Welcome to 1st & 2nd Thessalonians

Understand the Context (1 Thess 1:1-10) 

The context for the opening study in 1 Thessalonians is, in fact, the history of the founding of the church.  It was 50-51 AD when Paul’s Second Missionary Journey took him to the province of Macedonia (Acts 17).  Thessalonica was the largest city in Macedonia in Paul’s days, and it was the capital city of the Province of Macedonia.  The leadership team for this journey was made up of Paul, Silas and Timothy.  The Apostle Paul was the leader.  Silas joined the team in place of Barnabas who was with Paul on the First Missionary Journey but left the team before the mission was completed.  Timothy was a fairly recent convert to Christianity through Paul’s earlier ministry and was being discipled on this trip.  The combination of these three was highly motivated, evangelistically energized team dedicated to advancing the cause of Jesus Christ despite any opposition they might find in the mission field.

The team’s arrival at the synagogue in Thessalonica is documented in Acts 17.  The whole mission of the trip was designed to plant new Christian churches across Asia Minor.  With Thessalonica being a “free” Roman city, it had a combined culture of many gods and a sizable devout Jewish synagogue.  Paul’s standard mode of operation was to enter target cities and towns and begin preaching Christ in the local synagogues.  It is clear that the synagogues preached the Torah (first fives Books of the Bible), and therefore, were earlier schooled in the concept of a promised Messiah.  As Paul learned first-hand on his way to Damascus, Jesus of Nazareth is, in fact, that Messiah (Acts 9).  The largest city in Macedonia was expected to have a large, flourishing synagogue to practice Paul’s approach.  While many of the devout Jews accepted Christ, some did not.  It was the latter who demanded action against Paul, and eventually instigated threats against him, forcing the team to make in a quick escape to Berea.  Paul wanted to follow up with the new converts but threats against him forbade that.  Paul would send this letter very soon after he left Thessalonica to substitute for that personal follow up.  The letter was written during the missionary journey becoming one of the earliest of Paul’s letters.  It came at a time when it was the only source of Christian encouragement the new converts had.

Partnership (1 Thess 1:1) 

While this section is comprised of comments on only one verse, that verse is packed with important information.  First, the list of the team of leaders for this missionary journey was an adjusted team from Paul’s First Missionary Journey.  Paul and his recent convert to Christianity, Timothy, formed the strength of the evangelistic thrust of the team.  Silas was also a seasoned evangelist but was a replacement for Barnabas who failed to complete Paul’s earlier trip.  Paul wanted a team he could rely on staying focused regardless of the trials.  This team had that kind of faith.  They were, in fact, the “we” of 1 Thessalonians. 

Notice at the very beginning of the letter, Paul addresses the “church” at Thessalonica, not the synagogue.  Regardless of how quickly Paul and his seasoned team were escorted away from the city, there were sufficient numbers and strength in the faith to band together to establish a church in Jesus Christ.   

A strong part of Paul’s standard for how to disciple new converts was his personal follow up to help them get well-grounded in the faith.  The hasty departure required by the crowd of Devout, yet jealous, Jews denied Paul of that opportunity.  So, he decided to write his first letter to the Thessalonian church as soon as possible and to include as much basic Christian doctrine as possible.  He also understood that Satan would be at work trying to pull these new believers out of faith, so they would need some very strong words of encouragement to counteract that work.  Paul moved forward for the rest of the trip and cause several more, new churches to be planted.  But, his mind and heart were on making sure that these tender souls left behind at Thessalonica were cared for and discipled in Jesus Christ just as well if he was allowed to remain. 

This speaks to an attitude many evangelists almost automatically fall into, i.e., they must recognize that the job of evangelism is not completed until justification is joined by sanctification and glorification.  This is, leading a person to Jesus Christ without following up with them is just as serious a mistake as giving birth to a child and not leading and nurturing the child through childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, adulthood and the senior years as God permits.  This was certainly Paul’s intent when he wrote, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).  Birthing a child, or a new believer in Jesus Christ, comes with the responsibility of “nurture and admonition.”   

Evidence (1 Thess 1:2-5a) 

Paul’s first words to the new church were geared toward him being present with them in the spirit just as if he was in the same room with them.  Paul thanks God for all of them and prays for them personally and by name.  He was shown and has heard of the evidence of their conversions, and he will never forget their “work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 1:3).  These characteristics of their faith are the required pieces of evidence that all evangelists must look for in new converts to the faith before they rest in the peace of their sincere converts to Christ.  Notice also, the comma after the word “Christ” in this verse.  Not only was this evidence given to us as evangelists, but also “in the sight of God and our Father.”  That is, the evidence was presented to Father God as well.  It is of crucial importance that no evangelist make the mistake of presenting the Gospel of Christ and believing the work is done because God knows the hearts of the convert.  No, the convert must be helped to present that evidence of their conversion to others as a part of their initial walk with the Lord.  Many of us call the presenting of our evidence of faith in Jesus Christ, a testimony.  The convert must know that his or her short testimony must be shared with others.  In fact, the first Christian activity after receiving Christ must be to confess Him publicly.  Recall Paul’s admonition that all who believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths the Lord Jesus, shall be saved” (Rom 10:9-11).  

The whole passage says, “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, ‘Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed’” (Rom 10:9-11).  At the point of providing that testimony to the gathered church, it is one’s public testimony and, when spoken in front of the church, starts the new convert down the path of scriptural baptism and church membership.  

Continued...

Evidence (1 Thess 1:2-5a, Cont.) 

I say “scriptural baptism” because many denominations forget that baptism came from the Jewish practice of Mikvah,  If you were to visit any sizable synagogue, you would find they still have a Mikvah Pool inside and, while mainly used for symbolic cleaning of practitioners, it is also used for receiving converts into the Jewish faith (do a word search on “strangers among us” in the Bible to see how frequently Gentiles were addressed in the Hebrew faith).  When a convert surrendered to the whole law of the Torah, he or she would provide that evidence to the rabbi at a separate time and be schedule for Mikvah.  Once in the pool (typically between waist and chest deep in water) the rabbi would ask for a short public statement in response to his question about whether the candidate had accepted the tenants of the Law.  The candidate would say, “yes” and be immersed in the pool as a Gentile who was dead and being buried (Rom 6:3-4).  The candidate is then raised up out of the water as a living Jew.  The water did not do the conversion but is used as a symbol of the death of the old person, their burial and the raising of a Jew instead of a Gentile.  In our New Testament context, the candidate is raised as a new person in Christ.  Public confession of one’s conversion experience and scriptural baptism are requirements for membership in most churches. 

The next doctrinal statement in this passage is short, but has much discussion in Christian churches, “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God” (1 Thess 1:4).  The word “election” here is the Greek word ekloge which means selected or chosen.  It means that God has selected or chosen us to be born again in Jesus Christ.  Some take that to mean that God chose each specific person to be born again or forever condemned before that person was born.  A correct interpretation is that God has chosen all of us to be born again and is not willing that anyone should be lost or left behind (1 Tim 2:3-4 & 2 Peter 3:9).  Only those who reject God will enter into eternal condemnation.   

Verse 1:5a is the last statement of this quotation.  It says, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and much assurance.”  This means simply that the experience of hearing and accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ as truth, and being born again because of that acceptance, was a supernatural experience.  Paul tells us in Romans 1:18-20, “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”  So, the knowledge of God’s existence and Jesus Christ as His Son is something that is delivered to us through everything in life we see or experience.  God will typically send a person to explain that Gospel, but the Word from God is delivered all around us.  We naturally want to know more about it, so God will send a person into our lives to do that.  But the truth of God is something that drives a person to want to hear more.  That results in a person being sent, and that results in God delivering that Gospel to every human being in existence.  “He is not willing that any should perish.”  This knowledge is also the assurance that God has certainly cared and saved us. 

Influence (1 Thess 1:5b-8) 

Here, Paul begins to explain that he and his missionary team were sent to Thessalonica for the purpose of reaching each person in that city for Jesus Christ.  It was this team who was sent by God (that is, “called according to His purpose”) to come because of God’s great love and desire to have each person become His child.  John 1:11-12 says, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”  So, God wanted them as His children and sent Paul and his team on this missionary journey to find each person and introduce him or her to His Son, Jesus of Nazareth, so they could be born again and live forever with the One who created them.  It was “for their sake.”

In verse 6, Paul speaks of how the Thessalonian believers became followers of the team members and of the Lord.  Many times, when people are drawn to members of a ministry team, it is because God causes that attraction to enable the productive speaking of the Gospel.  In truth, we are not followers of people, we are followers of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus.  Nevertheless, we are driven by our senses to listen to some people and reject others.  The voice inside us tells us which ones we can trust; the problem is that some of the people we think we can trust are not those who are helpful to us.  The people of Thessalonica heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a heated environment.  The devout Jewish leaders who they had listened to all their lives were telling them not to receive the Gospel of Christ, while the newcomers from Jerusalem were telling them that Jesus is the promised Messiah they had been studying and praying for since their youth.  So, which people should they listen to and follow?   

The answer is that we must seek validation concerning what we hear regardless of how much we trust the people talking to us.  The primary source of validation for believers is the Scripture.  We must be skeptical of anything we hear which cannot be proven in God’s Word.  Second, the vetted teachers and preachers our church leaders place before us can be trusted to speak the truth but we remain responsible to validate their teaching through the Word.  Seminary trained leaders know they are trusted to provide a Scripture reference for every point they make (2 Tim 2:15).  Even secular leaders know that they must provide proven references as a part of their speeches.   

The last phrase of verse 6 mentions “with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”  For believers, we have the indwelling Holy Spirit within us.  This Spirit will express His agreement or disagreement with everything we hear, say or do.  The discipline of listening to the Holy Spirit is a big part of our personal discipleship and sanctification (being made holy).  The Spirit will almost always speak to us by comfort or discomfort while someone is teaching or preaching, therefore, we need to develop a sensitivity to that “voice.”  When we hear a word from someone and the Spirit makes us uncomfortable with it, we are required to look it up for accuracy and reject it if it is not consistent with the Word.   

In Verse 7, Paul acknowledges that he and his team were examples to the new believers in Thessalonica for how they should continue to provide the Gospel to others just as it had been delivered to them.  In Verse 8, Paul congratulates them on being better examples to others than he could have imagined.  They were not only delivering the Gospel everywhere in Macedonia and Achaia; they were delivering the Gospel everywhere they went.  It sets up the perfect picture of what we have become at we accepted Jesus Christ.  We have become personal examples of how to make peace with God and start a new life of peace and tranquility for the sake of the Gospel.  We have become “the walking Gospel.”  That’s how James can say “Count it all joy when you enter into diverse temptations” (James 1:2).  When we are tempted, people see how we respond, and that is an opportunity to “preach the Gospel” through actions, not just words.  We have all heard the saying “talk is cheap.”  It is the behavior and personal responses to challenges that show what a born-again experience can do to even a naturally combative person.  It is truly, the peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:7).  Paul says, “so that we need not to speak any thing.”  An evangelist has no great joy than to see converts of his or her ministry leading others to Jesus Christ!

Understand the Context (1 Thess 2:1-12) 

The character of Paul’s first visit to Thessalonica was presented in the earlier discussion.  It lasted about three weeks before the devout Jews made an organized move to capture him to kill or imprison to shut his ministry down.  While there, they also had some time to get into other areas of life in the city, e.g., markets, other synagogues, schools, private homes and workplaces to share the Gospel with people outside the target synagogue.  The work was extremely fruitful, but the aggressive anger of the devout Jews caused a very short stay before Paul and his team being forced out of the city.   While they won an extraordinary number of Jews and Gentiles to Jesus Christ, but their forced exit left little time for organized discipleship.  So, Paul wrote this letter (1 Thessalonians) as a very quick turn-around effort to do some of that discipleship.  Each chapter of First and Second Thessalonians is packed with beginning level discipleship materials.     

The first chapter of 1 Thessalonians discusses strength of faith for the new believers and their relentless dedication to spreading the Gospel.  It was uncanny that the Thessalonians were mentioned as examples of the Christian faith in Greece and the Roman Empire this early in their movement toward Christ! (I Thess 1:7-8).  

The second chapter of the letter acknowledged the intense persecution and suffering of the team and anyone who became a convert to Christianity.  The truth that the enemies of faith never understand is that the more intense the forbidding of a population to have something, the greater value potential converts believe the commodity has, and therefore, the more seriously they will pursue it.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ was never stopped by forbidding its preaching.  

While the false teachers and devout Jews continued to ignore the desires of the people, the more insistent the people became toward hearing the Gospel and telling others what they heard.  So, Rome, Greece and the Jewish religious movement continued their ill-advised trek to stop Christianity while it was spreading in this area at a greater pace than anywhere in the world. 

Persistent (1 Thess 2:1-2) 

Paul begins by recapping how he, Silas and Timothy approached their visit to the city, respecting the people and visiting their synagogues (Acts 17:1-9).  They spent a full, three Sabbath days in the synagogue reasoning with them from the Scriptures.  They were showing the documented evidence that God’s Messiah was prophesied to suffer and die to pay the price for sins for all humankind.  Paul thought the discussions were going very well, especially compared to the beatings and imprisonments they received at Philippi.  Paul, as a Roman citizen was illegally detained and flogged at the hands of the Philippian leadership.  

Nevertheless, under the threats of more of the same treatment at Thessalonica, they continued to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The source of the contention was predictable.  Recall that Thessalonica was a free Roman city which made them an open society for the practice of Greek, Roman and Hebrew religions and associated deities.  Discussing competing religious and secular philosophies always seem contentious to the point of violence even in today’s more civilized societies.  No one likes to be told they are wrong and that is especially true when it comes to how we worship.  Even denominationalism between Christian faiths can set off a heated discussion.  So, Paul’s emphasis on respecting and walking softly around competing faiths was well advised.  His practice of explaining the Gospel of Christ first at synagogues in cities he visited was also a strong beginning.  The doctrine of a coming Messiah from God was well documented and strongly believed by practicing Jews.  The issue, then and now, is not that the Messiah was coming, the Jews just would not believe it was Jesus of Nazareth.  Explaining how Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament was a major contention among devout Jewish believers in that day and this one.

Gentle (1 Thess 2:3-7) 

Paul says it should be clear that the preaching or exhortation from his team had no deceit (trickery or straying from orthodoxy), or uncleanliness (impure motives), or guile (craft or deceit) in their approach to the people of the church of Thessalonica.  He wanted to make sure there were no charges that could be legitimately laid at his team’s feet.  He has full knowledge that the people would see him as an example, so he wanted that example to be pure and faultless.  In verse 4, Paul makes his reasoning obvious, “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News.  Our purpose is to please God, not people.  He alone examines the motives of our hearts” (1 Thess 2:4).  Paul tries to drive home the point that his team was selected or called by God.  That their motives are designed to meet God’s most stringent requirements, not just the requirements of humankind.  Further, God is never fooled by any kind of hidden agenda men might dream up; God’s standards are rigorous and never waived.  

Verse 5 starts Paul’s denial of any kind of self-benefiting motives.  His team would never use flattering or pretended friendship to get any kind of personal benefit and certainly not any monetary gain.  In addition, none of his people were looking for any personal recognition for the work they did to advance God’s message.   

Paul believes the most obvious evidence of the truth of his comments is that, as Apostles of Christ, they had a right to some monetary remuneration, but never asked for any support whatsoever.  Instead, the team was gentle among the Thessalonian saints.  Even as far as showing concern like a nurse loves and cares for the children assigned to his or her care.   

Understand the Context (1 Thess 2:13-20) 

When God calls a person to a specific mission, He always provides a way for that person to respond to that calling.  In the case of Paul being called to his three mission voyages (and some believe he had a fourth voyage), God open some specific doors of opportunity.  On this second missionary voyage, recall that God specifically told Paul not to preach in Asia but to move to Macedonia (Acts 16:6).  That door to Asia was closed for this missionary voyage.  That does not always result in an easy ministry, but it allows us to see and follow God’s will.  We have already mentioned Paul and Silas’ trials at Philippi, and even at Thessalonica, the trouble with the devout Jews persisted.  Nevertheless, Thessalonica became a successful church almost immediately.

The initial discussions about the ministry in Thessalonica may have sounded like Paul’s team ministered in the synagogues and were driven out of town from there.  But hidden in the words of Paul about how the team working bivocationally at various jobs around town to earn their keep, was the team’s efforts to minimize their burden on the new church.  They succeeded in keeping costs low, but while they were working the secular jobs, they had great opportunities to reach out to more people in the city.  Many received Christ and became a part of the massive growth of that early church.  There are more indicators that Paul and his team worked among the people in the work they did at Athens (Acts 17:16-34 & 1 Thess 1:7-8).  As Paul watched the work of these converts to Christianity, he found the zeal with which they worshipped their idols was turned into a full evangelistic thrust for Jesus Christ (1 Thess 1:9).  

The devout Jews who opposed Paul in Thessalonica watched after they discharged him from their coasts only to see him and his converts making new disciples all across Macedonia and into the neighboring region of Achaia.  They seemed to be doing exceptionally well in every town where Paul and his team stopped during this second missionary journey.  Paul was concerned for the souls of these Jews and their future condemnation (2:13-16). 

Received (1 Thess 2:13-14) 

Paul was watching a supernatural phenomenon taking place at Thessalonica.  It seemed that those who were receiving the word of God were not receiving it as the words of mere men but as the supernatural word of God (1 Thess 2:13).  They seemed to realize it was the word of truth and allowed it to work in them to have many others believe as they explained it to them.  They had the experience of being transformed by the renewing of their minds just as we have (Rom 12:1).  And, through that renewal, receiving the down payment of our salvation in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God and the spiritual gifts that come with Him (Eph 1:14, 4:11-12 & Gal 5:22-25).  Note that one of those spiritual gifts is specifically the gift of evangelism; that is, the gift of being able to explain and convince others of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their personal need to receive that word (Eph 4:11).  When we receive Christ as Savior, we receive all the gifts of the Spirit, but God will activate one or more gifts we need for the specific work He has assigned to us.  Just like those in Thessalonica, we will be spiritually empowered to succeed or excel at that specific work.    

Along with the great strength and power God gives us through the Holy Spirit comes the reenergized attacks of the opposition: Satan and his demons (1 Pet 5:8).  Paul warns the new believers of Thessalonica that just as they have become a rapidly growing new church, they have also imitated the earlier churches in waking up Satan against them.  Here, like many other churches started where active synagogues existed, the devout Jews opposed the conversion of Jews to Christianity because of the losses in their numbers.  Paul says this new church is imitating (or following after) the churches of Judea because they were beginning to feel the same persecution from the Jews as they did.  The Jews continued to reject the Gospel and those who have accepted it.  As those trials and temptations come, recall the teaching of James, the half-brother of Jesus, as he encouraged us, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (Jas 1:2-4).  

Rejected (1 Thess 2:15-16) 

Just as Paul described the great works of God for those who received the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he warns those who have strongly rejected Christ (vs. 15).  Here, Paul says plainly that people like the devout Jews of Thessalonica were those who killed Jesus Christ as well as their own prophets and are contrary to everyone who believes the Gospel.  Recall when Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, he found no fault in Him and wished to release Him (Luke 23:14 & John 18:38, 19:4-6).  It was the Jewish Chief Priests who motivated the crowd to insist on Jesus’ crucifixion (Mark 15:10).  When Paul says here “they killed the Lord Jesus,” he was saying they took action to incite the crowd to demand His death.  As far as killing their own prophets, Jesus spoke to those charges in Matthew 21:33-41; 23:31-37 and Luke 13:33.  When Paul says “and have persecuted us,” he could easily prove his case by looking at what happened to him in Philippi and Thessalonica.  In Philippi, Paul and Silas were arrested, flogged and thrown into the dungeon.  As a Roman citizen it was a crime to treat Paul in this manner at all.  Nevertheless, the local magistrates were guilty of doing it and refused to publicly apologize for it when the crime was set against them.   

But verse 16 sets the most grievous sin of all against these devout Jews.  Paul writes that they forbade him from talking to the Gentiles about the Gospel of Christ.  We have ample evidence that Paul did not allow this to block the Gospel or to stop or hinder him in any way.  The sin of the devout Jews is that they intended to block Paul’s speaking of the Gospel to the Gentiles.  Paul laid this sin against the devout Jews in Thessalonica, but we have had some of that treatment at work in today’s world.  That is not to say that our employers or others do not have the right to ask us not to speak the Gospel at work, but it does mean that good judgement and proper decorum would dictate that we “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s” (Matt 22:21, Mark 12:17 & Luke 20:25).  It is important to see that the last half of verse 16 says that God will bring His wrath upon them for this sin.  This is another case where God says, “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.  I will repay” (Rom 12:19 & Deut 32:35). 

Understand the Context (1 Thess 3:1-13) 

Paul and Silas had begun the Second Missionary Journey around 50-51 AD.  As they began their ministries in Athens, Paul decided to send Timothy to minister in Thessalonica to encourage the new saints there while Paul and Silas stayed in Athens (1 Thess 3:1-2).  Timothy was an earlier convert to Christianity through Paul’s ministries and knew exactly how Paul wanted to evangelize and disciple the people of Thessalonica, both the Jews and the Gentiles.  Timothy was to provide some level of comfort to the Thessalonians despite the persecutions they were suffering.  Paul told them that they were looking exactly like the churches in Judea who have already started suffering persecution under the Jews and the Romans.  Nevertheless, the church at Thessalonica was thriving, and they were looking forward to a time when Paul could return to be with them personally (vss. 3-5).  

Soon, it was time for Timothy’s first report from Thessalonica to update Paul at Athens.  Paul stated that when Timothy came to him, he said the saints at Thessalonica were very strong and brought good tidings of their faith in God and their love for one another and for others (vs. 6).  The maturity with which the saints were growing served to further validate the Gospel of Christ and brought great encouragement to Paul in his work in Athens and beyond (vss. 6-7).  It is always a great encouragement to ministers to see the people who were converted in their ministries growing in Christ and making more converts and developing stronger disciples of Christ.  Paul said simply, “For now we live, if ye stand in the Lord” (vs. 8).  That is, the good news of their growth in Christ became an encouragement for Paul in nis ministries.  

So, Paul remembers to give thanks to God for these great saints (vs. 9).  He goes from there to thanking God for all He has done for the church at Thessalonica and the people serving there.  He says his prayers will not cease to ask God to bless them.  He adds a special prayer that God would establish their hearts in holiness before God and the coming of Jesus Christ (vss. 11-13). 

Distressed (1 Thess 3:4-5) 

In the short amount of time that Paul was allowed to be with the new Christians at Thessalonica, he warned them about the coming trials and persecution after they confessed to be Christians.  There were two main forces that were coming after them.  The first was that of the devout Jews of the synagogue at Thessalonica.  Recall that Paul always started preaching in the synagogues of the cities he visited because the Jews were already practitioners of the faith that prophesied the coming Messiah and were waiting for Him.  So, Paul’s message was the good news of saying the Messiah has come, and we are here to tell you about Him.  Those who believed were happy because they found the blessings of living for Christ.  Those who did not believe could only see that the number of believing Jews supporting their synagogue was decreasing quickly.  I know that sounds trite, but that is what those losing numbers in their club think about.  They cannot be happy that their friends found Christ and will live forever with Him, because budgets were decreasing along with their financial security for the synagogues.  Further, the fact that they did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah would not result in happiness those who did believe.  Rather, they would be sorry that they had become involved in such heretical teachings.  This would certainly result in their condemnation.

So, the persecution was partially geared to win those straying souls back to God.  But, the real source was Satan, himself.  Whenever he can lull a person into feeling good about living without Christ, he captures another soul for his kingdom.  Paul calls him “the tempter” here, and fears that he might by some means reduce the faith of new believers and win them away from the real source of salvation from punishment for our sins.  So, when Paul could no longer go without knowing how the new believers were doing, he sent Timothy to find out.   

Some interpret Paul’s word in verse 5 to say he was worried about wasting his time if some of those who claimed Christ fell back into Judaism.  But, we know this was not Paul’s heart.  Remember, he said later, “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord” (vs. 8).  In other words, he finds his whole reason for living in having his converts proper in Christ.  He was sent for this 

Rejuvenated (1 Thess 3:6-10) 

But now, Paul is rejuvenated.  His distress and anxiety have been changed to great joy and personal encouragement (vs. 6).   The cause was Timothy’s report of their faith in God and charity (Christian love for one another and others).  Further, Paul was elated that they still thought highly of him and wanted him to return (“Greatly desiring to see us”).  So often, when a person begins to lose the faith a minister led them to, they want to stay away from that minister as well.  Think of all the dear friends Paul lost when he converted to Christianity.  Here, the Thessalonians not only continued in great faith and love, they also continued in their love for Paul.  What could be better news?  Paul says, “Therefore, brethren” that he was lifted up and felt great being released from their affliction and distress because of the news of their great faith.  In verse 8, he says this is all I live for; just to know that you are standing fast in the faith you have found (vs, 8).  We would probably say something like, “It just does not get any better than this!”  

Paul asks, “how much more thanks can we give to God for what has happened to you beyond what we have already said to Him?” (vs. 9).  He says, “we have already expressed an overabundance of joy to God for you.”  Verse 10 shows his great joy, excitement and pleasure over what is happening with their relationship to Jesus Christ.  He continues, “We have been praying day and night, far beyond what you could imagine, that we might be blessed with seeing your faces again.  We are anxious to complete all the details about the great Gospel of Jesus Christ which you have already received.  We want to complete anything that we missed when we first talked with you.  We want your faith in Him to be complete and your knowledge of Him to be full. 

The excitement Paul expresses here is like that of seeing your friends or children succeed at something extremely important that you taught them, but they went farther by applying new ideas with great faith and clear expertise.  Accepting the Gospel is not just important; it is the single most import decision in a person’s entire life.  It is the difference between an eternity in Heaven or an eternity in Hell.  

Understand the Context (1 Thess 4:1-12)

This passage of Scripture finds us in Athens during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 17:15-34).  Reading through Acts, it is easy to see the combination of joy and challenge in Paul’s journeys.  On the one hand, Paul’s journeys actually came aa byproducts of the severe persecutions by the religious Jews and foreign Romans shortly after the Pentecost in Acts 2.  Acts 2:4 speaks of how the apostles and disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages to the point that the dozens of foreigners gathered were able to hear the Gospel in their native languages (Acts 2:5-6).  While this would be the initiation of the Gospel in all those nations, it also triggered massive growth in the Christian Church there at Jerusalem.  James, the brother of John would be the first leader of the Church until he was killed by King Herod’s sword (Acts 12:1-3). Herod also had Peter arrested.  While the Church was growing so quickly that the Apostles created the office of Deacon and asked to have the first seven of them appointed to serve tables allowing them to dedicate themselves to preaching the Word, the persecution was forcing many to flee Jerusalem (Acts 6:1-5).  But this forced redistribution of Christian population also caused the Gospel to spread internationally and intercontinentally. 

On the other hand, it should be of no surprise that the forces of evil would not stand still for this tremendous movement to rescue multitudes of Hell-bound lost people to Heaven-bound Christians.  Evil would cause Rome’s Caesars to feel threatened with a faith in a King of the Universe and take rapid action to totally eliminate all the followers of Christ.  History testifies that they assigned arrested Christians to be killed by wild animals in the Coliseum or other public arenas.  They would be tortured and offered opportunity to recant their faith in Christ or die violently.  But God has created us in a way that forces us to only get stronger when told what we are allowed to do.  Paul and Silas were publicly flogged and illegally imprisoned in Philippi and forced to leave Thessalonica far earlier than they wished.  But while they were forced to leave, the resulting growth of Jesus’ Church was far beyond Paul’s expectations.  Persecution causes greater growth.  Hundreds and even thousands of new believers were coming forward every week.  The new Church of the Christian movement in Thessalonica was flourishing, and Paul was loved and openly invited to return to Thessalonica by its Church’s members.

In Chapter 4, Paul writes for the Thessalonian Church to show their love for Christ in all of their routine activities of the day like actions, attitudes, speech and relationships.  These behaviors could be used to show the differences that knowing Christ has made in the new person created by their new beliefs (Rom 12:1).  Many prospects for Christianity will react more favorably to what they see in Christian behavior than what they hear from Christian speakers.  James says it this way: “14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (James 2:14-17, KJV).  Some have said that our actions speak much more loudly than our words.  

Pleasing (1 Thess 4:1-2) 

It is natural for a new believer to look at existing Christians to find examples of how they should walk and talk as parts of their new faith.  Paul says in verse 1 that the new Christians should recall the instructions Silas and he left behand before they were forced to leave Thessalonica.  He strengthens the advice by exhorting them in the name of Jesus Christ that they should behave like they received of Paul’s team during that time.  This would assure them that they were walking in a way that they should walk and that those behaviors would also be pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul is careful to acknowledge that he saw and has heard that the new Christians were already behaving just as they heard but urges them to do it more and more.   

Paul sees an opportunity to make another point for discipleship by answering in this way (vs 4:2).  In verse 1, he told them to behave like the team instructed them when they were there and in verse 2 he says they will know or recognize when others are following those instructions because the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ will confirm those behaviors from the inside of them.  The discipleship moment comes in teaching new believers to listen for the affirmation of the Spirit as they look for the correct behaviors as new Christians.   

Holy (1 Thess 4:3-8) 

Paul expands on this teaching opportunity by invoking the word sanctification or “being made holy.”  Just a quick review of the three words for salvation, it is the saving of a person from the penalty of sin.  This is the definition as justification.  That is, we are saved from the penalty of sin.  Romans 8:1 says there is now no condemnation for those in Jesus Christ.  The word Paul uses in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 is sanctification, or the salvation process which is initiated at the justification of the new believer and terminated at his or her death or glorification.  The word for that lifelong process is sanctification, and it means to be made holy.  Paul says the beginning of being made holy is to abstain from sexual sin.  He goes on in verse 4:4 to say that everyone should know how to control his or her own bodies in holiness and honor.   

Some would ask why Paul would focus on this sin when there are so many other sins of the same order; there are no levels of sin.  The issue is a convert’s separation from all pagan practices including those where temporal prostitutes were used along with drugs and alcohol in acts of fertility in some pagan religions.  Christianity was to be void of these sexual acts and every Christian must learn to contain himself or herself without these acts.  It was listed first because it was a standard within the fertility faiths practiced in these regions.     

In verse 4:5, Paul specifically mentions that Christians are not to be controlled by lustful passions like some pagans are.  This is one of those clear changes between practices of those in pagan worship and those in Christian worship.  Christians are expected to keep their bodies holy and their thoughts and actions away from lust and lustful sin.  Paul drills down a bit more in verse 6 when he says that no Christian should defraud his brother Christian in respect to his wife.  This would certainly be called adultery and one of the ten commandments listed by God to Moses (Ex 20).  Paul’s warning is that God is the One who will punish a brother for such acts and that all believers should be forewarned. 

Paul explains that God has not called us to uncleanness but to holiness (vs. 7).  Further, it is not a man that is despised, hated or disrespected with these sins, but the one who does them shows contempt for God.  Paul adds that it is God who gave us the indwelling Holy Spirit.  So, the two ideas brought together suggests that God has given us the indwelling Spirit at the instant of our belief in Him.  With that Spirit comes the power to abstain from any and all sin.  In other words, the only sin we commit is that sin which we have agreed with ourselves to yield to.  We have the power over it through the Holy Spirit, but we chose to do the sin anyway.  Paul is using some very powerful words and thoughts here. 

Understand the Context (1 Thess 4:13-18) 

The context is set in following up Paul’s discussions so far in this letter concerning various aspects of living the Christian life in this world.  Paul was broadly encouraged by all he heard from Timothy regarding the health of the church at Thessalonica.  Their clear superiority in standing up for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and being instrumental in its spread throughout the areas of Thessalonica, Macedonia and the Roman Empire had a great deal to do with their response to the Gospel across the whole congregation.  Further, there demonstrated love for one another both inside and outside the local church was responsible for the rapid growth of their message across the city, the province and the Empire.   

Nevertheless, Paul was concerned that the tempter might exploit Thessalonica’s many successes as weakness for his strong challenges and result in damage to the new, but flourishing congregation.  The two worlds of pride in accomplishments of the church and threats from the tempter caused concern in Paul’s heart.  The pagan lifestyle of their recent past might serve as an easy tool for the tempter to pull them away from their newly acquired faith.  The city which supported that past life was just outside the church’s doors - just one period of weakness away. 

So, the question comes concerning the relevance of Christianity to life in general.  Is it only in this life that that Christian faith has such an impact?  The power of Christ’s church was also discussed by Paul in order foster a sense of encouragement by the Corinth Christians.  Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor 15:19).  Paul was responding to the deviant belief that there was no resurrection of the dead.  Recall this was a common belief among the Sadducees of the Jewish religious leadership.  The implication was that this life is all we have.  Rather, there is great encouragement in the Christian life whether in this life or the next.  Paul’s discussion of the Rapture of the Saints is only relevant if the dead are raised to be a part of that rapture experience.   

Hope (1 Thess 4:13-14) 

Often, a response in a letter like 1 Thessalonians is driven by a question asked of the missionaries.  Paul’s response to this question of what happens to believers who have died before Christ returns is that he would not want his disciples to be unlearned when questions on the end times are asked.  The study of the end times is called eschatology.  Many believers want to know what the future holds for them; those of the faith are no different.  Last time, we looked at a chart of the main elements of the end times.  We saw that the period between the coming of the indwelling Holy Spirit and Tribulation is called the Church Age.  The end point of the Church Age is at the beginning of the Tribulation Period because the Rapture of the Church is that event which takes all born-again believers off the earth.  Together, all those people are called the Church (Capitol “C” intended to signify the difference between the brick-and-mortar structures (churches) and the spiritual children of God (the Church).)  Many believers at this time were being told that if Christ returned after a person died, it was too late for them to be resurrected or taken to Heaven.  This is the kind of uninformed response Paul wanted to prevent.  The simplicity of the facts regarding resurrection are settled by Christ, as He says, “1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also” [John 14:1-3).  Paul says here that He does not want His brethren to grieve the way people do who have no hope.  Our hope is that those who have died (fallen asleep) will not only be included in Jesus’ preparation for believers, but they will even go ahead of those who still live when He returns.   

different sets of behaviors for the church over that age.  How can I say that?  The passage from John 14 (above) tells us that Jesus is preparing a dwelling place for all of us.  There is no distinction between those who are dead or those who remain alive until He returns.  Verse 14 in our study passage says that when Christ returns, “He will bring those who have died in Christ with Him.”  The only way they could be with Him is if they were there (in Heaven) before Christ returns.  This is consistent with the immediacy of assignment after death as told by Jesus in Luke 16:22-23).  Lazarus was immediately comforted in Abraham’s bosom after death and the rich man was immediately found in the flames of Hell after death.  Further, when Jesus was on the cross, He told the repentant thief he would be with Him in Paradise the same day (Luke 23:43).   

It is no mystery that at death, the physical body goes to the grave while the spiritual body lives in the next life, whether in comfort or in torment.  What Jesus is bringing with Him from Heaven are the spirits or souls of all those who died as believers.  In the next verses, we will learn when the spirits Jesus brings with Him rejoin their bodies left behind. 

Backing up a few words, notice that Jesus limits His discussion to those who, ”believe that Jesus died and rose again.”  That is the specific definition of born-again believers (Rom 10:9-10). 

Return (1 Thess 4:15-16) 

In verse 15, Paul references the authority for his statements.  He says, “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord” (1 Thess 4:15).  The authority for what he is about to say is the Lord, Himself.  Paul says, those who are alive and remain until Christ returns will in no way go ahead of those believers who have already died.  Now, he covers how that timing works out.  First, there will be shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God as Jesus descends from Heaven on a cloud fulfilling Acts 1:11.  The cloud never reaches the Earth (this is not the Second Coming of Christ as described in Revelation 19).  Then all those who have already died in Christ, will be raised first (see above).  This responds to those concerned about those who have died before the coming of Christ.  Briefly, those dead will rise first.   

That should tie together everything that happens to the bodies and the spirits of those who died before Christ returns.  The spirit/souls of those dead believers will return with Christ when He comes for the Church at its Rapture (vs. 4:14).  The bodies of those dead will rise from the dead immediately at His return and be reunited with their spirits as they return with the Lord on a cloud but never touch the earth.  The cloud on which Jesus returned now has Christ and the reconstituted bodies and souls of the dead now occupying a glorified, immortal body.  It remains above the Earth awaiting the next step, the changing of those who are alive at Jesus’ Rapture of His Saints. 

Understand the Context (Matt 27-28) 

Most folks speak of the passages of Scripture before the Resurrection as the “Passion of Christ.”  There have been entire movies made of just that part of Jesus’ life.  In Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 28 is the Resurrection.  The context can pretty much be explained by looking at Chapter 27, alone.  It starts out in verses 27:3-4 with the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.  Many have reasoned the “why” of what he did but regardless of the reason, Judas betrayed Jesus for a price of only 30 pieces of silver.  It has always seemed ironic to me that that price was the price of a common slave (Zech 11:4-14).  The conversation there has Zechariah believing the price was so small that recipient was insulted that he was offered that amount – the price of a lost slave.  God advised Ezekiel to return the insult by throwing the money into the Potter’s Field where only the lowest of society were paid that amount.   This was the price the chief priests paid Judas to betray Jesus.   

Also included in the distressing passages of Scripture before Matthew 28 was the facts of the many trials of Jesus.  The one that mattered most because of jurisdiction was that of Pilate’s court.  Luke documents that Pilate found no guilt in Jesus and supposed the same of Herod because Herod sent Him back to Pilate without charges (Luke 23:13-16).  Pilate tried two schemes to free Jesus.  Luke said Pilate had Jesus flogged, planning to release Him (Luke 23:16).  He also tried to get the crowds to accept Barabbas for punishment and free Jesus (Matt 27:15-23, Mark 15:6-14, Luke 23:17-23 & John 18:39-40).  The plan backfired as the Chief Priests and Scribes asked the free Barabbas, instead.  So, for political expediency, Pilate released Barabbas and crucified Jesus.   

When Pilate turned Jesus over to the Romans for a simple example beating, i.e., have Him beaten and then released, they made sport of the whole thing and very nearly killed Jesus (John 19).  But even with a horrific beating, and the Chief Priests and leaders shouted for Jesus’ crucifixion.   

It did not stop when Jesus was on the cross, the religious Jews taunted and challenged Him.  They tempted Him to come off the cross if He were the Son of God.  As the Roman Centurion placed in charge of these three crucifixions looked on, he saw something special happening and spoke out openly saying, “Surely this man was the Son of God” (Matt 27:54, Mark 15:39 & Luke 23:47).  The scene was terrifying, but the events were about to turn.  In three days, Jesus would confound all and rise again!! 

Resurrected (Matt 28:1-4) 

Matthew 28:1 fixes the arrival of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary at the tomb of Jesus slightly before the end of the Sabbath, i.e., the sunrise of Sunday (the first day) had not yet taken place.  That sunrise would complete the “three days and three nights Jesus said He would be “in the heart of the earth” (Matt 12:40).  Luke 24:10 says the second Mary was the mother of James.  They came supposing that Joseph and Nicodemus did not have time to properly bury Jesus with the appropriate herbs and spices.  They had worked very hard to get Jesus off the cross and wrapped up for burial.  The spices the two Mary’s brought had to go inside those grave clothes.   

Verse 2 begins the description of the natural and supernatural events that took place as the sun began to come up that Sunday.  It started with a very large earthquake.  The Bible describes how the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  Luke 24:10 describes the stone as “exceedingly great.”  Recall that the Romans were alerted by the Jews that the Christians would steal the body away and claim there was a resurrection because Jesus had prophesied that He would rise again (Matt 27:63).  The Romans established a full guard around the tomb, 24 hours a day to prevent any tampering with the grave.  It was sealed with a Roman seal to make it an offense punishable by death to tamper with the Roman seal on the stone rolled across the entry to the grave.  When verse 2 ends with the angel sitting on top of that gigantic stone, it seemed to signal a finished work by him.  Not only had he successfully completed the work of more than six men by himself, but he remained to make sure the entryway stayed open.   

Verse 3 describes the awesome presence of the angel as shining like lightening and having his clothes bright as snow.  One could not send one’s clothes out to the dry cleaners to get them bleached and starched in those days, so garments so bright were truly astonishing.  His appearance was sufficiently unusual that struck fear in the hearts of the battle-hardened Roman soldiers assigned to guard the tomb.  At first, they trembled at the sight of him, but then “became as dead men” (vs. 4).  I think we could all agree that means they fainted.  I use the word, “they” here because, as Johnny Ova accounts in his article, The Roman Guard: Evidence for the Resurrection, that “the Guard” consisted of about thirty Roman soldiers (Ova, 28 April 2020).  Ova also adds some definition to the size of the stone on the tomb to be about two tons.   

Announced (Matt 28:5-7) 

When Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, came to the tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea where the body of Jesus was placed, that same angel spoke to them making an incredible announcement.  He said, “Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.”  Note that the angel repeated Jesus’ prophecy that He would rise again.  Recall, however, that all the Apostles, their families and the family of Jesus had been through a grueling three days.  Those who watched the trials, witnessed the flogging and attended the crucifixion had no doubt Jesus was dead, but they had also been terrorized in their hearts and minds to deal with the truth of that death.  And now, some of them were up even before the sunrise to minister to Jesus’ body.  But instead, the two Mary’s are being told by the angel that Jesus was not in the tomb.  That He was risen just like He said He would be.   

The angel continued that they could go and see the place where Jesus was placed by Joseph and Nicodemus after they had taken Him off the cross (vs 6).  He wanted to ascertain that when they went to tell the Apostles He had risen, they would be able to report the empty tomb.  There is no report of what they did with all the spices they brought to the tomb, but certainly, that was not of any concern at this time.  The horror of Jesus’ death was now being reported to them as the miracle of His resurrection from that death.  The news could be no better and no more significant.  The angel continues in verse 7 to say that they should go quickly to remind the Apostles that Jesus said He would meet them in Galilee.  He said they must report to them that He has risen, that He was on His way to keep that appointment, and they could see Him there.  He seems to express some degree of finality in delivering the message as he ends with, “Lo, I have told you.”  

This was certainly the single most important message this angel was ever to give; that is, “Jesus is alive, and He will meet you in Galilee just as He told you before He was crucified.”  The angel probably understood, as we do, that Jesus’ resurrection signified God’s acceptance of His sacrifice for all our sin forever (Greek for “It is finished:” telelestai, John 19:30).  It was the final and complete payment for the sin of all who would believe, throughout the existence of humankind.  It ended the necessity for any kind of sacrificial system.  There was no more condemnation for all who were in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).  The Day of Atonement is completed. 

Encountered (Matt 28:8-10) 

Matthew’s account of that resurrection morning continues in verse 28:8 saying that the two Mary’s departed quickly just as he told them.  They left the sepulcher feeling the combination of fear and great joy.  The fear must have been due to the gravity of the message they were carrying.  There could be no greater news in the history of the Universe.  Even after all these years and the many Easters that have come and gone, the message of “He is risen” is still the most exciting of all messages.  And what an honor the Mary’s must have felt to be the first humans who would ever say these words.  Now, they were hurrying to go to the Apostles to tell them this great news, remind them that Jesus made an appointment to meet them in Galilee and He is on the way to keep it.     

But wait, Matthew’s verse 28:9 has still another shock for these ladies.  As they went to tell the Apostles, Jesus met them in the way saying, “All hail.”  And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.  Already full of excitement, amazement and joy, they now get to see Him face-to-face.  I can only imagine what that first worship scene with the risen Savior would have been like.  Don Francisco penned the words of a great pop song back in the early 1970’s, “He’s Alive.”  It begins with a description of the setting with the Apostles waiting for Jesus after they heard of His resurrection.  He wrote, “The gates and doors were barred, and all the windows fastened down.  I spent the night in sleeplessness and arose at every sound.”  Then he crescendos into the chorus singing, “He’s alive!  He’s alive!  My sins have been forgiven.  Heaven’s gates are open wide.”  One can feel the fear, anguish and interpretation of the lyrics going into the chorus followed with the celebration of the chorus telling the story of that Sunday we are discussing here.   

However, the Mary’s had to break with Jesus in order to tell the disciples that Jesus was on His way o Galilee for that appointment He made with them at the Last Supper (Matt 26:32).  Jesus handles the unwanted transition by saying, “Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me” (Matt 28:10).  I can imagine their reluctance to leave Jesus again just after finding Him, but it is clear from their reactions that they knew the business of the Lord was to meet with the eleven and move forward with the agenda to “seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).   This was what Jesus stated as His mission, and it must be continued after Jesus’ coming ascension.  More on this in the closing slide, below. 

Commissioned (Matt 28:16-18)  

So, now we arrive at the crucial meeting between Jesus and His Apostles in Galilee.  Matthew 28:16 opens with the eleven remaining Apostles going to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus had appointed them at the Last Supper.  Verse 17 holds no surprise that when the Apostles saw Him, they worshipped Him.   

They agreed together that Jesus’ departure was traumatic.  He was certainly “closer than a brother” to them as He is to us (Prov 18:24).   Even those like Peter who denied Christ or stayed away from the crucifixion for fear of being recognized and arrested wanted to reconcile and enjoy that sweet fellowship they once had with Him.  Luke 24:36-43 covers some of the emotions that must have been there.  Jesus simply wished them all peace in verse 36, but 37 says “they were terrified and affrighted at seeing Him and supposed that they may had seen a spirit.  Jesus asked them why they might be afraid and offered to let them touch His hands, feet and the wound in his side from the Roman spear.  Jesus saw that some still doubted, so He asked for something to eat knowing that they believed spirits did not eat.  Jesus ate the broiled fish they gave Him hoping that would prove that He was not just a spirit.    

John’s Gospel documents that it was Thomas who doubted that the Lord was real (John 20:24-29).  He describes a second meeting with Jesus where Thomas was in attendance.  When Thomas felt His hands and feet, he believed and said, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).  Jesus calls attention to the fact that Thomas refused to believe in Him until he felt His hands and feet.  Jesus said, “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).    

At this point Jesus delivers the Great Commission as many call it.  “18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matt 28:18-20, KJV].  In the end of Matthew 28:18, Jesus establishes for those who had not already realized that He has all power and authority in heaven and earth that He has such.  Clearly there is no power or authority that He does not have.  As Jesus prepares to issue the Commission to His Apostles (and us), it is important that we understand that He has all the power and authority needed to commission us to do these things.  

Understand the Context (1 Cor 15:1-24) 

There are few questions of more importance than those associated with the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is described as our forerunner in a resurrected life.  The Bible says He was the first fruits of those who have died, then we who are Christ’s at His coming and then the end when He delivers up the kingdom to God (1 Cor 15:23-24).  What happened to Jesus will happen to His followers in the order listed.  So, the curiosity about the resurrection is easy to understand., that is, we all want to know what will happen to us in life, in death and in the afterlife. 

Here, I have compiled just a few of the question I have often been asked while teaching on the topic of resurrection.  Paul answered most of the question in 1 Corinthians 15.  Let us see what he responded to these questions. 

Were There Any Witnesses? 

Paul began his discussion of witnesses by establishing the fact of Jesus’ death on the cross.  He said, “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ... 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead” (1 Co 15:3-4, 21, KJV].  Then, he answers the question of the witnesses who could be contacted for verification.  He said that after the resurrection, Jesus was seen alive of Cephas (Peter), then of the 11 (the 12 Apostles minus Judas), then more than 500 brethren at one time, then of James, then of the 12 (11 Apostles plus Mathias?), then of Paul.  So, there were easily more than 500 who could be contacted for testimony.  Paul stated at this writing (53-55 AD) that some had already died, but the greater part still remain (1 Cor 15:6). 

What If There Was No Resurrection? 

This is a very valid question because of the structure of the leadership of the Jewish teachers.  At the entry level was the Scribes.  They were accountable for keeping the scrolls of the Bible and making copies for the various synagogues where they would read for reference.  We owe the Scribes a great debt because the methodology they used for copying scrolls was so meticulous.  It is said that they would destroy an entire scroll if they counted letters and found any error at all. A great example of the resulting accuracy is the newly found book of Isaiah from the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Scholars found no signification differences in the scrolls even thought the Dead Sea scroll found was 1,000 years older than the previously held copies.      

 At the next level were the Sadducees and the Pharisees.  These were the senior teachers (rabbis) and had graduated from years of being Scribes.  Here is where confusion concerning the resurrection was introduced.  The former did not believe in a resurrection while the latter did (Matt 22:23, Mark 12:18 & Luke 20:27).  I have heard it said that is why they were “sad, -you-see.”  The top levels of the Jewish religion was the High Priest and the leadership council called the Sanhedrin.  Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea and Saul of Tarsus (Paul) were oft mentioned members of the Sanhedrin.   

Paul says in verses 12-19, if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not raised, and we are guilty of teaching false doctrine.  Further, if the dead in Christ have already perished, we are of all people most miserable.  Notice that he had already established there were more than 500 people who were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus.   

Is There an Order of the Resurrection? 

First Corinthians 15:20-24 starts out as if it is transitioning out of the question discussing whether there is resurrection and whether Christ had risen.  He opens with, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of them that slept” (15:20).  The Greek word for “slept” here is koimáō and means to be put to sleep as in death.  The verse means that Jesus has become the first of all to come back from the dead – resurrect.  Paul reasons that death has come upon the human race because of man, so by man shall come the resurrection from the dead.  He explains that the man who brought death was Adam through his sin (the wages of sin is death – Rom 6:23a).  Further, the resurrection that comes from man is in the man Jesus Christ and through Him comes resurrection to all people (The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ – Rom 6:23b).   

Now, here is the answer to the question regarding the order of resurrections.  Jesus was obviously the first resurrection, and verse 23 says “afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.”  Verse 24 adds and, “Then cometh the end, when He shall m\have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father.”  So, there are three events talked about here.  In Revelation 20:5-6, John talks of a resurrection that will take place just before the thousand-year reign of Christ (the Millennium).  John says in Verse 5, “This is the first resurrection.”  If the first resurrection applies to Jesus and the first resurrection applies to those raised at the end, then all three of these events must be parts of the first resurrection.     

The first resurrection, part 1 would have been the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The first resurrection, part 2 is the one Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:23 as, “afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” and in I Thessalonians 4:13-18 concluding as, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  John describes this event in Revelation 4:1 as, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”   

The first resurrection, part 3 is described here by Paul as, “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father” (1 Cor 15:24).  This is the one mentioned by John in Revelation 20:5-6, above.  So, Jesus’ resurrection took place three days after His crucifixion, the Rapture of the Church (first resurrection, part 2) takes place just before the Tribulation Period, and the Second Coming of Christ takes place just before the Tribulation Period, completing the full resurrection of humankind.  “And so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:17).  

Why Does Paul Mention Baptism for the Dead? 

After Paul talks about the order of resurrection for all believers, living and dead, and how the Son delivers all power and authority for the kingdom over to God, the Father, He asks the question, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Cor 15:29).  Paul’s question has caused some confusion to the point that at least one denomination researches everyone’s ancestry to allow its members to be “proxy baptized” for their dead ancestors by stating their name when baptized instead of their own.  While the Greek word for dead here (nekrós) certainly makes it clear they were talking about the diseased, Paul is asking about why we should continue to add people to the Christian roles to make up for the vacancies caused by those who have died, if those who die are not raised from the dead?”  Why not just let the membership fall to zero as current believers die and not try to replace them?”   

Why Does Paul Mention Baptism for the Dead?  (Cont.)

This interpretation is proven by looking at the next two questions Paul asks in the same Scripture.  The first one is “And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?”  That is, why should I risk my life to defend this faith if those who die will never be raised?  Look at the send question, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.”  In both questions, Paul is asking why he should continue to risk his life for a faith that is not true.  He has already testified how and in what order every believer, living and dead, will be raised from the dead.  If all his testimony regarding resurrection is false, how does being a Christian advantage him at all?  He would just be believing and teaching a lie.   

So, the correct interpretation is not why should we baptize for the dead, but why should we replace those Christians who have died if there is no advantage to being a Christian?  Paul is saying that if none of the resurrections explanation is true, why should we try to lead more people to be part of our faith.  Once they die out, we should let Christianity die as well, if there is no resurrection.   

What Kind of Bodies Will We Have When Raised?

 This question is encountered frequently.  As people get older, before they leave for the next world, their current bodies age, the brain slows down and there may be one or more parts missing because of war, accidents or simple wear and tear.  People want to know what kind of bodies they will have when they are raised or transformed.  Paul begins his answer by using comparisons to agriculture and space. 

First Corinthians 15:35 states, “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?”  Paul suggests they are being foolish if they think the body that they sow (bury) will be that which is reaped (raised at Jesus’ coming).  He draws an example from agriculture by saying that the seed we plant in the ground is not that which we harvest in time (vs. 15:37).  For example, the tiny seeds we sow yield the grain which we harvest.  

He continues that flesh is not always the same flesh.  There is the flesh of a person, or the flesh of a fish, or the flesh of birds (vs. 15:39).  They are all different kinds of flesh.  Then He talks about the different glories of bodies like celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies or of the sun, moon or stars (vs. 15:41).  Paul summarizes by saying that this flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption (vs, 50).  Paul says when the Lord comes for us, we will not all die but we will all be changed.  The corruptible will put on incorruption and the mortal will put on immortality (vs 53).  So, our new bodies will no longer age, decay or become weak.  We will transition to a new body which is immortal.  We will live forever with Jesus because our new bodies will last that long.  Our bodies will have no end, nor will they age or suffer illnesses. 

One movie I saw showed a little boy who had died and seen Heaven before he awoke and returned to life.  He told his father he met his grandfather who had died even before the boy was born.  Trying to test his comment, the father showed the little boy a picture of his grandfather to identify.  The little boy looked at the picture and said, “It’s hard to tell daddy, no one in Heaven wears glasses.”  That about sums up what Paul is saying.  Not that the movie had final credibility, but that it serves as a visual example of Paul’s statement.   

Understand the Context (1 Thess 5:1-11) 

The Apostle Paul was holding fast to his role as the founder of the church at Thessalonica and its initial needs for understanding the mission, hearing encouraging words regarding their early successes and receiving gentle corrections for any deviation from that mission.  Chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians fits these criteria perfectly and follows the order set by Chapters 3 and 4.  Chapter 3 stayed on message by encouraging members to continue the amazing growth they had been experiencing while increasing their dedication to loving themselves and loving others.  One sure way of showing that love was to minister to the needs of the people both inside and outside the church.   

Chapter 4 had three significant messages for the successful church:  First, Paul insisted that they continue to pursue their personal sanctification (4:1-8).  Once a person is justified in Christ, they are expected to see that act of God as both a completion of charges of sin against them, and a beginning of transitioning their lives into a constant pursuit of making themselves more holy for the Lord. 

Second, Paul pointed out their successes in loving themselves and those outside the church whether they were Christians or prospective Christians (4:9-12).  Paul exhorted them to employ those methods they had learned from God but also from his earlier, albeit far too short, visit during the establishment of the church.   

And third, Paul wanted them to fix their attention on the inevitable return of Jesus Christ for His Church (4:13-18).  They had evidently received false word that if a person died before the return of Christ, they would lose any blessings which might have come through living until He returned.  So, he refreshed the training on the certainly of Jesus’ return, that those who died in Christ would go ahead of those who were still living when He returned, and that any who did remain living until Christ returned would join those already resurrected to return to Heaven with the Lord.   

Chapter 5 comes at that point to exhort them not to focus so hard on the blessings of the coming of the Lord that they lose sight of the fact that their great joy would initiate the judgement and condemnation of those without Christ.  He wanted them to know that the promised joy they would experience was not promised to those not knowing Christ.  The Christian love for others would continuously drive them to reach out to those without Christ. 

Warning Issued (1 Thess 5:1-3) 

So, Paul starts by restating what they already knew about the Second Coming of Christ.  First, the Lord told us that the times and the seasons of His Second Coming were not to be known by us but only by His Father in Heaven (Acts 1:7).  It was always clear that He had no intention of announcing a specific time for the Rapture or the Second Coming.  Second, with the behavior of humankind being fairly well known and predictable, we would perform quite differently if we knew the exact date of these events.  Many would tend to live like the devil until the time of the Lord.  So, the standard for consistent Christian living is simply that we should live in a constant state moving forward in sanctification, anticipating the Lord’s Coming soon but being prepared to live our complete lifetime.  

Paul repeats the idea that the Lord will return like a thief in the night.  Like that situation, if we knew when the thief was coming, we would prepare to meet him with sufficient might to discourage the thief from ever robbing your home, again.  Of course, good stewardship of what we have should cause us to be ready to prevent the thief at any time.  Some will install surveillance systems.  Others will hire security contractors.  The Lord wants us to practice our stewardship in a way that we are always prepared but not so preoccupied with the Lord’s Return that we cannot work on other aspects of our walk for the Lord.  

The example in verse 3 is that of a group always wishing everyone peace and security, believing that is the case.  But when unexpected challenges come up; challenges they had not prepared for, they would be destroyed.  So, if we live in the false security of peace and safety, we will be very susceptible to harm from unexpected events.  If we prepare for those challenges, we could relax even when the bad things happens because we were prepared.  Paul mixes another metaphor in the sentence by introducing a pregnant woman.  There is certainly no doubt in the woman’s mind that there will be a birth coming and the larger she gets, the more she will be sure that birth is near.  Nevertheless, she must plan her trip and transportation to the hospital no matter how far she believes she is from the gestation period.  Lack of preparation in her situation could cost the life of the child and maybe her own.   

Alertness Required (1 Thess 5:4-8) 

Paul assures the Thessalonians that he knows they are not like the people described above.  They are not in the dark, nor will they be unprepared when the Coming of the Lord takes place.  He believes that these people cannot be surprised by the Lord’s return as some might be.  They are prepared for the thief in the night no matter when he comes.  They are children of the light and of the day and not the darkness or the night.  In verse 6 Paul says, therefore, we will not sleep in false security as others might do.  Rather, we will stay alert and be very serious (sober) about the Lord’s coming. 

In verse 7, when he references “they,” he is talking about those people that are in darkness.  They are the ones who will sleep and have their senses dulled by alcohol or drugs.  They do these things at night when they believe they are safe and secure because of what they have been told through false doctrine.  Paul assures us that we are not like that (5:8).  Rather, we are people of the light.  We are serious people.  We wear the breastplate of faith and love that protects all our vital organs.  And on our heads, we wear the helmet of hope and salvation to prevent any damage to our brain or senses.  

These are pieces of protective armor that a person would wear if they thought they were going into a battle.  Notice that when we, the children of the light, enter in to battle, the protection that covers our major organs and our heads, are protection provided by our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Paul’s mention of our faith, love, hope and salvation provides many of the Gifts of the Spirit Paul listed in Galatians 5:22-25.  There he says, “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:22-25). 

Understand the Context (1 Thess 5:12-28) 

The Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians concludes with this set of Scripture.  Paul purposely details the return of Jesus Christ for His church in a unique way to clearly segregate two separate and distinct returns of Christ.  The first was one was detailed in last week’s study and is called the Rapture, the Rapture of the Saints or the Rapture of the Church (1 Cor 15: 51-58, 1 Thess 4:13-18 & Rev 4:1).  In this event, Jesus returns on a cloud, never touching the earth, and brings the souls of the dead believers with Him.  Their bodies are raised from their graves as the cloud descends toward the earth, and their souls and bodies are reunited in the air.  Then, the bodies of the living believers are changed and taken up in the cloud with the Lord and the resurrected dead believers to Heaven.  Paul’s summary words on the Rapture are documented in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 as, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 

The second event is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ when He returns in power and majesty at the end of time (Rev 19).  In this event, He returns from heaven on a mighty white steed, sporting a two-edged sword, with the angels of glory and all His followers from all time to establish His kingdom on earth.  The descriptions of these two events make it impossible to confuse one for the other.  The Rapture comes immediately prior to the seven-year Tribulation Period while Jesus’ Second Coming happens immediately after the Tribulation and ushers in the Millennial Period.  At His second Coming, the Beast (Antichrist) and the False Prophet are cast into the Lake of Fire, which is the Second Death, to never be heard of again.  Satan is chained for the entire 1,000-year reign of Christ.  Believers are exhorted to remain alert for the approach of these two events.     

In this section of Scripture, Paul completes the letter by addressing practical topics for the believers at Thessalonica given their knowledge of the Rapture and the Second Coming.  He looks at the overwhelming progress of these young believers and opens the topic of spiritual maturity.  By any other name, sanctification is the process of spiritual growth from its starting point in justification to its ending point in glorification.  It means “being made holy” and lasts throughout the life of the believer from spiritual birth to physical death.  It is that life-long spiritual growth process that is addressed in Paul’s writing in this final study in 1 Thessalonians.  Justification and Glorification are events.  They take place at a specific time and are completed instantaneously.  Sanctification is not an event; it is a process.  It begins at the believer’s justification and ends at the believer’s glorification.  It last as long as the believer lives after being justified.  Paul transitions to discuss the process of sanctification in this set of Scripture.   

Respecting (1 Thess 5:12-13) 

Verse 12 starts the discussion with Paul saying we need to look around us at those people who play the roles of leadership in our lives.  They are the ones who work around us.  Some of them are appointed over us and they have the responsibility to admonish or direct us in the way we should go.  Paul directs us to get to know who these people are and to pay attention to what they are doing and saying to help us move forward in the Lord.  We are compelled to accept the fact that these people are supernaturally appointed to see things happening in our spiritual lives that we may not be able to see because we are too close to notice them.  By them seeing and reporting these areas for improvement, we can spend more time fixing them than continuing to add more and more new tasks without completing older tasks.

So, as verse 13 says we are to esteem these people highly and have great respect for the work they do.  This is important as a part of being a complete Christian just as Paul said in his letter to the Church at Rome, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).  It is not only God’s will that all people are born again, but that all people grow in Christ throughout their walk after becoming Christians (1 Tim 2:4 & 2 Pet 3:9).  The process of causing all things to work together for good requires many people and events that the Lord works to provide opportunities for the proper growth at the proper time for His development plan (sanctification) of all believers born again in Him.  So, as we recognize these God-sent people in our lives, we must hold them in high regard because they are sent by God for our development at just the right time.  If we will do this instead of battling against God’s plan for us, we will generate an environment of peace and tranquility between all those around us.  This will also multiply the effectiveness of God working His plan for us with those He sends.  Resisting those He sends is counter to His will and always causes misunderstandings and delayed growth.  We must accept the fact that God will always win regardless of how hard we might try to achieve our personal will rather than His will.

Accountable (1 Thess 5:14-15) 

As Paul opens the topic of accountability, he provides a list of actions for fellow believers to take to honor his exhortation for us.  This list is to, “warn them that are unruly, comfort the febbleminded (sic), support the weak and be patient toward all men” (1 Thess 5:14).  Notice first that each of the groups of people we are to deal with is comprised of people with some kind of challenge to doing business with them.  That is, whether we are dealing with the unruly, the febbleminded, the weak or those requiring extra patience, Paul is exhorting fellow believers (brethren) to respond to each of these with the appropriate way of best dealing with their special case.  It seems that the unruly are the majority case in dealing with crowds of people.  They are the ones who come already excited by something.  They are bothered, troubled, anxious, irritated, or angry by something that happened before they came to us. 

Paul’s exhortation is that we warn the unruly.  The warning might well include some remedy for what brought them to their state of unruliness.  If at all possible, it would be best to solve the problem rather than disregarding it.  It might be that his unruliness was caused by someone or something within your organization or control.  If we believe the fruits of the spirit are key to the way we always behave, then “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance” should be our common response to all people” (Gal 5:22-23, KJV].

How to react to Paul’s exhortation to comfort the feebleminded begins with whom the feebleminded might be.  The Greek language gives us the word oligópsychos.  The first part of this word is actually a degree of the second word, i.e., small or little.  The second part of the word psychos clearly deals with a state of the mind.  So, we are looking at a person who might small minded.  Our response is no different.  The fruits of the spirit apply here as well.  The small minded may require a little more patience than those of higher IQ.  Nevertheless, what is required is what we are to give to deal effectively with these people.

Third in the list is how we are to deal with the weak – support the weak.  The Greek word asthenḗs uses definitions like impotent, without strength or sick.  We need to support these people to assist or provide assistance for them to do the business they came to do with us.   

Paul then goes to the general case in suggesting how we deal with all people, i.e., be patient.  Verse 15 continues in the same vein, but he changes from exhorting us to behave in beneficial ways to all we meet but includes the words “see that” suggesting we require the same behaviors of those who work for or assist us in doing the work we do.  We are to make sure that no one renders evil for evil, but rather, that we see that our people endeavor to do that which is good not only within our own group, but to all people, as well.  

Accountable (1 Thess 5:14-22) 

In verses 16-22, Paul seems to return to instructions for the individual rather than the group.  Verses 16 and 17 are two of those Bible verses very easy to memorize because they contain only two and three words, respectively.  Verse 16 is “rejoice evermore” and 17 is “pray without ceasing.”  It seems that one of the best ways to deal with others is to make sure we have dealt with ourselves in preparation.  Having spirts of rejoicing and prayer focus separately on controlling oneself and appealing to God for the people to which we will be trying to serve.  It is the attitude we want to have as we enter the situation of dealing with other people.  Being glad (rejoicing) over the work we have been assigned and constantly interceding for the people we are about to interface sets a great stage for setting up a positive interaction with those we meet.

Verses 18-22 contain a checklist for holding ourselves accountable for the work we do, especially when we are required to deal with others.  The first element is to “give thanks for everything” (vs. 18).  Starting any assignment with gratitude for having the assignment is a great way to control how we approach the task.  Here Paul says, “this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning us.”  He can speak with authority on God’s will because of his demonstrated focus on doing God’s will regardless of what it costs him.  Further, when it comes to our walk with Christ, simply knowing what He went through on our behalf is sufficient to engender a spirit of gratitude in our hearts.  And, that gratitude is easily passed on to those with whom we interact.

When it comes to Paul’s words against quenching the spirit, they drive a two-way approach.  It would require that we do not quench our spirit, nor do we quench the spirit within others.  If we can maintain a godly spirit on both sides of the table, the spirit of the entire interaction has a good chance of being positive throughout.  “Despising not prophesyings” means that we maintain a mindset of appreciation for the words of the leaders before us.  The prophets are repeating words they have received from God.  Those attuned to the voice of God and His words for the future are worthy of our ears.  The value of the prophecies from the past can set a methodology for the current tasks.  

The last two verses (21 and 22), speak to methodologies for how to keep one’s heart and mind under control.  First, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” is an exhortation to test everything we use as parts of doing a task.  Those things must be tested and tried before using the techniques or methods on an assigned task.  Note that it says to hold fast to that which is good.  “Good” implies that the test was successful.  When tried and tested, the material being tested successfully passed the testing and is proven worthy of use.   Use these things.  “Abstaining from all appearance of evil” sets the bar appropriately higher than most would set it.  Those concerned about maximizing performance credibility while minimizing hypocrisy will want to go beyond simply meeting the required limits.  There can be no giving in on what people around us think about our ethics.  There can be no question concerning the quality of person God will use in a position of leadership.

Understand the Context (2 Thess 1:1-12) 

First Thessalonians ended with Paul’s address on several practical topics for everyday living for the born-again believers in the young church he was forced to leave behind.  Not more than two years later, Paul pens his second letter to the church at Thessalonica.  This one, as with the earlier letter, was sent documenting his blessings along with those of Silas and Timothy.  It too opens with his customary blessings and a prayer for grace and peace.   

This letter adds further declarations of his concern for the young church.  He speaks of his deep gratitude for their demonstrations of love and spiritual growth spoken of by many of the new churches.  Clearly, they are becoming a model for the other churches.  He was also very much aware that the same hard persecution that caused him to leave Thessalonica was a constant burden on these new believers.  He claims to feel their pain but anyone reading the histories of Paul’s work in Acts 16 and 17 are aware that he actually lived their pain.  So, he appreciated their perseverance in pain and encouraged them to continue in their great faith.  That action would allow them to bring great glory to Jesus Christ.  

Thankful (2 Thess 1:3-4) 

Paul speaks for Silas and Timothy to say they feel compelled to express their appreciation to the members of the church at Thessalonica.  Not only do they feel compelled, but it is appropriate in light of their extraordinary responses to the challenges on their young Christian lives.  The way their faith is growing and the great love they show for each other exceed the expectations of all involved whether directly involved with them or observing from a distance.  Paul is proud of these behaviors because he recognizes the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of this church and the characteristics of its growth.  Having originally founded this church and being forced to leave quickly modified Paul’s plan for early discipleship of this church's members.  Without that initial discipleship, new Christians might fall back from the church or enter some combination of their new faith and their previous activities with various cults.  But the opposite was taking place with the church at Thessalonica.  Instead of falling back from Christianity, these new Christians became supercharged by the Spirit and were moving forward as aggressively as any had seen.  These facts help us understand why Paul, Silas and Timothy felt so absolutely bound to thank God always for them. 

Verse 4 is almost predictable as Paul states that he, Silas and Timothy not only glory in the reputation they have earned among the other churches but also in the fact that these accomplishments are being made while experiencing vile persecution and tribulation.  All three missionary team members have personal experience with these problems at Thessalonica.  Recall that the persecution was so intense that the missionary team was forced to leave long before the plans were accomplished.  It was not of any surprise that the large number of conversions to Christ while the missionary team was there would have generated sizable teams of new Christians in and around the city.  These Christian converts were the source of formalizing the early converts and making more converts to the faith as time moved on.  So, the impact of the losses to Synagogues and practicing cults were multiplied by the work of the new Christians.  Their persecution and tribulations were designed to stop their growth and minimize their growth.

Avenged (2 Thess 1:5-10) 

Paul knows from extensive experience that the persecution and trials the young church is allowed to live through will be used by God to strengthen and grow the new church much faster than an unchallenged church.  The Lord’s half-brother, James expresses it this way, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).  Paul documented the same knowledge saying, “3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom 5:3-5).  In Verse 5 here, Paul advises the young church that God, in His flawless judgment will use these challenges to establish proof for the church that He will not only use for individual growth but also to assure the church of their worthiness of the Kingdom of God.  Further, He will cause suffering for those who are responsible for their pain and see that they feel the tribulation that they are forcing on the Thessalonians.   

Paul assures the Thessalonians that they can find rest him and the other leaders of the missionary team as they look forward to the Lord being revealed from Heaven at His return in power with His mighty angels.  It will be at this time that vengeance will find the persecutors who do not know God and will not receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He will then show them their everlasting destruction in their complete separation from the Lord and His glorious power forever (vss7-8).  During the same time, God is visiting vengeance on the unbelievers, He will come in glory with His saints to be admired of all those who believe because they accepted the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Paul shared with them during that earlier time (vs. 10).  

Understand the Context (2 Thess 2:1-12) 

A large part of 1 Thessalonians was dedicated to Paul’s lauding of the great progress the members of the church was making despite the vile and severe persecution they faced at the hands of the Jews of the synagogue and the pagans of the cult temples.  The church continued to grow and the numbers attending the synagogue and the cult temples were decreasing significantly.  Nevertheless, the members of the church persevered and grew in faith and patience.  So notable was their faithfulness and patience that it was bringing glory not only to themselves but to Paul and his team as well as the Lord, Himself.  It was almost as if persecution and tribulation served as stimuli for the member’s continued perseverance.     

In last week’s study of 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, we saw the second letter begin with the same thoughts found in 1 Thessalonians.  It could have been due to an introduction style for the second letter to be based on a review of the first.  But, it also added a transition to living life in the knowledge of the return of Christ for His church.  Evidently, there were a set of false teachings suggesting that Christ had already returned, and they were somehow left behind.  Once again, the false teachers were determined to frustrate and divide the church by using an incorrect doctrine of Christ’s return as a tool.  So here (verses 2:1-12), Paul repeats some of the earlier teachings for the sake of clarification.  His objective, of course, was to maintain the unity of the church and encourage their continued focus on church growth and evangelism.  He reviews God’s plan and hopes the church will receive it to maintain that unity and focus on continued success.  Paul knows that the preaching of sound doctrine will lead to the rejection of heretical teaching.   

Even though there was no truth to the doctrine of an earlier return of Christ, the resulting doubt impacted robbed the church of its primary focus.  The appearance of false doctrine and/or bogus teaching continues to plague the church, today.  It hinders unity and stunts growth the same way it did in Paul’s day.  Dedication to teaching sound, biblical truth prevents false doctrine. 

Remembering (2 Thess 2:1-5) 

Second Thessalonians 2:1-2 states the issue right up front.  Paul strongly encourages the church members saying, “Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and how we will be gathered to meet him.  [Do not] be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. [Do not] believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us” (2 Thess 2:1-2, NLT).  The false teaching, regardless of its source, alarmed the church because it implied that the coming of the Lord about to happen (Barnes & Ellicott Commentaries).  Paul’s clarification comes in verse 3.  There are at least two things that need to happen before the Lord would return.  The first was a great falling away from the faith, and the second was the revealing of the man of sin or the son of perdition.  It would be obvious to the Thessalonians that there was no great turning away from the faith; to the contrary, their church was growing by leaps and bounds and the excitement of continuing in that growth showed no change for the foreseeable future.  The man of sin and son of perdition are names for the Antichrist, and there were no matches for this man’s characteristics in Paul’s latter description (vs. 4).  Barnes Commentary says, “When that time should come, then that ‘wicked’ one would be revealed with such an impact that he could not be mistaken for anyone else.”     

Here Paul presents his description of the Antichrist with, “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”  Given that there may be a few obnoxious people who would oppose God and exalt himself above God, there are none that have claimed to be God and sat in authority in God’s Temple at Jerusalem.  Paul is saying that these things must take place before Christ comes for us.  Revelation 13:1-10 describe the first beast – the Antichrist, while verses 11-18 describe the second beast which has power to animate the statue of the first.  Traditionally, the first beast is said to be the Antichrist and the second is said to be False Prophet (Beckwith, Charles, Caird, Kiddle, Pieters, Barclay, Farrer, Morris).  Paul finishes his discussion about the Antichrist and his relationship to Christ’s return with verse 5.  Here he reminds the Thessalonians that he had told them all these things when he was with them in Thessalonica during his Second Missionary Journey.   

Timing (2 Thess 2:6-8) 

Second Thessalonians 2:6 is veiled in apocalyptic language of prophecy.  The answer to “what withholdeth” (KJV), we now know to be the Holy Spirit that blocks the revealing of the “man of sin” or “son of perdition.”  Only God can prevent the evil one from being revealed or revealing himself.  In more modern language, verse 6 reads, “And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes” (2 Thess 2:6, NLT).  So, the Holy Spirit is holding back the revealing of the man of sin or the son of perdition, and he cannot be revealed until God releases him when God determines the time is right.   

Verse 7 talks about the fact that the mystery of that iniquity is already at work on Earth.  In other words, the spirit of antichrist is already at work here.  The Bible mentions the Antichrist and the spirit of the Antichrists as being among us as early as the fist century AD.  John says, “Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come” and “And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. (1 John 2:18 & 22, NLT).  He says in 1 John 4:3, “But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”  And in 2 John 1:7, “I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.”  So, the Apostle John sees antichristian behavior and people who act like the Antichrist as being in the world even in the first century.  This is not the same as the release of the Antichrist that Paul is reporting in 2 Thessalonians 2:6.    

Notice how Paul writes of the individual who is the Antichrist.  He says, “only he who now letteth [will let], until he is taken out of the way” (vs. 7).  In other words, the Holy Spirit who currently prevents the revealing of the Antichrist, will continue to prevent his revealing until He is told the time is right to release him.  Only the Father can issue that command (Acts 1:6-7).  When He does, verse 8 explains “then shall that Wicked be revealed.”  The Wicked, or more completely, that Wicked one who the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and He shall destroy him with the brightness of His coming.  John tells us in the Revelation 19:20, “And the beast [Antichrist] was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”  So, that is what Paul was talking about when he said that the Wicked was the one that the Lord would consume with the spirit of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 

Understand the Context (2 Thess 2:13-3:5) 

Paul had responded to questions on the Rapture of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  He was sure to respond specifically to questions concerning what would happen to believers who had already died before Christ returned for the church.  He stated that the dead in Christ would be raised first, and they would not go ahead of those who were alive.  He said the spirits/souls of the dead would return on the cloud as Jesus returned and their bodies would be raised to complete the resurrection of the dead in Christ.  Their new, completed bodies would be joined in the air by those who were alive and changed in Christ,  Then all return to Heaven with the Lord.  Paul even added the words, “Therefore comfort yourselves with these words” (1 Thess 4:18).   

Nevertheless, new questions came to Paul from Thessalonica saying that false teachers were spreading the word that the Lord had already come, and Paul was keeping it secret.  So effectively, the Rapture would only impact those currently living in Christ.  While this problem might seem small because Paul’s words are so clear, it is far too common, even today.  Many people feel that “reading the instructions” is the very last thing to do.  Therefore, they listen to the gossip or “word of mouth” and place more credibility on those sources than the written words directly from an Apostle of Christ.  I have personal experience with this mind set from my days of being a young father.  On the night before Christmas, there was always the myriad of toys “requiring some assembly.”  They would have to be put together before the children would rise to claim their gifts.  I would charge ahead at full speed to assemble the toys only to discover that there was a secret, subtly hidden line in the depths of the instructions that I never noticed.  Hours later, my wife would point it out in time for a last-minute rescue and recovery of the Christmas toys.   

Here, the secret was not discrete nor subtly hidden.  It was two things overtly written and taught that must take place before the Rapture could happen.  First was the requirement for the church to experience a great falling away from the faith.  The Second would be the revealing of the Antichrist whom Paul labels “the man of sin” or “the son of perdition.” Neither of these things had taken place, so the Rapture was still in the future, just as it is for us.  The Antichrist would rise to great power as he is revealed at the beginning of the Tribulation Period.  His greatness would peak during the Tribulation and fall as Jesus’ Second Coming as He would cause him and the False Prophet to be cast into the Lake of Fire – the second death.  Satan would be chained for a thousand years while born-again believers in Christ would reign with Him for the Millennial Period on Earth. 

The last section establishing the context of our study for today is Paul’s commitment to the long-term love and prayer for the continued strength of the Thessalonian Christians.  In their short lives as a church, they would become internationally known for their love, faith and perseverance in the face of terrible persecution.  Paul prays that their standard for strength, faith and embracing of truth would become the church’s standard throughout God’s realm (2 Thess 3:1-5). 

Be Steadfast (2 Thess 2:13-15) 

Second Thessalonians 2:13 begins Paul’s focus on praising and encouraging the church at Thessalonica.  By now we know and recognize Paul’s methodology for building up churches and encouraging them to do more of the great things they were doing while holding fast to the high standards Jesus set for churches and individuals.  First, he wants every member of that new Thessalonian church to know that the leadership of Christianity is dedicated to prayer for their specific needs as a young church.  He recognizes them as brothers in Christ, and as such, beloved of the Lord.  Paul says that his missionary team thanks God that He chose the Thessalonians to be among the first to experience salvation in their region.  It was “to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess 2:13b).  Jamieson, Fausset & Brown say the word “But” in verse 13 is in delightful contrast to the damnation of the lost in verse 12 (2 Thess 2:12-13) and where the "salvation" of Paul's converts securely stand.     

Notice that Paul sees a joint work of salvation between the Spirit’s salvation through making them holy and the internal work of the Spirit through the believers’ personal belief in truth.  Further, it is in that sanctification that God called them by the Gospel of Jesus Christ as preached by Paul’s Missionary Team (vs. 14).   

Paul finished the 14th verse by saying it is this kind of sanctification that pushes through to the believers’ obtaining or sharing in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul’s exhortation is simply, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word (when the Team was with them) or our epistle (which was written shortly thereafter) when the team moved on” (vs 15, author parentheses). 

Be Encouraged (2 Thess 2:16-17) 

Second Thessalonians 2:16-17 finish the chapter in a short benediction for the readers.  Starting out with the word “now” forces a look back to see what came before.  It reminds us that it was the Lord Jesus Christ (the Son) and God (even our Father) that have loved us enough to give us this everlasting consolation and good hope through His grace.  Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”  The Lord recognized from the beginning that humankind would find it difficult to accept the free gift of salvation through God’s grace.  Nearly every week, we can hear testimonies of the efforts of people in some great accomplishment as if they were responsible for it.  We often forget to give credit to the Holy Spirit Who was the free gift of God and Who empowered whatever that achievement might have been.  Our primary achievement in accomplishing great things for God is to learn how to submit our wills to His and praise Him for what He does if we will just let Him use us.  The second most important attribute for accomplishing great things through God is to have sufficient faith to believe He can and will do what we ask in His will.     

The love God gives us in consolation, hope, grace, spiritual comfort and strength to remain steadfast in our walks with Him is the source of unlimited power to achieve His will.  Even that, however, is hard for the ego of humankind to believe.  The thought of having that kind of power living inside us is always difficult to understand.  And that lack of understanding can be multiplied when we learn that the key to releasing that power is submission rather than domination.  I recall the old Greyhound Bus Company commercial, “Relax and leave the driving to us.”  So it is with successful achievement in the Lord.  The more power we try to exert in doing the work of the Lord, the less spectacular the result.  “Leaving the driving to Him” is the key to extraordinary accomplishment in the Lord.  One of the simplest sets of lyrics I know is also the greatest message: “I’m Learning to lean, learning to lean, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.  Finding more power, than I’d ever dreamed, I’m learning to lean on Jesus.”  Think about it. 

Be Prayerful (2 Thess 3:1-2) 

In Chapter 3, Paul switches from ministering to the church at Thessalonica to asking for help with the ministry for the larger cause; the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Where he starts on this topic is sure to surprise many of those receiving or reading this letter.  Paul is the church planter, the leader of this second missionary journey.  He is the one whose prayers are desired of everyone he meets.  But now, Paul is asking prayer for those who are working the larger ministry of spreading the Gospel and starting new churches.  Paul starts with requesting prayer that the word of the Lord would have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with those at Thessalonica.  Paul has understood his dependence on prayer from that first day on the road to Damascus where he met Jesus face-to-face.  He learned that prayer changes things, and that the mighty hand of the Lord can reach into and bless every situation no matter where or with whom those efforts deal.  Prayer and God’s response to prayer can make the difference in every endeavor of humankind.  He is the one who decides when doors for the presentation of the Gospel are opened or closed.  Here, Paul asks for prayer that those doors be opened.   

Prayer in God’s direction proves the submission and dependence of a person on his or her Creator.  There is no limit to where the prayer of a submitted believer can reach and no limit to the power of God’s response to those prayers (James 5:16).  In this case, Paul asks for prayer that God’s word would have free course, that it would bring glory to Him and His Christ, and that it would minister to other new churches the way it has ministered to the church at Thessalonica.  Paul spent a lot of time and energy announcing to everyone how the faith and love at Thessalonica exceeded all expectations he had even as the founder.  He was forced away so soon after he founded the church that he had little time to properly train the new converts on how God prepared people of His kingdom for the battle of delivering the Good News.    

That is how Paul transitions to verse 3:2.  He asks for prayer that they (Paul and his missionary teams) be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.  He knew firsthand that it is not the unreasonableness or wickedness of men who hinder the advancement of the Gospel message; rather, it is the influence of Satan that leads people who have no faith, to appose all that Paul attempts to do.  Every person Paul leads to convert from godlessness to Christianity, becomes an extremely powerful weapon for God to use against false religion or paganism.  The word “battle” is appropriately used for what happens when a person receives Christ as Savior and Lord.  Like Paul, once we realize we are supporting the works of the enemy rather than the work of God, we become dedicated to help as many others as possible escape that same bondage.  The enemy knows that all too well and knows the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and how much that Spirit has power over him.  In short, we become carriers of the only force that can successfully oppose and win battles against him (1 John 4:4).  We become dangerous against the enemy. 

Understand the Context (2 Thess 3:6-18) 

By now, the praise that Paul and many other across Christendom had for the believers at the Thessalonian Church has become enshrined (2 Thess 1:3-12).  They seemed to have supernatural strength in faith, love, perseverance and tenacity in the face of extraordinary persecution.  They had become the model or gold standard for new churches across the realm (2 Thess 2:1-12).  They were particularly strong in the end times theology and the truth of the return of Jesus Christ for His church.  

The Apostle Paul maintained his high praise for the faithfulness and perseverance of all those at the Thessalonian church throughout both letters to them.  The churches founded on the Second Missionary Journey as well as the First began to use the techniques and procedures used by the Thessalonians for growing and developing their churches, as well. 

They were plagued, however, by false teachers from the synagogue and the cults that were losing large numbers of their practitioners to the Christian Church.  Their target was the teaching of the doctrine of the end times.  The strength of the teaching on Christ’s return to take the Christians to Heaven with Him was compelling.  The false teaching was designed to nullify that strength by saying the return of Christ had already taken place and the dead in Christ was hopelessly left behind.  Paul corrected that teaching in his first letter (1 Thes 4:13-18), but the false teaching surfaced again focusing on the dead in Christ being left behind (2 Thes 2:1-5).  Paul exhorted the church to accept only what they received directly from Paul or the Missionary Team.  

Those favorably revieing this church were also impressed with their strength of their prayer lives (2 Thes 2:13-3.5).  He saw prayer was absolutely essential to successful Christian living.  He asked them to qualify teaching from any source by examining the personal witness of anyone claiming authoritative teaching from the Team.  He requested the church to reject those establishing any teaching against the teaching with apostolic credentials.  

Paul closed the teaching acknowledging the role of prayer, peace and God’s presence in the land.  He advertised the importance of this teaching by writing it with his own hand.  Paul’s imprisonment made personal writing very difficult.  He was chained to prison guards every hour of the day.  His progress and focus were hindered by this environment and his natural drive to evangelize slowed his writing but found many of the guard becoming Christians as they were “chained to the Gospel” for at least seven hours every day.  

Establish Standards (2 Thess 3:6-9) 

Paul had to enact new rules and regulations to respond to the strong influence of the false teachers.  Paul asked the leadership and members of the church to shun those who walked disorderly and not after the tradition which they received of Paul and the team (2Thes 3:6).  So, the methodology Paul selected to manage the false teaching was to arrest any person lived and idle (lazy) life or was following law or teachings contrary to that delivered by Paul, himself.  He continues in verse 7 saying that the Missionary Team set the example for living active Christian lives.  

Paul says the Thessalonians saw their example firsthand how the team never behaved in a disorderly or idle way while they served during the founding of the church.  He details what that meant in verse 8 that they never ate anything without paying for it.  Further, they worked and ministered day and night in order to keep from being a burden or become chargeable to any person in the church for anything.  Paul explains that this was not done because of any legal document or practice, but rather, in order to have their labor count toward the founding and building of the Church of Jesus Christ, and not for any person or entity (vs. 10).  The intended ministry was to establish the church and train the people to do the various works of the church to have them become independent without any burden to the Church at Jerusalem because they were taking collections for their own survival and were not able to support the new churches.  

In my ministry, as a member in churches in Utah and Colorado, the local Associations of Southern Baptist churches established training teams called Associational Sunday School Improvement Support and Training (ASSIST) Teams for helping the dozens of mountain churches in each association of churches.  In these mountain churches, attendance might be just a few dozen people and they needed formal training to help do the tasks they wanted, or thought they should, do.  The ASSIST Teams were made up of highly qualified teachers and leaders from the much larger churches (like my church of over fifteen hundred members).  The Team leaders would advertise to between twelve and twenty mountain churches to meet at one of the central churches for them.  The Team had trainers for all levels of Sunday School, evangelism, outreach, finances, management, Pastoral training and all the rest.  As each volunteer taught in their particular area of expertise, they also made formal contact, so the local leaders would have telephone or computer contacts in the larger churches to get more help after the formal training was completed.  The trainer typically worked for 3 to 4 hours in the field and did follow up as needed.  Often, there would also be a few conversions to Jesus Christ during the training.  The Team asked the host church to provide a potluck meal and a space for the meetings.  The Team volunteers brought all their own training materials and supplies including handout materials for the churches in the training.  Relationships were made that lasted years after the meetings.  

This was like Paul’s Missionary Team’s follow up meetings when they returned to churches to help them grow beyond the basic establishment level.  No one asked nor expected any payment for doing the training or providing the training material.  This is the kind of thing Paul and his teams were doing and why they did not expect any remuneration for their services. Now, Paul’s operation was a thousand times bigger.  He and his team were out for months and visited many more cities at significantly larger distances apart, but the understanding of what needed to be done can be had at this lower level.

Provide (2 Thess 3:10-12) 

Paul starts off with a very significant standard, “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thess 3:10).  He reflects on an earlier time when he was able to stay with the new church just a few weeks.  They had the same standard then. and the successes from it makes it sound a lot less harsh.  Paul adds more motivation for it in verses 11 and 12.  Verse 11 says that Paul has heard there are reasons to continue the standard.  He has advance notice that there remains “some which walk among you disorderly, not working at all, but are busybodies” (2 Thess 3:11).  

Actually, there are three issues here:  First is the fact that the “person” here seems to be in the plural.  That is, there are more than just one of them.  They walk among (or are a part of) this larger group of people, but they do not work at all, but rather, they walk disorderly among the people.  In the Greek, the word is atáktōs and means morally irregular; i.e., they misbehave and are disruptive.  Second, they do not work at all, and third they are busybodies (Greek: periergázomai) meaning they work around the job but not on the job, and they are meddlers – they get involved in other people’s business when they should be working.   

Paul’s solution is in verse 12 and suggests that these people are to correct their behaviors by working quietly, that is not talking to the others, and they are to supply their own bread (or food).  Recall that Paul’s original standard was that anyone who did not work, would not eat.  Thus, Paul is saying that their food would not be provided by the hosts providing the food for everyone else.  It seems almost antisocial to have people in the group that would require these actions just to keep them on track, but the work of the group has to be completed and all those receiving the benefit must contribute to task completion.  It seems that this small group of “busybodies” are not a part of the workforce, nor are they going to be fed with everyone else.  It is interesting that Paul says that are “commanding and exhorting this group by our Lord Jesus Christ” that they follow these instructions.  Some would wonder why this is not “taking the Lord’s name in vain?”  It stands as an oath of office or intent, and therefore, is the focus of strength for the commitment, not a curse.  This is great insight into how management may have looked in 51-52 AD.