Chapters 1-5 From The First Letter to the Thessalonians.
read here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/
meanings of terms:
Exegesis: This means the original context of the original author, what he intended to convey to the original audience.
Hermeneutics: application. How this correctly applies to us today, without violating the orginal intent.
The letter is written by the Apostle paul,
1Th 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
Paul's joy and commitment to the church comes through in these opening verses.
1Th 1:3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul joins together the principle of faith, which is belief, and right actions, which is the labour of love, for as Paul says in Romans, love fulfils the Law. So we see faith without deeds is dead.
1Th 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
This sixth verse shows the powerful example our lives are, either for good, as in this case, or for bad. Preach and live it correctly is the message.
1Th 1:9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
1Th 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
A true motive to come to Jesus. They came repenting for and from sin. They turned from idols, to the true and living God. Yet note the reception they gave Paul, the way they treat their Brethren their neighbours, this shows they loved God and his law, for he who loves God with all his heart shall love his neigbour as himself, also, we know we have passed from death to life, because we love the Brethren.
1Th 2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
the true motive for evangelism. They speak correctly to please God, not man. To many today please man and not God with their efforts.
Chapter three shows the depth of love that is shared by the church and Paul and his companions.
1Th 4:2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
1Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1Th 4:4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
1Th 4:5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1Th 4:6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
1Th 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
1Th 4:8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
A sobering message for us all. God is Holy, he is Lord. He loves us and has called us to be Holy, set apart, only used for his will. Lust is a monster that must be killed, as a wise man once said, be killing sin, or it will be killing you!
1Th 4:15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words
Paul looks now to Christ's return. A purifying subject, this is also intended to give hope and assurance to the Brethren who are likely to suffer for Christ in times to come.
1Th 5:16 Rejoice always,
1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing,
1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1Th 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.
1Th 5:20 Do not despise prophecies,
1Th 5:21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
1Th 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
1Th 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Th 5:24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it
The wisdom in these words is infinite. We are told that all of life is grace. we should rejoice at all times, for we are saved, we have the ultimate truth to rejoice about at all times, Jesus died and saved us!
Prayer is the engine room of the Spiritual life, the thing that connects us to God, it makes us more like him, it brings us low, yet raises us high. Many should heed these warnings today, test everything! many accept any teacher, or preacher without question it seems, yet if it is not Biblical reject it!
Holiness again is admonished. Through it all, Paul encourages them to conform, to willingly submit to God's will, as they had already done so, he asked for more...
I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers
Paul shows the significance of this letter. Love for Christ, displaying itself in all the right ways.
Praise God!
Martin R Gough.
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