The Strand Study Bible

Written From Corinth During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

2006

I THESSALONIANS

To him it was no device of man, but unequivocally Divine; in very truth, the word of God. His theology certainly came to him in the way of his experience; his mind had been engaged with it, and was engaged with it continually; but he was conscious that, with all this freedom, it rested at bottom on the truth of God; and when he preached it–for his theology was the sum of the Divine truth he held, and he did preach it–he did not submit it to men as a theme for discussion. He put it above discussion. He pronounced a solemn and reiterated anathema on either man or angel who should put anything else in its stead. He published it, not for criticism, as though it had been his own device; but, as the word of God, for the obedience of faith. 1

The difference between all other gods and the God of this Book is that the God of this Book bases his entire reputation on His word, not His name ( Psa 138:2 ). God cannot help us until we first accept the fact that His Word is what it claims to be –the very Word of God! Then and only then will it effectually work in our life. 2:16a Can people keep other people from being saved ( that they might be saved ) or are people merely a hindrance to other people being saved? In other words, can people send other people to Hell by keeping the truth from them (Mt 23:15)? The answer is “no.” If God is not willing that any should perish (and He’s not – II Pet 3:9), then how can somebody keep somebody else from being saved? People can hinder people from getting saved, but they cannot keep people from being saved. That choice is left up to the individual ( Gen 4:7 , Jn 3:17 and Acts 1:20,25 ). If God is not willing to send people to Hell ( Mt 22: 9- 12 ), then He’s not going to allow other people to send people to Hell. People can influence people not to be saved, but the decision not to be saved ultimately rests with the individual ( Exo 4:21 ). James 1:13-15 says: Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Salvation is a whosoever endeavor (Jn 4:10-14 and Rom 10:13), not a “whatsoever hindered me” enterprise. No one will be able to blame anyone else for not being saved. 2:16b This word ( to fill up ) comes from the combination of two Greek words: DQD ( ana ), meaning “ up ” and SOKUZσDL ( plerosai ), meaning “ to make full .” In continuing their rejection of Jesus and increasing their opposition by preventing the Apostle Paul from preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, the Jews of Paul’s day had heaped “ sin upon sin ” and thus added punishment to their judgment in the hereafter (Mt 23:29-33). Just as there are degrees of rewards in Heaven (Lk 14:14, Dan 12:3 b and Rev 4:2 b ), so there are degrees of punishments in Hell (Mt 11:20-24 & 23:32-38 and Rev 20:11, 14 a, 15 ). 2:18 The reason Satan and his demons are not confined yet is because God is making “use of them” ( Satan hindered us ). Yes, God uses the Devil and his demons to test, temper, and polish His people ( I Pet 1:7a,b ). 2:19 a The second crown mentioned in the Bible that can be earned is the “ crown of rejoicing .” This crown is bestowed upon those believers who faithfully witness for Jesus. Paul’s only grounds for rejoicing were the thought of the souls he would present to Jesus someday (II Cor 1:14, Phil 4:1 and Rev 4:10 ). 2:19 b According to the Old Testament, CHRIST was prophesied to come twice: 1. The first time as a LAMB ( Gen 3:21 & 22:8 a and Jn 1:29 a ), 2. The second time as a LION ( Gen 49:9 , Rev 5:5, Hos 11:10, Joel 3:16, Amos 1:2 and Isa 31:4) NOTE - Just as there are two phases associated with the initial promise of CHRIST’S coming, so there are two phases associated with the final promise of CHRIST’S SECOND COMING : 1. The first phase of Christ’s Second Coming will occur at the Rapture ( Rev 4:1 and II Thess 2:2 b ) 2. The second phase of Christ’s Second Coming will occur seven years after the Rapture ( Rev 19:11-16 ) This event will take place 3½ years after the DAY OF THE LORD begins ( I Thess 5:2 ) 3:2 This word ( faith ) is the Greek word SLστHZ9 ( pisteos ) and means “ firm persuasion , a conviction ,” which is based upon hearing. According to Romans 10:17 , those who apply passages of Scripture, that have particular application to their lives, build faith. Biblical faith, therefore, is nothing more than taking God’s Word over your own and then obeying it ( Heb 11:1 ). 3:5 Seeing that a Christian can falter in his faith ( Jms 1:8 ), Paul sent word to them “to know their faith.” Paul wrote them this Epistle sometime between Acts 17:14 through 15, while he was in Corinth. 3:6,7 The entire chapter of I Thessalonians 3 is devoted to Christians and the upkeep of their faith (vs. 10). Perfecting one’s faith is essential to finishing one’s race and receiving a “Well done!” at the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST (vs 13) (See - DEUTERONOMY “MINI” SERIES). 3:8 What Paul meant when he said, “ For now we live ” is: “Our labor in serving you was not in vain, as long as you’re still living for the Lord ( if ye stand fast in the Lord )” - I Cor 15:58. 3:11 This word ( direct ) is the Greek word NDτHXθX ν DL ( kateuthunai ) and means “clear.” It is singular in number (a singular verb), yet is connected with a plural subject (God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ). Meaning: Jesus is as much God as the Father is God for He is addressed equally in prayer with the Father. What Paul was saying to the Thessalonican believers was: “May He (as in H E - Rev 11:15 ) clear the way unto you, even the Father and Jesus,” not “may they clear the way unto you.” 3:13 This term ( saints ) probably refers to angels who will accompany the return of Jesus (Mk 8:38). 4:1 Someone has said that everyone lives to please someone: himself, his spouse, his parents, his child, or someone else. Paul, however, begged believers to please God . Why? Because the Christian life is not a set of rules to be obeyed or a list of prohibitions to be avoided. The Christian life should be a life focused on God’s love for us ( II Cor 5:14 ), which leads to our love for God ( I Jn 4:19 ). 1 Denney, James. The Epistles to the Thessalonians , London, England, Hodder and Stoughton, 1892. Print.