This is a letter to the church at Thessalonica, located in Macedonia (north of Athens, Greece, west of modern day Turkey). The letter was probably written in the early AD 50’s on Paul’s second missionary journey (he did 3 total).
Category: 1 Thessalonians
Like a standard NT epistle, we open with the authors. It’s represented as coming from Paul, Timothy and Silvanus (Silas) and generally uses “we” instead of “I” throughout the letter. That said, the language is pretty consistent with other letters Paul has written so he’s likely the primary author.
As Paul and the bros pray for the Thessalonican church, they retell the cool stuff that has gone on tied to the faith of this church. They know God was working to reach this group of folks by how the good news demonstrated itself to them through Paul and the bros, not just through word but also in some ways through clear demonstrations of power, presence of the Holy Spirit and how it all impacted those who witnessed this good news. And, Paul et al. obviously conducted themselves with integrity and as good examples for the sake of the Thessalonican church (because what you do matters and influences how people hear your words. Still applies today.)
v.6 hits a favorite theme of mine as the Thessalonians followed them as they followed Christ. We should be careful when we attempt humility by cutting our opportunity off as only proclaimers in word of the good news when Paul seems to think it’s completely acceptable to have people trying to imitate him and the bros. Paul, elsewhere, will proclaim himself the chief of all sinners, however that doesn’t stop him from being comfortable with people imitating him as he pursues Jesus (and as they both try to imitate Jesus). And it’s working, the Thessalonicans took that example and have influenced people in the rest of Macedonia and in Achaia and are reaching even beyond that. Other places the bros go are telling stories about the Thessalonican church.
And it sounds like their story is an interesting one, involving turning from idols (implied false and dead) to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven who will deliver us from the wrath to come. This wait thing is important as we’ll see later in the letter that the Thessalonicans may be getting a wee impatient and worried about the yet-to-return Jesus.
Paul continues his discussion of the circumstances in which he initially engaged with the Thessalonican church. They came from Philippi where they indeed were treated rough (brought in front of the town leaders, jailed, etc.) but they also had great success with the conversion of the jailer, the casting of the demon out of the little girl, and hanging out with the ladies of Philippi (all documented in Acts 16.) Even so, despite the risk of landing in more trouble when they arrived, Paul and the bros still spread the true good news to the Thess. church. Paul and the bros work for God, their job is to spread good news even knowing men can and will react poorly to it at times. In that perspective, it certainly wasn’t to their benefit, they were doing so, in fact at a personal risk, yet they continued. And even though they carried with them important work and could have asked for special treatment, they did not, but instead were freely giving of their time and wisdom and service.
Paul also reasserts the context of their behavior among the Thess. church, being blameless, righteous, holy, etc. and how they encouraged them to “…walk in a manner worthy of God”. Again, actions set the context for the words. Tighten up on your job, homey.
And Paul is excited that the Thess. church received all of this so well and saw it for what it was, not just a competing claim among men, but good news from the true God. That said, not everyone reacted that same way, as just in Judea, the Jews did not take kindly to this Christian movement and caused trouble for those bringing that good news in. Details in Acts 17, but basically Paul and the bros hung out in Thess. for 3 weeks, Gentiles, Greeks and ladies were brought to Jesus, Jews got upset and accused them of proclaiming a king other than Caesar. Ultimately, they paid off the town leaders and were let go.
Paul doesn’t mince words here, the Jews killed Jesus and the prophets, chucked Jesus’ followers, displeased God and have attempted to hinder that which is to the benefit of all mankind – that’s quite a laundry list of poor behavior. In response, Paul says God’s wrath has come upon them at last. Given when this was written, this could be referring to a relatively recent famine in Jerusalem or other poor treatment of them by the Romans. However, it’s also written in such a way where this could be something that is yet to happen but is so certain it can be spoken of in the present tense.
Then the discussion shifts as Paul tries to describe why he has not yet returned to them even though he wanted to. Paul does reveal himself as the author of the letter in this section. Even though they wanted to come back it seems that Satan hindered them (not exactly sure what the deal was or why this was attributed to Satan as opposed to sinful humans, manhandling Jews, sickness, or whatever else he has expressed issues with in other letters.)
Don’t miss the last sentence here, which points out that what they expect to show Jesus at his return, the thing that will show that they have been faithful is the faith of others through their work. Whatever our aims in life as Christians, if it doesn’t include this understanding of what Jesus values, it will fall short of fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives.
Paul continues on the explanation of why he hasn’t been back to Thessalonica (it appears this was a point of contention with them.) After Paul and the bros left Thess. they went to Berea, where the Jews from Thessalonica followed them and caused trouble for them there. The bros (Timmy and Silas) stayed behind while Paul was taken to Athens by himself. Despite being alone, Paul of course engages the Jews in the synagogues and then further goes to the Areopagus to have it out with them fellas. In the meantime, Timothy went back to Thess. to check on them and to bring word to Paul who was worried about them.
Timmy brings back good news that the Thess. church is doing well and that they think kindly of Paul and the bros. Paul is encouraged that, despite the reaction to the Good News he keeps running into, there are still people meeting Jesus, persisting in the face of temptation and persecution, and doing the work that Paul left behind for them to do (follow Jesus and take people with them.) Again, where we are not doing this kind of work we are missing out on being part of God’s fulfilling rescue mission and the joy and peace that comes along with it, which helps as a healing salve when we find our message brings trouble. If our message brings neither trouble nor peace, we are doing it wrong.
Paul ends this with a request from God that Paul and the bros may yet return to Thessalonica and continue to bless the work that church is doing, focusing on love for one another and staying righteous and holy as they await the return of Jesus.
Paul continues to hit on the thought that what we do matters in a call to stay holy and loving. He encourages the church to continue to behave in a way that pleases God, specifically in reference to sexual immorality. (As long as there have been private parts there have been folks peeping at them, thinking about them, and using them indiscriminately when they shouldn’t. 6th century BC problems are the same as 1st century AD problems that are the same as 21st Century CE problems.) Specifically, get it under control. This means don’t chase every urge your body was designed to use for good and follow it onto the internet or to a situation you don’t belong in or to an emotional/physical connection that belongs to someone else. There is no middle ground on this stuff; in all situations you pull a Joseph in Potiphar’s house: at the first sign of trouble you haul ass as far away as possible without explanation or excuse. It’s that hard, but it is that simple.
I’m not entirely sure what kind of situation is causing a brother to be wronged in regards to someone’s sexual immorality. Yes, I can think of a few options, but further pursuit is not particularly healthy and I’m not sure it’s necessary. Whatever it is, I’m assuming it can be avoided by minding your own sexual business and doing things God’s way. God has not called us for impurity but holiness, to ignore is is disregarding God, who Paul reminds us is who gives us the Holy Spirit.
On that note, though, although Paul is impressed with how they show love to each other, he wants more. Part of that is not taking advantage of other bros, not starting trouble, keeping to your own business, doing something that is tangible for society (I work in the business of financial promises, I’m not sure this qualifies) and conducting yourself with integrity and being dependent on no one. If we can summarize, don’t get caught up in a bunch other stuff, walk with God, love others and mind your business. On the final one, it’s not that you can’t accept charity when it is offered/needed, it’s just that you shouldn’t make a living off of someone else’s living, do what you can to add to the community around you and care for yourselves so that charity goes where it is needed.
In v.13, the conversation shifts as Paul wishes to set straight some either uninformed or wrongly informed thinking that he’s been made aware of by the Thessalonican church. They seem to be concerned that Jesus has not returned yet and that those who die prior to Jesus coming back are hosed. But Paul reminds them that we’re Christians, we don’t mourn death the way others do because death (sleep) is just the passing into eternal life with Jesus. He also says that those who are living will not meet Jesus prior to those who have already died, in fact the dead will rise to meet the living and they both will meet Jesus in the air upon his return that establishes his forever kingdom.
v.16 is most likely apocalyptic language, meaning that is more likely than not figurative (cry of command, voice of an archangel, with the sound of the trumpet of God). Trumpets in the Bible traditionally are associated with the presence of God and also battle (this makes sense, Jesus’ return will coincide with the dispatching of all enemies). On the trumpet, suffice to say this description of a loud, battle-crying, archangel-shouting Jesus return action just doesn’t jive with the thought of this happening as a “secret” rapture where the dead are taken up but the living are left. I’m open to other interpretations of this section, but secret rapture is just flat out off the table, regardless of whether the language is figurative/apocalyptic or not.
Further Paul says the living and dead will get caught up together in the clouds to meet Jesus and will then always be with the Lord. That Greek word “to meet” is an important one, apantesis. It’s the word used elsewhere to describe when folks leave the city to meet an important person on the outside and then they all enter the city together. This is what we’re seeing here, everyone meets Jesus in the air, he refines the world with fire and judgment, and then we all return back to the restored creation to be with Jesus forever.
Paul expects this description to be an encouragement to the Thessalonican church. Chill out, Jesus will return, the living and the dead will meet him together, and all will be well.
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1 Thessalonians | Chapter 5
The last chapter continues on the previous conversation about when Jesus will return (there appears to be some anxiety on this matter as if they could have missed it. If there is I point I think the Bible is clear on, it’s that you’re not going to miss it, it just won’t be possible. But, they are growing impatient and worried that the thing is eventually going to happen (which coincides with their previous concerns about what happens to those already dead). This also isn’t a foreign concept in our day, it’s been 2,000 years since Jesus was born, that’s a long promise and our impatience and sometimes worry about whether this promise is a true one is understandable.
Paul addresses this, though, saying that it wasn’t necessary for him to write anything to them about it. However, it’s not because they already know the answer as to when it will occur, it’s that they know that the answer is that no one knows. Jesus will return like a thief in the night (basically at a time when no one expects or can plan for). What it can’t mean is like a thief because it’s quiet and no one will know, that flies in the face of this trumpet, cry command business. When Jesus uses like a thief in the night he’s using it to mean no one knows, too.
The reference that Paul uses is a familiar one, the phrase “the day of the Lord”. We noted elsewhere that this is a time when God will act among his people, generally a time of justice. Amos uses it many, many times. But it has always happened on His timetable, not man’s. So Paul seems to think that the Thessalonican church knows enough to know that they won’t know when the thing is going to happen and in response they are to stay diligent. If they are always looking, they can’t be surprised (unlike a drunkard or the fellas who sleep all they time, they will be jolted awake). We stay awake, we keep doing the work of the Kingdom with trust and love and hope. And we don’t worry, because God hasn’t destined us for wrath, we’re on the good end of the deal, regardless of whether we are living or dead. (The word “asleep” is tough in this section because it is used to represent at times death, unpreparedness, and ignorance of God. Context alone drives how it should be interpreted).
By the way, so we don’t completely pass over it, when Paul says people will be saying “There is peace and security”, there are a few different ways to take that. It could be a reference to the slogan of the Roman empire “pax et securitas”, peace and security. It was a promise Rome made to its citizens that being part of Rome’s empire would guarantee them peace and security. However, that peace was maintained by the sword and not everyone in the empire was a citizen. Someone had to be at the other end of that sword and the lifestyle that sword protected wasn’t that of the lower tier social groups. However, Jeremiah 6 speaks of a time when people falsely claim that all is well but do so in ignorance and blindness (6:14 would be the most likely referent). Either way, I think the point is close to the same, it’s a false understanding of peace and security and part of our being awake and aware is to recognize promises that only God can keep that man asserts is within his control to keep.
Again, this whole section (end of 4 and into 5) is meant to remind them of the hope they have, to calm anxiety, and to encourage them (while also reminding them to encourage each other when they forget.)
The letter ends with a series of encouragements for the church. They are to respect those who are working among them (these are the pastor/elders who are responsible for their care), and hold them up for the work they are doing. Be peaceful. And encourage those around you who aren’t living up to their fullest (the weak, the lazy, those who lack courage). This is real work, fellas. We can’t leave the faint of heart, the lazy or the fainthearted to their own lives, we are called to encourage them, raise them up, get them back on the right path. There is probably some interaction here with the things Paul said earlier in the letter, making sure folks aren’t a burden on other people, that they work with their hands, mind their business and love others. I don’t like this, it takes a lot of work to edify the lazy, but Paul says we can’t leave them behind.
We don’t repay evil for evil (it’s basic, but very difficult.) This isn’t just action, by the way, it’s your thought life, too. It’s just as much of a prison to think evil of someone or wish it upon them (your justice sucks and you suck at divvying it out, leave it to the Lord) as it is to try and repay it physically. Let it go. Now. Seek to do good to everyone.
Rejoice always. (Can’t do that if you’re being lazy and plotting evil. Work of the hands, boys, stay busy and rejoice for the opportunity to do so). Pray without ceasing, live in constant contact with God, seek to see the world the way He sees it. Don’t quench the Spirit (likely connected to…) and don’t despise prophecies but test everything. I think all of these are tied together. A posture of service and connection with God opens you up to rejoicing always, being in contact, listening and obeying the movement of the Spirit and not ignoring God when he speaks (but know him well enough to validate the accuracy when people claim to talk on his behalf). Regardless, keep what is good and reject all that evil. (How’s that for a basic morality set?)
In all of this, we can trust that the God of Peace (interesting contrast to those on the other end of the pending Day of the Lord) will continue to separate you from the things of the world and give you the ability to align to his things (sanctification). Our whole person (spirit and soul and body) should be set apart for God’s work in our life until the coming of Jesus. And here’s the best part: HE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL SURELY DO IT. We’re banking that God will keep his promises even as we sometimes struggle to be faithful in ours (that’s what makes Him a good covenant partner.) God asks all of this of us for His glory and our joy and he will help us do it. He is faithful. He has already kept his promise to provide the perfect path to reconciliation, the sacrifice of Jesus.
And finally, they are to pray for and kiss the bros (it was a nice, Eastern greeting, quit being a pansy). Also, Paul seems to lay it at the feet of the Lord to hold these folks accountable if they don’t share the message. (Are we still allowed to do that? I feel like I might have some times when that would be helpful).
May grace of God always be with them.