The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

2004

I THESSALONIANS

always in reference to older Christians treating baby Christians with “kid” gloves (mildly). As adult believers, we should never be shocked or surprised at the immature behavior of a brand new Christian. They, like babies, are going to “mess-up” and at times act “childish” when it comes to spiritual things. Therefore, like a mother with a nursing child, we should always handle newborn babes in Christ in a “mild” manner. Question: Are you patient with new converts in your church? What are you doing personally to treat baby believers “gently?” 2. Cherisheth - This word ( cherisheth ) is the Greek word θDOSK ( thalpe ) and means “ to heat, to soften by heat; then, to keep warm, as of birds covering their young with their feathers .” Thalpe is used to describe the natural protective relationship that exists between a mother and her baby (I Ki 3:16-28). This word ( cherisheth ) is used twice in the NT (I Thess 2:7 and Eph 5:29) and always in reference to shielding someone from harm. As adult believers, we need to learn to cover, shield, and protect newborn Christians within our local assembly to the point they feel safe, warm, and secure within their new environment (the Church). Like a mother bird who protects its young from the elements, we too should always protect our newborn believers from Christian indifference, apathy, and coldness that can exist within any local church (Lk 17:1-2 and Mt 18:1-6). Question: Do you enjoy new converts? What are you doing personally to keep baby believers feeling “warm and fuzzy?” 3. Affectionately desirous - This word ( affectionately desirous ) is the Greek word ‘ LPHLUοPHQοL ( himeiromenoi ), which is derived from a root word indicating “remembrance.” Himeiromenoi means “ to yearn and to brood over a certain memory .” The memory being described here is birth - that one-time “momentous” relationship that forever bonds a mother and her baby the moment that child is born. This word ( affectionately desirous ) is used once in the NT (I Thess 2:8) and references the miraculous “memorable” event called birth and the sacrifice that a mother is willing to make in order to bring forth that new birth. Every birth, whether physical or spiritual, is a miracle. As adult believers, we need to become “ affectionately desirous ” of the newborn believers within our local assembly, remembering always their miraculous “memorable” birth into the family of God and the sacrifice it takes to see them birthed. Just as a mother remembers that she was willing to sacrifice her own life in order to bring forth a miraculous new life, so Paul reminds these new converts of his that he, too, is willing to give of himself wholly for the sake of his newborn babes in Christ. The reason adult believers fail so miserably at being “ affectionately desirous ” toward new converts is because: (1)They have failed to remember their own miraculous spiritual delivery and the sacrifice it took on the part of someone else to see them birthed (Jere 2:1-6); and (2) They have failed to sacrifice personally and witness to others in order that others might be saved (II Cor 5:14-21). Question: Do you remember the sacrifice it took on the part of someone else to see your own new birth occur? Are you sacrificing personally by witnessing to others in order to see their new birth in Jesus occur? What are you doing personally to remind yourself of the sacrifice that it takes in order to see new birth in Jesus occur? 4. Dear - This word ( dear ) is the Greek word DJDSKτοL ( agapetoy ) and means “ to love unconditionally .” Agape-type love expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a Perfect Being toward entirely unworthy objects. According to I Corinthians 13, agape love seeks the welfare of all ( II Jn 1:6 ). Question: Do you love new converts? What are you doing personally to “unconditionally” love baby believers? 5. Labor and travail - These two words ( labor and travail ) come from two Greek words: NοSοQ ( kopon ), meaning “ to strike or cut; to toil until weary ,” and PοFθοQ ( mochthon ), meaning “ to toil through painful effort .” Does the combination of the two words sound like a woman in labor? As adult believers, we need to toil like we’re in labor over newborn believers within our local assembly until we’re weary and it hurts. In other words, our greatest concern next to reaching the lost ought to be to labor and travail over newborn believers. Question: How hard do you labor over new converts? What are you doing to personally “labor” over baby believers? 2:8 THE ADAGE IS TRUE: People do not care how much we know until they know how much we care 2:11 In order to raise functional children for God, God’s people need to start emulating the descriptive verbiage Paul uses to describe his role in “mothering” and “fathering” newborn believers. Note the six different expressive words that Paul uses to describe the father’s role concerning spiritual parenting: 1. Holily - This word ( holily ) is the Greek adverb ‘ οσLZ9 ( hosios ) and is associated with “ righteous conduct .” 2. Justly - This word ( justly ) is the Greek adverb GLNDLZ9 ( dikaios ) and is in accordance with “ what is right .” 3. Unblameably - This word ( unblameably ) is the Greek adverb DPHPSτZ9 ( amemptos ) and signifies that “ no charge can be made or maintained , no fault can be found, and the person being examined is free from all valid charges .” All three of these words in verse 10 describe for us the “greatest” role of that of a father – his personal example (II Thess 3:6-9, Mt 5:48 and Prov 23:24-26). Question: What are you doing personally to provide baby believers with the “proper example?” 4. Exhorted - This word ( exhorted ) is the Greek word SDUDNDOοXQτH9 ( parakalountes ) and means “ to urge one to pursue a course of conduct based on the eternal perspective .” Question: What are you doing personally to encourage baby believers to “focus on the eternal perspective?” 5. Comforted - This word ( comforted ) is the Greek word SDUDPXθοXPHQοL ( paramuthoumenoi ) and means “ to speak closely and with great tenderness; to become personal .” Question: What are you doing personally to “become personal” with baby believers? 6. Charged - This word ( charged ) is the Greek word PDUτXUοXPHQοL ( marturoumenoi ) and means “ to bear witness; to testify .” This Greek word is where we get our English word “martyr.” Question: What are you doing personally to “testify of all these things” before baby believers?