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The Resurrection of the Righteous. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on October 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Series: Paul to the Thessalonians

We have been looking at 1 Thessalonians for a number of weeks and we are now in the final part of chapter 4, where Paul is going through a list of topics that need to be addressed. First was sex, or how we are to control our own bodies in holiness and honor. Next was mutual love, or how we should give generously to the needs of others, and how we ought not take advantage of such generosity to become idle busybodies.

Today the focus in on the resurrection of the righteous when Jesus returns. The second coming of Jesus is a big theme in 1 Thessalonians, mentioned in six different places. It also dominates 2 Thessalonians.

 But there was some confusion among the Thessalonians on the question –

What about the dead in Christ?

“13Now concerning those who are asleep, we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters.” Since Paul left, someone had died, or as he says here, fell “asleep. [Paul uses this metaphor for death  three times in these verses – vs. 13, 14, 15. This was a common euphemism for talking about death in Judaism and the Greek and Roman world. It also came to be connected with those who are waiting to be awakened at the resurrection – Daniel 12:2. See also Mark 5:39. He also speaks of “the dead in Christ” in v. 16.] But having a Christian die was distressing to the Thessalonians, because they’re not sure what that means for the person. 

As we will see in a moment, Paul has taught them the basics of the Olivet discourse from Jesus about his second coming and the resurrection (Matthew 24-25). And it’s true that here and elsewhere Jesus focuses on those living at the time of his coming. He doesn’t explicitly address the issue of the righteous dead (at least not in the first three gospels). So the question arose among them – ‘Will the dead in Christ take part in all that happens when Jesus returns?’

And apparently some thought not. And this led them to be full of grief for the one who had died. So Paul wants to teach them on this “ . . . that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” It’s true that in the Greek and Roman world there was very little hope for anything after death, except eternal sleep in the gloomy underworld. As one of them said, “Hopes are for the living, but the ones who die are without hope” (Theocritus). But as Christians we have hope.

So this is a place where Paul needs to supply what is lacking in their understanding (1 Thessalonians 3:10), given that he had to leave them so quickly. So he shares –

The story on those who have died

First, he appeals to the example of Jesus. “14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” Paul is saying, Jesus died too – but he rose again. And in the same way, because of the salvation that Jesus gives (“through Jesus”), God will bring with Jesus at his coming the dead in Christ, so that they can follow his pattern of first dying and then being raised.

So the dead in Christ are not left out. They will come with Jesus in order to be resurrected to new life. [When Paul says, “God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” are those “with him” already resurrected or do they come with him to be resurrected? Two things point to the latter: 1) The resurrection happens after Jesus descends from heaven – v. 16. But these are “with him” at his coming; at his descent. The idea, almost certainly, is that they come with Jesus from heaven, from their interim state, from being with him in heaven – Philippians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:8. 2) God does not “bring with” Jesus those who are already raised, but those who are identified as “asleep,” that is, those not yet resurrected.]

But this teaching is not just based on the example of Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is also supported by a word from the Lord. “15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord . . .” What’s this all about? As I said, there’s no saying of Jesus that explicitly addresses the dead in Christ. 

Rather, I believe that Paul is referring here to Zechariah 14:5 which is a part of a “word of the Lord” oracle (Zechariah 12:1). This says, “And the LORD my God will come and all the holy ones with him” (LXX).

  • The name, “LORD” or “Yahweh” is most often taken as a reference to Jesus, when Paul reads the Old Testament. So this speaks to Jesus’ coming.
  • The phrase “the holy ones” most often refers to the angels who are a part of “the assembly of the holy ones” in heaven (Psalm 89:5). But even in the Old Testament “holy ones” can also refer to the people of God. [In the LXX see Psalm 33(34):9 and Daniel 7:18, 21.] And Paul uses this particular phrase (the plural ῾οι ῾αγιοι as a substantive) to refer exclusively to believers or saints in his letters [38 times by my count with one instance of the singular – Philippians 4:21.] And he speaks of the dead in Christ as being “with Jesus” in several places (Philippians 1:26; 2 Corinthians 5:8), so this puts them in this assembly. They are a part of the “all” of his holy ones. [See also Hebrews 12:22-24, Revelation 4-5, 6:9-11.]
  • Finally, the dead in Christ, will come “with him.” They will come along with the rest of the host of heaven at his return. [Didache 16:7 quotes Zechariah 14:5 and clearly refers it to the resurrection of the dead in Christ.]

Notice the similarity of this to v. 14, “God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” His reasoning is, if  “all” the holy ones come with him, then the dead in Christ will come with him too.

[Paul clearly alludes to Zechariah 14:5 (LXX) already in 1 Thessalonians 3:13 – “at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones,” in the prayer that sets up this teaching section. (This can be seen in the Greek. Both use κυριος and both have similar phrase about the “holy ones” – Zechariah – πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι μετ’ αὐτοῦ; Paul – μετὰ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ – see Gordon Fee). Notice that it is cited in the context of praying that the Thessalonians will become holy.] [Although there is no word of Jesus that makes this precise point, which is the reason for confusion in the first place, given that Paul takes Yahweh as a reference to Jesus, it turns out that this is in a sense a word of Jesus.]

Paul goes on – “. . . that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Paul also concludes from this word of the Lord that since the dead in Christ descend with Jesus from heaven, even before the resurrection happens, they have a certain precedence over the living, who are still on earth at this point. They are first, because they are already with Jesus. [Those “who remain” might well mean those that are not already a part of the assembly of the holy ones with Jesus.]

So, not only do they take part in what happens when Jesus returns, they have a certain chronological priority.

Next, Paul gives the sequence of events that will happen when Christ returns and the righteous are raised. “16For 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. 17Then 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.”

Notice how this sequence is really just a summary of the Olivet discourse of Jesus from Matthew 24:30-31, which Paul had taught them when he was with them. [The connections with the Olivet discourse continue in 5:1-11, where Paul says that they know these things – 5:1-2.] 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Matthew 24:30-31
1. Jesus will descend from heaven 1. “The Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven”
2. A cry of command, the voice of an archangel 2. “And he will send out his angels”
3. The trumpet of God 3. “With a loud trumpet call”
The dead in Christ will rise first Zechariah 14:5
4. We who are alive will be caught up (resurrected) 4. The angels will “gather his elect from the four winds” (a common metaphor for resurrection)

But since Jesus doesn’t address the dead in Christ in the sequence, which caused the confusion for them, Paul adds in Zechariah 14:5. A word of the Lord that supplements and clarifies the teaching of the Olivet discourse on the place of the dead in Christ (in blue).

Paul also makes clear that this is a royal event. Several aspects of his description of it in vs. 15-17 point this out. For instance having an angel herald his coming and the blowing of a trumpet. Also, the word used here for “coming” makes this point. It means presence, coming or arrival. But it could also be used of the coming of a ruler or emperor on an official visit. Finally, the word “meet” has to do with an official delegation that goes out to welcome, and then escort a dignitary back into the city (Acts 28:15-16; Matthew 25:6). This will be the role of the living when Jesus comes. So the dead in Christ will be raised first, and the living will function as the welcoming committee.

The Thessalonians had welcomed Roman emperors to their city before, so they would know what Paul is talking about here. Except that here they will be welcoming the emperor of all creation to earth.

Paul’s message is – be encouraged! “18Therefore encourage one another with these words.” He has taught them that:

  • the dead will be a part of the events of the second coming
  • they will even have a certain priority in the order of resurrection
  • we will be “together with them” in the resurrection – v. 17
  • we will all be with the Lord forever – v. 17

And he has done so, “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” – v. 13.

[Why is there no discussion of a reunion with loved ones in the interim state? Most likely because of the contrast that controls this passage between the living and the dead. The living, as living ones, can only be reunited through the resurrection. If they die they can presumably be reunited in this way, but then they are no longer the living. Paul does not speak of a reunion in the interim state, perhaps because the real hope of the Christian is the resurrection. And also this isn’t the specific question being addressed. Rather it is, ‘Will the dead in Christ take part in the events of the second coming?’]

Finally, a few words on –

Hope and grief

Paul is not saying don’t grieve when a fellow Christian dies.

  • Jesus grieved for Lazarus, even though he knew he would be a part of the resurrection and even though he knew that he was about to raise him back to life  – John 11.
  • And in Philippians 2:27Paul spoke of the sorrow he would have had if his coworker, Epaphroditus had died, “sorrow upon sorrow.”
  • And we are told in Acts 8:2 that when Stephen was killed fellow believers “made great lamentation over him.”

It is perfectly fine and natural to grieve. Paul is simply saying don’t grieve like those who have no hope. The Christian who has died will be raised again to new life when Jesus returns. This tempers our grief and is a testimony to our strong belief in the salvation that Jesus brings. That we if we are dead when Jesus returns, we will awake. And if we are alive we will be caught up. And this should encourage us indeed.

May God make us to be a people of hope in a hopeless world. May we be a light to the world of a faith that even death cannot defeat. Amen.

William Higgins 

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Outline: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on October 27, 2012| 1 Comment »

A. Grief: 13Now concerning those who are asleep, we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

B. The dead will come with him: 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

C. The living will not precede the dead: 15For 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.

D. The coming of Jesus: 16For 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.

C1. The dead will be raised before the living: And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,

B1. The living will be with him: and so we will always be with the Lord.

A1. Hope: 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

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Mutual Love & Its Abuse. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Series: Paul to the Thessalonians

We are back to our series on Paul to the Thessalonians. Remember with me: Paul, Silas and Timothy ministered in Thessalonica, but had to leave because a mob was after them. Paul was concerned because he hadn’t finished giving these new converts all the teaching that he had intended. So he sent Timothy back to check on them. And now that Timothy has reported back to Paul, he is writing this letter in part to give them further instructions based on some concerns raised by Timothy’s report.

The first topic was sex, learning to control our own bodies in holiness and honor. Today the topic is mutual love or loving and helping each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. And as well how this love can be taken advantage of and misused by some.

Our passage begins with Paul –

 

Encouraging the practice of mutual love

“9 Now concerning mutual love . . .” [Paul has talked about their love several times before this: 1:3 – their “labor of love”; 3:6 – “the good news of your faith and love”; 3:12 – “may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all”] The word for love here is Philadelphia, which literally means love for one’s brothers and sisters. This word was used for the love that you are to have for your natural family. In the New Testament it is used for the love that we are to have for those who are in our faith family.

All throughout 1 Thessalonians Paul emphasizes that these new believers – Jews and Gentiles, and Gentiles of different backgrounds – are now a part of a new family because of their faith; he emphasizes that the church is a family. Indeed Paul calls the Thessalonians “brothers/sisters” 19x in I Thessalonians. That’s a lot! And he refers to those who are not Christians as “outsiders” in v. 12.

In our context here in 1 Thessalonians this familial love, like in a regular family, extends beyond affection and friendship to helping each other out with material needs. [See also Hebrews 13:1-3 where “philadelphia” is used in the context of giving hospitality and helping (providing for) those in prison due to persecution.] [Philadelphia is not being used in contrast to agape. It is used in parallel to it in v. 9 – “now concerning mutual love (philadelphia) . . . you have been taught  by God to love (agape) one another.” It simply speaks of their love in a familial context.]

Paul goes on – “9Now concerning mutual love you have no need for anyone to write to you . . ..” Why no need to write? “for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.” Paul is alluding here to Isaiah 54:13 – “all your sons will be taught by the LORD.” This text talks about the time of the kingdom of God. More broadly in Scripture we learn that at this time, God will be more active working amongst his people; and the Spirit will dwell in all God’s people and lead and teach them. [John 6:45 quotes Isaiah 54:13. See also Jeremiah 31:33-34; 1 John 2:20, 27]  No doubt Paul had taught them Jesus’ command to love their neighbors. But it has really taken root and the Spirit has brought this to life in their hearts.

How does he know God has taught them? They are doing it. “10for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia.”

And to love those who are not a part of your natural family or your friend network – as family; to have affection for them and to care for their needs is surely a sign of God’s work in their hearts.

They “love one another” in their own group, but also have this family love for all their fellow Christians, in all of the province of Macedonia, which included the cities of Philippi and Berea. This most likely evidenced itself in giving financial support for those in need, including food for the hungry (2 Thessalonians 3) and hospitality for those who were traveling through Thessalonica.

 “But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do this more and more.” Paul is praising them for their love and generosity; that they are helping those with needs. And essentially he is saying be even more diligent in this sharing.

Next Paul moves to –

Correcting the abuse of mutual love

Here is where we get to the problem he wants to address. It was not that they weren’t loving each other and being generous to help those in need. It was that a few were taking advantage of this mutual love and generosity. Though able to work and support themselves they were living off the generosity of others. In other words, they were “idle.”

And those who are idle; who aren’t busy with their own work and life tend to become busybodies. As we will see some got involved in other peoples’ business and were talking about other peoples’ lives and concerns. Thus they were being disruptive to the community. In chapter 5:14 Paul specifically calls them “the idle.” The word that he uses can mean both not working, but also “disruptive,” which fits well with their meddling behavior.

 “11 and (we urge you) to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.” The phrase “to aspire to live quietly” speaks to how idleness leads to being a busybody. It can refer specifically to not speaking or spreading gossip, or more generally to not being disruptive in the community. 

The phrase “to mind your own affairs” can also speak to not being a busybody, that is, keep your nose out of the business of others. But it can also mean “attend to your own home and things.” That is, focus on taking care of your own needs. 

The last phrase “to work with your hands” addresses the core issue. If you are at all able, work to provide for your own needs. Don’t live off of the generosity of others. Provide for yourself and your family. [See also Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 5:18.]

  And just as the problem of idleness leads to the problem of being a busybody, so the solution of working to provide for your own needs solves (at least in good part) the issue of being a busybody. For if you are busy working at providing for your own needs, you will most likely not have time to be meddling. [See also 1 Timothy 5:13.]

  Now, Paul not only taught them this, as he says, “we instructed you,” he was a model for them. He says in 1 Thessalonians 2:9, “For you remember, brothers and sisters, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.” Paul had the right to live off of the generosity of the family of God, because he was doing the work of the kingdom. But he declined this in order to model for them how they should each work hard and provide for their own needs. [See also 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8]

“12 so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” Paul expresses two concerns. First a lifestyle of idleness and meddling is a bad witness to unbelievers. We are to be a witness to a new way of life in Christ, of the transformation that he brings.

Second, unless we are disabled in some way, we are not to be dependent on the generosity of others. It’s one thing to receive help and to be blessed by your faith family in a time of crisis or need. This is what we are to do more and more for one another. But it’s another to live off of others while not working.

Idleness in 2 Thessalonians 3

Apparently this letter didn’t solve the problem, because in 2 Thessalonians Paul has to deal with it in more detail. [The word “idleness” v. 6, is the same as in 1 Thessalonians 5:14.] Here also some were “not willing to work” – 3:10. They were able, but unwilling. They were “not busy at work, but busybodies” – 3:11.

  The answer is spelled out in clear terms here: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” – 3:10. Don’t give to them anymore. With regard to being a busybody, they are “to do their work quietly and . . . earn their own living” – 3:12. [The word “quiet” is the same as in 1 Thessalonians 4:11]

I believe in these verses Paul gives us

Six challenges

– to think about and put into practice.

1. Do you see the church as your family? Your faith family? Do we have this sense of identity?

In several places in Scripture we learn that God is our Father (Matthew 6:9; 23:9) Jesus is our eldest brother; the firstborn (Romans 8:29), and we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord (Matthew 23:8).

We are not just a collection of individuals with all of our differences and different natural families. We have been melded together in Christ. And we need to embrace this identity and live it out.

2. Are you growing in your love for one another? Where do you need to grow more and more?

  • Do you need to spend more time with your brothers and sisters in the Lord?
  • Do you need to take time to show concern and love?
  • Do you need to be more involved in giving to help with the needs of brothers and sisters in the Lord?

3. Are you taking care of your own needs? If we are able, we are to take care of ourselves and our families. Let the generosity of God’s people go to those who truly need it, those who are not able to care for themselves.

4. Do you create dependence when you give to others? Every person must carry their own load; that is, be responsible for their own needs. So let this be a guideline for you as you seek to be generous, so that your giving will truly be a blessing and not a snare to those you seek to help. [Here the focus is on getting the idle to work and not be dependent. Not giving to them is only implied. In 2 Thessalonians 3 not giving is made explicit.]

5. Do you stop giving because some take advantage of you? This is precisely what is going on here. But notice, Paul doesn’t say stop giving or don’t be generous. He doesn’t say it’s OK to develop a hard heart.  He tells them to give “more and more.” There are plenty of people in real need, for whom our giving will not create dependency. And so we need to grow in our love and giving by sharing with these.

6. Are you a busybody? A meddler? A gossip, disrupting the community? Maybe you are working, but still have enough free time. And you don’t need a lot of time given the advent of facebook! If you have too much free time, busy yourself with the work of God, not the work of the evil one.

 

Where is God speaking to you today? May God work in each of us so that we are “taught by God” in all these areas to do God’s will and to be witnesses to others who don’t know Christ. 

William Higgins

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Outline – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged on October 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Encouraging the practice of mutual love: Now concerning mutual love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers and sisters in all of  Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do this more and more

Correcting the abuse of mutual love:

  • and to aspire to live quietly
  • and to mind your own affairs
  • and to work with your hands, as we instructed you

so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

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Outline: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , on October 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »

A. Receiving teaching: Finally, then, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. [2] For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

B. God’s will is holiness: For this is the will of God, your sanctification:

C. Three statements on sexual immorality

  • that you abstain from sexual immorality;
  • [4] that each one of you know how to control his/her own body in holiness and honor, [5] not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
  • [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.

B. God’s will is holiness: [7] For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

A. Rejecting  teaching: [8] Therefore whoever rejects this, rejects not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

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The Example of Paul’s love. I Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on September 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Series: Paul to the Thessalonians

Today in our series on Paul to the Thessalonians we are up to 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13. As we work our way through this passage, I want us to pay attention to the love that we see demonstrated in Paul for these believers. We can really see his heart for those he ministered to.

But first let’s remember together –

The story after Paul had to leave

  • Because of persecution Paul and team were sent away by the new church – Acts 17:10
  • They went to Berea and ministered there – Acts 17:10-12
  • But some opponents from Thessalonica came to Berea and stirred up trouble – Acts 17:13-14
  • The believers sent Paul off to Athens, but Silas and Timothy stayed behind – Acts 17:14-15
  • Paul ministered in Athens, speaking at the Areopagus– Acts 17:16-34
  • Silas and Timothy came to Paul in Athens – 1 Thessalonians 3:1
  • Paul sent Timothy back to check on the Thessalonians – 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 5 (possibly Silas was sent somewhere in Macedonia as well – Acts 18:5)
  • Paul went on to Corinth and began ministering there – Acts 18:1
  • Silas and Timothy met up with Paul in Corinth – Acts 18:5
  • Paul heard Timothy’s report concerning the Thessalonians – 1 Thessalonians 3:6

This is when Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians in response to this and almost certainly sent it back by means of Timothy.

With this background in mind, let’s look at our verses.

Paul’s desire to see the Thessalonians

1. He tried to visit. “17But since we were torn away from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”

Paul is saying, ‘Hey, it’s not for lack of trying that we haven’t come back.’ The reason is that Satan hindered us. This may refer to synagogue opposition, or restrictions put on Paul by the authorities in Thessalonica, or maybe that he was too sick to travel that far. But he tried several times.

“19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.” Here he assures them that his not being able to come is no reflection on his concern for them. They are his crown of boasting, that is, his victory wreath that will be made know when Jesus returns. He says, “you are our glory and joy.”

2. Paul sent Timothy to check on them.  “1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

Paul was really in anguish not knowing how they were doing as new believers under persecution (for Paul’s anxiety for his converts see also 2 Corinthians 11:28-29).

His concern was that they would give up their faith (the phrase “your faith” is used five times in this passage). He is concerned that they would be “moved by these afflictions;” that “the tempter had tempted them” so that they no longer had faith in Jesus.

So he says twice that when he could bear it no longer (3:1, 5) he sent Timothy to check on them, even though it meant he was left alone (3:1). It’s likely that if the obstacle was opposition in Thessalonica Paul would have been immediately recognized, but Timothy was not such a public figure. Timothy’s mission was to check on their faith and “to establish and exhort them.”

Just a note on suffering. Paul says, “we are destined . . . to suffer affliction” – 3:3-4. This is something that he taught them ahead of time. How different is so much teaching in America, where the gospel is all about self-fulfillment and prosperity. Something to think about.

3. Timothy’s report to Paul in Corinth. Just as you can feel the anguish of Paul in the verses before this, so here you can feel the relief he had after hearing Timothy’s good report.

“6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?”

Timothy reported that they had not abandoned their faith, nor their love for Paul. Paul’s response to this is overflowing thanksgiving to God joy and great comfort.

Our passage ends with 4. A prayer to see them. “11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

His prayer to see them was eventually answered as we see in Acts 20:1-2.

He also prays for much of what he will be talking about in the next two chapters: love for others, holiness, and Jesus’ return.

Now we turn to our focus –

Paul’s love for the Thessalonians

This is clear in several places in this letter, but especially out text.

1. He has affection for them. 2:17 – he talks about being “torn away from you” but “not in heart.” 2:8 – he says you are “very dear to us.”

2. He wants to be with them. 2:17 – “we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face.” 3:6 – “we long to see you.”

3. He wants to know what is going on with them. 3:5 – “I sent to learn about your faith.” 3:5 -“when I could bear it no longer” that is, not knowing, he sent Timothy.

4. He is concerned for their well-being. 3:3 – “that no one be moved by these afflictions.” 3:5 – he speaks of his “fear that somehow the tempter had tempted” them and their faith was now gone. 3:8 – when he heard good news he said “for now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.”

5. He wants to help them. 3:2 – “to establish and exhort you in your faith.” 3:10 – to “supply what is lacking in your faith.”

6. He takes joy in them. 2:20 – “for you are our glory and joy.” 3:9 – “for what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God.”

7. He prays for them as we see in vs. 11-13.

How is your love?

In his prayer Paul prays, “may the Lord make you increase and abound in love as we do for you” – v. 12. Notice the last phrase – “as we do for you.” Paul uses his expression of love for them as an example for what God might do in them. And in the same way, this morning I want to use Paul’s expression of love to challenge us to grow more and more in our love for others.

Let’s look at this in several areas:

1. Paul was in a relationship with them as one who ministered to them. So we can ask – How is your love for those you minister to? Think for a moment about who you do minister to. Maybe it is a Sunday school class, or a friend going through a hard time, or sharing your faith with someone. Do you:

–         Have affection for them?

–         Want to be with them?

–         Want to know what is going on with them?

–         Have concern for their well-being?

–         Help them?

–         Take joy in them?

–         Pray for them?

2.  Paul relates to them as a parent because he brought them to faith. In 2:17 he likens himself to a nursing mother who is gentle. In 2:11 he likens himself to a father in his exhorting them. So we can ask, as parents or grandparents – how is your love for your children? Do you:

–         Have affection for them?

–         Want to be with them?

–         Want to know what is going on with them?

–         Have concern for their well-being?

–         Help them?

–         Take joy in them?

–         Pray for them?

3. Paul uses “brother/sister” language to speak of them as fellow Christians. So we can ask how is your love for one another in our congregation?

–         Do you have affection for them? Do you show concern?

–         Do you want to be with them? Do you miss them when they don’t come to church for a while? Do you have time in your busy schedule to spend time with them to build relationship?

–         Do you want to know what is going on with them? Do you check in on them?

–         Do you have concern for their well-being?

–         Do you help them? Do you even know what their needs are?

–         Do you take joy in them? Do you rejoice in their growth in faith?

–         Do you pray for them earnestly?

How does your love measure up? Do you need to increase and about in love more? May God challenge each of us to grow and increase in our love – just as we see in the example of Paul’s love for the Thessalonians.

William Higgins

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Outline of 1 Thessalonians 1-3

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged on September 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

A. Thanksgiving #1. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

 

B. Narrative #1. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Their time with them and the character of their ministry

 

A1. Thanksgiving #2. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

 

B1. Narrative #2. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13. Their time away from them and their desire to see them

 

(1:3 – “before our God and Father” and 3:13 – “before our God and Father” form an inclusion for these chapters)

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Outline of 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged on September 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Their desire to see the Thessalonians

A. Their desire to see them: 17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.

B. Sending Timothy: 3:1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions.

C. Their suffering: For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

B1. Sending Timothy: 5For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

A1. Their desire to see them: 6But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

A prayer to see them:  11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at  the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

____________________________

– A and A1 focus on their desire to see the Thessalonians “face to face”- 2:17-18 – “We endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you”/ 3:6 -“we long to see you,” 3:10 – “that we may see you face to face.” Both have a “joy” theme. Both speak of “before” God  – “before our Lord Jesus at his coming”/ “before our God” in prayer. Both have “brother” language. (The prayer in v. 13 uses both at the coming of Jesus from A and before our God from A1).

– B and B1 speak of sending Timothy. Both have concerns about their faith – “moved by these afflictions”/ “the tempter has tempted you.” B speaks in “we” language, B1 in “I” language.

– C is focused on suffering. It begins and ends with “you know.”

– v. 10 transitions to the prayer – “that we may supply what is lacking in your faith.” Vs. 11-13 – the prayer previews the coming topics in chapters 4 and 5 – love for one another, blameless in holiness, Jesus’ second coming, what is lacking in your faith.

– The phrase “before our God and Father” is used in both 1:3 and 3:13 bookending chapters 1-3.

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Christian Anti-Semitism!? 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on September 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Series: Paul to the Thessalonians

Our text today is a second section of thanksgiving to God. I have given you a handout where you can see how this second thanksgiving parallels the first one in a number of ways.

Our focus today will be on the latter part of this passage that talks about judgment on “the Jews,” which has been read by some as a justification for anti-Semitism.

But first a few words about –

Paul’s thanksgiving

“13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

Paul is giving thanks here again, that they received the gospel. As we saw last week, it was not the word of some charlatan, but God’s own word that they received. And God’s word is alive and active, as Paul says it is still at work in them transforming them.

“14For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews . . ..”

Here Paul cites as the chief evidence of the validity of their faith that they underwent suffering for it. And just as in the first thanksgiving, where Paul talks about how they became imitators of himself and Jesus in their faithfulness in the midst of suffering, so here he talks about how they have become imitators of the churches in Judea who suffered faithfully.

So Paul is seeking to encourage them. They may be outcasts because of their new faith, but they are connected to a larger body of believers who have suffered – the church in Judea.

Next we come to our focus for today –

What Paul says about “the Jews”

  • He talks about “the Jews 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets . . ..” The prophets here probably refers to Christian prophets like Stephen and James the son of Zebedee who had died for their faith.
  • “and drove us out . . ..” This refers not just to what happened in Judea, but also Paul’s own dealings with some of the Thessalonian Jews who chased him out of town.
  • “and displease God and oppose all mankind 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved . . ..” Note that he says this specifically because they are hindering the progress of the Gospel.
  • “so as always to fill up the measure of their sins . . ..” The idea of filling up the measure of one’s sins is talked about in several places in Scripture (Genesis 15:16; Matthew 23:32; Daniel 8:23). God is patient with all who rebel against him, but he sets a limit. And when the measure is full, then comes judgment.
  • Which is what Paul talks about next, “But wrath has come upon them at last!” There is punishment coming soon, or that has even already started.

This is the question that faces us –

Is Paul being anti-Semitic here?

That is, is he making a blanket negative statement about all Jews, that they displease God, are opposed to humanity and deserve God’s wrath? So that this is what we should think of all Jews? I want to take this issue seriously because there has been much hatred and oppression of Jews over the last number of centuries, often in the name of Christianity, in part, based on a certain reading of texts like these.

There has been horrible persecution, evil and cruel stereotyping, and just a generation ago, the holocaust where millions of Jews were systematically killed for no other reason than that they were Jews. It pains me beyond measure to think that any of this hatred could be based upon the New Testament – which teaches us to love even our enemies. But many have done just this. And not just crazies or fringe elements, but renowned Christian leaders in centuries past have said things that have contributed to this. And so I want us to attend to this today with some vigor.

Is Paul being anti-Semitic here? The answer is no, because –

Paul is referring to a particular group of Jews

The word “Jew” comes from the word “Judea,” a reference to the old southern kingdom of Israel based in Jerusalem, named after Judah, one of the 12 patriarchs. The word “Jew” can refer to 1) anyone who is Jewish/Judean in religion or culture – who upholds the law of Moses, and is connected to Abraham. And there were many different kinds of Jews: Essences, Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, followers of John the Baptist, Diaspora Jews living outside the land of Israel. Or it can refer to a sub-group of Jews 2) those in charge in Judea – the political and religious authorities of Judea and the temple. These “powers that be” were made up of a loose coalition of Sadducees and Pharisees and any who aligned themselves with them.

Here is why we know that Paul is referring to the latter:

– Paul was himself a practicing Jew in the religious sense. Paul says plainly enough in Acts 22:3, “I am a Jew.”

– Jesus, his Lord, was Jewish down to wearing the tassels on the corners of his garment (Matthew 9:20) in accordance with the Law of Moses.

– Most Christians at this time were still practicing Jews. Indeed all the writers of the New Testament were Jewish, except Luke.

– And in our text itself the churches in Judea who are being persecuted by “the Jews” are also Jews!

We have to understand that just as there were Pharisees and Sadducees,  and so forth, so Jesus’ followers were another form of Judaism – the “Jesus movement” or it was sometimes called – “the way,” made up of both Jews and Gentiles in Christ.

So the point here is that Paul can’t be condemning all Jews. He and his fellow Jewish Christians are Jews. (This is also the case in the gospel of John where the phrase “the Jews” most often refers to the Judeans in power.)

So what we have here is in an inter-Jewish conflict over what it means to be faithful to God, focused on whether Jesus is the Messiah or not. And it was all–out. The Judean “powers that be” condemned and persecuted the Jesus movement. And the Jesus movement condemned them for failing to receive the promised Messiah. (For similar kinds of inter-Jewish prophetic condemnations see 2 Chronicles 36:14-21; Jeremiah 22:1-9; Hosea 5:1-4, etc.)

This is the context of this passage. Paul is talking about judgment coming on these Judean “powers-that-be” and those that align with them. These are precisely the ones who killed Jesus and the prophets and have opposed the preaching of the gospel, as he says in these verses.

Let’s reread this passage with this in mind – “For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Judean ‘powers that be’ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon the Judean ‘powers that be’ at last!”

It’s also important for us to understand that he is not just talking about a particular group of Jews –

Paul is referring to a particular judgment

He is quoting Jesus from Matthew 23, reminding them of the Jesus traditions he has handed on to them. You have a handout so let’s look at this briefly.

Both talk about 1. Persecuting the prophets

  • Paul speaks of “. . . the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out . . .” – vs. 14-15.
  • Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town . . .” – Matthew 23:34.

Both talk about 2. Hindering the gospel

  • They “displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved” – vs. 15-16.
  • “Woe to you . . . for you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” – Matthew 23:13.

Both talk about 3. Filling up the measure of sin

  • “ . . . so as always to fill up the measure of their sins.” – v. 16.
  • “Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers” – Matthew 23:32.

Both talk about 4. Coming judgment

  • “But wrath has come upon them at last!” –  v. 16.
  • “Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation” – Matthew 23:36.

So Paul is referring to Jesus’ speech in Matthew 23. The point here is that the judgment that Jesus speaks of is the judgment that Paul is talking about. In Matthew 23 Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple within a generation. This is what he refers to in Matthew 23:38, “your house is left to you desolate” and this is expanded on in chapter 24.

Paul is saying that this judgment is already breaking out against the Judean ‘powers that be.’ He most likely saw this in several activities on the part of Rome – opposing the Judean leadership (the expulsion of Jews from Rome and various conflicts with Cumanus the new Roman governor at this time).

And in fact this judgment did happen in 70 AD, within a generation of Jesus’ prediction. The Sadducean/Pharisaic coalition that played a role in killing Jesus and persecuting his followers was wiped out and their political and religious base was no more. Why do I share all this with you? The judgment Paul is talking about has already happened! This is why these Judean powers don’t exist anymore. They were judged and set aside forever. These verses don’t apply to any other Jews.

Christian anti-Semitism!?

So listen to me this morning. We must decisively renounce hatred of any people group, whether religious, racial or cultural. We must put aside any hint of prejudice or bigotry. God has called us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

Yes, we will disagree in religious matters with various groups and in the midst of persecution we may point out that there will be judgment on our oppressors – like Paul does here. But we are also called to love our enemies and this excludes hatred, bigotry and prejudice.

Now the temptation for many today in America is to hate Muslims. But the call to love our neighbors includes all people.

But for Christians to be prejudiced against Jews makes no sense! It’s like being prejudiced against your mother. That’s where we came from! Do you understand this?

  • Christianity is a form of Judaism, that includes both Jewish believers and Gentile believers in Christ.
  • And we serve a Jewish Messiah, our Lord Jesus.
  • And we claim Abraham as our father and honor Moses as a saint.

Do many Jews not believe? Yes. Do many Gentiles not believe? Yes. And we are called to love them all!

Let’s end by hearing what Paul says in Romans 9:1-5. Here Paul is not focused on encouraging those who are being persecuted and assuring them that there will be justice from God. Here we see his heart for unbelieving Jews, some of whom are the very ones who have persecuted him and the Thessalonians.

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Hear his heart in this. He would even give up his salvation for them to turn to Jesus!

“They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”

William Higgins

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Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 and Jesus in Matthew 23

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged on September 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

1. Persecutors of the prophets

  • “The Jews . . . who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out” – 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15
  •  “Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town . . ..” – Matthew 23:34  (Also Matthew 23:31)

2. Hindering the gospel

  • They “displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved” – 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16
  • “Woe to you . . . for you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” – Matthew 23:13

3. Filling up the measure of sin

  • “ . . . so as always to fill up the measure of their sins.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:16
  • “Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers” – Matthew 23:32

4. Judgment is coming

  • “But wrath has come upon them at last!” –  1 Thessalonians 2:16
  • “Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation” – Matthew 23:36

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