home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Current Shareware 1994 January
/
SHAR194.ISO
/
religion
/
alphon_3.zip
/
1-THES.000
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-11-12
|
11KB
|
220 lines
1 THESSALONIANS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Written by the Apostle Paul from Corinth (or Athens) about 54 A.D.
The Theme of 1 and 2 Thessalonians is "the Coming of the Lord", or "Christ,
our Hope."
The Founding of the church. Acts 17:1-10.
After preaching in Philippi and experiencing persecution Paul and Silas went
to Thessalonica.
Paul preached Christ in the Synagogue.
Some believed of the Jews and a great multitude of devout Greeks, also
a number of chief women. (v. 4)
The unbelieving Jews caused an uproar, assaulting the house of Jason.
They brought Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city.
Paul and Silas went to Berea and preached there.
The Jews of Thessalonica caused further trouble at Berea by stirring up
the people.
Note: Aristarchus and Secundus, brethren from Thessalonica, travelled
with Paul. Acts 20:4, 27:2; Philemon 24; Col. 4:10.
1 Thes. The Theme is the Coming of the Lord for the believers.
2 Thes. The Theme is the Coming of the Lord in judgment on the unbelieving.
The Key Verse 1:10.
The Key Word Come (or Coming) 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:2; 5:23.
During the brief ministry of Paul and Thessalonica he had taught great
doctrines of the Bible.
CHAPTER 1: True Conversion and the Coming of the Lord.
Salutations. Paul, Silas and Timothy, the three had laboured in
Thessalonica.
Prayer. Thanksgiving for them. v. 2. v. 1
True conversion brings: v. 3-10.
1. Faith
2. Love
3. Hope Cf. 1 Cor. 13:13
Work of: 1. Faith v. 3-9b
a. The Gospel came in power to turn to God from idols.
b. With much affliction
c. With joy in the Holy Ghost
d. They became examples
Labor of: 2. Love v. 9c
a. To serve the living and true God.
Having turned from idols.
Patience of: 3. Hope v. 10
a. To wait for His Son from heaven.
b. Deliverance from wrath to come.
CHAPTER 2: The True Minister (or Ministry) and the Coming of the Lord.
I. The True Minister - Steadfast. v. 1-2
The ministry was not in vain. It was fruitful.
Persecuted but bold in our God.
II. The True Minister and His Ministry - Pure and full of Love. v. 3-18
A. Negatively 3-6
1. Not of deceit
2. Not of uncleanness
3. Not of guile
4. Not as pleasing men but God - as stewards of God. 4a
5. Not using flattering words
6. Not using a cloak of covetousness
7. Not seeking glory of men, of you, or of others, not
officious when could have used authority as apostles.
B. But were positively: v. 7-11
1. Gentle - as a nurse cherisheth her children
2. Loving v.8
3. Labouring and travailing
4. Holy, just and unblameable behaviour
5. Exhorting, comforting, charging everyone as a
father doth his children, that ye would walk
worthy of God.
C. Results of the true ministry v. 12-16 That ye:
1. Would walk worthy of God
who hath called you unto this kingdom and glory.
2. Receive the Word of God
not as the word of men but in truth, the Word of God
which effectually worketh in you.
3. Become followers of the churches of God
in suffering persecution with fellow believers in
Judea. The Jews:
a. killed the Lord Jesus and their
own prophets
b. persecuted the apostles
c. pleased not God
d. contrary to all men
e. forbidding the ministry to the
gentiles
4. That the ministers: v. 17-13 might have further
ministry and fellowship though hindered by Satan
from doing so.
III. The True Minister's Reward v. 19-20
The converts are the minister's
Hope )
Joy and ) At the Coming, "Parousia", of the Lord.
Crown of rejoicing)
Glory )
We shall see and know one another at the coming of the Lord.
CHAPTER 3: True Steadfastness until the Coming of the Lord.
I. The Apostle's Concern for their Steadfastness. v. 1-5
a. Sent Timothy to establish and comfort them. v. 1-2
b. Believers are to be tested and tried. v. 3-4; John 16:33; James
1:2-3; 11 Cor. 4:17-13.
c. Steadfastness essential. v. 5.
II. The Apostle's Comfort over their Steadfastness. v. 6-13.
a. Timothy's good report. v. 6. of their faith and charity (love).
b. Their steadfastness - the apostle's life and joy. v. 7-9.
c. The Apostle's desire to see them again. v. 10-11.
The intensity (depth) of true love in Christ, to perfect what
was lacking.
III. The Apostle's Goal (Consummation) for their steadfastness. v. 12-13.
A. Steadfast until the coming of the Lord. (Established)
1. By the Lord
2. By love
3. Unto holiness
CHAPTER 4:
I. True Holiness and the Coming of the Lord. v. 1-12.
(3:13 introduces this)
a. True holiness in morality (our bodies) - sexual relations v. 1-8
in bodily purity.
Abstain from fornication. Eccl. 10:1; Prov. 2:16-19; Prov. 5;
Prov. 6:23-35; Prov. 7. Cf. Acts 15:29; 1 Cor. 6:13b-20.
Sanctification and honour
not
Fleshly lust and uncleanness.
Contrast fleshly love (so called) with True Godly Love. A solemn
warning. v. 8 of 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 1 Cor. 6:13-20
b. True holiness in Brotherly Love. v. 9-10.
to the brethren
Love one another John 13:34-35
Tertullian (192 A.D.) "The heathen often exclaim in wonder, `See
how these Christians love one another.'" Luoian (about the same
time), himself a heathen, wrote "It is incredible to see the
fervour with which the people of that religion help each other
in their wants. They spare nothing. Their first legislator
(i.e. the Lord Jesus) has put it into their heads that they are
all brethren."
c. True holiness to all men. v. 11-12.
1. Quiet - study, endeavouring earnestly
2. Diligent - do your own business
3. Work - manual labor. Titus 3:8
4. Honest - walk becomingly
5. Sufficiency - not sponging off of others. Titus 3:14;
1 Tim. 5:3 even though some of these men might persecute
you.
II. True consolation (comfort) in the coming of the Lord. v. 13-18
a. Sorrow with hope
b. The Death and Resurrection of The Lord Jesus is the basis for the
resurrection of all believers. (1 Cor. 15:1-5)
c. The Dead in Christ shall rise first.
All believers from Adam till His Coming.
d. Then the Living in Christ rise.
All together with the Lord.
e. The Manner of the Coming of the Lord.
1. The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. Acts 1:11 As
Jehovah-Redeemer
2. With a shout. A shout of command, as Captain.
3. The voice of the archangel. Cf. Jude 9. As Leader of the
angels.
4. The Trump of God. 1 Cor. 15:52. As the Summons of Deity
This tells us when it shall happen.
5. The Dead in Christ rise first. 1 Cor. 15:20-23;
Job 19:25-27
6. The Living in Christ then rise. Phil. 3:21
7. Together in the clouds with Christ. As He went up a cloud
received Him. Acts 1:10. We shall meet Him in the clouds.
8. Ever with the Lord. "And thus always with the Lord we
shall be." Inter.
f. Comfort one another. v. 13.
CHAPTER 5: True Preparation for the Coming of the Lord.
I. Watch for the Coming of the Lord. v. 10
Watchfulness essential
a. Because of the Suddenness of His coming. v. 1-3
1. As a thief in the night.
2. When the world is unprepared and rests in a false security.
b. As children of the day be prepared. v. 4-10.
Children of day (light) contrasted with children of night
(darkness)
Watch - Mark 13:32-37 Contrast - sleep
Sober - 1 Thes. 5:6 Contrast - drunken
As Soldiers v. 8.
Breastplate of faith and love
Helmet - the hope of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ
And living together with Him - contrast with wrath.
II. Practical exhortations in preparation for His coming. v. 11-28.
a. Comfort (exhort) yourselves. v. 11a
b. Edify one another v. 11b
c. Have the proper attitude toward the ministry. v. 12-13a
d. Be at peace v. 13b
A number of exhortations - all showing the proper attitude and
holy conduct in view of the coming of the Lord. v. 14-28.
Loving God and loving our neighbour will fulfil all these
exhortations.