The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

I THESSALONIANS 1:5-10

2001

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in 1 power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, 2 having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the 3 HOLY GHOST : 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also 4 in every place your faith

to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; The promise of CHRIST’S return (Rapture) before the “DAY OF WRATH” (Fulfilled - Rev 4:1 & Rev 6:5-8) 10 And to wait for his 5 SON from heaven, whom he 6 raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the 7 WRATH to come. PP

1. II Cor 6:7 2. Acts 17:1-10 3. Acts 13:50-52 4. Rom 1:8 & 10:18 & 16:19 & II Cor 2:14 5. Fulfilled - Rev 4:1 (Rapture) 6. Mt 28:6 7. Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21 (Christ’s Second Coming)

1:5 This word ( power ) is the Greek word GXQDPHL ( dunamei ), from which we get our word “dynamite.” According to the Bible, God gives Christians the power to accomplish five things for Him ( Heb 6:2 b ). Those believers, who desire to have the greatest “impact” on the world, will need the power of two sources: (1) The Scriptures (Rom 1:16); and (2) The SPIRIT (Lk 11:13, I Thess 1:5 and Acts 1:8) NOTE - Properly presented, the Word of God (and the Gospel in particular) has great power. God’s Word is effective no matter how ineffective or unworthy the messenger happens to be (Num 24:1-2,15-19). The Word of God is not going to return void (Isa 55:11). Nevertheless, how much greater the “impact” when the messenger and the Message are in perfect harmony, so that the Word goes forth with “ power ” (Acts 18:24-26). 1:6 Christians are responsible to God for following the right kind of spiritual leadership ( followers of us ). Why else would our Lord warn us about following false prophets (Mt 7:15-23)? The Apostles warned us as well (Gal 1:8-9, I Tim 4:1-3, II Pet 2:1-3, II Jn 9-11 and Jude 3-4). It is the individual responsibility of every Christian to know “whom” to follow spiritually. Woe to the people of God who fail to follow the right kind of spiritual leadership. Paul said to the Galatian believers in Galatians 3:1: O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you , that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you ? NOTE - Christians can be fooled and have been fooled into following disingenuous men and women for millenniums. There are four simple guidelines given to us within Scripture that will help us avoid being fooled by the wrong kind of spiritual leadership: 1. Learn to follow men who follow the Master, not men who follow movements (I Thess 1:6) Paul said in I Corinthians 11:1, “ Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ .” The ultimate standard is Christ, not Paul, not men, not faith movements. Spiritual leaders who elevate their fundamental, charismatic, or denominational movement above the individual right of a believer to independently serve the Lord are leaders who “want” disciples instead of leaders who “make” disciples. Any believer who wants to avoid being “fooled” by the wrong kind of spiritual leadership must learn to follow men who elevate Christ and his simple, unchanging offer of salvation above their preferential style of worship and/or movement (Jn 3:26-30). 2. Learn to follow scripturally Paul spoke plainly. He said in I Corinthians 14:34-35: Despite what some of our Christian friends teach their followers, spiritual leadership belongs to men, not women. Although men can and do lead wrongly, God warns Christian women (who are naturally more vulnerable to Satan’s attacks - Gen 3:1-6), not to lead spiritually. Paul said in I Timothy 2:11-14: Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach (preach) , nor to usurp authority over the man , but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression . The Apostle Paul cites two main reasons why women are not allowed to usurp authority (spiritually) over men: *Women were second in creation (vs. 13) – Paul said, “ For Adam was first formed, then Eve .” According to Genesis 1:26-27 and I Corinthians 11:8-9, it is the man who is to display the authority of God on earth, not the woman. Moses said in Genesis 2:18: And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him . Women were created to help spiritually, not lead spiritually. This, of course, does not mean that women are second-class citizens, only second in creation. Biblically speaking, women are the greater creation since they were created to complete an incomplete man. Yet despite the woman’s superior design, she is still commanded to submit to the man. Reason being: it is part of her condemnation for her role in the rebellion in the Garden of Eden. God said to the woman in Genesis 3:16, “ I will Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak (preach) ; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak (preach) in the church .