the physical life. If you did not digest your food, you would die. It takes time to meditate, but it is the only way to appropriate the Word and grow.
They applied the Word. They obeyed the Word by faith, and the Word went to work in their lives. It is not enough to appreciate the Bible, or even to appropriate the Bible. We must apply the Word in our lives and be hearers and doers of the Word ().
The Word of God has in it the power to accomplish the will of God. “For nothing is impossible with God” (, NIV). It has well been said, “God’s commandments are God’s enablements.” Jesus commanded the crippled man to stretch out his hand—the very thing the man could not do. Yet that word of command gave him the power to obey. He trusted the word, obeyed, and was made whole (). When we believe God’s Word and obey, He releases power—divine energy—that works in our lives to fulfill His purposes.
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 the whole person will be controlled by God’s Word and He will give us the victory.
In my pastoral work, I often found that suffering people can become very self-centered and think that they are the only ones going through the furnace. Everyone goes through the normal human suffering such as sickness, pain, and bereavement. But I am referring to the suffering we endure because we are Christians.
Perhaps your family has disowned you because of your faith; or perhaps you have been bypassed for a promotion at work because you are a Christian. These experiences hurt, but they are not ours alone. Other Christians are going through the same trials, and many, in other parts of the world, face much greater difficulty.
Not only were the Thessalonian saints imitators of the Lord and of Paul (), but they also became imitators of the Jewish believers in their experience of persecution. The saints in Judea suffered at the hands of the Jews, and the saints in Thessalonica suffered at the hands of the Gentiles. But keep in mind that even this Gentile persecution was encouraged by the Jewish unbelievers (, ). Jesus promised that this would happen ().
Was Paul giving evidence of “religious bigotry” when he accused the Jews of killing Jesus Christ and persecuting the Christians? No, he was simply stating a fact of history. Nowhere does the Bible accuse all Jews of what a few Jews did in Jerusalem and Judea when Christ was crucified and the church founded. The Romans also participated in the trial and death of Christ, and, for that matter, it was our sins that sent Him to the cross (). There is no place in the Christian faith for anti-Semitism. Paul himself loved his fellow Jews and sought to help them (; ).
God called Israel to be a blessing to all the world (; ). Through Israel He gave the promises and the covenants, and the Word of God; and through Israel, Jesus Christ the Saviour came into the world. “Salvation is of the Jews” (). The first Christians were Jews, as was Paul, the greatest Christian missionary.
Why, then, did the leaders of Israel officially reject Jesus Christ and persecute His followers? They were only repeating the sins of their fathers. Their ancestors had persecuted the prophets long before Jesus came to earth (). They could not see that their Law was only a temporary preparation for God’s New Covenant of grace. By rejecting God’s truth, they protected their man-made traditions (). Our Lord’s parable in explained their sinful attitudes.
The sad thing was that Israel was filling up their sins () and storing up wrath for the day of judgment. This image is used in , and Jesus used it in His sermon against the Pharisees (). God patiently waits as sinners rebel against Him, and He watches as their measure of sin and judgment fills up. When the time is up, God’s patience will end and judgment will fall.
In one sense, judgment had already fallen on Israel; for they were a scattered people, and their nation in Palestine was under Roman rule (see ). But an even greater judgment was to fall in the future; for in A.D. 70 the Roman armies besieged Jerusalem, destroyed the city and the temple, and ended the period of God’s patience with His people during the ministry of the Apostles (see ). It is tragic but true that the righteous suffered because of the sins of the wicked.
Paul encouraged the suffering Christians by assuring them that their experiences were not new or isolated. Others had suffered before them and were even then suffering with them. The churches in Judea had not been exterminated by suffering; if anything, they had been purified and increased. But the persecutors were filling up the measure of wrath to be heaped on their heads. Saints have been saved to the uttermost (), but sinners will experience wrath to the uttermost ().
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 (). A lonely saint is very vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. We need each other in the battles of life.
Paul was not ashamed to state his affection for the Thessalonian Christians. He felt as though he had been “orphaned” from them () since he was their spiritual mother and father (, ). Paul wanted to remain there longer to help ground them in the faith, but the enemy drove him out. However, his absence was only physical; he was still with them in heart (see ).
Paul made every effort possible to return to them, though Satan was “breaking up the road and putting up obstacles” (literal meaning of “hindered” in ). Paul had the same kind of deep desire to be with them as Jesus had to be with His disciples before His death ().
But Paul did not look back and give in to regret and remorse. Instead, he looked ahead and rejoiced. For the Christian, the best is yet to come. Paul looked ahead by faith and saw his friends in the presence of Jesus Christ in glory.
In times of trouble and testing, it is important that we take the long view of things. Paul lived in the future tense, as well as in the present. His actions were governed by what God would do in the future. He knew that Jesus Christ would return and reward him for his faithful ministry; and on that day, the saints from Thessalonica would bring glory to God and joy to Paul’s heart. As the familiar song says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.”
The fact that we shall one day stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ ought to motivate us to be faithful in spite of difficulties. We must remember that faithfulness is the important thing (). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, our works will be judged and rewards will be given (; ; ). In his letters, Paul often pictured these rewards as crowns. The word used signified the “victor’s crown” at the races, not the royal crown of the king. It is the word stephanos from which we get the names Stephen and Stephanie.
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.
This joy of greeting believers in heaven also brings with it a solemn warning: we will lose joy if we go to heaven empty-handed. The Christian who has not sincerely tried to win others to Christ will not experience this glory and joy when Jesus Christ returns. It is not enough to “wait for His Son” (). We must also witness for God and work for His Son, so that when we get to heaven, we will have trophies to present for His glory. There is a special joy and reward for the soul winner ().
There is also a crown for the believer who subdues his body and keeps it controlled for the glory of God (). Self-control is produced by the Spirit (). Since our bodies are God’s temples, we must be careful not to defile them. The ultimate in giving the body to God is dying for His sake; and for this there is a crown (). Those who lovingly look for Christ’s appearing will receive the “crown of righteousness” (). The faithful pastor can anticipate the “crown of glory” ().
We must never look on future rewards as a means of showing up the other saints. Like the elders described in (a picture of the glorified church), we will worship the Lord and lay our crowns at His feet (). After all, our work was done in his power and for His glory, so He deserves all the praise.
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.
When the Christians at Thessalonica read this letter, it must have encouraged them tremendously. They were going through intense persecution and suffering, and perhaps some of them were tempted to give up.
“Don’t give up!” Paul encouraged them. “Lay hold of the spiritual resources you have in Jesus Christ. You have the Word of God within you, the people of God around you, and the glory of God before you. There is no need to give up.”
Before a child can walk, he must learn to stand. Usually the father and mother teach the child to stand and then to walk. Paul was “spiritual parent” to these believers, but he had been forced to leave Thessalonica. How, then, could he help these young Christians learn to stand in the trials of life?
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 word in this chapter is establish (, ). The key thought is expressed in : “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”
Paul explained three ministries that he performed to help these new Christians become firmly established.
When Paul and his friends left Thessalonica, they went to Berea and ministered the Word. But the troublemakers from Thessalonica followed them and stirred up opposition. Paul left for Athens while Silas and Timothy remained at Berea (see ). Apparently, Timothy did join Paul in Athens (note the “we” in ), but Paul sent him back to Thessalonica to help the young church that was going through tribulations. Several important factors were involved in this move.
Paul’s concern (v. ). The “wherefore” that opens this chapter refers to , where Paul expressed his great love for the believers. It was because of this love that he could not abandon them when they needed spiritual help. Paul was not only an evangelist; he was also a pastor. He knew that soul-winning was but one part of the commission God gave him. These new believers must also be taught and established in the faith.
Instead, Paul chose to be left alone in Athens so that Timothy could return to Thessalonica and establish the saints. The word translated “left” in means “to leave loved ones at death.” In he said that he felt “orphaned” from his friends in Thessalonica, and the Greek word can also mean “bereaved.” Paul was not a “hireling shepherd” who abandoned the sheep when there was danger (). To leave these new believers was like an experience of bereavement.
This is a good lesson for Christian workers today. Paul so loved the Thessalonican believers that he would have risked his own life to return to them. He so loved the saints at Philippi that he was willing to stay out of heaven in order to encourage them (). He wanted to give of himself and his resources for them, as a parent provides for loved children. “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you” ().
Timothy’s character (v. ). Not every believer is equipped to establish other Christians in the faith. Ideally, every Christian should be mature enough to help other Christians grow in the Lord and learn to stand on their own two feet. Unfortunately, some Christians are like those described in . They have gone backward in their spiritual walk and have forgotten the basic truths of the Word. Instead of teaching others, they themselves need to be taught again. They are going through a second childhood spiritually.
Timothy was the ideal man to send to the church to help them stand firm. Timothy and Titus were Paul’s “special agents” whom he used as troubleshooters whenever the churches had problems. Paul sent Timothy to Corinth to help straighten out the problems there (). He also planned to send Timothy to help the saints in Philippi ().
What kind of a person can help younger believers grow in the Lord? To begin with, he must be a Christian himself: “Timothy, our brother” (). We cannot lead another where we have not been ourselves, nor can we share that which we do not possess. Paul had led Timothy to faith in Christ () so that he was truly a brother.
But Timothy was also a minister. This is simply the Greek word for a servant. Our English word “deacon” comes from this word, diakonos. 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.
Timothy was a good team man; he was a “fellow worker.” He did not try to run the show himself and get people to follow him. To begin with, he was a fellow worker with God. It was God who worked in and through Timothy to accomplish His work (see and ).
But Timothy was also a fellow worker with the other believers. He obeyed Paul and left Athens for Thessalonica. He returned to Paul in Corinth with news about the Thessalonican church. No wonder Paul wrote of him: “For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state” ().
The church’s conflict (vv. ). The trials and testings that come to our lives as Christians are not accidents—they are appointments. We must expect to “suffer for His sake” (). Persecution is not foreign to the believer (), but a normal part of the Christian life. Paul had repeatedly told them this while he was with them. We must warn new believers that the way is not easy as they seek to live for Christ; otherwise, when trials come, these babes in Christ will be discouraged and defeated.
Of course, behind these persecutions is Satan, the enemy of the Christian (). He is the tempter, and he seeks to ruin our faith. Note the emphasis on faith in this chapter (, ). As a roaring lion, Satan stalks believers; and we must resist him “steadfast in the faith” (). When Satan tempted Eve, he began by weakening her faith in God: “Yea, hath God said?” () As a serpent, Satan deceives (); as a lion, he devours (). He will use any means to attack the Christian and weaken his faith in God.
The word “moved” in 1 Thessalonians 3 is interesting. It literally means “to wag the tail, to fawn over.” The idea is that Satan often flatters the believer in order to lead him astray. Satan told Eve she would be like God if she ate of the tree, and she fell for his flattery. Satan is more dangerous when he flatters than when he frowns.
Timothy’s task was to establish these believers and encourage (comfort) them in their faith. It is faith in God that keeps our feet on the ground when the enemy attacks. Without faith in God, we are defeated. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” ().
Timothy met Paul at Corinth () and gave him the glad news that things were going well at Thessalonica. The phrase “brought us good tidings” is the exact equivalent of “preaching the Good News of the Gospel.” The report from Timothy was, to Paul, like hearing the Gospel.
Timothy reported that the new believers were standing firm in spite of persecution. They did not believe the lies that the enemy had told about Paul, but they still held him in the highest esteem in love.
Paul’s response was to write them this letter. Paul wrote some letters which are not a part of the New Testament (), but the two letters to the Thessalonican church are a part of God’s inspired Word.
This suggests that God’s Word is one of the best tools for establishing new Christians in the faith. “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (, NIV). 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.
The Bible is able to establish us because it is inspired of God (). It is not simply a book of religious ideas or good moral advice; it is the very Word of God. It is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” It has well been said that doctrine tells us what is right, reproof tells us what is not right, correction tells us how to get right, and instruction tells us how to stay right.
First Thessalonians is saturated with Bible doctrines. Every major doctrine of the faith is touched on in these brief chapters. There are dozens of references to God the Father and Jesus Christ, and at least four references to the Holy Spirit (; ; ). In this epistle, Paul dealt with sin and salvation, the doctrine of the church, the work of the ministry, and especially the doctrine of the last things. Since Paul did not remain in Thessalonica very long, it is remarkable that he taught his converts so much.
Dr. R.W. Dale was pastor of Carr’s Lane Congregational Church in England for nearly fifty years. He began a series of sermons on basic Bible doctrine, knowing that his members could not stand firm in their faith if they did not know what they believed or why they believed it. A fellow pastor said to Dr. Dale, “They will never take it.” But Dale replied, “They will have to take it!” And they did, to the strengthening of the church.
When I became a Christian, churches did not have regular follow-up courses for new converts such as we have today. My “follow-up course” was a series of Bible studies from the Book of Hebrews, led by a gifted layman and taught in his living room. Much of what was taught was over my head as a new believer. But what I did learn grounded me in the Word and established me in the faith.
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 (). “Thus saith the Lord!” 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 (; ).
Paul sent them a man, and that man established them in the Word. Paul ministered to them in a third way.
The Word of God and prayer should go together. The Prophet Samuel told the people of Israel, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way” (). Peter said, “But we [the Apostles] will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word” (). Paul had this same emphasis: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God [prayer], and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up” ().
Jesus prayed for His disciples, just as Paul prayed for the Thessalonican Christians, that their faith would not fail (). I ministered for several weeks in Kenya and Zaire, and when I arrived home, I was more convinced than ever that the greatest need of missionaries and national churches is prayer. We must also pray for young Christians here at home. It is not enough to teach them Bible truth; we must also support them in our prayers.
Paul prayed for three specific requests. First, he prayed that their faith might mature (). Paul 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 help bring their faith to maturity. The word translated “perfect” has the meaning of “adjust, equip, furnish.” It is even used for the mending of nets (). Our faith never reaches perfection; there is always need for adjustment and growth. We go “from faith to faith” ().
Abraham is a good illustration of this principle. God called him to the land of Canaan, and when he arrived, he discovered a famine. God permitted that famine so that Abraham’s faith might be tested. Unfortunately, Abraham failed the test and went down to Egypt for help.
Each step of the way, God brought circumstances to bear on Abraham that forced him to trust God and grow in his faith. Faith is like a muscle: it gets stronger with use. Abraham had problems with his worldly nephew, Lot. He also had problems with his wife and her handmaid, Hagar. The ultimate test of faith came when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac.
Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. God tries our faith, not to destroy it, but to develop it. Had Abraham not learned to trust God in the famine, he could never have trusted Him in the other difficulties. Paul prayed that the suffering Christians in Thessalonica might grow in their faith, and God answered his prayer. Paul wrote in his second letter, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren … because that your faith groweth exceedingly” ().
Paul’s second request was that their love might abound (). 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. Some people build walls in times of trial, and shut themselves off. Others build bridges and draw closer to the Lord and His people. This was Paul’s prayer for these believers, and God answered it: “The charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth” ().
Our growing faith in God ought to result in a growing love for others. We are “taught of God to love one another” (), and some of these lessons are best learned in the school of suffering. Joseph suffered for thirteen years because of his brothers’ envy and persecution. Yet he learned to love them in spite of their hatred. The Jewish legalists persecuted Paul from city to city, yet Paul so loved his people that he willingly would have died for them ().
When I counsel young couples in preparation for marriage, I often ask the man: “If your wife became paralyzed three weeks after you were married, do you love her enough to stay with her and care for her?” True love deepens in times of difficulty; shallow romance disappears when difficulties appear.
But true Christian love is shown not only to believers, but also “toward all men” (). We love one another, but we also love the lost and our enemies. Abounding love must not be bound. It must be free to expand and touch all men.
Paul’s third request was for holiness of life (). 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.
Notice that Paul’s prayers for his friends were not careless or occasional. He prayed “night and day”; he prayed “exceedingly” which is the same word translated “exceeding abundantly” in . True prayer is hard work. Epaphras must have learned from Paul how to pray for people: “always laboring fervently … that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” ().
The entire Trinity is involved in this prayer. Paul addressed the Father and Son in . In verse “the Lord” may refer to the Holy Spirit, since “our Lord” at the end of certainly refers to Jesus Christ. If this is so, then this is the only prayer I know of in the New Testament directed to the Holy Spirit. The Bible pattern of prayer is: to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the Sanctifier of the believer, and this is a prayer for holy living, the address is proper.
Paul ended 1 Thessalonians 2 with a reference to the place of the saints at the return of Christ, and he ended this chapter in the same way. He prayed that his converts might stand blameless and holy before God at Christ’s return. Since all believers will be transformed to be like Christ when He returns (), Paul could not be referring to our personal condition in heaven. He was referring to our lives here on earth as they will be reviewed at the Judgment Seat of Christ. We will never face our sins in heaven, for they are remembered against us no more (; ). But our works will be tested, and you cannot separate conduct from character.
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. “And every man that hath this hope in Him [Christ] purifieth himself, even as He is pure” ().
As we review this chapter, we see how important it is to care for new Christians. Leading someone to Christ is not enough. We must also lead him on in the Christian life and help him get established. If he is not established, he will fall when the winds of persecution start to blow. If he cannot stand, he will never learn to walk.
What shall we do? We can be an encouragement and stand at his side as he matures. We can share the Word of God. We can pray. This is what Paul did—and it worked.
Along with jogging, walking has become a popular exercise and outdoor sport. I often see individuals and entire families enjoying a walk in the park or in the forest preserves. When driving on the highway, I sometimes wave to “walking parties” heading for some distant rendezvous.
The Christian life can be compared to a walk. In fact, this is one of Paul’s favorite pictures: “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (); “walk not as other Gentiles walk” (); “walk in love” (); “walk as children of light” ().
The Christian life begins with a step of faith. But that step leads to a walk of faith, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (). Walking suggests progress, and we must make progress in the Christian life (; ). Walking also demands strength, and God has promised, “As thy days, so shall thy strength be” ().
But we must be sure to “walk in the light” for the enemy has put traps and detours to catch us (). Of course, at the end of life’s walk, we will step into the very presence of the Lord. “And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” ().
Paul described a threefold walk for the Christian to follow.
The moral climate in the Roman Empire was not healthy. Immorality was a way of life; and, thanks to slavery, people had the leisure time to indulge in the latest pleasures. The Christian message of holy living was new to that culture, and it was not easy for these young believers to fight the temptations around them. Paul gave four reasons why they should live a holy life and abstain from sensual lusts.
To please God (v. ). Everybody lives to please somebody. Many people live to please themselves. They have no sensitivity to the needs of others. “The soul of a journey,” wrote William Hazlitt, “is liberty, perfect liberty, to think, feel, do just as one pleases.” That advice may work for a vacation but it could never work in the everyday affairs of life. Christians cannot go through life pleasing only themselves ().
We must also be careful when it comes to pleasing others. It is possible to both please others and honor God, but it is also possible to dishonor God. “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (). This had been Paul’s attitude when he ministered in Thessalonica. “Even so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who trieth our hearts” ().
Pleasing God ought to be the major motive of the Christian life. Children should live to please their father. The Holy Spirit works in our lives “both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (). Enoch walked with God, and before God called him to heaven, Enoch “had this testimony, that he pleased God” (). Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him” ().
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. So Jonah sat outside the city of Nineveh angry with everybody, including the Lord! Our obedience should be “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” ().
How do we know what pleases God? How do we know what pleases an earthly father? By listening to him and living with him. 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.
To obey God (vv. ). When he ministered in Thessalonica, Paul gave the believers the commandments of God regarding personal purity. The word commandments is a military term. It refers to orders handed down from superior officers. We are soldiers in God’s army, and we must obey orders. “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer” (, NIV).
In , Paul reminded these new believers that sexual immorality did not please God. God created sex, and He has the authority to govern its use. From the beginning, He established marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman. God created sex both for the continuance of the race and for the pleasure of the marriage partners. “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure” (, NIV). God’s commandments concerning sex are not for the purpose of robbing people of joy, but rather of protecting them that they might not lose their joy. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” builds a wall around marriage that makes the relationship not a prison, but a safe and beautiful garden.
We never have to seek to know the will of God in this matter; He has told us clearly. “Abstain from fornication” is His commandment, and no amount of liberal theology or modern philosophy can alter it. Throughout the Bible, God warns against sexual sin; and these warnings must be heeded. God’s purpose is our sanctification, that we might live separated lives in purity of mind and body.
To glorify God (vv. ). This is the positive side of God’s commandment. Christians are supposed to be different from the unsaved. The Gentiles (unsaved) do not know God; therefore, they live ungodly lives. But we know God, and we are obligated to glorify Him in this world. “God’s plan is to make you holy, and that entails first of all a clean break with sexual immorality” (, PH).
“Possess his vessel” in probably means “control his body,” for our bodies are the vessels of God (see ; ). But it can also mean “learn to live with his own wife,” for the wife is called “the weaker vessel” (). I prefer the first interpretation, for Paul wrote to all Christians, not just the married ones. The Christian who commits sexual sin is sinning against his own body (), and he is robbing God of the glory He should receive through a believer’s way of life.
This explains why God gives such demanding requirements for spiritual leadership in the church (1 Tim. 3). If spiritual leaders cannot rule in their own homes, how can they lead the church? If we glorify God in our bodies, then we can glorify Him in the body which is the church.
To escape the judgment of God (vv. ). God is no respecter of persons; He must deal with His children when they sin (). A church member criticized her pastor because he was preaching against sin in the lives of Christians. “After all,” she said, “sin in the life of a believer is different from sin in the lives of unsaved people.” “Yes,” replied the pastor, “it is worse.”
While it is true that the Christian is not under condemnation (; ), it is also true that he is not free from the harvest of sorrow that comes when we sow to the flesh (). When King David committed adultery, he tried to cover his sin, but God chastened him severely. (Read Pss. 32; 51 to see what he lost during those months.) When David confessed his sins, God forgave him; but God could not change the consequences. David reaped what he sowed, and it was a painful experience for him.
“But I am one of God’s elect!” a Christian may argue. “I belong to Him, and He can never cast me out.” Election is not an excuse for sin—it is an encouragement for holiness. “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (). “But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy” (). The privilege of election also involves responsibilities of obedience (, ).
A holy walk 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.
How does the Spirit of God help us live a clean life, free from sexual impurity? To begin with, He creates holy desires within us so that we have an appetite for God’s pure Word () and not the polluted garbage of the flesh (). Also, He teaches us the Word and helps us to recall God’s promises in times of temptation (; ). As we yield to the Spirit, He empowers us to walk in holiness and not be detoured into the lusts of the world and the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit overcomes the works of the flesh ().
Paul devoted a great deal of space to this theme of sexual purity because it was a critical problem in the church of that day. It is also a critical problem in the church today. For many people, marriage vows are no longer considered sacred, and divorce (even among believers) is no longer governed by the Word of God. There are “gay churches” where homosexuals and lesbians “love one another” and claim to be Christians. Premarital sex and “Christian pornography” are accepted parts of the religious landscape in many places. Yet God has said, “Walk in holiness.”
The transition from holiness to love is not a difficult one. Paul made this transition in his prayer recorded in . 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 ().
There are four basic words for “love” in the Greek language. Eros refers to physical love; it gives us our English word erotic. Eros love does not have to be sinful, but in Paul’s day its main emphasis was sensual. This word is never used in the New Testament. Another word, storge (pronounced STOR-gay), refers to family love, the love of parents for their children. This word is also absent from our New Testament, although a related word is translated “kindly affectioned” in .
The two words most used for love are philia (fil-E-uh) and agape (a-GA-pay). Philia love is the love of deep affection, such as in friendship or even marriage. But agape love is the love God shows toward us. It is not simply a love based on feeling; it is expressed in our wills. Agape love treats others as God would treat them, regardless of feelings or personal preferences.
The word philadelphia is translated “brotherly love.” Because Christians belong to the same family, and have the same Father, they should love one another. In fact, we are “taught of God to love one another.” God the Father taught us to love each other when He gave Christ to die for us on the cross. “We love, because He first loved us” (, NIV). God the Son taught us to love one another when He said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another” (). And the Holy Spirit taught us to love one another when He poured out the love of God in our hearts () when we trusted Christ.
Have you noticed that animals do instinctively what is necessary to keep them alive and safe? Fish do not attend classes to learn how to swim (even though they swim in schools), and birds by nature put out their wings and flap them in order to fly. It is nature that determines action. Because a fish has a fish’s nature, it swims; because a hawk has a hawk’s nature, it flies. And because a Christian has God’s nature (), he loves, because “God is love” ().
Faith, hope, and love had been the distinctive characteristics of the Thessalonican Christians from the beginning (). Timothy had reported the good news of their love (), so Paul was not exhorting them to acquire something they did not already possess. He was encouraging them to get more of what they already enjoyed. You can never have too much Christian love. Paul had prayed that their love might “increase and abound” (); and God answered that prayer (see ).
How does God cause 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 word in that is translated “honestly” in our Authorized Version, carries the meaning of “becomingly, in a seemly way.” It is translated “decently” in , “Let all things be done decently and in order.” The emphasis is on the believer’s witness to those who are outside the Christian fellowship. “Them that are without” is a familiar description of unbelievers.
Christians not only have the obligation to love one another but also to be good testimonies to the people of the world. Paul’s great concern was that the Thessalonican believers earn their own wages and not become freeloaders depending on the support of unbelievers. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (, NIV) seems like a paradox; if you are ambitious, your life will probably not be quiet. But the emphasis is on quietness of mind and heart, the inner peace that enables a man to be sufficient through faith in Christ. Paul did not want the saints running around creating problems as they earned their daily bread.
For the most part, the Greeks despised manual labor. Most of the work was done by slaves. Paul, of course, was a tentmaker; and he was careful in Thessalonica to set the example of hard work (see ; ). Unfortunately, some of the new believers in the church misunderstood the doctrine of Christ’s return and gave up their jobs in order to wait for His coming. This meant that they were supported by other Christians, some of whom may not have had sufficient funds for their own families. It also meant that these fanatical people could not pay their bills, and therefore they lost their testimony with the unsaved merchants.
“My wife is going to have plastic surgery,” a man said to his friend. “I’m taking away all of her credit cards!” How easy it is to purchase things we do not need with money we do not have, and then lose not only our credit, but also our good Christian witness. “If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon [money] who will entrust the true riches to you?” (, NASB) Churches and Christians who defend their orthodoxy but do not pay their bills have no orthodoxy to defend.
“Mind your own business and work with your hands” (, NIV) was what Paul commanded them. Idle people spend their time interfering with the affairs of others and getting themselves and others into trouble. “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies” (, NIV). “But let none of you suffer … as a busybody in other men’s matters” ().
Believers who are about the Father’s business () do not have the time—or desire—to meddle in the affairs of others. Unfortunately, even a Bible class could become an opportunity for gossip (“so that you might pray more intelligently”) and a substitute for true Christian service.
As believers, we must be careful in our relationships with “those that are without.” It requires spiritual grace and wisdom to have contact without contamination and to be different without being judgmental and proud. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without” (). If we lack this spiritual wisdom, we will do more harm than good.
There are several good reasons why Christians should work, not the least of which is to provide for their own families (). If unsaved people have to work to pay their bills, why should Christians be exempt? We also work in order to be able to give to those who have need (); but “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (). Work is not a curse; it is a blessing. God gave Adam work to do in Paradise. It is the toil and sweat of work that belongs to the curse, and not the work itself ( and ).
As we review this section, we see how practical the Christian walk really is. The obedient Christian will have 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.
The pagan world in Paul’s day had no hope of life after death. A typical inscription on a grave demonstrates this fact:
I was not
I became
I am not
I care not
While some of the philosophers, such as Socrates, sought to prove happiness after death, the pagan world had no word of assurance.
The believers in Thessalonica were concerned about their loved ones who had died. What if the Lord should return? Would their deceased loved ones be handicapped in any way? Will those who are alive at His coming have an advantage over the believers who have died? In this paragraph, Paul answered their questions. He based his encouragement and comfort on five fundamental facts.
Revelation: We Have God’s Truth (, )
How can mortal man penetrate beyond the grave and find assurance and peace for his own heart? From Old Testament days till the present, mankind has tried to solve the riddle of death and the afterlife. Philosophers have wrestled with the question of immortality. Spiritists have tried to communicate with those who have gone beyond.
In our modern world, scientists have investigated the experiences of people who claimed to have died and returned to life again. They have also studied occult phenomena, hoping to find a clue to the mystery of life after death.
Paul solved the problem when he wrote, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord” (). We Christians need not wonder about death or life after death, for we have a revelation from God in His Word. Why substitute human speculation for divine revelation?
It is important to note that the revelation concerning death and the afterlife was not given all at one time. Many cults use verses from the Psalms and Ecclesiastes to “prove” their false doctrines. These verses seem to teach that the grave is the end, or that the soul “sleeps” till the resurrection. We must keep in mind that God’s revelation was gradual and progressive, and that it climaxed in the coming of Christ “who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel” (, NASB). We look to Christ and the New Testament for the complete revelation concerning death.
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 Saviour 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.
Return: Christ Is Coming Again ()
We have noted the emphasis on the return of Christ in the Thessalonian letters. Paul related Christ’s return to salvation (), service (), and stability (). In this paragraph, he related it to sorrow, and he showed how the doctrine of Christ’s return can comfort the brokenhearted.
Paul applied the word sleep to those believers who died. Jesus used the same expression (). Paul was careful to state that Jesus died; the word sleep is not applied to His experience. It is because He died that we need not fear death.
However, Paul did not say that the soul went to sleep at death. He made it clear that the soul of the believer went to be with the Lord: “them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (). He cannot bring them when He returns unless they are with Him. It is not the soul that sleeps; it is the body. The Bible definition of death is given in —“For as the body without the spirit is dead.” At death, the spirit leaves the body, and the body goes to sleep and no longer functions. The soul-spirit goes to be with the Lord, if the person has trusted Jesus Christ. “Absent from the body, and … present with the Lord” ().
The fact of our Lord’s return is comfort to us in bereavement, because we know that He will bring with Him His people who have “died in the Lord.” I recall stating to a friend, “I hear you lost your wife. I’m very sorry.” He replied, “No, I didn’t lose her. You can’t lose something when you know where it is—and I know where she is!” On the authority of the Word of God, we also know what will happen: Jesus Christ will one day return and bring His people with Him.
When will this event occur? Nobody knows, and it is wrong to set dates. The fact that Paul used the pronoun we in , suggests that he expected to be alive when the Lord returned. Theologians call this the doctrine of the imminent return of Christ. Imminent means that it can happen at any moment. As Christians, we do not look for signs, nor must any special events transpire before the Lord can return. These great events will take place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” ().
Jesus Christ will return in the air, and this is where we shall meet Him (). Suddenly, millions of people will vanish! One summer a church camp staff staged an elaborate “rapture” while the camp director was off the grounds. When he returned, everybody was missing, clothing was on the ground as though people had “passed through” it, a motorboat was circling on the lake without pilot or passengers, and everything in the kitchen was functioning without a cook. A carefully timed phone call from town (“Hey, what’s happening? Everybody’s missing over here!”) only added to the effect. “I’ve got to admit,” said the director, “it really shook me for a minute.” Just think of what effect this event will have on a lost world!
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.
Resurrection: The Christian Dead Will Rise ()
When Paul preached the doctrine of the resurrection to the Athenian philosophers, most of them mocked him (). To the Greeks, being rid of the body was their great hope. Why would any man want to have his body resurrected? Furthermore, how could his body be resurrected, when the elements of the body would decay and become a part of the earth? To them, the doctrine of resurrection was foolish and impossible.
When Jesus Christ returns in the air, He will issue the “shout of command” and the “dead in Christ shall rise first” (). This does not mean that He will put the elements of the body together again, for resurrection is not “reconstruction.” Paul argued for the resurrection in . He pointed out that the resurrection of the human body is like the growing of a plant from a seed. The flower is not the identical seed that was planted, yet there is continuity from seed to plant. Christians shall receive glorified bodies, like the glorified body of Christ (; ). The dead body is the “seed” that is planted in the ground; the resurrection body is the “flower” that comes from that seed.
Passages like and indicate that there are two resurrections in the future. When Jesus Christ returns in the air, He will call to Himself only those who are saved through faith in Him. This is called “the first resurrection” or “the resurrection of life.” At the end of time, just before God ushers in the new heaven and earth, there will be another resurrection. This is called “the second resurrection” or “the resurrection of judgment.” Between these two events, I believe that the Tribulation on earth and the 1,000-year-kingdom will occur.
In Paul’s day, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, but the Sadducees did not (). Jesus taught the doctrine of the resurrection and silenced the Sadducees (). The Old Testament Scriptures taught this doctrine (; ; ; ). The fact that Jesus arose from the dead proves that there is a resurrection.
Three unique sounds will be involved in this event: the Lord’s shout, the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of the archangel. Jesus Christ will give “a shout of command,” just as He did outside the tomb of Lazarus (). Those “in the graves shall hear His voice” ().
also relates His return to the sound of a trumpet. The Jewish people were familiar with trumpets, because trumpets were used to declare war, to announce special times and seasons, and to gather the people for a journey (see Num. 10). In the Roman Empire, trumpets were used to announce the arrival of a great person. When God gave the Law to Israel, the event was preceded by a trumpet blast ().
Why “the voice of the archangel”? The only archangel who is named in the Bible is Michael (), who apparently has a special ministry to Israel (; ) According to , there is more than one archangel; so we cannot be sure that it will be Michael’s voice. At any rate, the angelic hosts will share in the victory shout when Jesus Christ comes.
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 leads us to the fourth fact that gives us comfort and assurance in the face of death.
Rapture: Living Believers Caught Up ()
The word rapture is not used in this section, but that is the literal meaning of “caught up.” The Latin word rapto means “to seize, to carry off”; and from it we get our English word “rapture.”
I once heard the Greek scholar, Dr. Kenneth S. Wuest, preach on this passage and explain the various meanings of the Greek word that is translated “caught up” in . Each of these meanings adds a special truth to the doctrine of our Lord’s return.
“To catch away speedily.” This is the translation in , where the Spirit “caught away Philip” after he had led the Ethiopian to Christ. When the Lord returns in the air, we who are alive will be caught away quickly, in the twinkling of an eye. This means we should live each moment in the expectation of our Lord’s return, lest He come and find us out of His will ().
“To seize by force.” See . Does this suggest that Satan and his armies will try to keep us from leaving the earth? I trust it does not suggest that some of the saints will be so attached to the world that they must literally be dragged away. Like Lot being delivered from Sodom, they will be scarcely saved ().
“To claim for one’s own self.” This views the Rapture from our Lord’s point of view as He comes to claim His bride.
“To move to a new place.” Paul used this word when he described his visit to heaven (). Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a home for us (), and when He comes, He will take us to that glorious place. We are pilgrims and strangers in this world. Our true citizenship is in heaven ().
“To rescue from danger.” See . This suggests that the church will be taken home before the time of Tribulation that will come to the world from God. ; seem to state this clearly.
Will the unsaved world be aware of what is happening? Will they hear the shout, the voice, and the trumpet? indicates that this will happen so suddenly that it will be over in the twinkling of an eye. Since the shout, voice, and trumpet apply to God’s people, there is no reason to believe that the unsaved masses will hear them. If they do, they will hear sounds without meanings (see ). Millions of people will vanish instantly, and no doubt there will be chaos and great concern. Except for those who know the Bible teaching, the world will wonder at what has happened.
Reunion: Christians Forever with the Lord ()
You and I shall meet the Lord in the air, in person, when He comes for us. The Greek word translated “meet” carries the idea of meeting a royal person or an important person. We have walked with Christ by faith here on earth, but in the air we shall “see Him as He is” and become like Him (). What a meeting that will be!
It will be a glorious meeting, because we shall have glorified bodies. When He was here on earth, Jesus prayed that we might one day see His glory and share in it (). The suffering that we endure today will be transformed into glory when He returns (; ).
It will be an everlasting meeting, for we shall be “forever with the Lord.” This was His promise: “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (). The goal of redemption is not just to rescue us from judgment, but to relate us to Christ.
Our meeting with the Lord will also be a time of reckoning. This is called “the Judgment Seat of Christ” (; ). The Greek word bema, which is translated “judgment seat,” referred to the place where the Olympic judges awarded crowns to the winners. Our works will be judged and rewards will be given ().
The Judgment Seat of Christ must not be confused with the White Throne Judgment described in . You may contrast these two important events as follows:
Judgment Seat of Christ
White Throne Judgment
Only believers
Only unbelievers
Immediately after the Rapture
After the thousand year kingdom
Determines rewards for service
Determines amount of judgment
We will not only meet our Lord Jesus Christ at the Rapture, but will also be reunited with our believing friends and loved ones who have died. “Together with them” is a great statement of encouragement. Death is the great separator, but Jesus Christ is the great Reconciler.
The Bible does not reveal all the details of this reunion. When Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead, He tenderly “delivered him to his mother” (). This suggests that our Lord will have the happy ministry of reuniting broken families and friendships.
On the Mount of Transfiguration, the three disciples knew and recognized Moses and Elijah (). Certainly, the saints will know each other in glory, including believers we have never met. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” ().
In the next chapter, we will see how Paul related this doctrine of the return of Christ to the unsaved. But it would be good for us now to examine our own hearts to see if we are ready to meet the Lord. One mark of a true Christian is his eager looking for the coming of Jesus Christ (). As we grow in the Lord, we not only look for His appearing, but we love His appearing (). Because we have this hope in Him, we keep our lives pure so that we may not be ashamed at His coming (1 John 2:28–3:3).
Robert Murray McCheyne, the godly Presbyterian preacher, used to ask people: “Do you think Jesus Christ will return today?” Most of them would reply, “No, not today.” Then McCheyne would say, “Then, my friend, you had better be ready; for He is coming at such an hour as ye think not” ().
Death is a fact of life. The only way we can escape death is to be alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Death is not an accident; it is an appointment: “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (). If you should die today, where would your soul go?
I once saw a quaint inscription on a gravestone in an old British cemetery not far from Windsor Castle. It read:
Pause, my friend, as you walk by;
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be.
Prepare, my friend, to follow me!
I heard about a visitor who read that epitaph and added these lines:
To follow you is not my intent,
Until I know which way you went!
We Christians have wonderful assurance and hope, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His promised return.
Do you have that hope today?
Which way are you going?
Jesus Christ both unites and divides. Those who have trusted Him as Saviour are united in Christ as God’s children. We are members of His body and “all one in Christ Jesus” (). When Jesus Christ returns in the air, we shall be “caught up together” () never to be separated again.
But Christ is also a divider. “So there was a division among the people because of Him” (; ; ). Faith in Jesus Christ not only unites us to other believers; it also separates us spiritually from the rest of the world. Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (). There is a difference between believers who are looking for the Lord’s return and the people of the world; it is this theme that Paul developed in this section.
His purpose was to encourage the believers to live holy lives in the midst of their pagan surroundings. He did this by pointing out the contrasts between believers and unbelievers.
Three phrases in these verses need careful consideration.
“Times and seasons.” This phrase is found only three times in the Bible, and refers primarily to God’s plans for Israel. This is the way Daniel stated it when God gave him understanding of the king’s dream (). Our Lord’s use of the phrase in indicates that times and seasons relate primarily to Israel.
God has a definite plan for the nations of the world (), and Israel is the key nation. Dr. A.T. Pierson used to say, “History is His story.” (Quite a contrast to Napoleon’s definition: “History is a set of lies agreed upon.”) God has ordained times and seasons for the nations on earth, particularly Israel; and all of this will culminate in a terrible time called “the Day of the Lord.”
“The Day of the Lord.” 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. Read ; ; ; and for a description of this great period.
Another term for this period is “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (). Many prophetic students also call it the Tribulation and point to Revelation 6–19 as the Scripture that most vividly describes this event.
“Thief in the night.” Our Lord used this image in His own teaching (; ). It describes the suddenness and the surprise involved in the coming of the Day of the Lord. In ; , He used this image to warn believers not to be caught napping. Since we do not know when the Lord will return for His people, we must live in a constant attitude of watching and waiting, while we are busy working and witnessing.
Now we can put these three concepts together and discover what Paul wanted to teach his troubled friends in Thessalonica. He had already told them about the coming of Christ for the church, the event described in . He had told them that there would be a period of intense suffering and Tribulation on the earth following this Rapture of the church. These “times and seasons” that relate to Israel and the nations do not apply to the church or affect the truth of the Lord’s coming for the church. He may come at any time, and this will usher in the Day of the Lord.
Paul explained more about the Day of the Lord in his second letter to the Thessalonians, so we will save these details for a later chapter. His emphasis here was simply that the believers were “in the know” while the unbelievers were living in ignorance of God’s plan. The suddenness of these events will reveal to the world its ignorance of divine truth.
The unsaved world will be enjoying a time of false peace and security just before these cataclysmic events occur. Note carefully the contrast between “they” and “you” (or “us”) throughout this entire section, “they” referring to the unsaved. They will say, “Peace and safety!” but we will say, “Jesus is coming, and judgment is coming!”
The world is caught by surprise because men will not hear God’s Word or heed God’s warning. God warned that the Flood was coming, yet only eight people believed and were saved (). Lot warned his family that the city would be destroyed, but they would not listen (). Jesus warned His generation that Jerusalem would be destroyed (), and this warning enabled believers to escape; but many others perished in the siege.
In fact, Jesus used the Flood and the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah as examples (; ). People in those days were going about their regular daily activities—eating, drinking, getting married—and never considering that judgment was around the corner.
Well-meaning people have tried to set dates for our Lord’s return, only to be embarrassed by their failures. However, it is possible to expect His coming without setting a specific time. No “signs” must be fulfilled before He can return for His church.
Christians are “sons of the light” and therefore are not “in the dark” when it comes to future events. Unbelievers ridicule the idea of Christ’s return. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’ ” ()
Nearly twenty centuries have come and gone since our Lord gave the promise of His return, and He has not returned yet. This does not mean that God does not keep His promises. It simply means that God does not follow our calendar. “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” ().
Paul compared the coming judgment to “travail upon a woman with child” (). Even with our modern medical skills, birth pangs are very real and very painful. They accompany the muscle contractions that enable the mother to give birth to the baby. The Prophet Isaiah used this same picture when he described the coming “Day of the Lord” (). The early part of this Day of the Lord was called “the beginning of sorrows” by the Lord Jesus (); and the Greek word translated “sorrows” actually means “birth pangs.”
What truth do Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul teach us? The truth that out of the Day of the Lord will come the birth of the kingdom. When God’s judgments are finished, God’s Son will return “with power and great glory” (). Paul described this event in his second Letter to the Thessalonian Christians.
Live expectantly. This 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.”
There is a difference between being ready to go to heaven and being ready to meet the Lord. Anyone who has sincerely trusted Christ for salvation is ready to go to heaven. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross has taken care of that. But to be ready to meet the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ is quite another matter. Scripture indicates that some believers will not be happy to see Jesus Christ! “And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” ().
Having been a pastor for many years, I have had the sad experience of seeing believers deliberately disobey the Word of God. I recall one young lady who stubbornly chose to marry an unsaved man. When I tried to help her from the Bible, she said, “I don’t care what you say. I don’t care what the Bible says. I’m going to get married!” In the light of , will she be happy at the Judgment Seat of Christ?
Believers who live in the expectation of the Lord’s return will certainly enjoy a better life than Christians who compromise with the world. At the end of each chapter in this letter, Paul pointed out the practical results of living expectantly. Take time now to review those verses and to examine your heart.
To be sober-minded means to be alert, to live with your eyes open, to be sane and steady. To make the contrast more vivid, Paul pictured two groups of people: one group was drunk and asleep, while the other group was awake and alert. Danger was coming, but the drunken sleepers were unaware of it. The alert crowd was ready and unafraid.
Since we are “sons of the day” we should not live as those who belong to the darkness. “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering [immorality] and wantonness [indecency], not in strife and envying” ().
In other words, because “the day” is approaching, it is time to wake up, clean up, and dress up. And when we dress up, we had better put on “the breastplate of faith and love: and for a helmet, the hope of salvation” (). Only the “armor of light” () will adequately protect us in these last days before our Lord returns.
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. Outlook determines outcome; and when your outlook is the uplook, then your outcome is secure.
But the unsaved people of the world are not alert. They are like drunken men, living in a false paradise and enjoying a false security. When the Holy Spirit filled the first Christians at Pentecost, the unsaved people accused the Christians of being drunk (). In reality, it is the unsaved who are living like drunken men. The sword of God’s wrath hangs over the world; yet people live godless lives, empty lives, and rarely if ever give any thought to eternal matters.
We have met faith, hope, and love before (). Here they are described as armor to protect us in this evil world. Faith and love are like a breastplate that covers the heart: faith toward God, and love toward God’s people. Hope is a sturdy helmet that protects the mind. The unsaved fix their minds on the things of this world, while dedicated believers set their attention on things above ().
Hope of salvation does not mean the hope that at last we will be saved. A person can know today that he is saved and going to heaven. Paul knew that the Thessalonican believers were saved (), and he was certain that he and they would meet Christ in the air (). The person who confidently says, “I know I am saved!” is not exhibiting pride; he is demonstrating faith in God’s Word. First John was written to help us know that we are saved ().
Hope of salvation means “the hope that salvation gives to us.” There are actually three tenses to salvation: (1) past—I have been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin; (2) present—I am being saved from the power and pollution of sin; (3) future—I shall be saved from the very presence of sin when Christ returns. The blessed hope of our Lord’s return is the “hope of salvation.” Unsaved people are without hope (). This helps explain why they live as they do: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!”
Paul repeated the word sleep several times in these verses to describe the attitude of the lost world. In the previous paragraph () Paul used the word to describe the death of the believer. The body goes to sleep and the spirit goes to be with the Lord. But in this section, sleep does not mean death. It means moral indifference and carelessness about spiritual things. Jesus used the word sleep with this meaning in .
Doctors tell us that some people are “morning people” while others are “evening people.” That is, some people are wide awake before the alarm clock rings. They hit the floor running, and never have to yawn or throw cold water in their faces. Others (like myself) wake up slowly—first one eye, then the other—and then gradually shift gears as they move into the day. When it comes to the return of our Lord, we must all be “morning people”—awake, alert, sober, and ready for the dawning of that wonderful new day.
But, for the unsaved crowd, reveling in its drunkenness, the coming of Jesus Christ will mean the end of light and the beginning of eternal darkness.
Believers do not have to fear future judgment because it is not part of God’s appointed plan for us. Will Christians go through the Day of the Lord, that awful period of judgment that God will send on the earth? I think not, and verses like ; seem to support this. Christians have always gone through tribulation, since this is a part of dedicated Christian living (; ). But they will not go through the Tribulation that is appointed for the godless world.
I realize that good and godly students of the Word disagree on this matter, and I will not make it a test of fellowship or spirituality. But I do believe that the church will be raptured to heaven prior to the Tribulation period. Let me share the reasons that have convinced me.
The nature of the church. The church is the body of Christ, and He is the Head (). When He died for us on the cross, He bore for us all the divine judgment necessary for our salvation. He has promised that we shall never taste any of God’s wrath (). The Day of the Lord is a day of God’s wrath, and it seems unjust and unnecessary that the church should experience it.
The nature of the Tribulation. This is the time when God will judge the Gentile nations and also purge Israel and prepare her for the coming of her Messiah. The “earth-dwellers” will taste of God’s wrath () and not those whose citizenship is in heaven (). God will judge the earth-dwellers for their iniquity (). But He has already judged believers’ sins on the cross.
The promise of Christ’s imminent return. The word imminent means “ready to happen.” Nothing has to occur for Christ to return, except the calling out of the last person who will be saved and complete the body of Christ. If our Lord did not return for us until the end of the Tribulation period, then we would know when He was coming; for the sequence, signs, and times are all spelled out in Revelation 6–19. It is worth noting that the word church is not used in Revelation from to . Also notice that Paul lived in the expectation of seeing Christ, for he used the pronouns we and us in discussing this doctrine (1 Thes. 4:13–5:11). The Apostle John had this same attitude. He closed his book with the prayer, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” ().
The course of the seven churches in Revelation 2–3. Many Bible students believe the Lord selected these seven churches to illustrate the spiritual course of church history. Ephesus would be the church of the Apostles; Smyrna would be the persecuted church of the early centuries. The last church, Laodicea, represents the apostate church of the last days.
This suggests that the Philadelphia church () pictures the weak but faithful church of the period just before Christ returns. It is an evangelistic church with great opportunities and open doors. It is the church that proclaims the soon-coming of Christ (“Thou has kept the word of My patience,” ), and to it He has promised deliverance from the day of judgment: “I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (). This promise parallels the promise of .
The order of events in 2 Thessalonians 2. Notice that the order Paul uses harmonizes with the order indicated in other prophetic Scriptures.
Paul connected the return of Christ with the redemption He purchased for us on the cross. We are “bought with a price.” We are His bride, and He will come to claim us for Himself before He sends judgment on the earth. Remember that Christ died for us that we might live through Him (), for Him (), and with Him (). Whether we live or die (“wake or sleep”), we are the Lord’s and we shall live with Him.
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 clean () and to do faithfully whatever work He has assigned to us (). It also encourages us to attend church and love the brethren (). Knowing that we shall be with the Lord strengthens us in the difficulties of life () and motivates us to win the lost ().
Many believers have such a comfortable situation here on earth that they rarely think about going to heaven and meeting the Lord. They forget that they must one day stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. It helps to hold us up and build us up when we recall that Jesus is coming again.
If you have never trusted Him, then your future is judgment. You needn’t be ignorant, for God’s Word gives you the truth. You needn’t be unprepared, for today you can trust Christ and be born again. Why should you live for the cheap sinful experiences of the world when you can enjoy the riches of salvation in Christ?
If you are not saved, then you have an appointment with judgment. And it may come sooner than you expect, for it is “appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (). Why not make an “appointment” with Christ, meet Him personally, and trust Him to save you? “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” ().
Paul’s favorite name for believers was brethren. He used it at least sixty times in his letters; and in the two Thessalonian Epistles, he used it twenty-seven times. Paul saw the local church as a family. Each member was born again by the Spirit of God and possessed God’s nature (; ). They all were part of God’s family.
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.
What are the essentials for a happy, thriving church family? How can we make our local churches more spiritual to the glory of God? In this closing section, Paul discussed these matters.
Without leadership, a family falls apart. The father is the head of the home; the mother stands with him in love and cooperation. The children are to obey their parents. This is the order God has laid down, and for us to disturb this order is to ask for serious trouble.
According to Martin L. Gross in his book, The Psychological Society, more than 60,000 guidance workers and 7,000 school psychologists work in our American public education system; and many of them function as substitute parents. Many students need counseling, but no professional worker can take the place of a loving, faithful father or mother.
When our oldest son entered high school, he met his assigned counselor. “Now, if you have any problems, feel free to come to me,” the counselor said. Our son replied, “If I have any problems, I’ll talk to my father!” He was not being disrespectful or unappreciative of the counselor, but he was giving expression of a basic principle: children need the leadership and guidance that only parents can give.
God has ordained leadership for the local church. It is true that we are “all one in Christ Jesus” (); but it is also true that the Head of the church has given gifts to people, and then given these people to the churches to exercise His will (). Just as the flock needs a shepherd (), so the family needs a leader.
What responsibilities do the brethren have toward their spiritual leaders?
Accept them. They are God’s gifts to the church. They have spiritual authority from the Lord and we should accept them in the Lord. They are not dictators, but leaders and examples. As they follow the Lord, we must follow them.
Appreciate them. That is the meaning of the exhortation “know them who labor among you” (). There is nothing wrong with honoring faithful servants of God, so long as God gets the glory. Spiritual leadership is a great responsibility and a difficult task. It is not easy to serve as a pastor, elder, deacon, or other spiritual leader. The battles and burdens are many, and sometimes the encouragements are few. It is dangerous when a church family takes their leaders for granted and fails to pray for them, work with them, and encourage them.
Love them. As brothers, the leaders are “among us”; and as leaders, they are “over us in the Lord.” This could be a very strained relationship apart from true Christian love. For a pastor to be “among” and “over” at the same time demands grace and the power of the Spirit. If he gets out of balance, his ministry will be weakened and possibly destroyed. Some church members want their pastor to be a buddy, but this weakens his authority. On the other hand, if he emphasizes only his authority, he could become a selfish dictator.
Obey them. “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves” (). When God’s servant, led by God’s Spirit, calls us to obey God’s Word, then we must obey. This does not mean that every spiritual leader is always right in everything. Abraham, Moses, David, and even Peter made mistakes in their words and deeds. A wise pastor knows he is made of clay and admits when he is wrong or when he needs expert counsel. In my own ministry, I have benefited tremendously from the counsel and help of experienced laymen whose knowledge in many areas was far greater than mine.
But, 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: “And be at peace among yourselves” (). Whenever you find division and dissension in a local church, it is usually because of selfishness and sin on the part of the leaders, or the members, or both. makes it clear that selfishness on the inside leads to strife on the outside. It is only as we submit to one another in the Lord that we can enjoy His blessing, and peace in the family.
But the leaders alone cannot do all of the work of the ministry; so Paul added a second essential.
In recent years, churches have rediscovered what we are calling “body-life.” This is a scriptural concept, though it does not define all that is involved in the ministry of the local church, since there are other pictures of the church besides that of the body. Body-life refers to the ministry of each Christian to the others, just as the various members of the human body minister to one another to maintain health and life.
Family members must learn to minister to each other. The older members teach the younger members (see ) and encourage them when they are in difficulty. While ministering at a summer Bible conference, my wife and I met a lovely Christian couple who had nine children. It was a delight to see how the older children helped the younger ones, and how the parents were relieved of minor tasks and able to enjoy their leisure time.
According to , the spiritual leaders in the church are supposed to equip the members to do the work of the ministry. In most churches, the members pay the leaders to do the work of the ministry; and the leaders cannot do it all. Consequently, the work begins to weaken and die, and everybody blames the preacher.
Paul named some special family members who need personal help.
The unruly (v. ). This word means “careless, out of line.” It was applied to a soldier who would not keep rank but insisted on marching his own way. While the loving atmosphere of the family encourages individual development, there are some things we all must do in the same way. If we do not have rules and standards in the family, we have chaos. Paul dealt with this problem again when he wrote his second Epistle to the Thessalonians (, ), so apparently this first admonition did not impress them.
Rules and traditions in a family must never be so overemphasized that creativity is stifled. As a parent, it is a joy to see each child blossom out with his or her own personality, talents, and ambitions. But it is a sorrow to see a child rebel against the rules, abandon the traditions and standards, and think that this kind of lifestyle shows freedom and maturity. This kind of attitude in the church family causes arguments and splits.
The feebleminded (v. ). This term has nothing to do with mentality. The literal translation of the Greek word is “little-souled, fainthearted.” These are the quitters in the church family. They always look on the dark side of things and give up when the going is tough. In families where there are three or more children, usually one of them is a quitter. Every church family has its share of quitters too.
These people need to be encouraged, which is the meaning of the word translated “comfort” in the King James Version. It is also found in . The Greek word is made up of two words: para, near; and muthos, speech. Instead of scolding the fainthearted from a distance, we must get close to them and speak tenderly. We must teach the “little-souled” that the trials of life will help to enlarge them and make them stronger in the faith.
The weak (v. ). “Hold fast to the weak!” is the literal translation. “Don’t let them fall!” But who are these weak believers? Certainly, Paul did not mean people who were weak physically, since he was dealing with the spiritual ministry in the church. No, he was referring to those who were “weak in the faith” and had not grown strong in the Lord (Rom. 14:1–15:3).
Usually, the weak Christians were afraid of their liberty in Christ. They lived by rules and regulations. In the Roman assemblies, the weak Christians would not eat meat, and they held to the Jewish system of holy days. They were severe in their judgment of the mature saints who enjoyed all foods and all days.
We have the strong and the weak in our church families today, just as in our natural families we have children who mature faster than others. How should we handle them? With patient, reassuring love. It is unfair and unwise to compare one child with another, for each one matures in his own time and his own way. We must “take hold” of these weaker believers and help them stand and walk in the Lord.
This kind of personal ministry is not easy, and so Paul added some wise counsel to encourage us.
Be patient (v. ). It takes patience to raise a family. That weaker member who demands much help may one day be a choice leader, so never give up. A pastor friend and I were chatting after I had spoken at a service in his church, when a red-headed boy about ten years old came running past us, heading up the center aisle. “Have you ever noticed,” remarked my friend, “that the biggest scamps in the Sunday School usually turn out to be pastors or missionaries?” Patience!
Watch your motives (v. ). Often as we minister to others, they reject us and even oppose us. Often they show no appreciation. But we should always serve in love, and be ready to forgive. “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (, NASB).
If your motive is a desire for appreciation and praise, you may be disappointed. If your motive is “ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (), you will never be disappointed.
Be joyful (v. ). Joy takes the burden out of service. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (). God loves a cheerful servant as well as a cheerful giver. Every church family has its Doubting Thomas or its Gloomy Gus. To see them and listen to them is like witnessing an autopsy, or diving into a cold lake on a winter’s day. God wants His family to be happy, and that means that each member must contribute to the joy.
The four spiritual characteristics Paul mentioned are part of the fruit of the Spirit named in —love (), joy (), peace (), and long-suffering (). We cannot manufacture these spiritual qualities; they only come as we yield to the Spirit and permit Him to control us.
Family partnership is vital to the health and growth of the church. Are you bearing your share of the burdens, or are you merely a spectator who watches the others do the job?