The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

I THESSALONIANS 2:12 - 4:2

2005

12 1 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto 2 HIS kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it 3 not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, 4 which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: 5 for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 6 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, 7 and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 8 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, 9 to fill up their sins alway: for the 10 WRATH is come upon them to the uttermost. P 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time 11 in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but 12 Satan hindered us. Crown #2 - The Crown of Rejoicing (The Soulwinner’s Crown) 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at 13 HIS coming? P 20 For ye are our glory and joy. I Thessalonians 3 Paul’s great concern over his 1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, 14 we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent 15 Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be 16 moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that new-born Christians Date Written - c. AD 52

we are 17 appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, 18 when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribu- lation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the 19 tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 20 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, wewere comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: The promise of CHRIST’S Second Coming (Fulfilled - Rev 19:11-21) 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the 10 coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST with all his 21 saints. P I Thessalonians 4 Paul and Silas (The model Christians) Date Written - c. AD 52 1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, 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. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

1. Eph 4:1 2. Rev 20:4-6 & Psa 22:28 3. II Pet 1:20-21 4. I Pet 1:23 5. Acts 17:5-9 6. Mt 27:23,50 & Acts 2:23 7. Mt 5:12 & 23:34- 35 & Acts 7:52 & II Chro 36:16 8. Acts 17:5-9,13 & 21:28 & 22:21-22 9. Mt 11:20-24 & 23:32-38 10. Fulfilled- Rev 19:11-21 (Christ’s Second Coming) (See - Mal 4:5) 11. Acts 17:10-12 12. Acts 17:13-14 & Rom 1:13 & 15:22 13. Fulfilled - Rev 4:1 (Rapture) 14. Acts 17:10-15 15. Acts 17:14 16. or, “decieved” 17. Acts 9:16

18. Acts 17:1-9 19. or, “Satan” - I Thess 2:18 & Mt 4:3 & II Cor 2:11

20. Acts 17:15 & 18:5 21. or, “holy ones” - Zech 14:5 & Jude 14 & Rev 19:14

2:13 When the Thessalonians first heard Paul speak, they sensed the supernatural truthfulness of his words (I Thess 1:5) and realized that his words were not of man’s wisdom, but a message that had its source in God ( but as it is in truth, the word of God ). James Denney, Scottish theologian and preacher, in The Epistles to the Thessalonians notes:

When the message was brought to them, they accepted it, he says, not as the word of men, but as what it was in truth, the word of God. It is in this character that the gospel always presents itself. A word of men cannot address men with authority; it must submit itself to criticism; it must vindicate itself on grounds which man’s understanding approves…