Chapter 25
The Thessalonian Letters
[This chapter is based on the Epistle to the
Thessalonians.]
The arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, during Paul's sojourn
in Corinth, had greatly cheered the apostle. They brought him "good
tidings" of the "faith and charity" of those who had
accepted the truth during the first visit of the gospel messengers to
Thessalonica. Paul's heart went out in tender sympathy toward these
believers, who, in the midst of trial and adversity, had remained true to
God. He longed to visit them in person, but as this was not then possible,
he wrote to them.
In this letter to the church at Thessalonica the apostle expresses his
gratitude to God for the joyful news of their increase of faith.
"Brethren," he wrote, "we were comforted over you in all
our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand
fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for
all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day
praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that
which is lacking in your faith?"
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you
in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour
of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of
God and our Father."
Many of the believers in Thessalonica had "turned . . . from idols
to serve the living and true God." They had "received the word
in much affliction;" and their hearts were filled with "joy of
the Holy Ghost." The apostle declared that in their faithfulness in
following the Lord they were "ensamples to all that believe in
Macedonia and Achaia." These words of commendation were not
unmerited; "for from you," he wrote, "sounded out the word
of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your
faith to Godward is spread abroad."
The Thessalonian believers were true missionaries. Their hearts burned
with zeal for their Saviour, who had delivered them from fear of "the
wrath to come." Through the grace of Christ a marvellous
transformation had taken place in their lives, and the word of the Lord,
as spoken through them, was accompanied with power. Hearts were won by the
truths presented, and souls were added to the number of believers.
In this first epistle, Paul referred to his manner of labour among the
Thessalonians. He declared that he had not sought to win converts through
deception or guile. "As we were allowed of God to be put in trust
with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which
trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye
know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: nor of men sought we
glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been
burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even
as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being affectionately desirous of
you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God
only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."
"Ye are witnesses, and God also," the apostle continued,
"how holily and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you
that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every
one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of
God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when
ye receive the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe." "What is our hope, or joy, or
crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy."
In his first epistle to the Thessalonian believers, Paul endeavoured to
instruct them regarding the true state of the dead. He spoke of those who
die as being asleep--in a state of unconsciousness: "I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with Him. . . . For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and
the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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."
The Thessalonians had eagerly grasped the idea that Christ was coming
to change the faithful who were alive, and to take them to Himself. They
had carefully guarded the lives of their friends, lest they should die and
lose the blessing which they looked forward to receiving at the coming of
their Lord. But one after another their loved ones had been taken from
them, and with anguish the Thessalonians had looked for the last time upon
the faces of their dead, hardly daring to hope to meet them in a future
life.
As Paul's epistle was opened and read, great joy and consolation was
brought to the church by the words revealing the true state of the dead.
Paul showed that those living when Christ should come would not go to meet
their Lord in advance of those who had fallen asleep in Jesus. The voice
of the Archangel and the trump of God would reach the sleeping ones, and
the dead in Christ should rise first, before the touch of immortality
should be given to the living. "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. Wherefore comfort one
another with these words."
The hope and joy that this assurance brought to the young church at
Thessalonica can scarcely be appreciated by us. They believed and
cherished the letter sent to them by their father in the gospel, and their
hearts went out in love to him. He had told them these things before; but
at that time their minds were striving to grasp doctrines that seemed new
and strange, and it is not surprising that the force of some points had
not been vividly impressed on their minds. But they were hungering for
truth, and Paul's epistle gave them new hope and strength, and a firmer
faith in, and a deeper affection for, the One who through His death had
brought life and immortality to light.
Now they rejoiced in the knowledge that their believing friends would
be raised from the grave to live forever in the kingdom of God. The
darkness that had enshrouded the resting place of the dead was dispelled.
A new splendour crowned the Christian faith, and they saw a new glory in
the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.
"Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with
Him," Paul wrote. Many interpret this passage to mean that the
sleeping ones will be brought with Christ from heaven; but Paul meant that
as Christ was raised from the dead, so God will call the sleeping saints
from their graves and take them with Him to heaven. Precious consolation!
glorious hope! not only to the church of Thessalonica, but to all
Christians wherever they may be.
While labouring at Thessalonica, Paul had so fully covered the subject
of the signs of the times, showing what events would occur prior to the
revelation of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven, that he did not
think it necessary to write at length regarding this subject. He, however,
pointedly referred to his former teachings. "Of the times and the
seasons," he said, "ye have no need that I write unto you. For
yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in
the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden
destruction cometh upon them."
There are in the world today many who close their eyes to the evidences
that Christ has given to warn men of His coming. They seek to quiet all
apprehension, while at the same time the signs of the end are rapidly
fulfilling, and the world is hastening to the time when the Son of man
shall be revealed in the clouds of heaven. Paul teaches that it is sinful
to be indifferent to the signs which are to precede the second coming of
Christ. Those guilty of this neglect he calls children of the night and of
darkness. He encourages the vigilant and watchful with these words:
"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake
you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the
day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep,
as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
Especially important to the church in our time are the teachings of the
apostle upon this point. To those living so near the great consummation,
the words of Paul should come with telling force: "Let us, who are of
the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a
helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that,
whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
The watchful Christian is a working Christian, seeking zealously to do
all in his power for the advancement of the gospel. As love for his
Redeemer increases, so also does love for his fellow men. He has severe
trials, as had his Master; but he does not allow affliction to sour his
temper or destroy his peace of mind. He knows that trial, if well borne,
will refine and purify him, and bring him into closer fellowship with
Christ. Those who are partakers of Christ's sufferings will also be
partakers of His consolation and at last sharers of His glory.
"We beseech you, brethren," Paul continued in his letter to
the Thessalonians, "to know them which labour among you, and are over
you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love
for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."
The Thessalonian believers were greatly annoyed by men coming among
them with fanatical ideas and doctrines. Some were "disorderly,
working not at all, but . . . busy-bodies." The church had been
properly organised, and officers had been appointed to act as ministers
and deacons. But there were some, self-willed and impetuous, who refused
to be subordinate to those who held positions of authority in the church.
They claimed not only the right of private judgement, but that of publicly
urging their views upon the church. In view of this, Paul called the
attention of the Thessalonians to the respect and deference due to those
who had been chosen to occupy positions of authority in the church.
In his anxiety that the believers at Thessalonica should walk in the
fear of God, the apostle pleaded with them to reveal practical godliness
in the daily life. "We beseech you, brethren," he wrote,
"and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how
ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For
ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the
will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from
fornication." "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but
unto holiness."
The apostle felt that he was to a large extent responsible for the
spiritual welfare of those converted under his labours. His desire for
them was that they might increase in a knowledge of the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom He had sent. Often in his ministry he would meet with
little companies of men and women who loved Jesus, and bow with them in
prayer, asking God to teach them how to maintain a living connection with
Him. Often he took counsel with them as to the best methods of giving to
others the light of gospel truth. And often, when separated from those for
whom he had thus laboured, he pleaded with God to keep them from evil and
help them to be earnest, active missionaries.
One of the strongest evidences of true conversion is love to God and
man. Those who accept Jesus as their Redeemer have a deep, sincere love
for others of like precious faith. Thus it was with the believers at
Thessalonica. "As touching brotherly love," the apostle wrote,
"ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of
God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which
are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more
and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and
to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk
honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of
nothing."
"The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward
another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may
stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father,
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort
the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that
none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is
good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray
without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you." The apostle cautioned the Thessalonians
not to despise the gift of prophecy, and in the words, "Quench not
the Spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that
which is good," he enjoined a careful discrimination in
distinguishing the false from the true. He besought them to "abstain
from all appearance of evil;" and closed his letter with the prayer
that God would sanctify them wholly, that in "Spirit and soul and
body" they might "be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you," he added,
"who also will do it."
The instruction that Paul sent the Thessalonians in his first epistle
regarding the second coming of Christ, was in perfect harmony with his
former teaching. Yet his words were misapprehended by some of the
Thessalonian brethren. They understood him to express the hope that he
himself would live to witness the Saviour's advent. This belief served to
increase their enthusiasm and excitement. Those who had previously
neglected their responsibilities and duties, now became more persistent in
urging their erroneous views.
In his second letter Paul sought to correct their misunderstanding of
his teaching and to set before them his true position. He again expressed
his confidence in their integrity, and his gratitude that their faith was
strong, and that their love abounded for one another and for the cause of
their Master. He told them that he presented them to other churches as an
example of the patient, persevering faith that bravely withstands
persecution and tribulation, and he carried their minds forward to the
time of the second coming of Christ, when the people of God shall rest
from all their cares and perplexities.
"We ourselves," he wrote, "glory in you in the churches
of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and
tribulations that ye endure: . . . and to you who are troubled rest with
us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty
angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the
glory of His power. . . . Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our
God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good
pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according
to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
But before the coming of Christ, important developments in the
religious world, foretold in prophecy, were to take place. The apostle
declared: "Be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by
spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ
is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not
come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above
all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in
the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
Paul's words were not to be misinterpreted. It was not to be taught
that he, by special revelation, had warned the Thessalonians of the
immediate coming of Christ. Such a position would cause confusion of
faith; for disappointment often leads to unbelief. The apostle therefore
cautioned the brethren to receive no such message as coming from him, and
he proceeded to emphasise the fact that the papal power, so clearly
described by the prophet Daniel, was yet to rise and wage war against
God's people. Until this power should have performed its deadly and
blasphemous work, it would be in vain for the church to look for the
coming of their Lord. "Remember ye not," Paul inquired,
"that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"
Terrible were the trials that were to beset the true church. Even at
the time when the apostle was writing, the "mystery of iniquity"
had already begun to work. The developments that were to take place in the
future were to be "after the working of Satan with all power and
signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in
them that perish."
Especially solemn is the apostle's statement regarding those who should
refuse to receive "the love of the truth." "For this
cause," he declared of all who should deliberately reject the
messages of truth, "God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the
truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Men cannot with impunity
reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them. From those who persist
in turning from these warnings, God withdraws His Spirit, leaving them to
the deceptions that they love.
Thus Paul outlined the baleful work of that power of evil which was to
continue through long centuries of darkness and persecution before the
second coming of Christ. The Thessalonian believers had hoped for
immediate deliverance; now they were admonished to take up bravely and in
the fear of God the work before them. The apostle charged them not to
neglect their duties or resign themselves to idle waiting. After their
glowing anticipations of immediate deliverance the round of daily life and
the opposition that they must meet would appear doubly forbidding. He
therefore exhorted them to steadfastness in the faith:
"Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught,
whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and
God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting
consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish
you in every good work and work." "The Lord is faithful, who
shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the
Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command
you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the
patient waiting for Christ."
The work of the believers had been given them by God. By their faithful
adherence to the truth they were to give to others the light which they
had received. The apostle bade them not to become weary in well-doing, and
pointed them to his own example of diligence in temporal matters while
labouring with untiring zeal in the cause of Christ. He reproved those who
had given themselves up to sloth and aimless excitement, and directed that
"with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." He also
enjoined upon the church to separate from their fellowship anyone who
should persist in disregarding the instruction given by God's ministers.
"Yet," he added, "count him not as an enemy, but admonish
him as a brother."
This epistle also Paul concluded with a prayer that amidst life's toils
and trials the peace of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ might
be their consolation and support.
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