Interpretive Study of 1Thessalonians 1-3

Epistle theme: the elements of a true church

God's Way to Study His Word:

In 2Timothy 2:15 we read: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The true definition of the word dividing is: 'a Mathematical function whereby we separate pre-defined units according to a precise procedure which produces a precise result'. However, while most people understand that 'there is one interpretation but many applications of the word of God', they fail to separate the procedures of each. And, as a result, they fail to separate the 'one interpretation of the word of God' from the 'many applications of the word of God'. This leads to many errors which people blame on the perfect word of God instead of their using the wrong procedure.

The result, of men using the wrong way, is that men claim that there are errors and conflicts in God's word. In Isaiah 28, God tells us how to understand His word. In addition, God preserved the message of His word; He preserves every word of His sentences; and God preserves every punctuation mark (jot and title) of His sentences. Therefore, God preserved what He wanted us to understand and God told us how to understand His word so that we have no errors and no conflicts. Unfortunately, for at least one hundred and fifty (150) yeare, men have been taught to use the wrong way to interpret God's word instead of using God's way.

In Isaiah 55:9 we are told For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Thus, God warns us that our ways are wrong and that using God's way produces better results, which have no errors and no conflicts.

In addition, 1Corinthians 2:14 tells us: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, we can not properly understand the spiritual word of God using man's way. We must use God's way to understand God's preserved word of God. And, the basics of God's way is to understand His preserved word of God using the sentence format and true Biblical definitions for Bible words.

This Study follows the Biblical Way to understand God's Word. It applies precepts ('truths that never change for any circumstance'). It then goes through the epistle sentence-upon-sentence (line upon line [Isaiah 28 ]). This is different from the ways of men which use verse-upon-verse or some other method which generates errors. God's sentence-upon-sentence method also pays attention to what 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved, which are the true Biblical meanings of words and the Biblical usage of punctuation. (These two are the components of sentences and do not give us verses.) the 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved punctuation (one jot or one tittle) in Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17. And 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved every word when he wrote: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).

The summary of the epistle comes from the summary of each chapter and each chapter summary within that book. Every chapter summary comes from the summary of each sentence within that chapter. And, the sentence summaries come from analysis using the punctuation and true word definitions, as already explained. As a result, we have what God literally had written and see that there are no conflicts even when we consider the smallest part of a sentence compared to the entire Bible book. God is consistent from the start of a Bible book to the end and is consistent in His doctrines and word definitions across the entire Bible. What we have is an integrated whole (single) message, with no errors and no conflicts. This particular book Study is part of a detailed analysis of the entire New Testament which shows this truth.

Other than cults, all claims of errors and conflicts are based upon the New Testament. This Study is part of a series which interprets the preserved word of God using God's way and proving that there are no errors, nor any conflicts, if we obey God and use His way to interpret His word. And, this series concentrates on the New Testament, since that is the basis of these lies about the perfect word of God.

I have read, or at least skimmed, every book which has been written in the last hundred and fifty (150) years and which claims to teach people how to study and understand the word of God. In every case, they use a method which comes from man and do not use God's way (Isaiah 55:8) to study and understand the word of God. And, while there are variations from one man-written method to another man-written method, every one of them ends up with problems. The end result of those problems is that people blame God's perfect word for their own problems and either turn to a man-written 'bible' or skip verses. (By skipping the interpretation of certain verses, they can hide the conflict which their method has produced.)

Now, many people find that the Detail Studies to be overwhelming because they have everything required to prove that there are NO errors in the perfect word of God. This summary level is easier to understand for most people. At the same time, if someone has an argument with what is presented here, the matching Detail Study provides all of the proof required in order to show that what is here matches exactly what God wrote in His word. Again, this is not a matter of my opinion versus their opinion. I have over thirty (30) years’ experience as a professional Systems Analyst with an international reputation for accuracy in how to prove things. And, this series of books are the result of using recognized methods of analysis to prove what God actually wrote. This series does not present a religious opinion. Therefore, a religious opinion, which was arrived at from using wrong methods, is not superior to a true analysis of what God wrote.

People have looked for over twenty (20) years and failed to find any other work that covers everything this series cover. In addition, no one has found any other work which covers the level of detail found in the Detail Studies. Further, the Detail Studies literally have several million Bible references to support the interpretation provided and to show that the perfect word of God is consistent all across it for word definitions and doctrines. Again, no one has found any other work which has this quantity of Bible references supporting what is presented. I do not write this to brag but to inform the reader the depth of study which supports what is presented in this series.

Let any who disagree show their method and the results of their method and try to explain how their method, which produces errors, is greater that God's way which produces no errors and no conflicts.

Overview of 1Thessalonians

Epistle theme: the elements of a true church

Click on the following links to jump to a chapter within this study: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, God.

Many people have written all kinds of commentaries on this epistle. You can find many disagreements between these commentaries. The commentaries that teach doctrinal error ignore the context as they try to justify their doctrine. Such action is motivated by devils and the resulting doctrinal error can bring the judgment of God upon His people instead of the blessings that God wants to give. 1John 4:1 tells us Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.. The commentaries which do base their comments upon what is actually written, with consideration of context and proper methods of interpretation, will agree on doctrine even while presenting different views of that doctrine.

Most people have been taught that this epistle is about the 'Rapture'. While it does speak about that, it doesn't do that until Chapter 4. Further, Chapter 5 continues with the day of the Lord, which is different than the 'Rapture'. The earlier chapters tell us how we are to act now based upon those truths. The prophecies are only presented after three chapters where Paul is talking about the testimony of a truly Godly church and how that testimony results in lost people talking about the great change in the lives of God's truly saved. These prophecies are only for the truly saved and not for anyone who decides to call himself a 'Christian' with no regard for the Bible requirements to be a true Biblical Christian. In addition, Chapter 5 returns to instructions on how to have a truly Godly testimony after it deals with the day of the Lord. Therefore, the majority of this epistle is actually dealing with the Biblical description true Godly church, which is composed of people who have a truly changed life which produces a true Godly testimony.

In addition, to talking about the difference in testimony and lifestyle between lost religious people and the truly saved, Paul talks about how the truly saved have the light of God's truth while the lost are in darkness. The message, about prophecy, was for the saved to stop listening to lost 'prophets' who were in darkness and had no true spiritual revelation. The saved are to realize the difference between truly saved and religious lost people by their testimony, especially when they are under persecution. The saved are to only listen to Godly men and to the Holy Spirit. With the realization of this difference, the saved are to not follow the lost religious people but are to follow the Godly.

Thus, the true message of this epistle is to stop listening to lost religious people and live the life which produces a testimony of how God changes the truly saved. That changed life includes being an active member of a truly Godly church. Therefore, the main application of this epistle is how to identify a truly Godly church with the proper interpretation and application of prophecy only being part of true Godly doctrine.

The chapters of this book can be viewed with the following themes:

Chapter 1: the power of God.
Chapter 2: the pastor of God.
Chapter 3: the people of God.
Chapter 4: the presence of God.
Chapter 5: the perfecting of God.

Please note that every one of the themes, mentioned above, are parts of a truly Godly church.

Paul wrote this epistle because there were people who went into this church, after Paul left, and who taught doctrinal error. We have the same problem everywhere today. People lift up their man-given credentials but the Bible tells us to look for 'the power of God', which is the true evidence of God's approval. Since 'the power of God' does not change but is evident everywhere and to everyone, that is the basis for this epistle. The power of God will affect the lives of God's true people and God's true church. Therefore, this is how you tell a true church from a false church.

The most important human, within the true church, is the pastor. And that is because he is whom God works through to guide and bless the church. Therefore, the second chapter tells us how to tell 'the pastor of God', which identifies a true man of God, from a false pastor. A true pastor will lead people to have lives which show that they are 'the people of God' by their living a life which is different from lost people. God's people need to do their part in the ongoing personal relationship with God which is through the Son of God. (This relationship is part of true Biblical salvation.) therefore, God's people need to do their part to maintain 'the presence of God' in this relationship. (We can never lose our salvation and He will never leave us but we can abandon our relationship just like a married person can abandon their marriage relationship.)

In the Bible, the word perfect is defined as: 'spiritually mature'. Thus, our last chapter tells us how our keeping 'the presence of God' in our life will lead to 'the perfecting of God' within our lives. This last chapter tells us how to act as 'spiritually mature' saints of God. Thus, this epistle can be described as: 'How to tell the true church of God'. (For more details please see the message called: Identify the True Church.

Please also see the Doctrinal Studies called: Significant Gospel Events and Significant New Testament Events. There are several references to this epistle in the sections called Promises and Prophecies. Those sections also have many more links to New Testament references which provide other Promises and Prophecies.

Chapter Outlines by sentence format.

Chapter 1 Chapter theme: the Power of God to change lives.

Paul and his missionary team were driven out of thessalonica, and other towns, by religious and lost people who were willing to kill others in support of their doctrinal error. Then, after driving Paul and his missionary team out, they set about persecuting the truly saved. When that didn't make them loose their testimony, but only made it known to more people, they tried bringing in religious teachers, who were accepted by the saved, and starting teaching a corrupting doctrinal error which was designed to get the saved to give up on living a holy life. When Paul heard of this error, he wrote this epistle. He starts this epistle with telling them that he, and God, remember their changed life and how that they had changed from the way they used to be to being like Paul and his missionary team. He also tells them that their continuing to live a holy life, in spite of persecution, was proof of their true salvation. Thus, our opening chapter centers on the message that the true gospel produces a changed and holy life and that the changed holy life is evidence of true salvation.

C1-S1 Opening salutation and promised blessing for obedience to this epistle.
1. The phrase Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the thessalonians tells us who wrote this epistle and whom it is written to. Timothy is included because he is being prepared to take over the ministry from Paul. Reportedly, Silvanus is the formal name of Silas. Silas went with Paul on his second missionary journey and is reported to be a leader in several churches including the church at Jerusalem.
2. The phrase which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ means that God is the true head of the church and the preachers writing this epistle are only His messengers. (The word in means: 'in relationship to'. This epistle is about their true relationship to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.)
3. The phrase Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ tells us the blessings which are available to people who believe and obey this epistle.
C1-S2 Prayers for the church members and assurance of their salvation from the three preacher authors.
1. The phrase We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers tells them that, as pastors, they are doing one of the most important works for a church.
2. The phrase Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father means that Paul, and the others, were aware of what they were doing right spiritually.
3. The phrase Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God means: 'Paul and the others knew that they were saved and serving God'. The word election is often presented as doctrinal error. God does not elect people but elects a way to serve Him and the saved people, who are in that way, are God's elect. Our prior phrase in this sentence described God's way to serve God if we want to be God's elect. Thus, Paul could write Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God because he knew how they served God.
C1-S3 Why they are sure of the members' salvation.
1. The word For means: 'Here's why the prior sentence is true'.
2. The phrase our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power means: 'The gospel that was preached also had demonstration of the power of God behind it'. Religion only has words and the opinions of men, which they claim is greater than demonstration of the power of God.
3. The phrase and in the Holy Ghost means: 'This is an additional evidence'. God's Holy Ghost not only provides the power of God to do miracles but also provides spiritual understanding of the word of God.
4. The phrase and in much assurance means: 'This is an additional evidence'. Yes, they received assurance from Paul and other preachers. However, the main assurance comes from Christ through our ongoing personal relationship with Him.
5. The phrase as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake means: 'Paul and others lived what they preached. And, the people saw God's Holy Ghost doing miracles for and through them because they devoted their lives to the service of God'.
C1-S4 the known testimony of the members which testifies of their salvation.
1. The word And means: 'This sentence is added to the prior'. This sentence is additional evidence of their salvation because the power of God was manifested in their lives also.
2. The word ye means: 'each and every one of you personally'. The phrase ye became followers of us, and of the Lord means: 'they each personally followed the example of the preachers in how to live a holy life and they each personally obeyed the commandments of the Lord'.
3. The phrase having received the word in much affliction means: 'They were persecuted for their conversion and changed lifestyle . Yet, they persisted in spite of the affliction'.
4. The phrase with joy of the Holy Ghost means: 'They each personally had joy of the Holy Ghost to offset the affliction'.
5. The phrase So that ye were ensamples means: 'Other people saw their changed life and realized that these things were not limited to the preachers but were available to all true believers'.
6. The phrase to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia means: 'Their reputation not only went throughout all of their country but also reached the next country'.
C1-S5 the impact of their testimony on people around them.
1. The word For means: 'Here is the evidence why the prior sentence is true'.
2. The phrase from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad means: 'They did the Great Commission'. They didn't just have religion and didn't just think they were OK because they went to church. They actually let God use their lives to take the Gospel to where it was never heard before they went there.
3. The phrase so that we need not to speak anything means: 'Their testimony spoke for itself'. Not one had to tell others that they were true Christians.
C1-S6 there was such a change in their life, due to salvation, that everyone around them were talking about it.
1. The word For means: 'Here is another evidence why the prior sentence and the second prior sentence are true'.
2. The phrase they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you means: 'The people converted by the members of this church testified about their changed life and their ministry'.
3. The phrase and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God is the evidence of their conversion.
4. The phrase and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead means: 'Their belief of the true Gospel caused them the serve God while waiting for the 'Rapture' and for their personal judgment'.
5. The phrase even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come means: 'They served Jesus believing in His future salvation from the wrath to come'.

Chapter 2 Chapter theme: the description of the pastor of God.

in this chapter, Paul continues with detailed evidence that his missionary team did not act like most religious people. They didn't try to be popular and make a name for themselves but told God's truth even when it brought persecution on them. They didn't try to get rich or even seek financial support but were completely self-supporting. They imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, even though it made them vulnerable to being hurt. The missionary team loved them like a parent loves their child. As a result, the saved people in thessalonica received the gospel, and received the missionaries, even when doing so brought persecution on them. That is, they received the missionaries by following their example even in the face of affliction.

With this reminder of their past personal relationship, Paul tells them they are still in the hearts of the missionary team, even though the missionary team was forced to leave thessalonica. Further, when the missionary team tried to return, Satan prevented their return. Therefore, even though they can not return, the saved people of thessalonica are their hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. in this chapter, Paul tells how he acted as their pastor and how a Godly pastor should act.

C2-S1 they knew how Paul and his missionary team told them the truth in spite of persecution by people from Philippi.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence, and chapter, are providing the reasons why the prior chapter was true'. Please notice that eight (8) of the sentences in this chapter start with the word For. That means that they are all giving reasons why the prior chapter was true. In addition, two sentences start with the word But, which connects them to the sentences which precede them. One more sentence starts with the phrase Ye are witnesses, which means it is providing personal evidence of what Paul writes in this chapter. And, the last sentence asks the question Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?. It is calling on them to personally testify of the truth of this chapter. With all of this analysis, it is hopeful that the reader realizes that this entire chapter must be considered as a single unit and that nothing should be taken out of context.
2. The phrase yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain is a call for them to recognize and admit the truth of the effect which Paul and the other preachers had on their personal lives. The people there became brethren.
3. The word but means: 'This phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction'. The prior phrase tells about how Paul and his team were accepted while the next phrase tells how they were rejected before they were accepted.
4. The phrase even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi tells of their prior rejection. Notice that they did not quit but went elsewhere and were accepted.
5. The phrase we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention means: 'They presented the true Gospel in spite of the local Jews, and others, trying to shut up the preachers'.
6. The application to the preacher, missionary, and true child of God is that we are to give the true Gospel in spite of any opposition.
C2-S2 Paul and his missionary team clearly told them God's truth and didn't worry about upsetting religious people but spoke with the knowledge that God would try them for how honestly they presented God's message.
1. No one can claim to have passed a test until after they have been through the test.
2. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why Paul's claim, in the prior sentence, is true'. The people whom Paul is writing to were witnesses to what Paul writes in this sentence.
3. The phrase our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile tells how they did not present the Gospel. Please see the detail note for the definitions of these words
4. The phrase But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel tells what God trusted them to do. God has also trusted every saved person with the same job.
5. The word even means: 'the two sides of a balancing scale have equal weight. Likewise, the two sides of the word even have equal importance'. The phrase even so we speak means: 'Our giving out the Gospel is as important as God putting us in trust with the gospel'.
6. The phrase not as pleasing men, but God means: 'What we are to preach is to please God and we are to not worry if we please men'.
7. The word try means: 'test repeatedly until you are very sure'. God knows what we are capable of but God wants us to be sure of how we will deal with trials in this life. The phrase which trieth our hearts means: 'God puts us through repeated tests in order to build our faith and confidence in God helping us'.
C2-S3 they didn't try to get people to support them nor to get a reputation among men.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence gives a second reason why Paul's claim, in the first sentence, is true'.
2. The phrase neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know means: 'Paul, and his team, did not preach what people wanted to hear and they did not assure people that God would accept their sinful lives'.
3. The phrase nor a cloke of covetousness means: 'Paul, and his team, did not preach what would get people to support them financially.'.
4. The phrase God is witness means: 'Paul, and his team, knew that they would be judged by God and that God was keeping a legal record of what they did, and how and the motivations of their hearts; to be used at their personal trials.'.
5. The phrase Nor of men sought we glory means: 'Paul, and his team, did not preach what would get people to support them socially.'.
6. The phrase neither of you, nor yet of others is identifying the people that the next phrase applies to.
7. The phrase when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ means: 'Paul, and his team, could have demanded all kinds of support, as the apostles of Christ, but did not demand anything.'.
C2-S4 Paul's missionary team acted in love.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while going another direction'. Where the prior sentence tells us how false preachers act, this sentence, and the next two sentences, tells us how true men of God should act.
2. The phrase we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children is a picture that most people should understand.
3. The phrase So being affectionately desirous of you tells us that they had feelings for these people and their long-term good. They weren't just doing it as a command from God.
4. The phrase we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls means: 'They invested their thoughts, their feelings and their own will to get the best results for the people that they ministered to'.
5. The phrase because ye were dear unto us means: 'Here's why they acted like they did'. Pastors are supposed to love the people of their ministry.
C2-S5 Paul reminds them how the missionaries supported themselves, working a job, in addition to preaching so that we would not be chargeable unto any of you.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence is providing the evidence that the prior sentence was true'.
2. The phrase ye remember, brethren means: 'Paul is calling on each and every one of them to personally remember what they had personally experienced with Paul and his team'.
3. The phrase our labour and travail describes what the people experienced that Paul, and his team, did and is what Paul is calling on them to personally remember.
4. The phrase for labouring night and day describes all of the effort that Paul, and his team, put into this church and is a major detail that they are to remember.
5. The phrase because we would not be chargeable unto any of you means: 'some of the missionary team worked during the day to earn money and financially support all of the team'. The phrase would not be chargeable means: 'none of the newly saved members of the missionary church had to financially support the preachers nor the church, before it was organized'.
6. The phrase we preached unto you the gospel of God means: 'This is what the missionary team did for them while charging them nothing'.
C2-S6 Ye are witnesses, how Paul's team acted like parents providing for children without charging the children.
1. The phrase Ye are witnesses, and God also means: 'At the Judgment seat of Christ, they will be personally called to formally testify how Paul, and his team, did the ministry'. God is going to have the church members testify at the trial of every pastor.
2. The phrase how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe tells how Paul, and his team, did the ministry and is what is expected to be the testimony at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10).
3. The phrase As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children means: 'the prior phrase told how they acted in general and this phrase tells how they acted in personal relationships'.
4. The phrase That ye would walk worthy of God tells us why Paul, and his team, acted like this sentence reports.
5. The phrase who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory means: 'God gave them this call. The missionary team was there to tell them about their call by God and to help them fulfill their call'. The missionary team is not there for their own good.
C2-S7 the missionaries thanked God because they received (the gospel) not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us that the prior sentence is why Paul, and his team, thanked God without ceasing'.
2. The phrase This cause also thank we God without ceasing tells us how Paul, and his team, reacted to the saved of this church.
3. The phrase because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us means: 'they did not just listen but actually received the word of God, which means that they let it also change their life'. This phrase also tells us that the missionary team delivered the word of God and not religious traditions nor their opinions nor anything other than received the word of God.
4. The phrase ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God means: 'The people realized, and accepted, that it was not the preachers speaking to them as men but it was actually God speaking and using the preachers as His mouth-piece'.
5. The phrase which effectually worketh also in you that believe means: 'This is the result of people truly receiving the word of God'. If the message does not effectually worketh ('an ongoing lifestyle working which changes their life'), then they did not truly receive the message or the message was not the true the word of God.
C2-S8 they received God's truth like the missionary team did, in spite of persecution of the missionary team and persecution of them.
1. in this sentence, we have the actions of true servants of God contrasted with the actions of liars who claim to be servants of God but, in truth, fight against God.
2. The word For means: 'This sentence is stating the evidence that the prior sentence is true'. That is, that the word of God truly caused 'ongoing lifestyle changes in the lives of those believers'.
3. The phrase ye, brethren means: 'each and every one of them personally became saved children of God, which made them brethren'.
4. The phrase became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus means:
  1. The phrase in Christ Jesus means: 'in a right relationship with Christ Jesus'. They are doing their part to maintain this life-long relationship and He is using the relationship to cause them to mature spiritually.
  2. The phrase the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus means: 'Not all so-called churches are maintaining this relationship'. However, Paul was writing that there were churches of God which in Judaea who were actually maintaining this relationship. .
  3. The phrase became followers means: 'these people at thessalonica were doing the same thing as the people in those other churches'.
5. The phrase for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews means: 'The reaction by lost religious people is the same everywhere. They cause suffering to the truly saved who are also living a good testimony'. The same result in both sets of churches is evidence of the same cause, which is a Godly testimony.
6. The phrases: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men tells us their testimony in this physical world which is the result of their lost spiritual condition.
7. The phrase Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved is the main specific example of the prior phrase.
8. The phrase to fill up their sins alway tells us why God lets them do this. When they are judged by God, they will not be able to deny the many acts which they do and which will be used, by God, to condemn them.
9. The phrase for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost is often misunderstood because some preacher preached a famous sermon called 'From the Guttermost to the Uttermost' and preached about how God saves people from all walks of life. However, that is not what this phrase is talking about. Pay attention to the context of the rest of the sentence and of the chapter. This phrase is saying that 'God's wrath came upon these people and stayed until their death and judgment after death (uttermost)'. The last part of this sentence is talking about the Jews, who were supposed to be God's people and serving God. Instead, as our sentence says, they fought against the true servants of God. When someone is supposed to be a servant of God, and they not only stop serving God but start fighting against God, they earn God's wrath came upon these people and stayed until their death and judgment after death (uttermost).
C2-S9 Even though the missionary team had to leave, they have these people in their heart and have a great desire...to see your face.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing directions'. The last half of the prior sentence described the actions of liars who claim to be servants of God but, in truth, fight against God. Such people, obviously, do not care about their followers since they are sending their followers to Hell. in this sentence, Paul is telling the members of this church how his missionary team still loved them even though they were forced to leave.
2. Again, we read that Paul addresses the church members as: brethren. When they were truly saved, they became part of the family of God. The word brethren is used seventeen (17) times in this epistle alone.
3. The phrase But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence means: 'Paul, and his team, were forced to leave the city'. They did not go of their own choice.
4. The phrase not in heart means: 'While Paul, and his team, were physically forced to be separated from the members of this church, these church members were still in their thoughts and in their feelings of care and in their will to continue a relationship with them'.
5. The phrase endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire means: 'Paul, and his team, greatly wanted to see them again and were doing all that they could to return'.
C2-S10 Satan was the one preventing their return.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'This is a result that can be seen everywhere, and every way, that you look'.
2. The phrases: we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again means: 'This is what they tried to do several times'.
3. The phrase but Satan hindered us means: 'This is why they could not do as they desired'. An important consideration of this phrase is that even when we want to serve God, God sometimes lets Satan to hinder us. If Paul and his team were able to return, it is highly unlikely that we would have this epistle. Therefore, what we see here, is that God did not let Satan prevent their service to God but only used Satan to force Paul to serve God a different way.
C2-S11 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why Paul, and his team, had such a great desire to see them again'.
2. The phrase what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? means: 'A major source of our rejoicing in Heaven will be the souls who were saved by our letting God work through our personal life'.
C2-S12 their personal presence at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is the hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing of the missionary team.
1. This sentence is actually added to the prior sentence and must be considered with the prior sentence in order to properly understand it.
2. The phrase of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming speaks about our Lord Jesus Christ returning to rule and reign this world for 1,000-years. And, only the saved who bring a spiritual profit to God, by letting God use their life to further His kingdom in this world, will return with our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. This sentence is saying that the true pastor and preacher will not only rejoice with the souls who were saved in his ministry (prior sentence) but will also rejoice with the souls who return with our Lord Jesus Christ for His 1,000-years to rule and reign this world. This group not only were saved but they went on and spiritually matured enough to become workers in the kingdom of God and to continue to take the true Gospel to their next generation.
C2-S13 For ye are our glory and joy.
1. This sentence provides the conclusion of this chapter and summarizes why Paul wrote this chapter. A true Godly pastor has his glory and joy in the people of his ministry.

Chapter 3 Chapter theme: the people of God.

We get a hint of what is going on here when we read Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. The word perfect means: 'make fully mature'. Satan used men to drive Paul and his missionary team away from this church before the saved members could become fully spiritually mature. Satan is now, as we will see in the next chapter, using religious men, who claim to be saved and may or may not be, to go into this church and teach religious error. This error is subtle as it is based upon the truth and twists it into a believable lie which has the long-term goal of getting God's people to give up on the service to God and to live a life which avoids tribulation. They were going through tribulation, at that time, and Satan wanted them to believe they could have the blessings of being saved while avoiding the cost. This belief is at the root of America turning away from God today. in this chapter Paul tell how Godly church members are to act.

This chapter starts with Paul saying that, since Satan hindered his returning to this church, he sent Timothy to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith. Paul was concerned because they were going through afflictions, which he had warned them would come, but Paul was worried that they would be moved away from God by them. He, happily, repeats the report from Timothy that they had stayed true. Paul also repeats the warning that we should suffer tribulation because he wants them to continue to serve God in spite of the tribulation. However, he sent to check on them because tribulation causes many people to quit on God. When God's people quit on God, they fail the test of faith and miss out on the blessings which would come after the test.

Since Timothy reported that they had remained true, Paul could tell them how much their testimony encouraged others and how others were praying for them. Paul ends this chapter with a statement of his prayer for their future.

C3-S1 Paul sent Timothy to help them when Satan kept Paul himself from going to them. Paul wanted to be sure that they understood what was happening from the true spiritual point of view.
1. Our sentence and chapter starts with the word Wherefore and gives us the conclusion of the prior chapter. When Paul became worried enough about this church, he sent Timothy to check on them. The theme of our prior chapter was: 'The pastor of God'. The theme of our current chapter is: 'The people of God'. Just like Paul, a Godly pastor worries about his people when he is away from them. And, the changed lives of 'The people of God' is a result of the ministry of 'The pastor of God'. Therefore, this chapter is a result (Wherefore) of the truths which were expressed in the prior chapter.
2. The phrases: when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent Timotheus tells us what Paul did as a result of his worry. A true 'pastor of God' will seek a Godly solution to his problem. And, this sentence tells us the solution which Paul found.
3. The phrases: our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ tell us the Godly character traits of Timothy, which was why Paul chose him to go to this church which may have been in spiritual trouble.
4. The phrases: to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith tell us the purpose of Paul in sending Timothy. And, these things are also among the main purposes why God sends a particular preacher or pastor to a particular church.
5. The phrase That no man should be moved by these afflictions tells us why they needed these particular spiritual ministerings.
6. The phrase for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto warns us that all Godly saved people are appointed thereunto. Therefore, all Godly saved people need the type of ministering that Timothy was to supply.
C3-S2 Paul warned them that tribulation would come.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why the prior sentence is true'. Paul, and his missionary team, had warned them of these results before they were run out of thessalonica. Therefore, those saved people should not have been surprised with the results which they were experiencing.
2. The word verily means: 'This truth has been verified to apply to all saved people'.
3. The phrases: when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation tells us the warning that Paul provided and when he provided the warning. The wording of this phrase matches what we read in 2Timothy 3:12 (Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution).
4. The phrase even as it came to pass, and ye know means: 'This prophecy was fulfilled in their day'. Please see the Doctrinal Study called: Significant Events - New Testament for other prophecies given and fulfilled in the New Testament and outside of the Gospels.
C3-S3 Paul sent Timothy to know your faith (test what they actually acted upon).
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why Paul sent Timothy to them'.
2. The phrase For this cause, when I could no longer forbear means: 'The pastor must trust God but, at a certain point, he also needs to verify the testimony of his people'.
3. The phrase I sent to know your faith means that Paul was not worried about their physical suffering but he worried about their spiritual response to the physical suffering, which is your faith.
4. The phrase lest by some means the tempter have tempted you means: 'Satan is always trying to spiritually mess up people who hear the true Gospel'.
5. The phrase and our labour be in vain means: 'This phrase is added to the prior phrase and tells us the results that Satan wants from his efforts which were identified in the prior phrase'. And, there are actually two different applications of this phrase. If someone only has a 'head belief', and Satan can remove that 'head belief', then the work of the soul winner was in vain and the person is not truly saved. In the second application, the person is truly saved but, they refuse to do what the pastor tells them to do, based upon the true word of God. As a result, they do not maintain their ongoing personal relationship with God which is through Christ, and which would result in their spiritually maturing. They have life ('salvation'), but do not have the have life more abundantly (John 10:10). They are like the person w3ho was sown among the weeds, in 'the Parable of the Sower' (Matthew 13:2-23; Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15), and yielded no fruit. The preacher has laboured in vain with such people.
C3-S4 the report from Timothy comforted Paul and others in spite of their affliction and distress.
1. The word but means: 'This phrase is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction'. The prior sentence told us about Paul's worry. This sentence tells us about his comfort upon receiving the report from Timothy. Notice that Paul was not worried about their physical state but their spiritual state. That is the main thing that a true man of God worries about for people whom he has ministered to.
2. The phrase and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity tells us Timothy's report of their lifestyle s. The lifestyle of all who are truly saved and maturing spiritually should also display these attributes.
3. The phrases: and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you tell us that their attitude matched the attitude of the pastor.
4. The phrase Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith tells us that we give a Godly pastor comfort with true testimonies of our faith.
5. The phrase For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord means: 'Paul, as their pastor, enjoyed his life because they stand fast in the Lord'. It is not only important for us to be saved and to mature spiritually, but we also need to be faithful in our testimony (stand fast).
C3-S5 Paul and his team gave thanks...to God again for you and were praying for the chance to help them even more.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us the results of the report given in the prior sentence'.
2. The phrase For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God means: 'The joy of Paul, and his missionary team, was more than they could express to God'.
3. The phrase Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face tells us 'their immediate reaction and hoped for future action'.
4. The phrase and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith tells us what they hoped to accomplish if they could return to this church. That is, the missionary team wanted to teach these church members more true doctrine which they were not able to teach on their first visit.
C3-S6 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. This was the main prayer of the missionary team for themselves with regard to this church.
C3-S7 Paul and his team prayed that they would increase and abound in love one toward another, and oward all men...To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God. This was the main prayer of the missionary team for this church.
1. The phrase And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and oward all men tells us the most important thing that a saved person needs in their testimony. More than doctrinal accuracy, they need to display God's love.
2. The phrase even as we do toward you means: 'they were to follow the example of the preachers for how to display God's love'.
3. The phrase To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father tells us the main reason why we need to display God's love. It is: to the end (result) he (the Lord Jesus Christ) may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness. First, we need to have this result. Then, it needs to be before God, even our Father, even if men do not see it or chose to ignore our true testimony.
4. The phrase at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints is speaking of the return with our Lord Jesus Christ for His 1,000-years to rule and reign this world. Notice that our sentence says with all his saints. This is not all saved because the saved, but spiritually immature, will not return with Him. The true Biblical definition of a saint is: 'a spiritually mature saved person who is actively involved in the ministry of the church'. Please also see the Messages called: Spiritual Maturity Levels according to the Bible and Called to be Saints for more details.

Chapter 4 Chapter theme: the presence of God.

Paul adds to the prior chapter by starting this one with the word Furthermore. The prior chapter told us about 'The people of God' and this chapter tells us about 'the presence of God'. The truth is that 'The people of God' need 'The presence of God' in order to do the work of God. Therefore, Paul is writing to them to say what they need to most in their lives.

One important thing to realize, about this chapter, is that 1Thessalonians 4:16-17 tells us about the 'Rapture'. Now, too many people try to claim that this is all that this epistle is about because they are serving a devil and want people ignoring the doctrine in the rest of the epistle. This epistle is truly about 'The Church of God' and Satan's religious liars want us to ignore the true doctrine. That is why the message (theme) of this epistle is: 'Don't believe the lies of Satan's religious liars'.

Now, before we go further, we need to deal with a major source of distraction and doctrinal error which comes from this chapter. There are doctrinal errors taught about the 'Rapture' including only some save people will go up in the 'Rapture'. Everyone who has the indwelling Holy Ghost will go because God must remove His Holy Ghost (2Thessalonians 2:7) before God can let devils run free on this physical world, which will happen during the great tribulation. However, only those saved people who are in church and are maintaining their relationship with God will believe the truth of this doctrine and be comforted by it as our last sentence commands.

There are many other lies related to prophecy, especially prophecy which is still not yet fulfilled. And, 2Thessalonians has a lot more of that unfulfilled prophecy than this epistle has. However, the thing to keep in mind is that all prophecy is given using symbolic language, and also tell spiritual truths, and both of those things can only be properly understood with the help of God's Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 2:14). Therefore, when lost and carnal people try to claim to be experts and give an interpretation of prophecy, they will preach doctrinal error. Therefore, one of the most important things to get right, when dealing with prophecy, is to make sure that you get your interpretation from someone who receives it from God's Holy Spirit and make sure that you ignore anything from any other source. Now, with that dealt with, we can return to the main message of this chapter. And, as our first paragraph reported, this chapter tells us about 'The presence of God'. And, 'The people of God' need 'The presence of God' in order to do the work of God. Therefore, we need to concentrate on the theme of this chapter and leave to prophecy alone until our chapter gets to it.

The things which Paul writes, for them to do, are to do the things which Paul taught and demonstrated to them. Now, he writes that they are to do even more along those lines. This is in obedience to what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. Their obedience to these commands would produce sanctification and cause them to abstain from fornication. Further, it will keep them from defrauding his brother in any matter. All of this is based upon the firm conviction that the Lord is the avenger of all such sins. Therefore, when we sin against God's children, they don't get vengeance but God does.

Paul continues with the reminder that if we despise God's commandment, we are not despising the messenger but are despising God Himself. Therefore, we need to keep our attitude right in order to continue to receive God's protection and provision.

With this in mind, Paul tells them that they are doing right with brotherly love, but they shouldn't sit back and congratulate themselves. Rather they should increase in the brotherly love that they show to all men. And, instead of trying to 'helpfully correct' their brother, they need to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands. In other words, take care of your own business and help others but leave the correcting to God.

Along that line, we see one more command before Paul moves to another subject within our chapter. Paul warns them to be sure That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. A lot of people think that lying and cheating is how we get rich. However, Paul is telling the believer that if the saved person wants God to be sure that they have lack of nothing, then they need to walk honestly toward them that are without. That is, the saved person who cheats others cuts himself off from the provision of God.

After talking about God's way to provide for our needs in this life, Paul switches to talking about God providing for us after death by starting a sentence with But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep. In the Bible, the word asleep is used for 'saved people who are spiritually alive but physically dead'. Paul goes on to say that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope because religious teachers were teaching the religious lie that when we physically die, it is all over and that there is no after-life in the spiritual realm. Paul continues with For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, which proved the claim that 'when we physically die, it is all over and that there is no after-life in the spiritual realm' to be a lie. Otherwise, Jesus could not rise from the dead.

Once this truth was brought to their attention, Paul could establish the truth of our resurrection. Further, once we accept our own resurrection, we can accept the resurrection of other saved people and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign on this physical Earth. Paul ends the declaration of these truths with: Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

C4-S1 ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
1. The word Furthermore means: 'This sentence, and chapter, is adding to what was said in the prior chapter while going further in doctrine'. Where the prior chapter told us about 'The people of God', this chapter tells us about the presence of God The presence of God'. The truth is that 'The people of God' need 'The presence of God' in order to do the work of God. Therefore, Paul is writing to them to say what they need to most in their lives.
2. The word brethren lets us know that: 'This can only be said, or written, to saved people who are trying to serve God and are spiritually maturing as a result'.
3. The phrase we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus means: 'The Lord Jesus is Who gets us the presence of God in our lives' the word by tells us how we go from not having the presence of God in our lives to having the presence of God in our lives. The title of Lord Jesus lets us know that we will be judged (Lord) for how well we follow the example of Jesus and for how we are to act while in this flesh. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called: What Did Jesus Do?). This phrase tells us that Paul, and his missionary team, begged and exerted these saved church members to do what was necessary to get, and keep, the presence of God in their (and our) lives.
4. The phrase that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God means: 'As they listened, heard and obeyed how they each personally ought to walk and to please God'.
5. The phrase so ye would abound more and more means: 'each and every one of them should personally go above and beyond what they were told to do'.
C4-S2 they knew the commandments of God and only had to obey.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why they should obey the prior sentence'.
2. As in the prior sentence, we see Paul say that the commandments came from the Lord Jesus. This means that they did not come from the preacher and their everlasting rewards, or punishments, will depend upon their level of obedience to these commands.
C4-S3 they needed to remain sanctified.
1. The phrase For this is the will of God, even your sanctification Tells us very clearly what is the general will of God for all saved people. It is your sanctification which means: 'being set aside from the sins and desires of this world while being made available for God's use'.
2. The phrase that ye should abstain from fornication means: 'avoid violating our ongoing covenant relationship with God'. There are many ways that saved people can do that, but listing them is the job of preachers as they tell people how to apply this phrase in their personal lives.
3. The phrase that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour means: 'We should each personally know how to control our bodies so that we remain in God's sanctification and so that we receive honour from God'.
4. The phrase Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God tells us the main way that people do the opposite of the prior phrase.
5. The phrase That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter tells us the second main way that people do the opposite of the second prior phrase.
6. The phrase because that the Lord is the avenger of all such warns us that it is the Lord Who is the avenger of all such. This is especially true when the victim is a child of God. We might think that the person whom we defrauded can do nothing about our defrauding to them, but we need to remember that it is the Lord Who is the avenger of all such.
7. The phrase as we also have forewarned you and testified means that 'Paul, and his team, had warned them about this truth and also testified about God acting against saved people who refused to believe the warning'.
C4-S4 this is because God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why the warning in the prior sentence was given'.
2. The definition of the word uncleanness, when combining the prior sentence with this sentence, includes defrauding anyone. And, our sentence contrasts this with holiness which means that anyone who defrauds another person is not holy.
C4-S5 to despise this precept is to despise God.
1. The word therefore means: 'what follows the word therefore is a direct result of what came before the word'. When many people look at this sentence,they will not see the relationship with the two prior sentences. However, our word is telling us that the saved person who acts in uncleanness, or who does fornication, or who defrauds, or who acts in the lust of concupiscence, or who refuses to do the will of God, or who refuses God's sanctification, or who refuses God's holiness, actually does despiseth God. He does not despise the preacher who brings him the warning from God but he despises God. I can testify from personal experience with others that this definitely applies to the child of God and also to the preacher.
2. The phrase who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit means that it is God's holy Spirit. When we refuse His instruction, we are despising God by doing so.
C4-S6 they didn't have to be taught how to do brotherly love.
1. The word but means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction'. The prior sentence told us about a man who despiseth God. This sentence tells us about them displaying brotherly love, which is a characteristic of God.
2. The phrase as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you means: 'They displayed so much brotherly love that Paul could not add to what they were doing'.
3. The phrase for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another means: 'they were learning from, and obeying, God's Holy Spirit'.
C4-S7 Now they needed to learn how to be loving to others who were not brothers.
1. The word And adds this sentence to the prior sentence.
2. The phrase indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia means: 'They were well known for showing love to everyone in their country'.
3. The phrase but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more means: 'Paul, and his team, were begging them to extend that love further such as sending out missionaries to foreign lands'.
4. The phrase And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business deals with people who like to stick their nose in everyone else's business. This is the start of being a busybody, if not a full_blown busybody (1Peter 4:14). Most busybodies may be taking care of their own physical needs, or may not be, but usually are neglecting things like prayer and Bible reading so that they can spend time in someone else's business.
5. The phrase and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you means: 'some people want to boss everyone else around and make someone else do their work while they are busy being the boss that they are not supposed to be'.
6. The phrase That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without means: 'Don't defraud others'. This type of behavior often (not always) goes with the attitudes dealt with in prior phrases. Such people feel justified in their defrauding thinking it is their wage for being the boss that they should not be.
7. The phrase and that ye may have lack of nothing means: 'Do the work that you've been given to do and trust God to supply your needs or to open the door to another opportunity to make a better wage'.
C4-S8 Don't be ignorant like lost people.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction'. The prior sentence told us about how to live while we are in this physical reality. This is also about saved people who have left this physical reality in death.
2. The word ignorant means: 'lacking knowledge'. The phrase I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep means: 'Saved people (brethren) need to know what happens after we physically die (them which are asleep)'. Be careful about the doctrinal error which is called 'Soul Sleep' and claims that people are not aware (are asleep in their soul) from the time of physical death until they get their new spiritual body. That was not true for Abraham, nor for Lazarus, nor for the rich man, nor for many others in the Bible. They were very much aware of what was going on even though they had no body.
3. The phrase that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope tells us why we need to know the truth. The remaining sentences, in this chapter, give further explanation of this truth and end with: Wherefore comfort one another with these words. The saved are to look forward to physical death, where they will receive their reward for spending this life in service to God. The saved are different from the lost who, at a sub-conscience level, know that death brings punishment and never-ending pain for rejecting the one true God. The truly saved have a different future from the lost and that truth should motivate them to live differently from the lost.
C4-S9 Since Jesus was raised from the dead, we can believe that them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence gives us the first, of three, reasons why tells us why the truly saved have a different future from the lost and that truth should motivate them to live differently from the lost'. When we consider this sentence, with the next sentence, we see that the next sentence is telling us about the 'Rapture'. Therefore, the phrase them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him means that saved people who have already physically died will come with Jesus when He comes in the air to 'Rapture' all saved who are in this physical reality. I can not say that will be, but that is what the combination of these two sentences tells us. And, the main message of this first reason is that saved people who die physically will be with Jesus. Therefore, we do not need to sorrow nor be afraid of death like lost people are.
2. As we have seen elsewhere, the word if in this sentence can be better understood if we consider to as the word since. Yes, the word if is technically correct, but most people have trouble understanding if logic. Therefore, this phrase is easier understood when we consider to as the word since. (The use of the word if separates the truly saved from the lost who, mistakenly, believe that they are saved. Believing that Jesus died and rose again is a requirement of true salvation. And, while that is an important true doctrine, it can distract from the doctrine of the rest of this sentence.)
3. The phrase we believe that Jesus died and rose again expresses a basic doctrine of true salvation. Satan wants saved people to not believe this so that his ministers can claim that their religious liars are as much of an authority as Jesus Christ is, even though they never rose from the dead. (Please see Romans 1:4 and then Acts 4:33; Philippians 3:10 and Revelation 20:6 about this spiritual truth.) In addition, as our chapter explains, Satan wants saved people to believe this so that they lose hope and stop working in God's kingdom.
4. The word even means: 'what is on either side of this word have equal weight of importance'. The phrase even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him means: 'It is just as important for us to believe in our own resurrection, and reward when Jesus Christ returns, as it is to believe in His resurrection'. This truth is one of the main motivations for saved people to serve God. As a result, Satan has many doctrinal errors which attack this truth and try to lead God's people into doctrinal error. Satan does all that he can to stop the truly saved from serving God and His kingdom while they are in this life.
C4-S10 Saved people who die will be resurrected at the start of the 'Rapture'.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence gives us the second, of three, reasons why tells us why the truly saved have a different future from the lost and that truth should motivate them to live differently from the lost'. This reason gives us the order that people will go up in the 'Rapture'. I can not say why the order is important but I can write the fact that Jesus died and rose again and this should give us assurance of our own resurrection. And, when combined with the promise of a new body after we get to Heaven (1Corinthians 15). This should help remove the fear of death.
2. The phrase This we say unto you by the word of the Lord means: 'What follows, in this sentence, comes from the most powerful Being anywhere Who also has greater authority than any other Being. He has proven, with hundreds of fulfilled prophecies, that He always keeps His word'. Please see the Sections called Prophecies and Prophecies Fulfilled, in the Studies called Significant Gospel Events and Significant New Testament Events, for references to the prophecies and references to where they were reported fulfilled.
3. The phrase that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. This means that the saved but dead (asleep) people will go up in the 'Rapture' (shall not prevent) before the saved and living people.
C4-S11 After them we will be 'Rapture'd to ever be with the Lord.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence gives us the third, of three, reasons why tells us why the truly saved have a different future from the lost and that truth should motivate them to live differently from the lost'. Since this is the promise of going directly to Heaven, as part of the 'Rapture', it should remove any remaining fear of death from the saved.
2. The phrase the Lord himself shall descend from heaven tells us the most important event which will happen at the start of the 'Rapture'. The Lord is going to personally come in the air and remove all saved from this physical reality.
3. The phrases: with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God tell us the events which will also happen at the start of the 'Rapture'. These phrases each have symbolic and spiritual meaning, which I have not personally researched. Therefore, I can not, at this time, tell the reader those meanings.
4. The phrase and the dead in Christ shall rise first means, I think, that they will get their new incorruptible body first. (I can not be dogmatic on this but I have no other explanation.) 1Thessalonians 4:14 told us: them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him ('the spirits and souls of saved, but physically dead, saints will come with the Lord for the 'Rapture''). That leaves our body. But, 1Corinthians 15:53 says: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. Using any part of our corruptible body to make an incorruptible body would be like using cancer cells to regrow a part of the body which was cut out because it was cancerous. In addition, the bodies of some people were so destroyed that there is nothing left for God to use. No, none of our current corrupted body will be used and this phrase can not be talking about their physical bodies being raised. Therefore, it is my belief that this phrase is actually saying that the physically dead saints will receive their new body before those people who are physically alive at the start of the 'Rapture'.
5. The phrase Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air is quite clear and does not need explanation. Now, I personally believe that 2Thessalonians 2:3 (Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition) uses the phrase falling away for bodies dropping to the ground as the soul and spirit leave them in the 'Rapture'. Again, I can not be dogmatic but this makes the most sense to me.
6. The phrase and so shall we ever be with the Lord is our conclusion and the most important part of this sentence. Satan gets people to argue about other parts of this sentence, and about other unfulfilled prophecies, so that they will be distracted from the most important part of the prophecy, which is this phrase.
C4-S12 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. This sentence is the conclusion of the prophecy given in the prior few sentences and is the conclusion of this chapter. All saved people should get comfort from messages about 'The presence of God', which is the theme of this chapter.

Chapter 5 Chapter theme: the perfecting of God.

Unfortunately, we need to stop and recognize a truth which is not directly related to the message of this epistle, but affects our understanding of it. The chapter divisions were made by men when they chopped God's word into verses after God had John finished Revelation. The chapter division in this epistle is unfortunate in that the first several sentences in this chapter are continuing the same subject which was started with the But at the start of C4-S8. From that sentence through C5-S10, Paul is talking about prophecy and how the saved are to look at prophecy differently from how the lost view it because God gives the saved spiritual insight that the lost do not have. Once Paul finishes explaining those things, he switches to how we are to live in the here-and-now based upon these prophetic truths. Thus, proper chapter divisions would have made C4-S8 through C5-S10 the fifth chapter and C5-S11 through the end a sixth chapter. However, we have to accept the existing chapter divisions even while recognizing the true points at which Paul changes subjects. If this separation was done, then the section from C4-S8 through C5-S10 would be titled: 'the prophecy of God'.

Returning to the beginning of our chapter, we see that we are continuing the subject of prophecy which was started in the prior chapter. There we were told evidence for the basis of believing in the resurrection of all saved, and of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ rule and reign on this physical Earth. In addition, we were told that some of the resurrected saved people would return with our Lord Jesus Christ to help Him to rule and reign on this physical Earth. That, of course, leads to the question of: 'When will that happen?' Paul's answer is yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

In the gospels Jesus tld us, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but my Father only (Matthew 24:26; Mark 13:32). Therefore, we should not worry about this question since we will never have the answer before it happens. Yes, we can have signs of things which must occur before the return, but any person who claims to know exactly when our Lord Jesus Christ will return is only proving that he is a liar and a minister of Satan.

With this truth in mind, Paul tells the believers that there is a difference between the lost and the saved when it comes to prophecy. He tells the saved: ye, brethren, are not in darkness (5:4). The lost are in darkness and can not see the spiritual truths which the Holy Spirit reveals to the saved. That was the lesson of the first three chapters of 1Corinthians which told us the difference between the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God with only the saved receiving the wisdom of God.

Also, 1Corinthians 2:12 told us: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, the natural man ('lost and saved but carnal') receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ('can not understand prophecy') but wants to be viewed as a teacher of the Bible and an expert on all things that are religious (Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm (1Timothy 1:7). Therefore, they 'take a stand' for wrong interpretations of prophecy, hoping that their emotional claims will make them to be viewed as an expert. As a direct result, we need to be very careful what we believe about unfulfilled prophecies because there are many wrong interpretations being taught by people who are very emphatic about their error.

Paul repeats his message about the spiritual difference between the saved and lost with: Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness (5:5). This repeated declaration makes it something that all saved are to believe, since the repetition comes in two adjacent sentences. Paul then summarizes this doctrine with: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (5:6). In other words, don't let the wrong interpretation of prophecy, which comes from spiritually blind lost people, affect your knowledge of the truth nor your obedience to God which is based upon your having spiritual light from God. Realize the difference in spiritual knowledge and let God's truth lead you differently from how spiritual darkness and error are leading the lost.

Notice that the next two sentences (5:7) continues with the spiritual differences and then tells the saved (But let us, who are of the day) to be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. The people who are preaching doctrinal error about prophecy do not also share true Biblical faith nor true Biblical love nor true Biblical salvation. Satan helps them to be experts on prophecy so that people will also believe their doctrinal error on these other subjects. That is why the truly saved need to know the difference between people preaching truth and those who preach doctrinal error. They also need to reject doctrinal error and to warn people against those who preach doctrinal error.

With that in mind, we see that C5-S10 starts with the word Wherefore and gives us the concluding command to comfort yourselves together, and edify one another. Paul then writes: And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. This is the message that I concluded the prior paragraph with.

After giving that conclusion, Paul adds a new subject by starting 5:13 with the word And. from this point through the end of the chapter, Paul is giving short and simple commands on how to act in this world in order to maintain our testimony and receive the blessings of God. While these commands are simple to understand, on their surface, it is easy for people to not think about them and how they apply to many aspects of life. Thus, it is easy to be in disobedience to these commands without realizing it because of a failure to consider their full application. Sins done in ignorance still reap the consequences of sin. Therefore, meditation and full consideration of all of the applications of these commands is essential to receiving blessings from God instead of punishment for disobedience.

C5-S1 they understood spiritual times and seasons.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction'. The several sentences in the prior chapter told us about prophecy. This sentence is telling us that true prophecy is not based upon times and the seasons.
2. The phrase ye have no need that I write unto you was true because Paul, and his missionary team, had taught them the truth about prophecy. Lying ministers of Satan claimed that prophecy came from times and the seasons (Horoscopes and related sources of erroneous prophecy). However, Paul, and his missionary team, had taught them that such were used by ministers of Satan to claim error. True prophecy only comes from God (Daniel 2:27-28).
3. The word brethren means that Paul was writing to saved people who were trying to serve God and His kingdom. They were taught the truth about prophecy while all other people believed the popular lie from Satan.
C5-S2 they knew that the day of the Lord (great tribulation) would come without warning.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why some people were taught the truth while most people believed a lie'.
2. The phrase yourselves know perfectly means: 'They had been taught the truth in a way that left no doubt'.
3. The phrase that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night means: 'There will be no warning before this prophecy is fulfilled'. Not only do most so-called 'Prophecy preachers' ignore, or are ignorant of, the true meaning of this phrase, but most can not tell you the differences between the various days which are mentioned in the Bible. Please see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 in order to see a list of those days and their true Biblical meanings. In addition, the note for Philippians 1:6-LJC gives some explanation on the differences between some of these days. The note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 also gives Bible references to, and some explanation of, the day of the Lord.
C5-S3 Lost people will be believing in Peace and safety when the great tribulation comes.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why others will be caught by surprise when the 'Rapture' happens but saved people, who are serving God and His kingdom should not be caught by surprise'. The 'Rapture' happens just before the great tribulation starts. (That is what our prior sentence was telling us about and what the For, which starts this sentence, is referring to.) the lost will be caught by surprise when the 'Rapture' happens. They will then be reassured when the lying ministers of Satan promise Peace and safety. They will ask 'Why doesn't God do anything?' when devils start running lose on the Earth. What the people will fail to understand is that it is God letting the devils run lose because they have rejected God as their own personal Lord
2. The phrase when they shall say is identifying the lying ministers of Satan as the they.
3. The phrase Peace and safety is the message from those liars.
4. The phrase then sudden destruction cometh upon them is speaking about when the devils, and the judgments of God (starting in Revelation 6), will be revealed.
5. The phrase as travail upon a woman with child means: 'These judgments will come in a series with times of peace in between each judgment. Each judgment will be more severe than the prior and come more quickly than the prior'. Please see the seal and trumpet judgments of Revelation.
6. The phrase and they shall not escape is very clear on the surface. The Bible indicates that some people will try to commit suicide and will not be allowed to die. So, this phrase is to be taken literally and to the farthest extent possible.
C5-S4 Saved people have the spiritual light to see all of these prophecies coming. The word but means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction'. The prior sentence told us about how the lost will be taken by surprise. Our current sentence tells us that this should not be true for the truly saved.
C5-S5 Saved people are not of the night, nor of darkness. This sentence is using all symbolic language and must be understood spiritually.
1. The phrase Ye are all the children of light means: 'Each and every one of you personally are a child of God and has access to true spiritual understanding through the indwelling Holy Spirit'.
2. The phrase and the children of the day means: 'Each and every one of you personally are supposed to bring God's light into the world'.
3. The phrase we are not of the night means: 'we are no0t supposed to bring Satan's religious lies into the world'.
4. The phrase nor of darkness means: 'we are not supposed to be supporting the way of Satan to teach doctrinal error'.
C5-S6 Saved people are to watch and be sober.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows the word therefore is a direct result of what came before the word'. The commands which follow this word are based upon the spiritual truth which preceded it.
2. The phrase let us not sleep, as do others is symbolic language which means: 'Don't be unaware of the spiritual beings who influence the events of this world'. That is, be spiritually aware of what is happening spiritually and how those spiritual events affect the events of this physical world. That awareness is what is required in order to truly understand prophecy, which is the contextual consideration of this sentence.
3. The word but means: 'the next phrase is continuing the subject of the prior phrase while changing direction'. The spiritual meaning of the word watch is, effectively, the spiritual opposite of the meaning of the word sleep.
4. The phrase but let us watch and be sober means: 'Do the job of a soldier who is on guard duty and is to protect those who are asleep'. The word sober means: 'coolly; calmly; moderately; gravely; seriously'. That is, don't let anything, especially emotions, distract you from your spiritual job
C5-S7 People who are spiritually asleep and who are drunk are controlled by the spiritual night.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why we were commanded like we were in the prior sentence'.
2. The phrase they that sleep sleep in the night spiritually means: 'saved people who do not pay attention to what is happening spiritually (sleep) are acting that way because of the influence of devils and their way of teaching doctrinal error (night)'.
3. The phrase and they that be drunken are drunken in the night spiritually means: 'saved people who let the lusts of this world direct their lives (drunken) are acting that way because of the influence of devils and their way of teaching doctrinal error (night)'. That is, doctrinal error from devils convinces saved people that they can sin and avoid the judgment of sin by God.
C5-S8 Saved people are to put on spiritual armor.
1. The word but means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while changing direction'. The prior sentence told us about the attitudes and actions of saved people who follow doctrinal error. This sentence tells us how to act in order to prove that we follow spiritual truth.
2. The phrase let us, who are of the day identifies the people that Paul is writing this sentence to.
3. The phrases: be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love tell us what to do. The phrase be sober tells us the attitude to keep. The word breastplate means: 'here is how we protect our heart'. Our heart will follow doctrinal error and the lusts of the flesh unless we keep acting in faith and love.
4. The word and means: 'This protection for our mind is added to the protection for our heart'.
5. The word helmet means: 'This is our God-given protection for our mind, our thinking'. The phrase the hope of salvation means: 'The promises which are part of true salvation and are based upon the character of our Lord Jesus Christ'. We are to increase the knowledge of His character if we want to protect our mind and our thinking.
C5-S9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. This sentence tells us that we will obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ ('receive the life more abundantly which is added after our initial salvation') and will not receive God's wrath, if we are truly serving God's kingdom. In addition, we should live together with him ('go to Heaven'), whether we wake ('go up in the 'Rapture'') or sleep ('die physically'), and this promise is to all saved. However, this promise is only a true comfort to saved people who are serving God's kingdom because the amount of everlasting rewards, in Heaven, is proportional on how much of a spiritual profit we bring to God.
1. The word For means: 'This sentence tells us why we were commanded like we were in the prior sentence'.
2. The phrase God hath not appointed us to wrath means: 'God does not want us to receive His wrath and only visits His wrath on saved people who refuse to obey and refuse to fulfill God's will for their personal life'.
3. The phrase but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ means: 'This is God's will for everyone instead of their receiving God's wrath'. The salvation which we receive has different details in what is provided by each of the roles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please see the detailed note for more on this truth.
4. The phrase Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him means: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ paid the price so that we could go to Heaven and also receive all of the everlasting gifts that are available in Heaven'.
C5-S10 Comfort and encourage saved people with this truth.
1. The word Wherefore means: 'We are to obey this sentence in all circumstances'.
2. The phrase comfort yourselves together, and edify one another means: 'help those who are hurting by reminding them of the promises and do the same for those who feel down'.
3. The phrase even as also ye do means that they were already doing this. Now, they have a command to continue doing what they were doing without a command. Basically, 'don't stop'.
C5-S11 Know...and esteem...them which labour...and admonish you...for their work's sake. This sentence is preached and people are taught how to apply the commands in it. Please see the detail note for the word definitions and more on this sentence.
C5-S12 through C5-S21 give very clear commands. People do not have trouble understanding these commands but have trouble on being willing to truly obey them in all that they mean. That is, people try to make excuses for their disobedience. For example, preachers claim to have obeyed the command to Prove all things when they have only been persuaded and they only persuade others. That is why America has not been able to hold fast that which is good ('what comes from God'). Please see all of the detailed notes for more on these commands and the meanings of the words involved.
C5-S22 With God's help, stay blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1. The word And adds the promise of this sentence to the prior sentences. We must keep all of the commandments, of the prior sentences, in order to receive the promises of this sentence. Therefore, this promise is only to saved people who are obeying the preceding commands.
2. The phrase unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ means: 'the time that we personally meet our Lord Jesus Christ, either in death or the 'Rapture''.
3. The phrase I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved is the proper prayer of a pastor for church members who are serving God's kingdom. God will not answ3er this type of prayer for lost or carnal people.
4. The word blameless means that there is no charge against us in God's court system. As explained in the notes for several places in the New Testament, we are justified ('made as if we never sinned / have our sin record blotted out after we become children of God'), only if we are doing our part to maintain our ongoing personal relationship with Christ. Part of that is working in God's kingdom while we are in this life. Thus, these are the things required of us if we are to be preserved blameless.
5. The phrase the very God of peace identifies Who gives us peace in the midst of troubles.
6. The phrase sanctify you wholly means: 'all parts of us: body, soul and spirit, are to be set aside from the things of this world and used by God in His service'. . . .
C5-S23 God is faithful and God will do it. God calls all saved to become saints ('fully spiritually mature saved people'), but God only chooses the saved people who fulfill His requirements. And, God only gives certain blessings after we are chosen by God.
5:25-27 are final instructions to this church and they are explained in the
5:27-28 are the final blessings offered by our Lord Jesus Christ to all who obey the commandments of this epistle.

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1Thessalonians Chapter 1

links to sentences in this chapter:

C1-S1 (Verse 1), C1-S2 (Verse 2-4), C1-S3 (Verse 5), C1-S4 (Verse 6-7), C1-S5 (Verse 8), C1-S6 (Verse 9-10).

Overview of Chapter 1: the power of God.

Please see the Summary Chapter Outline using this link. It gives the overview of this chapter.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1-4	The thessaloni and are given to understand both how mindful of them Saint Paul was at all time in thanksgiving, and prayer;
5-10	and also how well he was persuaded of the truth and sincerity of their faith and conversion to God.

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C1-S1 (Verse 1) Opening salutation and promised blessing for obedience to this epistle.

Equivalent Section: Opening salutation.

Paul,
and Silvanus,
and Timotheus,
unto the church of the thessaloni and which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ :.

Equivalent Section: promised blessing for obedience to this epistle.

Grace be unto you,
and peace,
from God our Father,
and the Lord Jesus Christ..

Paul opens this epistle like many other epistles from him. But please notice that he includes Silvanus, and Timotheus. Silvanus is supposedly the longer version of Silas, who was Paul's partner on his second missionary trip, which was when Paul first went to thessalonica. Therefore, Silvanus would be very important to these people. In addition, Timotheus was with them at that time and Paul was training him to take over the ministry of Paul. Therefore, these two other men are important authorities to this church. While we hear more about Timothy, we only hear about Silvanus as being with Peter in Babylon, after Paul's second missionary trip.

Please see the note for this verse, in the Lord Jesus Christ Study, about how grace and peace come from God the Father and from each and every role of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 1:12 for links to where Paul is named within the Bible for links to every place where the phrase I Paul is used. Please also see the second half of the book called SbS-Preacher Missionaries about how God used Paul to show us how He uses a pastor / missionary to build the ministry. . We see Paul mentioned 163 times in the Bible but this is the only place in 1Timothy.

We find Silvanus in: 2Corinthians 1:19; our current sentence; 2Thessalonians 1:1 and 1Peter 5:12. We find Silas in: Acts 15:22, 27, 32, 34, 40; Acts 16:19, 25, 29; Acts 17:4, 10, 14-15; Acts 18:5. Silvanus is the long-form of the nameans Silas is the short-form of the name for the same man who was with Paul on his second Missionary journey.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S27 and Philippians 2:19 which tells us where the Bible talks about Timothy / Timotheus (Timothy). He is one of only three (Timothy, Titus and Onesimus) that Paul called Son. We first read about him in Acts 16:1. and he is seen traveling with Paul, in Acts, through Acts 20:4. Those notes have much more detail but he is generally accepted as the man who inherited Paul's ministry.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 11:22 about the word church. The functional definition is: 'a called out assembly of baptized believers'. Our epistle equates the church to the body of Christ. Please also see the note for 2Thessalonians 1:4 about the phrase church(es) of God. The commonly accepted definition is 'a called out assembly of baptized believers' with most of the disagreement over people including buildings in the definition and people adding or denying different definitions for a 'universal church'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:18-24 about the word churches (plural). Please also note that 1Thessalonians gives us 'The Doctrine of the Church'. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 2:14 about this word.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:16 about Thessalonica.

Please see the note for Hebrews 1:5 about the word father. That note has a dictionary definition and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'The being who gives his character to his son'.

We find the word grace, within our epistle, only in 1:1 and 4:28. Please see the notes for Romans C4S5; Romans C4S17; Galatians 1:1 and Ephesians C1S2 about the word grace. The word grace is usually presented as 'God's riches at Christ Expense'. However, that obviously does not fit in James 1:11. So while that is the main application within the Bible, the true definition is: 'that which makes the source look good'. We are given God's grace for the expressed purpose of making God look good.

We find the word peace, within our epistle, in: 1:1; 5:3; 5:13 and ; 5:23. Please see the notes for Romans C12S16 and Galatians C1-S1 about the word peace. Please also see the Gospel of Peace in the Word Study on Gospel. Please also see the notes for Romans 10:15 and Hebrews 12:14-LJC about the phrase peace with God. The note in Galatians points out that peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 6:16 tells us that only those saved people who walk according to this rule will have peace. The note in Romans provides the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with a note for how this word is used every place within Romans. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Silvanus. Ac 15:27,32,34,40; 16:19,25,29; 17:4,15; 18:5 Silas. 2Co 1:19; 2Th 1:1; 1Pe 5:12 Timotheus. Ac 16:1-3; 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4; 2Co 1:1; Php 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:2; Heb 13:23 exp: Ro 16:21. unto the. 1Co 1:2; Ga 1:2 thessalonians. Ac 17:1-9,11,13 in God. Ga 1:22; 2Th 1:1; 1Jo 1:3; Jude 1:1 Grace. Ro 1:7; Eph 1:2'.

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C1-S2 (Verse 2-4) Prayers for the church members and assurance of their salvation from the three preacher authors.

First Step: thank God for them.

We give thanks to God always for you all,
making mention of you in our prayers;.

Second Step: Remember what they did for the kingdom of God.

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
and labour of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
in the sight of God and our Father;.

Third Step: Remember God's promised rewards.

Knowing,
brethren beloved,
your election of God..

Notice that as soon as Paul has identified who this letter is written by and who it is to, he immediately tells them of prayers being offered for them and of the assurance that others have in their salvation. These are not people who made a profession and never had any evidence of a changed life. As we read later in this epistle, there was a lot of evidence of their changed life. However, they also were under spiritual attack and had ungodly religious men trying to convince them that they could not rely upon the promises of God. The most important of those promises is salvation. Therefore, the first assurance that Paul, and others, provide is about our eternal security. With that, please look at the Second Step where the evidence of their changed life is listed. We can not give such assurance to someone who makes a profession but has no evidence of a changed life.

Please see the note for this verse, within the Lord Jesus Christ Study, which explains how these saved people acted very differently from other religious people within their city.

The word of means: 'belongs to'. Please notice that Paul says that the only work which is remembered is that which 'belongs to' faith. As explained many times on this site, faith is an action word which Hebrews 11:1 defines as: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11 then goes on to list actions done by the elders but notice that what is in your head and heart (a belief) does not have substance, which can be sensed by others, until a person acts on their belief (faith) and produces works. Further, what is in your head and heart (a belief) can not be separated from you in order to be evidence in court. No, true faith produces works and it is the works which 'belong to' (are the results of) faith which are remembered by God and His workers.

Likewise, the labour of love is labour which 'belong to' love. This is labour which is done with no hope of recompense in this world. This is labour which is done at the commandment of God in order to display His character in our life and in order to display how a true personal relationship with Him changes a person's life.

Next we have the patience which 'belong to' our hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. As explained elsewhere on this site, hope is an action word just like faith is. However, where true Biblical faith is based upon a promise which we can point to within the Bible, true Biblical hope is based upon the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. Further, as our sentence tells us, all of these actions are done in the sight of God and our Father. Thus, as we act in the flesh using the power of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus shows us to do, we do so hoping that God and our Father will make our personal election real and sure in our personal life. Likewise, when we build our personal spiritual relationship with God, as Christ directs us to do, we are to also do it hoping that God and our Father will make our personal election real and sure in our personal life. Finally, as we obey our Lord based upon the promised eternal rewards for our obedience, that also is done hoping that God and our Father will make our personal election real and sure in our personal life. Yes, we have promises of eternal rewards, but there is not a direct relationship between a specific reward and a particular act of obedience. Thus, our acts of obedience are done in hope. It is this hope which gives is the patience which is required in order to produce the work of faith, and labour of love even though we will not receive the rewards until we get to Heaven.

Please see the notes for Colossians C3S8; 1Timothy 4:10-LJC; Titus 1:1-LJC and 1Peter 1:2-LJC about the word elect. The definition, as shown on this site and which is based upon actual Biblical usage is that elect 'not used in the Bible to separate the lost from the saved, as is erroneously taught, but to separate saved people who are in God's way of obedience from saved people who are not in God's way of obedience'. Please also note that our sentence tells us that our election is of ('belongs to') God. The election taught by doctrinal error does not 'belong to' God because it does not match the character of the God of the Bible.

With this in mind, we can see that in the First Step the preachers were praying for them, as preachers are to pray for all saved, especially the newly saved. Then in the Second Step we see the truly saved have lives which display the changes made by their personal relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then in the third Step we see the assurance that God gives to His people who are obedient to Him and display a changed life. All of this is explained in more detail in the note for this verse within the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Please see it.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 5:5 and Philippians 4:15 about the word give. The functional definition is: 'Bestowing; conferring; imparting; granting; delivering. GIV'ING, n. the act of conferring'. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. The functional definition is: 'Bestowed; granted; conferred; imparted; admitted or supposed'. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks.

Please see the notes for Ephesians 5:3-4 and 1Corinthians 14:17 about the word thank. Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. The functional definition is: 'To express gratitude for a favor; to make acknowledgments to one for kindness bestowed'. We find forms of the word thanks in: our current sentence; 2:13; 3:9 and 5:18.

Please see the note for Matthew 28:19 about the words alway / always. The functional definition for this word is: 'Perpetually; throughout all time; as, God is always the same. 2. Continually; without variation. the word "always" (plural) is used for several never ending continuances'.

We find forms of the word mention in: Genesis 40:14; Exodus 23:13; Joshua 21:9; Joshua 23:7; 1Samuel 4:18; 1Chronicles 4:38; 2Chronicles 20:34; Job 28:18; Psalms 71:16; Psalms 87:4; Isaiah 12:4; Isaiah 19:17; Isaiah 26:13; Isaiah 48:1; Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 62:6; Isaiah 63:7; Jeremiah 4:16; Jeremiah 20:9; Jeremiah 23:36; Ezekiel 16:56; Ezekiel 18:22; Ezekiel 18:24; Ezekiel 33:16; Amos 6:10; Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; 1Thessalonians 1:2; Philemon 1:4; Hebrews 11:22. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to put in mind; L. moneo and mind. A hint; a suggestion; a brief notice or remark expressed in words or writing; used chiefly after make. Make no mention of other gods. Josh.23. I will make mention of thy righteousness. Ps.71. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. Rom.1.
MEN'TION, v.t. to speak; to name; to utter a brief remark; to state a particular fact, or to express it in writing. It is applied to something thrown in or added incidentally in a discourse or writing, and thus differs from the sense of relate, recite, and narrate. I mentioned to him a fact that fell under my own observation. In the course of conversation, that circumstance was mentioned. I will mention the loving-kindness of the Lord. Is.63.'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S25 and the Doctrinal Study on Prayer about the word pray. Those notes have a discussion of this word, the full definition from Webster's 128, links from other commentators and links where this word is used within those epistles. The functional definition is: 'In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits'. We find forms of the word pray in: our current sentence; 1:2; 3:10; 5:17; 5:23 and 5:25.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S28 about the words remember / remembrance. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. 1. the retaining or having in mind an idea which had been present before, or an idea which had been previously received from an object when present, and which recurs to the mind afterwards without the presence of its object. Technically, remembrance differs from reminiscence and recollection, as the former implies that an idea occurs to the mind spontaneously, or without much mental exertion. the latter imply the power or the act of recalling ideas which do not spontaneously recur to the mind. the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. Ps. 112. Remembrance is when the same idea recurs, without the operation of the like object on the external sensory. 2. Transmission of a fact from one to another. Titan among the heav'ns th' immortal fact display'd, lest the remembrance of his grief should fall. 3. Account preserved; something to assist the memory. those proceedings and remembrances are in the Tower. 4. Memorial. But in remembrance of so brave a deed, a tomb and funeral honors I decreed. 5. A token by which one is kept in the memory. Keep this remembrance for thy Julia's sake. 6. Notice of something absent. Let your remembrance still apply to Banquo. 7. Power of remembering; limit of time within which a fact can be remembered; as when we say, an event took place before our remembrance, or since our remembrance. 8. Honorable memory. Not in use. 9. Admonition. 10. Memorandum; a note to help the memory'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 10:2 about the word cease. The functional definition for this word is: ' to stop moving, acting or speaking; to leave of; to give over; followed by from before a noun'. Please also see the note for Luke 9:30 about the word decease.

Please see the notes for Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13; Galatians C2-S10 and Philippians 1:1 about the word works. Please see the note for Romans C3S27 about the phrase law of works. Please see the note for Philippians 3:2 about the phrase evil workers. Please see the note for Romans C11S10 about the phrase works are seen of men. Please see the notes for Romans 8:1-LJC; Galatians C5-S6 and Revelation 19:2-LJC about the phrase judged by works. Forms of the word work are found in 1Thessalonians in: 1:3; 2:13; 4:11 and 5:13. The basic Biblical definition of work is: 'to move, or to labor'.

Please see the notes for Romans C3S25; 1Corinthians C1S3; 2Corinthians C1S17; Galatians C3S27; Ephesians 6:23-LJC; Philippians 1:25-26 and 2Timothy C1S2 about the word faith. The functional definition is: 'an action word that is based upon a belief in a promise found within the Bible with the action dictated by the Bible and the understanding that our action does not force God to act nor determines when or how God acts but proves that of our own free will we are giving God permission to act in and through our life to do what He promised within His Word'. Please see the notes for Romans 4 and James 2:21-LJC about the word Abraham's faith. Please see the note for 2Timothy C1S2 about the phrase faith: unfeigned. Please see the note for Romans C10S12 about the phrase faith makes us not ashamed. Please see the note for Ephesians C1S2 about the phrase just shall live by faith. Please see the note for Romans C11S6 about the phrase just shall live by his faith. Please see the note for Romans C3S29 about the phrase justification by faith. Please see the note for Romans C3S25 about the phrase Law and faith. Please see the note for Romans C9S28 about the phrase live / walk by faith. We find forms of the word faith occurring in 1Thessalonians, in: 1:3; 2:13; 4:11 and 5:13.

We find forms of the word labour occurring in 1Thessalonians, in: 1:3; 2:9; 3:2; 3:5 and 5:12. Please see the note for Luke 10:2 about the word labourer. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'One who labors in a toilsome occupation; a man who does work that requires little skill, as distinguished from an artisan.'. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C3S9 and 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word labour. The functional definition is: 'Exertion of muscular strength, or bodily exertion which occasions weariness; particularly, the exertion of the limbs in occupations by which subsistence is obtained, as in agriculture and manufactures'. The main application, within the Bible, is: 'work of God's ministry'. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the Message called Labor for Everlasting Life which is based upon this sentence and the next couple of sentences. Please also see the Message called Labourers for the Harvest.

Please see the notes for Romans 8:39-LJC; Galatians C5-S14; Philippians 1:9-11; love in 1John and 2John 1:3-LJC about the word love. Please also see the note for Revelation 8:35-LJC for a table which divides the various roles of God and gives Bible references for how God loves us through each of His roles. Please also see the note for 1John C3S26 about the phrase love one another. Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the phrase perfect love. Please see the note for Romans C9S23 about the word beloved. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:5 for links to every place where the phrase beloved Son is applied to Jesus. We find forms of the word love occurring in 1Thessalonians, in: 1:3-4; 3:12; 4:9; 5:8 and 5:13.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S2 and Colossians C1S3 about the word patience. The functional definition is: 'the faculty of doing or performing anything; the faculty of moving or of producing a change in something. Spiritual powers are the beings which have this ability'. Please also see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word patient.

We already dealt with the word hope earlier in this note. Please see the notes for Romans C4S18; 1Corinthians C13S10 and Philippians 1:19-20 about the word hope. The functional definition is: 'Hope is an action word like faith but where faith is based upon a promise in the word of God, hope is based upon the character of God'. We find forms of the word hope in: 1:3; 2:19; 4:13 and 5:8

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S9; 2Corinthians 2:17 and Colossians C1S6 about the word see / sight. The functional definition is: 'The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view'. We find forms of the word see / sight in: 1:3; 2:17; 3:6; 3:10 and 5:15.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S25; 1Corinthians C1S11; Galatians C3-S9 and know in 1John about the word know. The functional definition is: 'A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; and the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement between various truths and acts. Within the Biblical usage is the knowledge that comes only from personal intimate experience'. Please see the notes for 2Peter 1:2-LJC; 2Peter 2:20-LJC and Philippians 1:9-11 about the word knowledge. Please see the note for Romans C11S4 about the word foreknow. Please see the note for Romans C6S5 about the phrase Know ye not. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C16S17 about the word acknowledge. We find forms of these words, within 1Thessalonians, in: 1:4; 1:5; 2:1-2; 2:5; 2:11; 3:3; 3:4; 3:5; 4:2; 4:4-5; 5:2 and 5:12. There are different levels of knowledge which can vary based upon their source, how the knowledge is obtained and more. True Biblical knowledge includes the most intimate and personal type of knowledge which comes from personal experience.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C6S10 and Galatians C1-S1 about the word brother. Please see the note for Romans C12-S8 about the word brotherly. Please see the note for Matthew 1:2 about the word brethren. The functional definition is: 'Spiritually used for God's people: the Jews and the people are saved, baptized and active members of the church'. We find forms of the word brethren occurring in 1Thessalonians, in: 1:4; 2:1; 2:9; 2:14; 2:17; 3:2; 3:7; 4:1; 4:6; 4:10; 4:13; 5:1; 5:4; 5:12; 5:14; 5:25; 5:26 and 5:27.

Please see the Word Study called Election. The functional definition for this word is: 'saved and living a life that is a testimony of the changes which the ministries Jesus Christ cause. In the Bible, this word is not used in the Bible to separate the lost from the saved, as is erroneously taught, but to separate saved people who are in God's way of obedience from saved people who are not in God's way of obedience'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 4:10-LJC about the word predestine. God does not predestine anyone to Hell but predestines everyone to Heaven (1Timothy 2:4). However, since God gave everyone a free will, men can reject God's predestination and go to Hell. Those people who truly go to God must go God's way. God does not elect people but elects a way. Those people who go God's way, to God, are God's elect.

Please click on each of the links in the sentence outline above to see the notes related to that particular word. In general, when the word has a link within the sentence it is not included within the Word Studies at the end of the note for the sentence.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Ro 1:8-9; 6:17; 1Co 1:4; Eph 1:15-16; Php 1:3-4; Col 1:3; Phm 1:4.
Remembering. 1Th 3:6; 2Ti 1:3-5 your. 1Th 2:13-14; Joh 6:27-29; Ro 16:26; 1Co 15:58; Ga 5:6; 2Th 1:3,11; Heb 4:11; 11:7-8,17,24-34; Jas 2:17-26; Re 2:19 and labour. Ge 29:20; Song 8:7; Joh 14:15,21-23; 15:10; 21:15-17; Ro 16:6; 1Co 13:4-7; 2Co 5:14-15; 8:7-9; Ga 5:13; Phm 1:5-7; Heb 6:10-11; 1Jo 3:18; 5:3; Re 2:2-4 and patience. Ro 2:7; 5:3-5; 8:24-25; 12:12; 15:13; 1Co 13:13; Ga 6:9; Heb 6:15; 10:36; Jas 1:3-4; 5:7-8; 1Jo 3:3; Re 3:10 in the. Ec 2:26; Ac 3:19; 10:31; 2Co 2:17; 1Ti 2:3; Heb 13:21; 1Pe 3:4; 1Jo 3:21 General references. exp: Lu 21:19.
Knowing. 1Th 1:3; Ro 8:28-30; 11:5-7; Eph 1:4; Php 1:6-7; 1Pe 1:2; 2Pe 1:10 beloved, your election of God. or, beloved of God, your election. Ro 1:7; 9:25; Eph 2:4-5; Col 3:12; 2Th 2:13; 2Ti 1:9-10; Tit 3:4-5'.

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C1-S3 (Verse 5) Why they are sure of the members' salvation.

First Step: How the gospel was delivered.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only,
but also in power,
and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance;.

Second Step: the testimony of the preachers who delivered the gospel.

as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake..

Our sentence starts with the word For and tells us why the prior sentence was true. In addition, the next sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the reason in this sentence. The prior sentence tells of Paul and other preachers thanking God for the testimony of a changed life which the members of this church had. Now our current sentence tells us that they had this testimony because the preachers delivered the gospel using God's way. Then our next sentence tells us about how these church members received the gospel and how it was evidently received properly because they stuck with it in spite of much affliction and these church members became ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. Therefore, we can see that the context tells us that when people truly receive the gospel that they end up with changed lives but we also see that the preachers are responsible for delivering the gospel using God's methods and not their own.

Our sentence has two Steps in it with the First Step telling how the gospel was preached and the Second Step telling how the preachers lived a life which matched the message that they delivered. Both are important and one of the reasons that the gospel fails to be effective today is because one or more of these Steps are not done God's way.

Many people claim that they are doing each part of the First Step. While they may be doing so, they are doing them the wrong way. Paul said that their word came in power and while many preachers can claim the same, the power that they use is their own 'power of persuasion' and not power that is in the Holy Ghost, as our sentence says. The difference is in the results which are seen in the lives of people today as compared to the results reported within our chapter. In addition, Paul said that they provided much assurance, but their assurance came from the evidence of God working in the lives of the preachers and not from the words of the preachers. Remember the rest of our epistle where we read about God's power to overcome adversity that was displayed in the lives of the preachers and of the people. Such displays provide an assurance which can not be duplicated by our flesh.

In addition, our Second Step uses the word ye ('each and every one of you personally'). Many preachers today keep a distance between themselves and their people so that, while the people know them socially, the people do not know the preachers personally. Our Second Step tells us that these people knew the preachers on a personal level where the preachers could not hide or fake their true feelings and way of life. With this personal level of witnessing, the people has an assurance that a less intimate relationship can not convey. That is why our next sentence starts with the word And, and it tells us how the members of this church reacted on a personal level to the gospel. Simply put, they stuck by it in spite of much affliction.

As explained in the note for this verse, within the Word Study on Gospel, this verse is talking about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. As explained in the summary of that Word Study, and as illustrated in the Gospel Flowchart, all Biblical gospel, except the other gospel, are different views of the same basic gospel of God. In the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the 'good news' that each and every role of the Son of God is involved in our salvation, which includes our sanctification in this life and our judgment when we get to Heaven. Thus, Jesus, as a 'literal physical man' paid the sin debt which made Him a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past (Romans 3:25). Further, Christ provided our ongoing personal spiritual relationship with God which provides our sanctification and changed life in this world, which this epistle and our sentence in particular tell about for these people. Finally, as Lord the Son of God judges us and provides the election, which was mentioned in the prior sentence. All of these are part of our salvation and, as mentioned in the note for this verse, within the Word Study on Gospel, the context of this sentence tells us that the gospel with the particular view that matches the context, is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S2 about the word word. The functional definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, the word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please also see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. Please also see the note for John 1:1 for an extensive note explaining the differences, and similarities, between the capitalized and the non-capitalized word word. When a Bible reference uses an uppercase word, it is referring to Jesus Christ. The uppercase makes this a formal name of the Son of God. However, while the exact definition is different, the properties are spiritually similar to the lowercase word. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 1:8 about the phrase word of the Lord. Please note that the word of the Lord is a sub-set of the word of God. the word of God contains all of God's written truth including recording the lies of Satan. The word of the Lord is that part of the word of God which will be used to judge us. The lies from Satan are not included within the word of the Lord.

Please see the note for Romans C13S2 about the word power. It has a good sized discussion of this word, definitions from 2 dictionaries and links from other commentators. The definition from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia is: 'This word, indicative of might, strength, force, is used in the Old Testament to render very many Hebrew terms, the translation in numerous instances being varied in the Revised Version (British and American) to words like "valor," "rule," "strength," "might," "dominion." the principal words for "power" in the New Testament are dynamism, and exousia. In the latter case the Revised Version (British and American) frequently changes to "authority" (Mr 3:15; 6:7; Eph 1:21, etc.) or "right" (Ro 9:21; 1Co 9:6; 2Th 3:9, etc.). Power is attributed preeminently to God (1Ch 29:11; Job 26:14; Ps 66:7; 145:11; Re 7:12, etc.). On this attribute of power of God, see OMNIPOTENCE. the supreme manifestation of the power, as of the wisdom and love of God, is in redemption (1Co 1:18,24). the preaching of the gospel is accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit (1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5, etc.). Miracles, as "mighty works," are denoted by the term "powers" (so Mt 11:21,23 the Revised Version margin, etc.). the end of all time's developments is that God takes to Him His great power and reigns (Re 11:17)'. Our current sentence is the only place in 1Thessalonians where We find this word.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; 1Corinthians C3S17; Philippians 1:3-7 and Colossians C1S6 about forms of the word holy. The functional definition is: 'Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections'. Please see the Word Study on Spirit for links to every place in the Bible where we find the phrase Holy Ghost. There is a Biblical doctrinal difference between the use of the phrase Holy Ghost and God's Holy Spirit, but I can not specify what that doctrinal difference is at this time. Both are identifiers of the third Person within the Trinity. Please see the link for God's Holy Spirit for links to the various applications where this other identifier of the third Person is used. The phrase Holy Ghost only occurs within the New Testament. Please also see the note for 1John C2S25 about the phrase Holy One.

Please see the note for Colossians C2S1 about the word assurance. The functional definition for this word is: 'The act of making a declaration in terms that furnish ground of confidence'. Please also see the note for Acts 2:36 about the words assure / assuredly. Please also see the Message called True Biblical Assurance. As explained in that Message, 'True assurance comes only from God through our ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ'. As explained in that Message, 'True assurance comes only from God through our ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ'. Please also see the message called Assurance, True Biblical.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C15S30 about the word manner. The functional definition is: 'Deportment; carriage; behaviour; conduct; course of life; in a moral sense'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S25; 1Corinthians C9S16 and 2Corinthians 2:10-11 about the word sake. The functional definition is: 'to press or oppress. the primary sense is to strain, urge, press or drive forward, and this is from the same root as seek, essay and L. sequor, whence we have pursue and prosecute'. We find forms of this word in: 1:5; 3:9 and 5:13.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'our. Isa 55:11; Ro 2:16; 2Co 4:3; Ga 1:8-12; 2:2; 2Th 2:14; 2Ti 2:8exp: 2Th 1:10. in word. 1Th 2:13; 1Co 4:20; 2Co 3:6 but. Ps 110:2-3; Mr 16:20; Ac 11:21; 16:14; Ro 1:16; 15:18-19; 1Co 1:24; 2:4-5; 3:6; 2Co 10:4-5; Eph 1:17-20; 2:4-5,10; 3:20; Php 2:13; Jas 1:16-18; 1Pe 1:3 exp: 1Pe 5:3. in the. Joh 16:7-15; Ac 2:33; 10:44-46; 11:15-18; 1Co 3:16; 12:7-11; 2Co 6:6; Ga 3:2-5; 5:5,22-23; Tit 3:5-6; Heb 2:4; 1Pe 1:12 in much. Col 2:2; Heb 2:3; 6:11,18-19; 10:22; 2Pe 1:10,19 what. 1Th 2:1-11; Ac 20:18-19,33-35; 1Co 2:2-5; 4:9-13; 10:33; 2Co 4:1-2; 6:3-10; Php 4:9; 2Th 3:7-9; 1Ti 4:12-16; 1Pe 5:3 exp: 1Th 1:9; Jas 1:24; 2Pe 3:11. For. 1Co 9:19-23; 2Ti 2:10 exp: 1Co 4:6; 2Co 5:13. General references. exp: Lu 4:32; 1Co 4:20'.

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C1-S4 (Verse 6-7) The known testimony of the members which testifies of their salvation.

Equivalent Section: the testimony that they lived.

And ye became followers of us,
and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Ghost:.

Equivalent Section: the results of their testimony.

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia..

The note above, for the prior sentence, explains that the gospel mentioned there was the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of that gospel is the promised rewards when we are judged. Now the note for this verse in the Lord Jesus Christ Study explains this sentence and notes that: they followed the Lord while in much affliction. Those who follow while in much affliction do so because they expect eternal rewards that far outweigh the physical pain and affliction in this life. That reward comes from our Lord when we are judged.

Acts 16 and Acts 17 tell about Paul starting this church and others in the area while being persecuted by lost religious Jews and demonstrating God's power in spite of physical persecution. In addition, 1:8-10 says, that these believers at thessalonica also were persecuted, but still had a testimony that went not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.

Please notice that Paul said that they each personally (ye) became followers of us, and of the Lord. This is only true when the preacher is preaching the word of God exclusively and not preaching religious doctrine, which is what is really preached quite often. The difference between preaching the word of God and preaching religious doctrine is responsible for much of the reaction by God's people where they say 'Amen!' in the service and can't tell you what was preached by the time they are eating after the service.

Please note that our sentence says that they received the word...with joy of the Holy Ghost. It is only God (the Holy Ghost) Who can enable a saved person to continue to act right and share the gospel in the face of ongoing long-term persecution. Nehemiah 8:10 says: Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. that is why Paul says, in our current verse, that it was the joy of the Holy Ghost that enabled them (gave them strength) to continue in spite of persecution.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C4S16 about the word follow. Please also see the note for Romans C14S25 about the phrase follow after. The functional definition is: 'To go after or behind; to walk, ride or move behind, but in the same direction'. Please note that Paul, and the other preachers, did what they told these believers to do and they did it before telling someone else to do the same thing. We find forms of the word follow in: 1:6; 2:14 and 5:15.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S1; 1Corinthians C15S1 and Colossians 2:6-7 about the word receive. The functional definition is: 'To take, as a thing offered or sent; to accept'. In addition, please see the note for Matthew 10:41, which explains that in order to truly receive a person, we must receive their character as our own. We find forms of the word receive in: 1:6; 2:13 and 4:1.

Please see the notes for 2Timothy C4S3 and Philippians 1:15-17 about the word affliction. The functional definition is: 'The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, calamity, adversity, persecution'. We find forms of the word affliction in: 1:6; 3:3 and 3:7.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S23 and 1John C1S2 about the word joy. As pointed out in those notes, true Biblical joy comes only from God and is not dependent upon 'happenings' like happiness is. We find forms of the word in: 1:6; 2:19; 2:20 and 3:9.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C10S3 about the word example / ensample. That note has links to every place in the Bible where We find this word along with additional links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'A pattern; a copy; a mode; that which is proposed to be imitated'.

Please see the note for 2:10 about the word believe. The functional definition is: 'To credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of something upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances, than personal knowledge'.

Please click on each of the links in the sentence outline above to see the notes related to that particular word. Those links will tell you about the regions mentioned in this sentence as well as other significant doctrines which is not repeated in this note. In general, when the word has a link within the sentence it is not included within the Word Studies at the end of the note for the sentence.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'ye. 1Th 2:14; 1Co 4:16; 11:1; 2Co 8:5; Php 3:17; 2Th 3:9 and of. Mt 16:24; Joh 8:12; 13:13-15; Eph 5:1; 1Pe 3:13; 3Jo 1:11 received. 1Th 2:13-14; 3:2-4; Ho 2:14; Mr 10:29-30; Ac 17:5; 2Co 8:1-2; 2Th 1:4 with joy. Joh 14:16-18; Ac 5:41; 9:31; 13:52; Ro 5:3-5; 8:16-18; 15:13; Ga 5:22; Heb 10:34; 1Pe 1:6,8 General references. exp: 1Co 4:16.
ensamples. 1Th 4:10; 1Ti 4:12; Tit 2:7; 1Pe 5:3 in. 1Th 1:8; Ac 16:12; 1:13; 18:1; 2Co 1:1; 9:2; 11:9-10'.

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C1-S5 (Verse 8) The impact of their testimony on people around them.

First Step: the church was actively involved in the 'Great Commission'.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia,
but also in every place your faith to God -ward is spread abroad;.

Second Step: Missionaries did not have to be sent into the area given to this church.

so that we need not to speak anything..

Please note that this verse says the word of the Lord...sounded out from them but 1Thessalonians 2:13 says, that they received the word of God. The word of God occurs 44 times in the New Testament and the word of the Lord only occurs 13 times. The word of the Lord is a subset of the word of God. While the word of God contains things like the lie of Satan (Genesis 3:4), the word of the Lord contains only those things which can be used in the court of God as binding promises of God. Please see the note for this verse within the Lord Jesus Christ Study for the doctrinal difference between the word of God and the Word of the Lord.

This epistle, and 2Thessalonians are the only epistles from Paul where Lord is used more than Christ. In addition, these two epistles are dealing with doctrinal error concerning prophecy while Paul's other epistles concentrate on our personal relationship with God that is in Christ. Prophecy comes from the Lord, and, I believe, mainly from God the Father as Lord, but I can not make that a doctrinal statement. However, what we find in this epistle, especially as related to this sentence, is that they sounded out the word of the Lord. That is, they told everyone around them the laws of our Lord that result in punishment or reward regardless of who is obeying or disobeying them. For example, the 'Law of Sowing and Reaping' is for everyone and even lost people can get rich by following it.

In the case of this church, they were telling everyone that salvation was for everyone (1Timothy 2:3-4). Paul and his team had been persecuted, and run out of other towns, for preaching this exact message. Many Jews in that day believed that salvation was limited to those of Jewish blood and guaranteed, even without repentance, to all Jews. Therefore, they persecuted any who proclaimed salvation to all with a requirement of true Biblical repentance. The Jews also persecuted people who sounded out the word of the Lord because the Lord does not respect differences between men such as the difference between Jew and non-Jew (Acts 10:34).

In order to dispute true doctrine, from the Lord, the false teachers had to offer false prophecies which can not be disputed short of God killing the false prophet or his prophecy being proved to be false. However, people love prophecy so much that, as we see today, they go from one false prophet to another false prophet and never consider that the new one is basing his lie on the same thing as the prior false prophet. These epistles were written because even the saved can be caused to doubt if the Lord does not provi8de prophetic truth.

In the second phrase of our First Step we see how to separate a true prophet from a false prophet. We read: also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad. A true prophet will have a known testimony of faith to God-ward. A false prophet will be looking for fameans money from religious people. One has faith to God while the other has faith in the things of this world.

Our sentence starts with the word For, which means it is explaining how Paul and the other preachers knew that these people had each personally (ye) became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word. Unless someone gets involved in doing the 'Great Commission', you can not really be sure of their profession. In addition, the next sentence also starts with For and specifies the evidence which backs Paul claim in this sentence. We not only see their involvement in the 'Great Commission', but we see that they saturated their area and the next area. How many churches today even cover their own area?

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C13S1 about the word sound. The functional definition is: 'Entire; unbroken; not shaky, split or defective; as sound timber'. Thus, we see that their message was consistent and clear.

We see the word of the Lord, within the New Testament, in: Luke 22:61; Acts 8:25; Acts 11:16; Acts 13:48-49; Acts 15:35-36; Acts 16:32; Acts 19:10; Acts 20:35; 1Thessalonians 1:8; 1Thessalonians 4:15; 2Thessalonians 3:1; 1Peter 1:25.

Please see the note for Matthew 9:31 about the word spread. The functional definition for this word is: 'To extend in length and breadth, or in breadth only; to stretch or expand to a broader surface; to compass an area'.

Please see the note for Romans C16S22 about the word abroad. The functional definition for this word is: ' In a general sense, at large; widely; not confined to narrow limits. Extensively; before the public at large.'. Please also see the note for Romans C5S2 about the phrase shed abroad.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:19 about the word need. The functional definition is: 'ant; occasion for something; necessity; a state that requires supply or relief'. Please also see the note for Romans C13S8 about the phrase must needs.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:17 about the word speech. Please see the note for Ephesians C4S15 about evil speaking. Please see the note for Romans C15S15 about the word speak. The functional definition is: 'To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words'. Please also see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. Please also see the note for Romans C10S28 about the word gainsaying. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:1 about the word sayings (plural). Please also see the note for Romans 11:1 about the phrase I say. Please see the note for Ephesians C4S15 about the phrase evil speaking.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'from. Isa 2:3; 52:7; 66:19; Ro 10:14-18; 1Co 14:36; 2Th 3:1; Re 14:6; 22:17 in every. Ro 1:8; 2Th 1:4; 3Jo 1:12 God-ward. Ex 18:9; 2Co 3:4'.

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C1-S6 (Verse 9-10) There was such a change in their life, due to salvation, that everyone around them were talking about it.

First Step: Our true testimony is spoken by others.

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;.

Second Step: Salvation only comes from God's Son Jesus and the changes He makes in us.

and to wait for his Son from Heaven,
whom he raised from the dead,
even Jesus,
which delivered us from the wrath to come..

Our sentence starts with the word For and tells us why the prior sentence was true as well as providing a second reason why C1-S4 is true. That sentence was added to the prior one which gave a reason why (For) C1-S2 is true. Thus, we see that every sentence in this chapter, past the opening sentence, is linked together in a single compound thought. That single thought is that the testimony of our changed life provides the evidence of true salvation because only the Son of God saves us from our sins (Matthew 1:21) and He only does that after truly, and eternally, saving our spirit.

Please see the message called Body, Soul and Spirit Salvation for more details on this truth. Please also see the note for this verse in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more on how God's Son, in His role as Jesus, provided part of our salvation. The Bible teaches us that God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son as Lord, God the Son as Jesus and God the Son as Christ each did a different part in our salvation.

in this sentence we see the start of Paul's answer to the doctrinal error which is causing this church problems. When He says that they were to wait for his Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come, Paul is directly disputing the claim that the dead would not rise and share in the kingdom of Christ. We see Paul deal with this more directly in 4:14, which says For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.. Since they already believed that God had raise Jesus from the dead, the doctrine of resurrection should not have been a problem. Since, as the First Step says, they had personally (ye), turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, there could be no doubt about their believing in judgment, in reward for obedience and their belief, and fear, of the wrath to come.

Since, as Paul points out in this sentence, they had these beliefs, we have to wonder at their being bothered by the doctrinal error that was being taught. The conclusion that I come to is that they were like a lot of people today. People will listen to someone that they believe is a Godly person and believe what they 'feel is right', but they won't really think about their beliefs and how those beliefs affect the way that they should live. They also don't really think about what their beliefs say about the character of the God that they claim to believe in. Therefore, if someone who claim to be a 'good Godly Bible believing preacher' tells them that the Bible says something which goes against the character of God, they get all upset instead of praying for wisdom from God and searching the Bible for themselves. Personally, I've found that the best cure for doctrinal error is sincere believing prayer for God's wisdom followed by significant study of God's Word.

These people showed that they sincerely believed God's truth because our sentence says 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. However, their being taken By this doctrinal error showed their weakness in lifestyle prayer and study which are required in order to be a true disciple. Thus, we see one advantage of true discipleship.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S8 about the word shew. It has the same meaning as the word shew, but was put into the Bible before spelling of words was standardized.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C15S30 about the word manner. The functional definition is: 'Deportment; carriage; behaviour; conduct; course of life; in a moral sense'.

Please see the note for John 10:9 about the word enter. The functional definition for this word is: 'to leave one place and go into another place'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C8S1 about the word idol. The functional definition is: 'An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a deity'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C5S8 about the word idolater. Please also see the note for Galatians C5S20 about the word idolatry.

We find forms of the word life / live occurring 1035 times in 937 verses of the Bible, 338 times in 301 verses of the New Testament, and in 1Thessalonians, in: 1:9; 3:8; 4:15; 4:17 and 5:10. Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 about the word life. That note has the definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators. Please also see the notes for Life in 1John about the word life. Please see the notes for Hebrews 1:8-LJC and Philippians 1:27-LJC about the phrase life everlasting. We find the phrase eternal life in: 6:12 and 6:19. Please see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life.

The word true is defined as: 'Truth is defined by God. Truth is what God says is truth for this physical reality, the spiritual reality and everything else that is, even if we don't know about it. Truth is personified in Jesus Christ and anything less than 'absolute truth' is a lie. Something that is true matches what God reveals in His unchanging word'. That note has a lot more important information and links to every place in this gospel where we find forms of this word. In addition, it explains how to use the link in the sentence outline above.

Please use This link to see other, less important, 'Minor Titles of the Son of God' found within the Bible along with links to where the Bible uses those titles. The title in this sentence is True God.

Please see the note for Luke 2:25 about the word waiting. Please also see the note for Acts 1:1 about the word wait. The functional definition for this word is: 'Staying in expectation'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:9-11 about the word Heaven. The Bible talks about three Heaven, but this verse is talking about 'the home of God'. That note has the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with links from other commentators. Please also see the note for 1Peter 1:2-LJC about Heaven, things in. Please also see the note for Matthew 3:2 about the kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:2-LJC about treasure in Heaven.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C15S32 about the word raise / resurrection. Please also see the Prophecies and Prophecy Fulfilled Sections for Bible references to resurrection. Please see the note for Romans C8S11 about the resurrection of Christ. Please see the note for Romans C8S11 about the resurrection of Jesus. This subject is dealt with, within 1Thessalonians, in 1:10 and 4:16.

We find forms of the words die /dead /death occurring 1062 times in 940 verses of the Bible, 375 times in 322 verses of the New Testament, and in 1:9-10; 4:14; 4:16 and 5:10 within this epistle. Please see the note for Romans C6S4; 1Corinthians C15S20; Philippians 1:19-20 about the word death. Please see the note for Romans C6S4 about the word die. We find this exact phrase of sin unto death: in 1John 5:16; Romans 6:16. We see this doctrine dealt with in: Acts 5; Romans 5; 1Corinthians 8:11-LJC and Galatians C3-S26. Please see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S34 about the phrase sleep is physically dead but spiritually alive. There is a lot of confusion about this word because men insist upon defining an ongoing process as a one-time event and can not even agree when that one-time event is supposed to have happened because every test that they make proves to be wrong at some time. We keep having people who were declared to be dead to later prove that they were actually still alive. The note for Romans C6S4 has a considerable discussion on this subject and explains why all human definitions, including those accepted by fundamental Bible believers, do not match the actual Biblical definition of this ongoing process.

Please see the note for Mark 9:31 about the word delivered. The functional definition for this word is: 'Freed; released; transferred or transmitted; passed from one to another; committed; yielded; surrendered; rescued; uttered; pronounced'.

Please see the notes for Romans C4S16; Galatians C5S20; Ephesians C4S11 and Colossians C3S6 about the word wrath. The functional definition is: 'Violent anger; vehement exasperation; indignation'. We find forms of the word wrath in: 1:10; 2:16 and 5:9.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'what. 1Th 1:5-6; 2:1,13 exp: Ho 14:8. ye. Isa 2:17-21; Jer 16:19; Zep 2:11; Zec 8:20-23; Mal 1:11; Ac 14:15; 26:17-18; 1Co 12:2; Ga 4:8-9 the living. De 5:26; 1Sa 17:26,36; Ps 42:2; 84:2; Isa 37:4,17; Jer 10:10; Da 6:26; Ho 1:10; Ro 9:26; 2Co 6:16-17; 1Ti 4:10; Heb 12:22; Re 17:2 exp: Mt 16:16; Joh 6:57; Ac 14:15; 2Co 3:3; 1Ti 3:15; 6:17.
wait. 1Th 4:16-17; Ge 49:18; Job 19:25-27; Isa 25:8-9; Lu 2:25; Ac 1:11; 3:21; Ro 2:7; 8:23-25; 1Co 1:7; Php 3:20; 1Th 1:7; 2:7; 2Ti 4:1; Tit 2:13; Heb 9:28; 2Pe 3:12,14; Re 1:7 exp: Ga 5:5. whom. Ac 2:24; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30-31; 10:40-41; 17:31; Ro 1:4; 4:25; 8:34; 1Co 15:4-21; Col 1:18; 1Pe 1:3,21; 3:18; Re 1:18 Jesus. 1Th 5:9; Mt 1:21; Ro 5:9-10; Ga 3:13; 1Pe 2:21 the wrath. Mt 3:7; Lu 3:7; Heb 10:27 General references. exp: Ge 49:18'.

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Chapter 2 Ordered by Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

C2-S1 (Verse 1-2), C2-S2 (Verse 3-4), C2-S3 (Verse 5-6), C2-S4 (Verse 7-8), C2-S5 (Verse 9), C2-S6 (Verse 10-12), C2-S7 (Verse 13), C2-S8 (Verse 14-16), C2-S9 (Verse 17), C2-S10 (Verse 18), C2-S11 (Verse 19), C2-S12 (Verse 19), C2-S13 (Verse 20).

Overview of Chapter 2: the pastor of God.

Please see the Summary Chapter Outline using this link. It gives the overview of this chapter.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1-17	In what manner the gospel was brought and preached to the thessalonians, and in what sort also they received it.
18-20	A reason is rendered both why Paul was so long absent from them, and also why he was so desirous to see them.

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C2-S1 (Verse 1-2) They knew how Paul and his missionary team told them the truth in spite of persecution by people from Philippi.

Equivalent Section: they knew the results of Paul and his team's preaching.

For yourselves,
brethren,
know our entrance in unto you,
that it was not in vain:.

Equivalent Section: they personally knew that Paul and his team preached in spite of persecution.

But even after that we had suffered before,
and were shamefully entreated,
as ye know,
at Philippi,
we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention..

in this epistle we see gospel used in 1:5; 2:2; 2:4; 2:8; 2:9 and 3:2. While 1:5 does not say so, exactly, in the verse, it was talking about the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This fact was explained in the note for that verse within the Word Study on Gospel. Now, every verse in this chapter is dealing with the gospel of God, with each verse literally saying that except for 2:4. Then Chapter 3 switches to the gospel of Christ. Each of these gospel are the same 'good news' but taken from a different perspective. Please take the time to understand these differences as explained in the beginning of the Word Study on Gospel and illustrated in the Gospel Flowchart.

As explained in the note for this verse within the Word Study on Gospel, Paul started with the gospel of God in an attempt to avoid the arguments about the distinction between applications of the gospel which existed between the Jews and the Gentiles. However, as our epistle lets us know, that didn't work because the Jews objected to the true gospel no matter how it was presented. And, as our chapter says, their rejection will bring the wrath of God on them even while they will not be able to complain about how Paul's team presented the gospel. While that is true, when we get to chapter 3 we see that Paul sent Timotheus to the church itself and when he spoke it was not to an audience which included lost Jews who objected to the truth. With the change of audience, Timotheus was able to present the gospel of Christ, which is designed to help the saved grow up spiritually. Thus, we see the change of the particular gospel, which was presented, depended upon the spiritual maturity of the audience which it was presented to.

Our sentence starts with For and gives another reason why what was said in the prior chapter is true. Thus, we see a continuation of the argument presented there and not the normal break which many people assume with a chapter break.

As mentioned in the notes for the prior chapter, these people showed that they had true faith because they acted on their faith in spite of persecution. However, they lacked true discipleship because they failed to pray and study the Bible when religious preachers came in and preached doctrinal error. Many believed the doctrinal error, and were upset, and failed to see that this doctrinal error got people to stop acting like God was their Lord. Thus, in this chapter, we see Paul pointing out the difference in character between his team and the people teaching doctrinal error. He will then show how his team matches the character of our Lord while he also shows the character of the people teaching doctrinal error matches the character of Satan. Only after revealing the spirit behind each team will he deal with the doctrinal error itself.

One error that Paul avoids is dealing directly with the error that people believe. That's because this error appeals to our flesh and the wisdom of this world (1Corinthians chapters 1-3). Instead, Paul first gets the people to look at things from the wisdom of God (1Corinthians chapters 1-3) and, only after that, shows them that this doctrinal error does not match the character of God.

Now that we see how Paul approaches this problem, we can look at this sentence, which starts this approach. Here we see that Paul points out their own knowledge that he and his missionary team dealt with them using the gospel of God, and did so even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated. In addition, they were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. Thus, the contention was not something new.

In our next sentence Paul starts with For and points out the difference in how his team presented the gospel of God compared to how the others presented their doctrinal error. This difference in character is why (For) they should stick with the gospel of God and reject the doctrinal error. Thus, as already mentioned, we are instructed to look at the spirit of the messenger when trying to decide who is teaching truth and who is teaching error.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C6S10 and Galatians C1-S1 about the word brother. Please also see the note for Romans C16S1 about the word sister. Please also see the note for Matthew 1:2 about the word brethren. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines brethren as: 'Spiritually used for God's people: the Jews and the people are saved, baptized and active members of the church'. Please see the note for RomansC12S8 about the word brotherly. These are all used for: 'Spiritually used for God's people: the Jews and the people are saved, baptized and active members of the church'.

Please see the note for John 10:9 about the word enter. The functional definition for this word is: 'to leave one place and go into another place'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C15S1 and Galatians C2-S16 about the word vain. The functional definition is: 'Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance'. I tell people to think of whited sepulchers, which look pretty on the outside but are 'full of a dead man's bones'.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S17; 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word suffer. The functional definition is: 'To feel or bear what is painful, disagreeable or distressing, either to the body or mind; to undergo. We suffer pain of body; we suffer grief of mind'. We find forms of the word in: 2:1; 2:14 and 3:4. Please also see the note for Romans 9:22 about the word longsuffering. Please also see the Study called Significant Gospel Events, for references to verses related to the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S2 about the word ashamed. The functional definition is: 'abashed or confused by guilt or a conviction of some criminal action or indecorous conduct, or by the exposure of some gross errors or misconduct, which the person is conscious must be wrong, and which tends to impair his honor or reputation'. Please also see the note for Romans C10S12 about the phrase faith makes us not ashamed.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word intreat. It is defined as: 'full of entreat'. The word entreat is defined as 'To make an earnest petition or request'. The people there were very earnest in their shameful treatment of Paul's missionary team.

Please see the note for Romans C15S13 about the word bold. The functional definition is: 'Requiring courage in the execution'.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:15 about forms of the word Philippi. It is used to identify a city, a church and members of that church.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S15 and 2Corinthians 2:17 about the word speak. The functional definition is: 'To utter words or articulate sounds, as human beings; to express thoughts by words'. Please also see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. Please also see the note for Romans C10S28 about the word gainsaying. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:1 about the word sayings (plural). Please also see the note for Romans 11:1 about the phrase I say. We find forms of the word speak in: 1:8; 2:2; 2:4; 2:16; 4:15 and 5:3. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word speech. Please see the note for Ephesians C4S15 about the phrase evil speaking.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:15-17 for links to all of the verses in the New Testament which use the words contend / contention along with a definition and links from other commentators. The functional definition for these words is: 'A violent effort to obtain something, or to resist a person, claim or injury; contest; quarrel'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 11:16 for links to the 5 verses in the Bible which use the word contentious. Please note that this is pretty much the opposite of the words content / contentment.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'our. 1Th 2:13; 1:3-10; 2Th 3:1 in vain. 1Th 3:5; Job 39:16; Ps 73:13; 127:1; Isa 49:4; 65:23; Hab 2:13; 1Co 15:2,10,58; 2Co 6:1; Ga 2:2; 4:11; Php 2:16.
shamefully. Ac 5:41; 16:12,22-24,37; 2Ti 1:12; Heb 11:36-37; 12:2-3; 1Pe 2:14-16 bold. 1Th 1:5; Ac 4:13,20,31; 14:3; 17:2-3; Eph 6:19-20 exp: Phm 1:8. much. Ac 6:9-10; 15:1-2; 17:2-9,17; 19:8; Php 1:27-30; Col 2:1; Jude 1:3 General references. exp: Ac 8:4; 14:7'.

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C2-S2 (Verse 3-4) Paul's missionary team spoke the truth clearly.

Equivalent Section: they did not lie or even shade the truth.

For our exhortation was not of deceit,
nor of uncleanness,
nor in guile:.

Equivalent Section: they spoke what pleased God and not man.

First Step: they spoke what God told them to speak.

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel,
even so we speak;.

Second Step: they were aware that God would try them for their honesty.

not as pleasing men,
but God,
which trieth our hearts..

Paul and his missionary team clearly told them God's truth and didn't worry about upsetting religious people but spoke with the knowledge that God would try them for how honestly they presented God's message. In the First Equivalent Section Paul says what did not motivate them, even though it motivates many religious people. They did not try to misdirect the people either directly (deceit) nor indirectly (guile). Neither did they try to get the people to put their faith in them instead of in God (uncleanness). Instead, as Paul says in the Second Equivalent Section, they delivered God's gospel with the constant realization that God was watching everything they said and did.

Please notice that our two Equivalent Sections are divided by a colon followed by the word but. That makes them polar opposites. Thus, if a preacher changes how he presents God's gospel so that it Please s men, even if he says things which are in the Bible, he is acting in deceit, guile, or uncleanness. However, if he acts like the Second Equivalent Section, then he is doing the opposite of these motivating traits.

As explained in the note for this verse within the Word Study on Gospel, those people who preach the gospel of God will personally answer to God for how faithful they were to what God said and if they let men cause them to pervert God's gospel. The gospel of God 'comes from God, returns to God and is controlled by God' because it 'belongs to' God.

Please note that Paul says as we were allowed of God. Most people fail to realize what a privilege it is to be part of a missionary team. Many people fail to think of the several thousand years before the time of Christ when people had to become a Jew, like Ruth did, and then be treated as second-class if they wanted any hope of salvation. Even within the church today, God chooses very few, even though all are called, to be part of the 'Great Commission'. Most saved people will never go on a missionary trip and extremely few will ever be as involved as Paul's missionary team were. And, unfortunately, this is because God can not trust most saved people to deliver His gospel in the manner that this missionary team did.

Our sentence starts with the word For, which means that it is giving a reason why the prior sentence is true. In that sentence we see that this missionary team suffered before and was shamefully entreated and yet they were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. Now our current sentence tells us that the reason why they acted this way, in spite of the opposition, was that they had an attitude that they were privileged to do this work for God (were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel) and that they would face judgment by God (but God, which trieth our hearts) for how they did God's work. The Bible teaches a lot about The Fear of the Lord because that is what will keep us honest before God when men oppose us. Our love for God will not do it but The Fear of the Lord will.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S3 about the word exhort. The functional definition is: 'the act of inciting to laudable deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable. the form of words intended to incite and encourage'. We find forms of the word exhort in: 2:3; 2:11; 4:1 and 5:14.

Please see the notes for Romans C1S16 about the word deceit. The functional definition is: 'fraudulent'.

Please see the note for Galatians C5S20 and Colossians C3S5 about the word uncleanness. The functional definition is: 'defiled: the adjective "unclean," occurs 31 times, 23 times in reference to unclean spirits'. Please also see the notes for Word Study on Spirit; Romans C14S20 and Colossians C3S5 about unclean spirits.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 12:16 about the word guile. That note has links to every place in the Bible where We find this word. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Craft; cunning; artifice; duplicity; deceit; usually in a bad sense. We may, with more successful hope, resolve to wage by force or guile eternal war. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. John.1. GUILE, v.t. to disguise craftily'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2S2 about the word beguile.

Please see the note for Romans 7:15 about the word allow. The functional definition for this word is: 'To grant, give or yield'. Please also see the note for 1Peter 2:4 about the word disallow.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S18 and Philippians 3:4-6 about the word trust. The functional definition is: 'Confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person'.

Please see the notes for 2Timothy 2:4 and Galatians 1:10-LJC about the word please. The functional definition is: 'To excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to gratify'. We find forms of the word please in: 2:4; 2:15 and 4:1.

We find forms of the words trieth / try occurring 46 times in 44 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: 1Corinthians 3:13; 1Thessalonians 2:4; Hebrews 11:17; James 1:3; James 1:12; 1Peter 1:7; 1Peter 4:12; 1John 4:1; Revelation 2:2; Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 3:18. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to attempt. Try to learn; try to lift a weight. the horses tried to draw the load. these phrases give the true sense.
TRY, v.t. to examine; to make experiment on; to prove by experiment. Come, try upon yourselves what you have seen me. 1. to experience; to have knowledge by experience of. Or try the Libyan heat, or Scythian cold. 2. to prove by a test; as, to try weights and measures by a standard; to try one's opinions by the divine oracles. 3. to act upon as a test. The fire sev'n times tried this. 4. to examine judicially by witnesses and the principles of law; as causes tried in court. 5. to essay; to attempt. Let us try advent'rous work. 6. to purify; to refine; as silver seven times tried. 7. to search carefully into. Ps.11. 8. to use as means; as, to try remedies for a disease. 9. to strain; as, to try the eyes; the literal sense of the word. Totry tallow, etc. is to melt and separate it from the membranes. Totryout, to pursue efforts till a decision is obtained'. The functional definition for this word is: 'to test repeatedly until you are very confident of the answer'.

We find forms of the word heart 954 times in 877 verses of the Bible, 167 times in 159 verses of the New Testament and, within 1Thessalonians, in: 2:4; 2:17 and 3:13. Please see the notes for Romans C10S6 and 2Corinthians C2S4 about the word heart. Each of the verses within Romans has to do with our having righteousness or unrighteousness because of our decisions, our attitudes, our thoughts and our actions are determined by our heart. In addition, to these verses, please see the note for Galatians C6-S6 for 'The LORD looketh on the heart' and the note for Ephesians C4-S8 for links to verses which deal with a 'wicked heart'. Please also see the note for Psalms 119:2 for links to where that Psalm deals with our heart and for some additional links from other commentators. Please see the note for Philippians C1S21 for links to where heart is used in Philippians along with a definition and links from other commentators. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 2:4 about the word heart. It has definitions from 3 Bible dictionaries. The functional definition is: 'Our heart controls the same things as our soul only where the soul deals with the long term the heart deals with the short term and we control our heart directly while the soul is the accumulated actions of our heart. Both are the way we think (mind), the way we emotionally respond to circumstances (emotions) and the method we use to make decisions (will).'

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. 1Th 2:5-6,11; 4:1-2; Nu 16:15; 1Sa 12:3; Ac 20:33-34; 2Co 2:17; 4:2,5; 7:2; 11:13; 12:16-18; 2Pe 1:16.
as we. 1Co 7:25; Eph 3:8; 1Ti 1:11-13 to be. Lu 12:42; 16:11; 1Co 4:1-2; 9:17; Ga 2:7; 1Ti 1:11-12; 6:20; 2Ti 1:14; 2:2; Tit 1:3 not. 1Co 2:4-5; 2Co 4:2; 5:11,16; Ga 1:10; Eph 6:6; Col 3:22 but God. Nu 27:16; 1Ki 8:39; 1Ch 29:17; Ps 7:9; 17:3; 44:21; 139:1-2; Pr 17:3; Jer 17:10; 32:19; Joh 2:24-25; 21:17; Ro 8:27; Heb 4:13; Re 2:23 General references. exp: 2Ki 16:16'.

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C2-S3 (Verse 5-6) They didn't try to get people to support them nor to get a reputation among men.

Equivalent Section: they didn't try to make people like them.

First Step: they didn't use wrong motivations.

For neither at any time used we flattering words,
as ye know,
nor a cloke of covetousness;.

Second Step: they will be judged by God for their honesty.

God is witness:.

Equivalent Section: they didn't try to get physical support.

Nor of men sought we glory,
neither of you,
nor yet of others,
when we might have been burdensome,
as the apostles of Christ..

Paul is giving a third set of reasons why what he said in the first chapter is true. This sentence also tells us why it is true that Paul's missionary team acted like they would face the judgment of God, and used that as their primary motivation, as he said in the prior sentence. Of course, we see this truth by our sentence starting with the word For and By this being the third sentence in a row, within this chapter, which starts with the word For.

Lord is the most used role of God in this epistle with this verse being the first time that we see Christ, other than in the very beginning where we saw Lord Jesus Christ. As explained in the note for this verse, within the Lord Jesus Christ Study: the reason that they can know that he is telling the truth is that he didn't try to get rich off them, like these other religious men wanted to do. In fact, Paul didn't even have them give him basic support as a teacher after they got saved, even though God said that the saved should support their preacher. By calling himself and his helpers the apostles of Christ, Paul was specifically linking his ministry to the ministry of Christ, which is the spiritual maturity of saved after their salvation. So we know that he is saying that he didn't even accept a pastor's salary (burdensome) from saved people (see 1Corinthians 9; 1Corinthians 11; 1Timothy 5:17).

Think about this folks. How many preachers don't accept a salary, housing or anything else even after they get a church started and running? What Paul is saying in this chapter and in this sentence is that he and his missionary team didn't take anything, even what was rightfully theirs by any set of rules that you want to consider. They went to extreme measures to make sure that these people knew that they were acting different from any other religious people so that they would understand that the gospel of God was different.

As already mentioned, the context of this sentence and the message of the epistle are important to fully understanding what Paul is saying here. This sentence is part of his over-all message that the true servants of God have a different spirit from people around them. in this epistle Paul is concentrating more on telling these people to act like God, and not like people who are led by a devil while claiming to be good religious people. In his next epistle Paul will talk about God's judgment upon those people. However, here he only mentions the signs of difference and tells God's people to act right and skips over how God will deal with those lost liars. Thus, our current sentence is telling us how Godly missionaries acted and only the minimum necessary is said against the people who are doing wrong.

With this in mind, we can now look at how these Godly missionaries acted. Paul could have said that the other people did use...flattering words and did use a cloke of covetousness, but he didn't. Yes, that is implied but instead of criticizing others Paul simply pointed out that his team of missionaries did not act wrong.

In our Second Step of the First Equivalent Section, We see the motivation for their actions when Paul writes: God is witness. They kept in mind, at all times, that God is witness, which means that their attitudes and actions were being recorded and that they would face legal judgment of those attitudes and actions. Many saved people fail to keep this in mind and, as a result, are tempted into sin. Paul's team didn't do this and we see that the only way to avoid sin is to constantly remind ourselves that God is witness, and we will face judgment for our attitudes and actions, especially as we represent God.

There is a second, implied, part to the phrase God is witness. As a witness, God would testify on their behalf before men. When God protected and provided for them in a way that it was obviously not their own doing, they had the witness from God that he approved of their attitudes and actions.

In our Second Equivalent Section we see Paul say that they did not seek any physical support from men, not even that which was right, normal and expected. By this action they provided further testimony that their physical support came from elsewhere, and no one could dispute their claim that it came from God. With this evidence behind them, it would be obvious that others were wrong when that denied that Paul's team had a message from God, especially when they claimed that their own message came from God even while God refused to protect and provide for them. There are times that we must let God put us into 'impossible situations' so that when God gets us out of them it is obvious that we are backed by God. With such, we have a testimony that the lost can't match.

We find forms of the word flatter in: Job 32:21-22; Psalms 5:9; Psalms 12:2-3; Psalms 36:2; Psalms 78:36; Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 7:5; Proverbs 7:21; Proverbs 20:19; Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 28:23; Proverbs 29:5; Ezekiel 12:24; 1Thessalonians 2:5. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'FLAT'TER, n. the person or thing by which anything is flattened.
FLAT'TER, v.t. Flatter may be from the root of flat, that is, to make smooth, to appease, to soothe. L. plaudo. Perhaps flat and plaudo are from one root, the radical sense of which must be to extend, strain, stretch. 1. to soothe by praise; to gratify self-love by praise or obsequiousness; to please a person by applause or favorable notice, by respectful attention, or by anything that exalts him in his own estimation, or confirms his good opinion of himself. We flatter a woman when we praise her children. A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet. Prov. 29. 2. to please; to gratify; as, to flatter one's vanity or pride. 3. to praise falsely; to encourage by favorable notice; as, to flatter vices or crimes. 4. to encourage by favorable representations or indications; as, to flatter hopes. We are flattered with the prospect of peace. 5. to raise false hopes by representations not well founded; as, to flatter one with a prospect of success; to flatter a patient with the expectation of recovery when his case is desperate. 6. to please; to soothe. A concert of voices - makes a harmony that flatters the ears. 7. to wheedle; to coax; to attempt to win by blandishments, praise or enticements. How many young and credulous persons are flattered out of their innocence and their property, by seducing arts!'.

We find forms of the word cloke only in: Isaiah 59:17; Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:29; John 15:22; 1Thessalonians 2:5; 2Timothy 4:13; 1Peter 2:16. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'n. 1. A loose outer garment worn over other clothes both by men and women. He was clad with zeal as a cloke. Is. 59. 2. A cover; that which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a fair pretense. Not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness. 1 Peter 2. They have no cloke for their sin. John 15.
CLOKE, v.t. 1. to cover with a cloke. 2. to hide; to conceal; to use a false covering'. The functional definition for this word is: 'A loose outer garment worn over other clothes both by men and women'. The phrase: a cloke of covetousness identifies someone who pretended to preach God's word while actually preaching for money. The phrase: a cloke of maliciousness identifies a saved person who pretended to preach God's word while actually preaching liberal lies which cause people to suffer the judgment of God including going to Hell.

Please see the note for Romans C1S16 about the word covetousness. The functional definition for this word is: 'A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of wealth or avarice. Out of the heart proceedeth covetousness. Mark 7. Mortify your members--and covetousness which is idolatry. Colossians 3. 2. Strong desire; eagerness'. Please also see the note for Romans C13S12 about the word covet. The functional definition for this word is: 'To desire earnestly to obtain or possess. This can be in a good sense. But it also can be a desire which it is unlawful, which makes it in a bad sense'. This sin is grouped with what men think of as the most vile of sins by Romans 1. It is equated with lust and violation of God's law in Romans 7. This is the basis of 'Original Sin' (Genesis 3:5-6). This is the spiritual basis of most sins. Please also see the Doctrinal Study on the use Ten Commandments for links to where they are dealt with in the word of God. This commamdment is one of the 'Ten Commandments'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 11:4 about the word witness. The functional definition is: 'someone who is qualified to testify in court and is available to do so if the court requests'. Please also see the notes for 2Corinthians 13:1 and Colossians C3S13 about the phrase two or three witnesses:. The functional definition is: 'Basically, if the Bible literally says something in at least two places, that is a law that will be enforced by the court of God and is something that all must accept and obey'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S14; 1Corinthians C15S36; Ephesians C1S2; 2Corinthians 10:14-LJC and Colossians C1S6 about the word glory. The functional definition is: 'Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour, dignity of God; of the mind or heart; Splendour, brightness, majesty of Jehovah , the infinite perfections of God'. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:1 about the phrase Jesus Christ return in glory. Think about the 'Mount of transfiguration'. We find this word within 1Thessalonians in: 2:6; 2:12 and 2:20. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines glory as: '(Heb kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps 49:12); glory (Ge 31:1; Mt 4:8; Re 21:24,26). (2.) Honour, dignity (1Ki 3:13; Heb 2:7; 1Pe 1:24); of God (Ps 19:1; 29:1); of the mind or heart (Ge 49:6; Ps 7:5; Ac 2:46).

(3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Ge 45:13; Isa 4:5; Ac 22:11; 2Co 3:7); of Jehovah (Isa 59:19; 60:1; 2Th 1:9).

(4.) the glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa 40:5; Ac 7:2; Ro 1:23; 9:23; Eph 1:12). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glory" (Heb 1:3; Joh 1:14; 2:11).

(5.) the bliss of Heaven (Ro 2:7,10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb 2:10; 1Pe 5:1,10).

(6.) the phrase "Give glory to God" (Jos 7:19; Jer 13:16) is a Hebrew idiom meaning, "Confess your sins." the words of the Jews to the blind man, "Give God the praise" (Joh 9:24), are an adjuration to confess. they are equivalent to, "Confess that you are an impostor," "Give God the glory by speaking the truth;" for they denied that a miracle had been wrought'. The note in Romans provides the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with links from other commentators.

2Corinthians 5:4 and Galatians 6:2 provides references for the word burden. The functional definition is: ' that which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome or oppressive'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'used. Job 17:5; 32:21-22; Ps 12:2-3; Pr 20:19; 26:28; 28:23; Isa 30:10; Mt 22:16; 2Pe 2:18 a cloke. Isa 56:11; Jer 6:13; 8:10; Mic 3:5; Mal 1:10; Mt 23:14; Ac 20:33; Ro 16:18; 2Co 2:17; 4:2; 7:2; 12:17; 1Ti 3:3,8; Tit 1:7; 1Pe 5:2; 2Pe 2:3,14-15; Jude 1:11; Re 18:12-13 exp: 1Pe 2:16. God. Ro 1:9; 9:1; Ga 1:20 exp: Ge 31:50; 2Co 11:31; Php 1:8. General references. exp: Eze 12:24; 1Th 2:3.
of men. Es 1:4; 5:11; Pr 25:27; Da 4:30; Joh 5:41,44; 7:18; 12:43; Ga 1:10; 5:26; 6:13; 1Ti 5:17 when. 1Th 2:9; 1Co 9:4,6,12-18; 2Co 10:1-2,10-11; 13:10; Phm 1:8-9 been burdensome. or, used authority. 1Co 11:9; 12:13-15; 1Th 3:8-9 as the. 1Co 9:1-2,4-6 General references. exp: Joh 5:41; 1Th 2:3'.

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C2-S4 (Verse 7-8) Paul's missionary team acted in love.

Equivalent Section: they acted like a nurse caring for children.

But we were gentle among you,
even as a nurse cherisheth her children:.

Equivalent Section: the evidence of this claim.

So being affectionately desirous of you,
we were willing to have imparted unto you,
not the gospel of God only,
but also our own souls,
because ye were dear unto us..

Our soul is the long-term result of the short-term decisions of our heart. Both are: 'the way we think, the way we make decisions and the way we react emotionally to the circumstances of life'. in this sentence Paul is saying that in each of these areas they acted like Christ would since the prior sentence told us that they were the apostles of Christ. So, when the ministry required them to do what they didn't want to do they responded with: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42). When they had a problem to solve, they used the mind of Christ (1Corinthians 2:16). When upsetting things happened, they reacted as our sentence says and were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.

Many people look at the ministry as an easy job but few are willing to act as this sentence says for people who not only are strangers but who also have strange habits such as missionaries have to deal with when they got to foreign lands. However, when missionaries can truly act as this sentence describes, it is a witness of God working in and through their life because, without God, people will not be willing to suffer and die for strangers.

Please notice that our Second Equivalent Section tells us that they went beyond delivering the gospel of God in order to also impart...our own souls. This is the difference that we have with a personal relationship with God that is in Christ. This difference is why this missionary team were the apostles of Christ.

Galatians C5-S21 provides references for the word gentleness. That note has links to every place in the Bible where we find forms of this word. The functional definition is: 'Softness in manners'.

We find forms of the word nurse in: Genesis 24:59; Genesis 35:8; Exodus 2:7; Exodus 2:9; Numbers 11:12; Ruth 4:16; 2Samue 4:4; 2Kings 11:2; 2Chronicles 22:11; Isaiah 49:23; Isaiah 60:4; 1Thessalonians 2:7. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Such in O.T. times were held in esteem, as was Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, Ge 35:8. Twice the expression, 'nursing fathers,' occurs, and queens are to be 'nursing mothers' to Israel in the future. Nu 11:12; Isa 49:23. Paul said, "We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children." 1Th 2:7'.

Please see the note for Ephesians 5:29 about the word cherish. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'treat with tenderness and affection; to give warmth, ease or comfort to. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 1 thess. 2. the damsel was fair and cherished the king. 1 Kings 1. 2. to hold as dear; to embrace with affection; to foster, and encourage; as, to cherish the principles of virtue; to cherish religion in the heart. 3. to treat in a manner to encourage growth, by protection, aid, attendance, or supplying nourishment; as, to cherish tender plants. 4. to harbor; to indulge and encourage in the mind; as, to cherish ill will, or any evil passion'.

Please see the notes for Galatians C4-S1 about the word child. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines child as: 'This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. thus, Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Ge 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (Ge 44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1Ki 3:7). the descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, "the children of Edom," "the children of Moab," "the children of Israel." In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old; and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festival day (Ge 21:8; Ex 2:7,9; 1Sa 1:22-24; Mt 21:16). At the age of five, children began to learn the arts and duties of life under the care of their fathers (De 6:20-25; 11:19). to have a numerous family was regarded as a mark of divine favour (Ge 11:30; 30:1; 1Sa 2:5; 2Sa 6:23; Ps 127:3; 128:3). Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Mt 11:16; Lu 7:32; 1Co 13:11). "When I was a child, I spake as a child." "Brethren, be not children in understanding" (1Co 14:20). "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro" (Eph 4:14). Children are also spoken of as representing simplicity and humility (Mt 19:13-15; Mr 10:13-16; Lu 18:15-17). Believers are "children of light" (Lu 16:8; 1Th 5:5) and "children of obedience" (1Pe 1:14)'. The Note in Galatians has links to every place where that epistle uses forms of this word along with links from other commentators. We find forms of the word child in: 2:7; 2:11; 5:3 and 5:5. Please also see the note for Galatians C3S9 about the children of Abraham. Please also see the notes for Romans C8S14; God in Romans : Romans C4S12 and 1Peter 2:3-LJC about the children of God. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 3:7-8 about the children of Israel. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the phrase My little children.

The functional definition for the word affect is: 'Cause a change'.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S1; 2Corinthians 5:2-3; Galatians 4:19-20 and Philippians 1:23-24 about the word desire. The functional definition is: 'An emotion or excitement of the mind, directed to the attainment or possession of an object from which pleasure, sensual, intellectual or spiritual, is expected; a passion excited by the love of an object, or uneasiness at the want of it, and directed to its attainment or possession'. We find forms of the word in: 2:8; 2:17 and 3:6.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:15-17 about the word will. The functional definition is: 'That faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or forbear an action; the faculty which is exercised in deciding, among two or more objects, which we shall embrace or pursue'. Please also see the note for 1Peter 2:15 about the phrase will of God. That note has links to every place in the Bible where we find this phrase along with notes on each reference. In particular, that note explains that the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God are not three different levels of the will of God but, in fact, are three attributes of the single will of God. As that note explains, there is only one will of God for each circumstance in life but we receive variable rewards or punishment based upon how well we obey the will of God or how much we disobey the will of God.

We find forms of the word impart in: Job 39:17; Luke 3:11; Romans 1:11; 1Thessalonians 2:8. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to divide; from pars, a part. 1. to give, grant or communicate; to bestow on another a share or portion of something; as, to impart a portion of provisions to the poor. 2. to grant; to give; to confer; as, to impart honor or favor. 3. to communicate the knowledge of something; to make known; to show by words or tokens'.

Please see the note for Romans C13S1 about the word soul. The functional definition is: 'The long-term result of the short-term actions of our heart in deciding how we will think, how we will act emotionally to circumstances of life and how we will decide the issues of life'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 for links to every place in 2Corinthians where we find forms of the word cause along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . That definition gives this word legal implications. The functional definition is: 'Basically, the source of a result. It can also be an action in court, or any legal process whereby someone demands his supposed right'. In our current sentence we are told to worship God and recognize that He is the source of all power which allows us to do anything for His kingdom. Please also see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. Please also see the note for John 15:25 about the phrase without cause. In John 15:25, we read that the prophecy was fulfilled about Jesus that: They hated me without a cause. Please also see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 1Thessalonians 2:13 and 1Thessalonians 3:33.

We find forms of the word dear in: Jeremiah 31:20; Luke 7:2; Acts 20:24; Ephesians 5:1; Colossians 1:7; Colossians 1:13; 1Thessalonians 2:8. Wright's Bible Word-Book defines this word as: 'adj. (from A. S. deóre, G. theuer), like the Latin word carus, has two meanings, 'costly or precious,' and 'beloved or endeared.' In the former sense it is used in the Prayer-Book version of Ps 116:13; 72:14, where it is not meant that the death or blood of the saints is well-pleasing to God, but that He accounts it precious, and will not let it go for nought. So in Shakespeare (All's Well, ii. I. 182): thy life is dear, for all that life can rate Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate. Compare Ac 20:24.'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'we. Ge 33:13-14; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:14-16; Mt 11:29-30; Joh 21:15-17; 1Co 2:3; 9:22; 2Co 10:1; 13:4; Ga 5:22-23; 2Ti 2:24-25; Jas 3:17 as. 1Th 2:11; Nu 11:12; Isa 49:23; 66:13; Ac 13:18(margin)
affectionately. Jer 13:15-17; Ro 1:11-12; 9:1-3; 10:1; 15:29; 2Co 6:1,11-13; Ga 4:19; Php 1:8; 2:25-26; Col 1:28; 4:12; Heb 13:17 but. Ac 20:23-24; 2Co 12:15; Php 2:17; 1Jo 3:16 dear. Lu 7:2; Php 2:20 (margin) Php 4:1; Col 1:7; Phm 1:1'.

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C2-S5 (Verse 9) Remember the truth of the past.

Equivalent Section: Remember how we really worked.

For ye remember,
brethren,
our labour and travail:.

Equivalent Section: Remember that we supported ourselves.

for labouring night and day,
because we would not be chargeable unto any of you,
we preached unto you the gospel of God..

Paul reminds them how the missionaries supported themselves, working a job, in addition to preaching so that we would not be chargeable unto any of you.

God's mission plan is for existing churches to send our missionary teams, that include members in addition to the preachers. We see this by the people who were in Paul's team and the many non-preacher missionaries who are named in the New Testament. Part of the job of the non-preacher missionaries is to take care of the physical needs of the preachers so that they can concentrate on preaching the gospel. in this manner, as we see that Paul reports that his team did, the lost and newly saved are not required to pay for God's truth. This is one way of separating God's missionaries from religious parasites.

Only after people are saved and learn all that God has provided for them are they to be invited to participate in God's program of sending the gospel to others. Then, their participation is to be based upon their laying up treasure in Heaven and not because they 'owe' for their own salvation.

When Paul's team was presenting the gospel to the unsaved, they presented the gospel of God, as mentioned in our current sentence. Only after they were saved, and ready to learn spiritual maturing, was the gospel of Christ presented, as we see in C3-S1. It is only after people receive the gospel of Christ that they should be offered the opportunity to participate in missions. However, as our sentence says, these people were lost or spiritually immature. Therefore, they were not asked to support the missionaries and they were only given the gospel of God.

The functional definition, for the word remembrance, is: 'The retaining or having in mind an idea which had been present before, or an idea which had been previously received from an object when present, and which recurs to the mind afterwards without the presence of its object'.

Please see the note for 1:2-4 about the word labour. Please see the note for Luke 10:2 about the word labourer. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'One who labors in a toilsome occupation; a man who does work that requires little skill, as distinguished from an artisan.'. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C3S9 and 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word labour. The functional definition is: 'Exertion of muscular strength, or bodily exertion which occasions weariness; particularly, the exertion of the limbs in occupations by which subsistence is obtained, as in agriculture and manufactures'. The main application, within the Bible, is: 'work of God's ministry'. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the Message called Labor for Everlasting Life which is based upon this sentence and the next couple of sentences. Please also see the Message called Labourers for the Harvest.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the word travail. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where We find this word. The functional definition is: 'To labor with pain; to toil'.

Please see the note for John 11:10 about the word night. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1) the time of distress (Isa 21:12). (2) Death, the time when life's day is over (Joh 9:4). (3) Children of night, i.e. dark deeds, filthiness, which shuns daylight (1Th 5:5). (4) the present life, compared with the believer's bright life to come (Ro 13:12)'. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Used symbolically for: 1. Death, a time "when no man can work." Joh 9:4. 2. the moral darkness of the world, in which men sleep and are drunken. 1Th 5:7. 3. the period of Christ's rejection, which is far spent, and the 'day' at hand. Ro 13:12. there will be no night of moral or spiritual darkness in the heavenly Jerusalem. Re 21:25; 22:5'. Please also see the note for Matthew 25:6 about the word midnight.

Please see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Le 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1Sa 11:11; Ne 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Ge 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (La 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Jg 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mr 13:35). (See Watches.) the division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Da 3:6,15; 4:19; 5:5. this mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. the reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (Joh 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Ge 2:4; Isa 22:5; Heb 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isaiah 2:12; Acts 17:31; 2Timothy 1:18, the great day of final judgment.'. The functional definition, of the phrase last day is: '(end of the) Church Age. However, in the life of the individual, it can be used for the day that he dies'. Please see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. The functional definition is: 'obey immediately'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week. Please also see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the words birth / birthright / birthday.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 1:3-4 about the word charge. The functional definition is: 'A superior authority gives a formal and legal command to a subordinate which includes the necessary rights and responsibilities to accomplish the assigned task'. Please also see the Message called A Pastoral Charge about the seven charges, that are in 1Timothy. Please also see the note for Luke 21:34 about the word overcharge. Please also see the note for Mark 6:25 about the word charger. Forms of this word are used, in this book, in: 1Thessalonians 2:10; 1Thessalonians 2:11; 1Thessalonians 5:27.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S33; 1Corinthians C15S1; Galatians C1-S4 and 2Timothy 4:1-LJC about the word preach. The functional definition is: 'To pronounce a public discourse on a religious subject, or from a subject, or from a text of Scripture. the purpose of preaching is to get people to obey God's word'. Please also see the note for Romans C10S17 about the word preacher.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'our. 1Th 1:3; Ac 18:3; 20:34-35; 1Co 4:12; 9:6,15; 2Co 6:5; 2Th 3:7-9; 1Ti 4:10 night. 1Th 3:10; Ps 32:4; 88:1; Jer 9:1; Lu 2:37; 18:7; Ac 20:31; 1Ti 5:5; 2Ti 1:3 exp: 2Th 3:8. chargeable. 1Th 2:6; Ne 5:15,18; 1Co 9:7,18; 2Co 11:9; 12:13-14 the gospel. 1Th 2:2; Ac 20:24; Ro 1:1; 15:16,19; 1Ti 1:11 General references. exp: Ec 3:10'.

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C2-S6 (Verse 10-12) They had personal knowledge of how Paul's team acted.

Equivalent Section: God will call them to testify of the truth.

Ye are witnesses,
and God also,
how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:.

Equivalent Section: What they would have to testify as being the truth.

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you,
as a father doth his children,
That ye would walk worthy of God,
who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory..

Back in C2-S3 Paul said God is witness. With the Trinity we could say that God meets the requirement for two or three witnesses. However, while some might argue about that verse there can be no doubt about this verse. Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 13:1 and Colossians C3S13 about two or three witnesses.

We have seen Paul giving several considerations to his arguments, which fits with this epistle dealing mainly with the role of Lord. We find here legal considerations and what would be acceptable as proof in God's court of law, which fits within the doctrinal consideration of when the Bible uses the role of Lord. With this consideration we see our First Equivalent Section lists two witnesses. The first is these people personally (ye) and the second is God. Obviously, these people will not lie when their testimony is to be laid next to the testimony of God.

In addition, to the legal witnesses of our First Equivalent Section, we see our Second Equivalent Section tells us who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. In order to walk worthy of God...(in) his kingdom and glory, we must obey God's laws. So once more we see legal considerations presented in a less obvious manner.

The details of our First Equivalent Section tells us that Paul's missionary team behaved ourselves among you...holily and justly and unblameably. This is how we are to obey God's laws in order to show that we are part of His kingdom. We also see in this epistle, and elsewhere, that people who teach doctrinal error can not bring the same witness before the court of God. In addition, the notes for Mark 12:34-LJC; Romans C14S23; 1Corinthians C4S20; 1Corinthians C15S46; Galatians C5S20 and Revelation 12:10-LJC tell us about the kingdom of God, which is: 'God's character in us'. If we truly have 'God's character in us', then we will behaved ourselves...holily and justly and unblameably, just as Paul's missionary team did.

What we see here is that the First Equivalent Section tells us how Paul's missionary team demonstrated how we live when we have the kingdom of God and the Second Equivalent Section tells us how they taught this church to receive the kingdom of God in the manner that a father doth (teach) his children. They told these people that God hath called you unto his kingdom and glory, they exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you to obey that call and they demonstrated obeying that call with their own lives.

Please see the notes for Galatians 2:16-LJC; Romans C7S16 about the word just. Please see the note for RomansC3S19 about the word justify. Please see the note for 2Peter 2:9-LJC about the word unjust. Please see the note for Ephesians C1S2 about the phrase just shall live by faith. Please see the note for Romans C11S6 about the phrase the just shall live by his faith. Please see the note for Romans C3S29 about the phrase justification by faith. The note from Galatians 2:16-LJC has links to every place in the Bible where we find forms of this word along with an explanation of this word which many people believe a wrong definition of.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:14-16 about the word blameless. Please also see the note for Colossians C1S6 about the word unblamable. The functional definition is: 'Not blamable; not culpable; innocent'. We find forms of this word in: 2:10; 3:13 and 5:23.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S15; 1Corinthians C14S25 and Galatians C3-S8 about the word believe. The functional definition is: 'To credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of something upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances, than personal knowledge'. We find forms of the word believe in: 1:7; 2:10; 2:13 and 4:14. Please also see the note for Romans C10S15 about belief changes life. Please also see the notes for Romans 3:26-LJC and John 20:31-LJC about believe in Jesus / Christ. Please also see the note for Romans C4S21 about belief requires us to do.

2:3 provides references for the word exhort. The functional definition is: 'the act of inciting to laudable deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable. the form of words intended to incite and encourage'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:1 about the word comfort. The functional definition is: 'To strengthen; to invigorate; to cheer or enliven. Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men'. We find forms of the word comfort in: 2:11; 3:2; 3:7; 4:18; 5:11 and 5:14.

Please see the notes for Galatians C4-S1 and Galatians C5-S14 about the word child. Please see the notes for Romans C8S14; God in Romans : Romans C4S12 and 1Peter 2:3-LJC about the phrase children of God. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 3:7-8 about the phrase children of Israel. Please see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the phrase My little children. Please see the note for Galatians C3S9 about the phrase children of Abraham. The functional definition is: 'The Jews claimed to be children of Abraham but Jesus said that the true children of Abraham would have his faith'.

Please note that the functional definition of walk is: 'make small repeated steps'. Many people think they have to do some great thing in order to do anything for God. However, God is not looking for that but is really looking for us to be faithful in the 'little things'.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S1 and Ephesians C4S1 about the word walk. The functional definition is: 'make small repeated steps'. We find forms of the word walk in: 2:12; 4:1 and 4:12. Please also see the note for Romans C9S28 about live / walk by faith.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S31 about the word worth. The functional definition is: ' Deservedly; according to merit'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S3 about the word call. That note has links to notes in every New Testament book where there are links to every place where the particular book uses this word. The functional definition is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'. This word is used, in this book, in: 1Thessalonians 2:12; 1Thessalonians 4:7 and 1Thessalonians 5:24. Please also see the note for Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 3:1-LJC; Ephesians 5:8-LJC and 1John 4:14-LJC about the phrase call upon the Lord. The note for Romans 10:13 has links to every place in the Bible where we find the words call and Lord used together, along with a small note on each reference.

Please the notes for 1Corinthians C4S20; 1Corinthians C15S46 and Galatians C5S20; Doctrinal Study about the kingdom of God. Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C6S16 about the kingdom of God rejected by lifestyle sins. Within the Bible we find that a kingdom reflects the character of the king. The functional definition is: 'the character of our true king, as displayed in our life, reveals what spiritual kingdom we truly belong to' please also see the note for 1Peter 2:1 about the phrase the kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the verses in the New Testament. Summary on the name / role of king. Please also see the note for Revelation 10:11-LJC about the phrase kings of the earth. Please also see the note for John 18:33-LJC about the phrase King of the Jews. Please also see the note for Revelation 14:14-LJC about the phrase King of kings. Please also see the note for Matthew 27:37-LJC about the phrase King of the Jews. Please also see the notes for Ephesians 5:5; 2Timohy 4:1 and 2Peter 1:11 about the phrase kingdom of Christ. Please also see the note for note for Matthew 3:2 about the phrase kingdom of Heaven. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C6S16 about the phrase kingdom of God rejected by lifestyle sins. Please also see the note for Matthew 9:10 about the word sinners.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'witnesses. 1Th 1:5; 1Sa 12:3-5; Ac 20:18,26,33-34; 2Co 4:2; 5:11; 11:11,31 how. Nu 16:15; Job 29:11-17; 31:1-39; Ps 7:3-5; 18:20-24; Jer 18:20; Ac 24:16; 2Co 1:12; 6:3-10; 7:2; 2Th 3:7; 1Ti 4:12; 2Ti 3:10; Tit 2:7-8; 1Pe 5:3 General references. exp: Ac 24:16.
how. 1Th 4:1; 5:11; Ac 20:2; 2Th 3:12; 1Ti 6:2; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 2:6,9,15; Heb 13:22 charged. Nu 27:19; De 3:28; 31:14; Eph 4:17; 1Ti 5:7,21; 6:13,17; 2Ti 4:1 exp: De 1:16. as. Ge 50:16-17; 1Ch 22:11-13; 28:9,20; Ps 34:11; Pr 1:10,15; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1-12; 5:1-2; 6:1; 7:1,24; 31:1-9; 1Co 4:14-15 exp: 1Th 2:7. General references. exp: Col 3:21; 1Th 2:3.
walk. 1Th 4:1,12; Ga 5:16; Eph 4:1; 5:2,8; Php 1:27; Col 1:10; 2:6; 1Pe 1:15-16; 1Jo 1:6-7; 2:6 exp: Zec 10:12. who. 1Th 5:24; Ro 8:30; 9:23-24; 1Co 1:9; 2Th 1:11-12; 2:13-14; 2Ti 1:9; 1Pe 1:15; 2:9; 3:9; 5:10 General references. exp: Ge 5:22'.

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C2-S7 (Verse 13) The reaction of the missionary team.

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 not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth,
the word of God,
which effectually worketh also in you that believe..

The missionaries thanked God because they received (the gospel) not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

The word because is a combination of the word be ('a verb of existence') and cause ('why something is done'). Thus, while the word For gives us a future cause, because tells us one that exists already. Thus, within our sentence, we see that the people of this church already received the word of God (like our sentence says that they did) and that resulted in future prayers of thanks (to) God without ceasing, which happened after the missionary team received the report of their results.

The main doctrinal truth that we see in this sentence is that the word of God is not the word of men. Too many people claim that what their religious leaders teach and preach is the word of God even while they condemn other religions for believing the same thing. If you believe what I teach, even if it is God's truth, then you are believing what a man told you and you can be deceived. However, if you take what I teach as a guide, but go back and prayerfully verify it against the word of God with the Spirit of God, then you can truthfully say that you did the same thing as the people of this church did.

Please notice the phrase which effectually worketh also in you that believe. One of the simplest tests of what people are putting their belief into is if it effectually worketh also in you, or not. Those who truly personally received the word of God see it effectually worketh also in you. Those people that it does not work in may claim that they received the word of God, but the truth is that they received...it...as the word of men.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 for links to every place in 2Corinthians where we find forms of the word cause along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . That definition gives this word legal implications. The functional definition is: 'Basically, the source of a result. It can also be an action in court, or any legal process whereby someone demands his supposed right. this is a legal, scriptural and popular use of the word'. While the word because is used when we have 'a reason that already exists', that reason does not have to be sufficient to bring legal suit. However, the Bible uses forms of the word cause for things which will end up in God's court if they are not resolved while we are still in the flesh. In our current sentence we are told that Paul prayed for these people so that they would do the things which would get them a good judgment at the judgment seat of Christ. Please also see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. The functional definition is: 'a reason that already exists'. The Bible sometimes uses this word when the cause might be less than what is used in court. We find forms of the word cause in: 2:8; 2:9; 2:13; 3:5 and 4:6.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the word thank. The functional definition is: 'To express gratitude for a favor; to make acknowledgments to one for kindness bestowed'. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the word of God. The note in Romans has every place in the Bible where we find the phrase word of God. along with a note on each and links from other commentators. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 1:8 about the word of the Lord, which is different. The functional definition is: 'the Bible'. Please also see the note for Colossians 2:4 for extensive links and other information about the word word. The functional definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, the word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. The phrase every word is explained in Romans C13S12, stated in Deuteronomy 8:3; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 18:16; Luke 4:4.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S14 and Galatians C3-S7 about the word hear. The functional definition is: 'Listening to; attending to; obeying; observing what is commanded'. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S21 about He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Please note that, within the Bible, someone who refuses to obey did not really hear.

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S15 about the word effect. The functional definition is: 'That which is produced by an agent or cause'. That note has links to every place in the Bible where we find the words effect and affect and it explains the difference between these words.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'thank. 1Th 1:2-3; Ro 1:8-9 because. Jer 44:16; Mt 10:13-14,40; Ac 2:41; 10:33; 13:45,48; 16:14,30-34; 17:11,18-20,32; Ga 4:14; 2Pe 3:2 the word of God. Jer 23:28-29; Lu 5:1; 8:11,21; 11:28; Ac 8:14; 13:44,46; Ro 10:17; Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 1:16-21 effectually. 1Th 1:5-10; Joh 15:3; 17:17,19; Ro 6:17-18; 2Co 3:18; Col 1:6; Heb 4:12; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23; 2:2; 1Jo 3:3; 5:4-5 General references. exp: Jer 10:1'.

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C2-S8 (Verse 14-16) The difference between true believers and religious liars.

Equivalent Section: How they each personally reacted.

For ye,
brethren,
became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus :.

Equivalent Section: How they were treated like the missionary team.

for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen,
even as they have of the Jews:.

Equivalent Section: How religious liars treat true believers.

First Step: they kill instead of obeying.

Who both killed the Lord Jesus,
and their own prophets,
and have persecuted us;.

Second Step: they fight everyone.

and they please not God,
and are contrary to all men:.

Equivalent Section: What they demand.

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved,
to fill up their sins alway:.

Equivalent Section: their future judgment.

for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost..

The members of this church each personally received God's truth like the missionary team did, in spite of persecution of the missionary team and persecution of them.

This is probably one of the most important doctrinal sentences within this epistle, even though it does not deal with the 'Rapture', which is what everyone says that this epistle is about. The truth is that the doctrinal error which was causing problems was the 'Rapture', but the true source of problems was that these people did not know how to separate religious liars from people who preach and teach true Biblical doctrine.

The Jews will go through the great tribulation and not experience the 'Rapture' unless they are personally saved. There were Jewish religious teachers at this church claiming that the church would also go through the great tribulation. These Jewish teachers refused to recognize the difference between saved and religious-but-lost. They were causing trouble at this church by their doctrinal error and, as our sentence tells us, God does recognize this difference. The results that each group will receive are also quite different. Thus, the true source of problems was not the doctrine of the 'Rapture' but the refusal to recognize the difference between saved and religious-but-lost.

If they had known how to separate these two different groups of people, they would have recognized the doctrinal error, and rejected the message from religious liars. Thus, they would not have had this problem if they rejected the source of doctrinal error. Neither would they have had the problem which resulted in the epistle of 2Thessalonians. So while, yes, a particular doctrinal error is important, it is not as important as knowing how to separate error from truth. Knowing how to separate error from truth allows us to deal with all doctrinal error. Understanding about the 'Rapture' only deals with one doctrinal error. Understanding how to separate doctrinal error from truth deals with all doctrinal error.

Colons are used to separate Equivalent Sections of sentences and, in this case, we have separate Sections of this sentence which tell us how the results show what people really believe and act upon. Basically, they show the truth that we reap what we sow. Paul starts with how these saved people at thessalonica acted like true Christians and then tells us how the lost-but-religious Jews acted and ends with the Biblical fact that the Jews will receive punishment for their doctrinal error. Later in this epistle Paul will tell these believers that they will get a different result from God because they believed a different doctrine as shown by their different actions.

In the First Equivalent Section of this sentence, the saved people at thessalonica followed (acted like) the example of true Christians (the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus) and they did the following on a personal basis (ye). As a result, they received spiritual maturity on a personal basis that varied from person to person. Christ Jesus is used in this verse because not all saved people mature spiritually. Thus, not all believers in the churches of God...in Judaea were maturing spiritually. However, the people in this church at thessalonica were not following the example of people who refused to grow spiritually. They followed the example of Paul's missionary team, who were part of the people who did grow spiritually. That is why our sentence uses the qualifier of: which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus.

God wants all saved people to follow the true Christian example that God gives them. However, not all do and different people follow to different degrees. Because the people in this church at thessalonica did follow the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus, we see God giving them spiritual blessings like Timothy being sent to instruct them and Paul writing two epistles, under the direction of God, to help them. from this we can see that those who truly seek to grow in Christ will have that desire met by God.

In the Second Equivalent Section of this sentence we see that the saved people at thessalonica personally suffered for acting like true Christians. As a result, they saw the power of the Holy Ghost and were given much assurance (1:5). In addition, they also received two epistles which promised future blessings. If we want to see God act in power and we want much assurance from God, we need to act like those people that are our God given examples of true Christians.

In the third Equivalent Section of this sentence we see that the Jews are contrary to all men and try to kill / destroy all personal service to God, even if they had to kill the person in order to accomplish their goals. Paul gives three examples of their actions when he says Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us. This is a reference to Matthew 23:29-39 and Luke 13:34 where Jesus said that Jerusalem killest the prophets. It is also a reference to Matthew 27, Luke 23 and John 18 where they demanded that Barabbas be released and that Jesus be crucified. In addition, this behaviour by the Jews was prophesied by Jesus in Luke 6:22-26; Luke 11:42-52; Luke 13:28-35.

The Jews had already suffered the Babylonian Captivity and rule by Gentiles for killing their prophets from God and listening to false prophets. In addition, when they killed the Lord Jesus, they brought upon themselves and their children the judgment of going through the Great Tribulation. These Christians at thessalonica won't have to go through that. Who will and who will not go through the Great Tribulation is one of the main things that Paul is dealing with in this epistle. The Jews had reason to worry about that, and their prophets were correct in warning them of wrath to come, but they and their descendants earned the wrath by what they sowed where these Gentiles didn't.

As said earlier, we reap what we sow. By the way, the first time that Jesus was called Lord Jesus was after the resurrection when He took back all of His personal power as Lord after He died as a weak man (Jesus). Ever since, He is Lord Jesus. [The only time since then that He is called Jesus (without Lord or Christ included) is when the Bible is emphasizing His humanity.]

In the Fourth Equivalent Section of this sentence we see that the Jews interfere with God's messengers and God's Law. This ongoing activity is part of the reason that the Jews received judgment from God since the death of the Lord Jesus.

In the last Equivalent Section of this sentence we see that the Jews will receive the full wrath of God for fighting Him. Paul makes it clear that this judgment has been determined and that when it comes, there will be no mercy. This is a warning to not join these Jews in their error. The Jews are the people of God and the saved are the people of God. Romans 11 warns us to not act like these Jews were acting.

Please see the note for John 7:3 about the words Jewry / Judaea / Judea / Judah. The functional definition for this word is: 'The area of land generally associated with the Southern Kingdom and religious control by Jewish rulers but which varies in size from one reference to another'.

Please see the note for Galatians C2-S9 about the word Jew. The functional definition is: 'A name for God's chosen people who followed the Mosaic Law'. Please also see the note for Matthew 27:37-LJC about the phrase King of the Jews.

Please see the notes for Romans C6S4 and Romans C13S12 about the word kill.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S33; Romans C12S5 and Jude about the word prophet. Those notes have considerable information about true and false prophets. The worldly definition is: 'One that foretells future events; a predicter; a foreteller'. However, John the Baptist was a prophet and he told no future event. Therefore, the true Biblical definition is: the functional definition is: 'a person who tells us what God actually says, which is usually different from what religion says. In Old Testament times, a prophet of God was verified by his telling a true prediction of future events. In New Testament times, a prophet of God is verified by comparing his doctrine to what the word of God literally says'. Please note that 1Corinthians 14:3 tells us: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. This is what the word of God tells us is the true job of a true prophet of God. It is not 'foretelling the future'. Please note that 1Corinthians 14:3 tells us: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. This is what the word of God tells us is the true job of a true prophet of God. It is not 'foretelling the future'.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S37 and Galatians C1-S11 about the word persecute. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, to pursue in a manner to injure, vex or afflict; to harass with unjust punishment or penalties for supposed offenses; to inflict pain from hatred or malignity'. Please also see the note for Romans C8S37 about the word persecution.

Please see the note for 2Timothy 2:4 and Galatians 1:10-LJC about the word Please. The functional definition is: 'To excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to gratify'.

Please see the note for Galatians 5:17 about the word contrary. The functional definition for this word is: 'Opposite; adverse; moving against or in an opposite direction; as contrary winds.'. Please also see the note for Gallatians 2:6-9 about the word contrariwise. Please also see the note for Hebrews 12:3 about the word contradiction. The functional definition for this word is: 'Oppositely; on the other hand'.

Please also see the note for 1Timothy 4:1 about the word forbid. The functional definition is: 'Literally, to bid or command against'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S13 and Galatians C2-S4 about the word Gentile. The functional definition is: ' In the scriptures, a pagan; a worshipper of false gods; any person not a Jew or a Christian; a heathen'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 for links to every place in that epistle where we find the word salvation along with definitions from three different dictionaries and links from other commentators. Please see the note for Main Menu item for Salvation about the word save. Please see the notes for 2Thessalonians 2:13-LJC and Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase salvation through sanctification. The functional definition is: 'to exclude. When used spiritually, it means to exclude from the damned by having God's life in you. When used physically, it means to exclude from what is endangering physical life'.

Please see the note for Romans C7S26 about the word sin. The functional definition is: 'a violation of God's law' (1John 3:4). We find this exact phrase of sin unto death: in 1John 5:16; Romans 6:16. We see this doctrine dealt with in: Acts 5; Romans 5; 1Corinthians 8:11-LJC and Galatians C3-S26. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C6S16 about the phrase kingdom of God rejected by lifestyle sins. Please also see the note for Matthew 9:10 about the word sinners.

Please see the note for Matthew 5:26 about the word uttermost. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'utter and most. Extreme; being in the furthest, greatest or highest degree; as the uttermost extent or end; the uttermost distress.
UT'TERMOST, n. the greatest. the uttermost we can do is to be patient. to the uttermost, in the most extensive degree; fully. Heb. 8''.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'became. 1Th 1:6 the churches. Ac 9:31; Ga 1:22 exp: 1Co 11:16. are. 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1 ye also. 1Th 3:4; Ac 17:1-8,13; 2Co 8:1-2 even. Ac 8:1,3; 9:1,13; 11:19; 12:1-3; Heb 5:7-8; 10:33-34 exp: Ro 1:13; Ga 4:29; 1Th 3:4; 3Jo 1:2.
killed. Mt 5:12; 21:35-39; 23:31-35,37; 27:25; Lu 11:48-51; 13:33-34; Ac 2:23; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 7:52 persecuted us. or, chased us out. Am 7:12; Ac 22:18-21 Please. Ac 12:3; 1Co 10:5 contrary. Es 3:8; Lu 11:52-53 General references. exp: Pr 25:26; Jer 51:24; Eze 11:8; Mt 21:35; Lu 3:20; 19:27; Joh 16:9; Ac 14:2.
Forbidding. Ac 11:2-3,17-18; 13:50; 14:5,19; 17:5-6,13; 18:12-13; 19:9; 21:27-31; 22:21-22; Ga 5:11; Eph 3:8,13 that. Isa 45:22; Mr 16:16; Ac 4:12; Ro 10:13-15; 2Th 2:10; 1Ti 2:4 exp: La 4:13; Mt 23:31; Ga 1:16. Tofill. Ge 15:16; Zec 5:6-8; Mt 23:32 for. Joe 2:30-31; Mal 4:1,5; Mt 3:7-10,12; 12:45; 21:41-44; 22:6-7; 24:6,14,21-22; Lu 11:50-51; 19:42-44; 21:20-24; Heb 6:8; 10:27-30; Jas 5:1-6; Re 22:11 exp: Ac 13:41; Eph 3:1. General references. exp: Jer 51:24; Eze 11:8; Mt 21:35; 24:21; Lu 3:20; 19:27; Joh 16:9; Ac 14:2'.

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C2-S9 (Verse 17) The desire of Paul's missionary team.

But we,
brethren,
being taken from you for a short time in presence,
not in heart,
endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire..

Even though the missionary team had to leave, they have these people in their heart and have a great desire...to see your face. Because of their desire, they endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face, as Paul explains in the next sentence.

Our sentence starts with the word But, which means it continues the subject of the prior sentence while going in a different direction. There we read about religious liars who went to this church to bring doctrinal error and persecution of all who refused their doctrinal error. Now, in contrast, we read of this missionary team who taught them the truth but were forced to leave them even though the missionary team kept this church in their hearts. One group had to leave and another came. One group told the truth and the other taught doctrinal error. One loved and was willing to suffer for this church and the other brought persecution to any who refused their doctrine. One never accepted any financial or physical support while the other expected to become rich. This is the difference in the spirit displayed by the two groups and this difference is how we are to judge doctrine taught by people. We do not judge based upon if our sinful flesh likes and agrees with the doctrine but based upon the spirit displayed by the person teaching the doctrine.

Please see the note for Romans 3:23 about the word short. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Not long; not having great length or extension; as a short distance; a short ferry; a short flight; a short piece of timber. The bed is shorter than a man can stretch himself on it. Is. 28. 2. Not extended in time; not of long duration. The triumphing of the wicked is short. Job 20. 3. Not of usual or sufficient length, reach or extent. Weak though I am of limb, and short of sight. Pope. 4. Not of long duration; repeated at small intervals of time; as short breath. 5. Not of adequate extent or quantity; not reaching the point demanded, desired or expected; as a quantity short of our expectations. Not therefore am I short Of knowing what I ought. Milton. 6. Deficient; defective; imperfect. this account is short of the truth. 7. Not adequate; insufficient; scanty; as, provisions are short; a short allowance of water for the voyage. 8. Not sufficiently supplied; scantily furnished. The English were inferior in number, and grew short in their provisions.'. Please also see the note for Mark 13:20 about the word shorten.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:12 about the word presence. The functional definition is: 'The existence of a person or thing in a certain place; opposed to absence'.

Please see the note for 2:4 about the word heart. The functional definition is: 'Our heart controls the same things as our soul only where the soul deals with the long term the heart deals with the short term and we control our heart directly while the soul is the accumulated actions of our heart. Both are the way we think (mind), the way we emotionally respond to circumstances (emotions) and the method we use to make decisions (will)'.

We find forms of the words endeavour / endeavor in: Psalms 28:4; Acts 16:10; Ephesians 4:3; 1Thessalonians 2:17; 2Peter 1:15. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: ', n. endev'or. An effort; an essay; an attempt; an exertion of physical strength, or the intellectual powers, towards the attainment of an object. The bold and sufficient pursue their game with more passion, endeavor and application, and therefore often succeed. Imitation is the endeavor of a later poet to write like one who has written before him on the same subject. Labor is a continued endeavor, or a succession of endeavors.
ENDEAV'OR, v.i. endev'or. to exert physical strength or intellectual power, for the accomplishment of an object; to try; to essay; to attempt. In a race, each man endeavors to outstrip his antagonist. A poet may endeavor to rival Homer, but without success. It is followed by after before a noun; as, the christian endeavors after more strict conformity to the example of Christ. 1. v.t. to attempt to gain; to try to effect. It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:25-26 about the word abundant. The functional definition is: ' Plentiful; in great quantity; fully sufficient'.

Please see the note for 1:3 about the word see / sight. The functional definition is: 'The act of seeing; perception of objects by the eye; view'. Please also see the note for John 6:40-LJC about the phrase see the Son.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:6 about the word face. The functional definition is: 'The surface of the for part of an animals head, particularly of the human head; the visage'.

Please see the note for 2:8 about the word desire. The functional definition is: 'An emotion or excitement of the mind, directed to the attainment or possession of an object from which pleasure, sensual, intellectual or spiritual, is expected; a passion excited by the love of an object, or uneasiness at the want of it, and directed to its attainment or possession'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'in presence. 2Ki 5:26; Ac 17:10; 1Co 5:3; Col 2:5 endeavoured. 1Th 3:6,10-11; Ge 31:30; 45:28; 48:11; 2Sa 13:39; Ps 63:1; Lu 22:15; Ro 1:13; 15:23; Php 1:22-26'.

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C2-S10 (Verse 18) Satan was the one preventing their return.

First Step: they tried to return.

Wherefore we would have come unto you,
even I Paul,
once and again;.

Second Step: Why they couldn't return.

but Satan hindered us..

Our sentence starts with the word Wherefore, which gives us a reason wherever you look. Basically, Paul's missionary team looked everywhere they could to try and find a way around the blockage that Satan had created. When they couldn't find a way around for the entire team, they sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, as explained in 3:1-3. There are times that one person in the church has to stay and fight the ministers of Satan so that another member of the team is free to minister. That is one reason why God puts different people in the church with different abilities and ways of looking at things. We don't have to be in complete agreement on all things, and don't really want to be, but we have to work together to attain the same spiritual goal. Thank God for church members who are different because they can do things that you can't and there are going to be times that your church needs them just like there are times that the church needs you.

There used to be a famous comedian in the U.S. that used the line 'The Devil made me do it!' as an excuse for all of the sin that he did. Satan can not force the saved to do anything but he can stop us from doing the job that God gives us to do. When that happens, we need to be sure that we are really trying to do God's work God's way because if we are trying to do God's work the wrong way then God may prevent our accomplishing what we are trying to do. If it really is Satan causing the problem, then, as we see in this epistle, one part of a church team can fight Satan while another accomplishes the will of God. when this happens, the one doing the work of God needs to keep in mind that those who are fighting Satan are part of the effort and they need to avoid the pride of claiming accomplishments by themselves. As we see in this epistle, missions is a team effort.

Please see the note in the Romans intro about the word wherefore. The functional definition is: 'a future result that can be seen wherever you look and that is based upon what came before the wherefore'. We find forms of the word in: 2:18; 3:1; 4:18 and 5:11.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 2:10-11 about the word Satan. The functional definition is: 'The grand adversary of man; the devil or prince of darkness; the chief of the fallen angels'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'even. 1Co 16:21; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17; Phm 1:9 once. Job 33:14; Php 4:16 Satan. Zec 3:1-2; Ro 1:13; 15:22; 2Co 11:12-14; Re 2:10; 12:9-12'.

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C2-S11 (Verse 19) Why Satan was hindering the return of this missionary team.

For what is our hope,
or joy,
or crown of rejoicing?.

This question is rhetorical and here to set-up the answer in the next sentence.

Please see the note for 1:3 about the word hope. The functional definition is: 'Hope is an action word like faith but where faith is based upon a promise in the word of God, hope is based upon the character of God'.

Please see the note for James 1:12 about the word crown. The functional definition is: 'Crowns show that the person wearing them has authority and a special position'.

Please see the notes for Romans C12S8; Galatians C4-S24 and Philippians 4:4-LJC about the word rejoice. The functional definition is: 'To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'our hope. 2Co 1:14; Php 2:16; 4:1 crown. Pr 4:9; 12:4; 16:31; 17:6; Isa 62:3; 1Pe 5:4; Re 4:10-11 rejoicing. or, glorying. 1Th 2:20; Ro 15:16-19'.

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C2-S12 (Verse 19) Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Here we see the answer the rhetorical question in the prior sentence. Everything that we do is to be aimed at increasing God's glory in this life and our reward in eternity. When Paul says ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming, he is talking about the reward that each and every one of them personally (ye) will receive from our Lord Jesus Christ and that they will have at his coming. A parent is rewarded when the child they have trained is rewarded for achievement. Paul is saying that his missionary team will have the same type of reward when these people, who are their spiritual children, are rewarded for what they do for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Please see the notes on 1Thessalonians 3:12-13 and 5:2. These notes deal with the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints in one way or another.

This verse is part of Paul's summary of the subject of 1Thessalonians 2 where he is comparing the way that true Christians act to the way that false religion acts. In 2:2 and 2:14-16 (Please see the associated notes) Paul told how the religious lost people deliberately hindered preaching the gospel. Now, in 2:18, Paul says that Satan hindered him. We need to remember that when the lost hinder us, they are usually working for Satan and don't even know it. In addition, it is apparent that these people were expecting a visit from Paul and he hadn't showed up (2:18). After hindering Paul, Satan got some others to criticize Paul behind his back.

We need to remember that the creatures used by Satan are subtil (Genesis 3:1; 2Samuel 13:3; Proverbs 7:10). When we hear bad things about a man of God, we need to stop and ask if those things fit the character of that man. All through this chapter Paul is warning about false preachers and telling these people (and us) how to tell a true 'man of God ' from a false one. We need to learn and use these measurements which come from God. in this verse, we have one of the final tests given in this chapter. That is, what is the hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing of the man of God? Is it possessions and things of this world? Is it how many and how important his church / followers are? Or is it in how much spiritual change the Lord Jesus Christ has brought into the lives of those he ministered to?

A lot of people make assumptions and claims about people who will be returning the reign with the Lord Jesus Christ. I haven't seen a lot of Bible to back those claims, especially when we are talking about people who barely made it into Heaven, only have a robe of righteousness that still retains the smell of smoke and did nothing for Christ while in the flesh. Prophecy is probably the most perverted subject found in the Bible and probably has more lies and errors taught about it than anything else other than how to get Biblically saved.

When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to reign for 1,000-years, He will be returning to exercise each of His roles. As Lord, he will reign over all other governments and rulers. As Jesus he prevailed to loose the seals on the title deed of the Earth (Revelation 5:5) and He will rule as a physical man. As Christ, He is leading the church which will rule with Him, which will fulfill prophecy. Teaching about the Lord's return is one of the main reasons for this book. While others might claim that you are going to be there reigning with the Son of God, I would recommend that you carefully check God's requirements, especially those where God makes a difference between those that are in Christ and those that are not in Christ.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:12 about the word presence. The functional definition is: 'The existence of a person or thing in a certain place; opposed to absence'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'in. 1Th 3:13; 5:23; 1Co 4:5; 15:23; 2Co 1:14; Php 2:16; 4:1; 2Th 1:7-12; 2:1; 1Ti 6:14-15; 2Ti 4:1-2; Tit 2:13; 1Jo 2:28 our Lord. Jude 1:24 at. Re 1:7; 22:12 General references. exp: Isa 62:3; 1Co 3:14'.

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C2-S13 (Verse 20) For ye are our glory and joy.

Our sentence starts with the word For and tells us why the prior sentence is true. In actuality, all fro, C2-S10 through this sentence is the expression of a single thought and all need to be considered together, especially since it contains serious doctrinal considerations such as the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please consider all of these sentences and associated notes together.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. Pr 17:6; 1Co 11:7'.

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Chapter 3 Ordered by Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

C3-S1 (Verse 1-3), C3-S2 (Verse 4), C3-S3 (Verse 5), C3-S4 (Verse 6-8), C3-S5 (Verse 9-10), C3-S6 (Verse 11), C3-S7 (Verse 12-13).

Please see the Summary Chapter Outline using this link. It gives the overview of this chapter.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1-9	Saint Paul testifies his great love to the thessalonians, partly by sending Timothy unto them to strengthen and comfort them; partly by rejoicing in their well-doing;
10-13	and partly by praying for them, and desiring a safe coming unto them.

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C3-S1 (Verse 1-3) What Paul did in response to Satan.

Equivalent Section: Paul dealt with the situation.

First Step: A decision was made.

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear,
we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;.

Second Step: the decision was acted upon.

And sent 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:.

Equivalent Section: the expected results of this decision.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions:.

Equivalent Section: Why people should react this way.

for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto..

Paul sent Timothy to help them when Satan kept Paul himself from going to them. Paul wanted to be sure that they understood what was happening from the true spiritual point of view.

Our sentence starts with the word Wherefore and tells us the consequence of what he reported in the prior chapter. In particular, Paul figured out that Satan was using religious liars to run his missionary team out of one city after another, and to keep him from returning to this new church in thessalonica in order to get them established in spiritual maturity. Therefore, as our First Equivalent Section explains, the missionary team thought it good (that Paul) be left at Athens alone. There, he was a distraction for the religious liars. In the meanwhile, he sent 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.

Please notice that our sentence specifically names the gospel of Christ, even though the rest of this epistle speaks about the gospel of God. The gospel of Christ will establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith in a way that the gospel of God can not do. This is because the gospel of Christ, provides spiritual maturity that is not always the result of other gospel. This difference in results is a direct result of the difference in what is emphasized, even though each gospel provides the same basic 'good news'.

This is where we seed the importance of a pastor being led by God in the application of the gospel. A good pastor must do like Paul did and find out from God exactly what is needed by the people that he is to minister to. Paul's team used the gospel of God to lead heathen, who knew nothing about the Bible, to salvation. However, once the people were saved, Paul had Timothy switch to the gospel of Christ to bring spiritual maturity. In addition, Paul had to be spiritually sensitive enough to figure out what Satan was doing and how to provide a distraction in order to counter the efforts of Satan. All of these actions are dealing with the circumstances which change from place-to-place and from time-to-time. None of them changed the basic truth of the gospel presented but all affected how that gospel had to be presented in order to be effective. Bottom line, a preacher can present God's truth and still not be effective if he is not sensitive to conditions and what is happening spiritually. Therefore, a preacher needs more spiritual discernment than just how to preach the gospel.

Our sentence has three Equivalent Sections and even though it is speaking about physical afflictions, the sentence makes it clear that the true source of the problems were spiritual in nature. Therefore, the solution needed to be spiritual in nature and not physical.

In the First Equivalent Section we see that Paul was dealing with the fact that Satan hindered us (C2-S10) by the First Equivalent Section starting with Wherefore. Since Satan was using men to keep Paul's team from providing spiritual maturity to the members of this church, he used himself as bait to distract the men of Satan while Timothy accomplished the spiritual victory. Therefore, Paul concentrated on doing whatever was required in order to win spiritually, even when it required him risking his own physical life by being left at Athens alone.

In the Second Equivalent Section we see Paul is warning us that the physical considerations (these afflictions) should not be considered (no man should be moved) when they can have a negative impact on the spiritual results. Once more we see that we are to concentrate on spiritual results without concern for physical costs. That is called living by faith (Romans C9S28; Ephesians C1S2; Romans C11S6).

In the third Equivalent Section we see Paul is repeating spiritual lessons that were already delivered. These lessons would have included instructions which were repeated in the Second Equivalent Section. With each of these Equivalent Sections we see that we are to concentrate in spiritual results without regard for physical consequences.

Please see the notes for Romans C2S4 and Romans C3S20 about the word forbearance. The functional definition is: 'The act of avoiding, shunning or omitting; either the cessation or intermission of an act commenced, or a withholding from beginning an act'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word thought. The functional definition is: 'Properly, that which the mind thinks'.

In the Bible, good is used for 'what comes from God'. The devil, the world and our own flesh fight against anything that 'comes from God'. We find forms of the word good in: 3:1; 3:6; 5:15 and 5:21. Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; Romans C11S26 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word good. Please see the note for Romans C11S26 about the word goodness. Please see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about Good Friday.

Please see the note for Matthew 4:4 about the word alone. The functional definition for this word is: 'Separately; by itself'.

Please see the notes for Romans C13S6; 1Corinthians C3S5 and 2Corinthians 3:3 about the word minister. The functional definition is: 'a chief servant; hence, an agent appointed to transact or manage business under the authority of another; in which sense, it is a word of very extensive application'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 8:23 about the word fellowhelper. Please also see the notes for Ephesians C5S7; Philippians 1:3-7 amd Philippians 2:1 about the word fellowship. The functional definition is: 'another preacher'.

Please see the note for Matthew 18:16 about the word establish. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to set and fix firmly or unalterably; to settle permanently. I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant. Gen.17. 2. to found permanently; to erect and fix or settle; as, to establish a colony or an empire. 3. to enact or decree by authority and for permanence; to ordain; to appoint; as, to establish laws, regulations, institutions, rules, ordinances, etc. 4. to settle or fix; to confirm; as, to establish a person, society or corporation, in possessions or privileges. 5. to make firm; to confirm; to ratify what has been previously set or made. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid; yea, we establish the law. Rom.3. 6. to settle or fix what is wavering, doubtful or weak; to confirm. So were the churches established in the faith. Acts.16. Tothe end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness. l thess.3. 7. to confirm; to fulfill; to make good. Establish thy word to thy servant. Ps.119. 8. to set up in the place of another and confirm. Who go about to establish their own righteousness. Rom.10.'. Please also see the note for Romans 16:25-27 which gives links to every place in the New Testament that uses any form of the word stablish and provides the definition from Webster's 1828 . Please also see the notes for 1Thessalonians 3:13; 2Thessalonians 2:17; 3:3 and James 5:8-LJC about this word. The functional definition is: 'To fix; to settle in a state for permanence; to make firm. In lieu of this, establish is now always used'.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:1 about the word comfort. The functional definition is: 'To strengthen; to invigorate; to cheer or enliven. Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men'.

Please see the note for Romans 1:1 about the word concern. The functional definition is: ' Pertaining to; regarding; having relation to'. We also find this word, in this book, in: 4:13 and 5:18.

Please see the note for Luke 3:13 about the word appoint. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to fix; to settle; to establish; to make fast. When he appointed the foundations of the earth. Prov. 8. 2. to constitute, ordain, or fix by decree, order or decision. Let Pharaoh appoint officers over the land. Gen. 41. He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world. Act. 17. 3. to allot, assign or designate. Aaron and his sons shall appoint every one to his service. Num 4. These cities were appointed for all the children of Israel. Josh. 20. 4. to purpose or resolve; to fix the intention. Forso he had appointed. Acts 20. 5. to ordain, command or order. Thy servants are ready to do whatever my Lord the King shall appoint. 2Sam. 15. 6. to settle; to fix, name or determine by agreement; as, they appointed a time and place for the meeting'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'when. 1Th 3:5; 2:17; Jer 20:9; 44:22; 2Co 2:13; 11:29-30 we thought. Ac 17:15 Ac 17:15 Athens.
Timotheus. Ac 16:1; 17:14-15; 18:5 exp: Ro 16:21. our brother. Ro 16:21; 1Co 4:17; 16:10-12; 2Co 1:19; 2:13; 8:23; Eph 6:21; Php 2:19-25; Col 1:7; 4:9,12 to establish. 1Th 3:13; Ac 14:22-23; 16:5; Eph 6:22; Php 1:25 General references. exp: Eph 6:22.
moved. Ps 112:6; Ac 2:25; 20:24; 21:13; Ro 5:3; 1Co 15:58; Eph 3:13; Php 1:28; Col 1:23; 2Th 1:4; 2Ti 1:8; 1Pe 4:12-14; Re 2:10,13 we are. 1Th 5:9; Mt 10:16-18; 24:9-10; Lu 21:12; Joh 15:19-21; 16:2,33; Ac 9:16; 14:22; 20:23; 21:11,13; Ro 8:35-37; 1Co 4:9; 2Ti 3:11-12; 1Pe 2:21; 4:12 General references. exp: Ec 2:20; Lu 21:13'.

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C3-S2 (Verse 4) Paul warned them that tribulation would come.

First Step: Reminder of past warning.

For verily,
when we were with you,
we told you before that we should suffer tribulation;.

Second Step: Reality proves the warning.

even as it came to pass,
and ye know..

Paul wants no misunderstanding or doubting what he says in this sentence because he starts it with the words For verily. The For says 'Here's why' the prior sentence was true. That is, 'Here's why' no man should be moved by these afflictions and 'Here's why' yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. Paul follows the For with verily because he was very clear in his warnings and he wants no arguing or quibbling about this fact.

After Paul makes it clear that there is to be no arguing or quibbling, he restates the warning that he gave in the past when he says we told you before that we should suffer tribulation. It should be obvious that Paul told them this truth when he was first there and starting this church. Back in 1:6-7 we read having received the word in much affliction. Yes, they had much affliction, but the same chapter told us that they also had joy of the Holy Ghost and their pastor team (Paul and others) gave them our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. As Paul says in that chapter, ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

In addition, to our first chapter, in the second chapter we read For yourselves, brethren, know...that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi (C2-S1). Then, in C2-S5 we also read: For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail. Then, in the prior sentence, we read that Paul: sent 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: that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. Therefore, all throughout this epistle we've seen that these people have known tribulation from the very beginning and saw an example of how to deal with such through the example of the missionary team who established their church. Now they have false teachers trying to offer a 'health and welfare gospel'. When we consider this context, and also consider the next sentence, it should be obvious that part of the temptation from the tempter was this 'health and welfare gospel'. However, as we see in the rest of this epistle, this false 'gospel' also comes with other lies, which were causing people to doubt the truth and to doubt the promises of God and, ultimately, to doubt God Himself. Thus, we see the way that Satan gets God's people to follow false doctrines and lies.

Thus, we see that in the First Step of our sentence, and after reminding them about what their missionary team went through, Paul reminds them that he warned them that they would suffer the same things. Then, as the Second Step of our sentence, Paul says: even as it came to pass, and ye know. Paul includes this Second Step because there are religious liars from Satan at that church trying to destroy Paul's credibility so that they can introduce doctrinal error. Thus, Paul points out the evidence of their own experience to make them face the truth and see that these other false preachers are liars who represent the doctrine of devils Paul supports his own credibility in order to stop Satan's and their plan of introducing doctrinal error.

Please see the note for Matthew 16:28 about the word verily and for the phrase verily, verily. When Jesus, or another Bible author, say or write the word verily, they are saying that they have verified the truth of what they are saying and they are also telling the listener / reader to also verify the truth of what they say or write. When we see the word verily used twice in a row the sentence is fulfilling the legal requirement which is necessary to present something which everyone must believe. Thus, every place, where we see the phrase verily, verily, is a precept and is something which God will use as His law when He judges us.

Please see the note for Matthew 18:31 about the words tell / told. The functional definition for this word is: 'to communicate to others'.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S2 and Romans C8S37 about the word tribulation. The functional definition is: 'to thrash, to beat. Severe affliction; distresses of life; vexations. In Scripture, it often denotes the troubles and distresses which proceed from persecution'.

The word even means: 'having equal weight'. Think of a balancing scale. When the two sides are even, they 'have equal weight'. Thus, our Second Step is telling us that the reality (even as it came to pass, and ye know) has 'equal weight' to his word as a prophet of God (when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation).

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'we told. Joh 16:1-3; Ac 20:24 even. 1Th 2:2,14; Ac 17:1,5-9,13; 2Co 8:1-2; 2Th 1:4-6 General references. exp: Ec 2:20; Lu 21:13'.

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C3-S3 (Verse 5) Paul sent Timothy to test what they actually acted upon.

For this cause,
when I could no longer forbear,
I sent to know your faith,
lest by some means the tempter have tempted you,
and our labour be in vain..

The phrase know your faith means to test what they actually acted upon and continue to do testing until there was no doubt. A lot of times we get fooled because we believe the claims from people without actually verifying them.

This sentence has a phrase that would be easy to skip and dealing with it will cause a lot of people to be upset because it goes against a very popular, but wrong, doctrine. That is the claim that: 'I was instantly born again'. That claim has NO Biblical basis and, in fact, goes against what the Bible actually teaches.

The Bible uses things in this physical world to teach us about spiritual things. True Biblical salvation is: 'God's life in you' and all throughout the Bible we see God using all forms of life to teach us about spiritual life. The Bible uses plant life (Matthew 13) human life (John 3) and more. ALL life has a gestation period. No where do we see a full stalk of corn push our hand aside as a seed that we put into the ground springs instantly to full life. Any mother can tell you that there were major differences between what her body was doing during conception and birth. Likewise, the Bible does not teach instant spiritual birth but when someone receives the spiritual seed of God's life (the word of God) and yet believes in vain, there is no evidence of true spiritual birth and no true spiritual birth.

When a mother has a baby there is evidence that even an unbeliever can not deny. However, there is no evidence of conception and until there is a true birth, she can not prove that she has produced life. Likewise, there are many who claim to have received God's life (has a spiritual conception), but until there is evidence of a true spiritual birth, we can not say that they have truly been born again. As Paul feared here, the labor may have been in vain because the tempter have tempted people to make a false profession. However, as seen within this epistle, Paul and his missionary team knew that they were truly born again because of the God-caused changes in their life which even the lost could not deny. Please notice that our sentence says I sent to know your faith. By that Paul means that he sent Timothy to gather evidence of true Godly faith which produces evidence of a God caused change which no one can deny.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 for links to every place in 2Corinthians where we find forms of the word cause along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . That definition gives this word legal implications. The functional definition is: 'Basically, the source of a result. It can also be an action in court, or any legal process whereby someone demands his supposed right. this is a legal, scriptural and popular use of the word'. While the word because is used when we have 'a reason that already exists', that reason does not have to be sufficient to bring legal suit. However, the Bible uses forms of the word cause for things which will end up in God's court if they are not resolved while we are still in the flesh. In our current sentence we are told that Paul prayed for these people so that they would do the things which would get them a good judgment at the judgment seat of Christ. Please also see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. The functional definition is: 'a reason that already exists'. The Bible sometimes uses this word when the cause might be less than what is used in court.

Please see the note for Luke 5:18 about the word means (plural). The functional definition for this word is: 'Means, in the plural, income, revenue, resources, substance or estate, considered as the instrument of effecting any purpose. He would have built a house, but he wanted means'.

We find forms of the word tempter only in: Matthew 4:3 and our current sentence. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'One that solicits or entices to evil. Those who are bent to do wickedly, will never want tempters to urge them on. 1. the great adversary of man; the devil. Matt.4'. However, we need to beware of this definition because even while it does tell us that he is Satan, the wording allows for applying this name to others and the Bible only applies it to Satan. Thompson Chain Topics provides links for this word as: '(SATAN): Facts Concerning: Ge 3:14; Job 1:6; 2Co 11:14; Re 9:11; 20:2,7. Defeat of, by Christ: Ge 3:15; Lu 4:13; Joh 12:30-31; 14:30; 2Th 2:8; Heb 2:14; 1Jo 3:8; Re 20:10. See Christ; Victor. Power of: Permitted to Afflict the Righteous: Job 1:12. Claims Authority over the World: Lu 4:6. Sinners Under the Dominion of: Ac 26:18. Blinds the Minds of Unbelievers: 2Co 4:3-4. Contends with the Saints: Eph 6:12. Inspires Lying Wonders: 2Th 2:9; Heb 2:14. The Malignant Work of: Ge 3:1. Tempting to Disobedience: Ge 3:4-5; 1Ch 21:1. Slandering Saints: Job 1:9-10,11. Inflicting Disease: Job 2:7. Opposing the Righteous: Zec 3:1. Tempting Christ: Mt 4:1,3. Removing the Good Seed: Mt 13:19. Sowing the Tares: Mt 13:38-39. Ruining the Soul and Body: Lu 9:42; 13:16. Lying: Joh 8:44. Instigating men to Sin: Joh 13:2; Ac 5:3; 2Co 12:7; Eph 2:2; 1Th 2:18. Preying upon Men: 1Pe 5:8; Re 2:10. See Temptation. Humbled: Ge 3:14; Zec 3:2; Lu 10:18; Re 12:9; 20:3. The Arch Deceiver attempts to Ruin Men: By lying promises: Ge 3:5. Wresting the Scriptures: Mt 4:6. Cunning plans: 2Co 2:11. Appearing as an angel of light: 2Co 11:14. Duty of Resisting: Eph 4:26-27; 6:11; Jas 4:7; 1Pe 5:8. Called the Prince of this World: Joh 12:31; 14:30; 16:11'.

Please see the note for Luke 4:12 about the phrase 'do not tempt God. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C10S6 about the word tempt. The functional definition is: 'Trial; a being put to the test'. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S11 about the word temptation.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'when. 1Th 3:1 exp: Mr 4:17. I sent. 1Th 3:2,6; Ac 15:36; 2Co 7:5-7 lest. Mt 4:3; 1Co 7:5; 2Co 2:11; 11:2-3,13-15; Ga 1:6-9; Eph 4:14; Jas 1:13-14 exp: Ga 4:11. and our. 1Th 2:1; Isa 49:4; Ga 2:2; 4:11; Php 2:16 General references. exp: Da 6:19'.

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C3-S4 (Verse 6-8) The true results found at this church.

Equivalent Section: the report from Timothy was the opposite of what Paul feared.

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:.

Equivalent Section: Paul's fears were comforted.

Therefore,
brethren,
we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:.

Equivalent Section: Paul is sure of eternal reward.

For now we live,
if ye stand fast in the Lord..

Our sentence starts with the word But, which means that it has the same subject as the prior sentence while going in a different direction. In the prior sentence Paul confessed worrying if they were truly saved (our labour be in vain). Now Paul lists the evidence of their salvation which Timothy reported. What we see here is a denial of the doctrine which claims salvation for praying 'Jesus save me' and then allows someone to devote their life to the lusts of the flesh while expecting God to reward them with 'a mansion next door to Peter'. What we also see here is an affirmation that true Biblical salvation brings a God-caused change into the life of the believer which is evident even to lost people.

Our sentence has three Equivalent Sections with the First Equivalent Section providing details of Timothy's report, the Second Equivalent Section telling how a true testimony brings comfort to the true workers of God's kingdom and the third Equivalent Section bringing assurance of eternal reward to those people who led us to salvation.

In our First Equivalent Section, we see the report of their changed life. Before their salvation they would have listened to the religious people who chased Paul's missionary team from town to town, persecuting them for revealing God's truth of the gospel. Now we read good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us. These are evidences of a changed life. Many people curse believers and claim 'the church would fall down if I went in there'. However, they act and talk totally different after they truly get saved. That is the testimony and report that Timothy returned with.

In our Second Equivalent Section, we see that their testimony brought comfort even though the members of the missionary team were in affliction and distress. It is important to give a testimony when God tells us to because we never know how it will bring comfort to another. It is natural to think 'My testimony is so small and unimportant, especially when compared to others'. However, parents celebrate when a child takes their first step and accomplish other 'small things'. Therefore, share your testimony every time that God urges you to do so.

In our third Equivalent Section, we see Paul say For now we live, which means 'Now we are sure that we have additional spiritual life'. This claim is conditional on: if ye stand fast in the Lord. God rewards missionaries for the spiritual results that they produce. If these believers stand fast in the Lord, then the missionaries have evidence of their eternal rewards, which is the increased spiritual life mentioned in the first phrase of this Equivalent Section. However, If these believers do not stand fast in the Lord, then the missionaries had laboured in vain, as the prior sentence says was Paul's fear. In addition, please notice the ye in this last phrase. Missionaries may labour and not get major results but God counts each and every person who personally receives salvation when giving the missionary rewards.

Some people may have some trouble with my explanation of the first phrase in the third Equivalent Section, so let me offer more explanation. It should be obvious from this epistle, and from the New Testament in general, that Paul and his team did not receive rewards in this life for their work for the Lord. In fact, as we read, they had persecutions, afflictions, and more negative results. Therefore, either it is foolish to serve the Lord or our rewards for service must be in eternity. related to that are the doctrinal lies, which comes from communism, which claims that 'we will all have a mansion in Heaven' and 'No tears in Heaven'. What the Bible actually teaches is rewards that are proportional to our service here in this life. Now, some things are not explained clearly enough for us to completely understand now, and those things have to be accepted by faith. Part of those things is the concept that wealth in Heaven won't be measured in the abundance of possessions but will be measured in the abundance of God's life that a person has and the things that they will be able to do because of how much of God's life that they have or don't have. Thus, when Paul says now we live, he is talking about having an eternal increase in God's life, which translates into greater eternal rewards due to their service to the Lord by being effective in their missionary work.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16 and Romans C11S26 about the word good. Please also see the note for Romans C11S26 about the word goodness. Please also see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about Good Friday. The functional definition, that us used within the Bible, is: 'that which comes from God'.

Please see the note for Luke 1:19 about the word tidings. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. plu. News; advice; information; intelligence; account of what has taken place, and was not before known. I shall make my master glad with these tidings. Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2.'.

Please also consider everything in this chapter together as God saw fit to devote this entire chapter to the subject of charity. Please see the note for 8:1 for links to every sentence in the word of God which use any form of the word charityThe functional definition of charity is: 'Showing God's love to others regardless of who they are. Charity differs from love in that love is shown to people we know'. Please also see the note for Romans 14:15 about the word charitably.

Please see the note in the Romans intro about the word therefore. The functional definition is: 'a future result that can be seen only at the place which was specified before the therefore'. in this sentence, Paul's missionary team received comfort...in all our affliction and distress by your faith only after receiving the report from Timothy, which was specified within our sentence before the therefore.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:1 about the word comfort. The functional definition is: 'To strengthen; to invigorate; to cheer or enliven. Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men'.

Please see the note for Romans C8S37 about the word distress. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 4:8-10 about the word distressed. The functional definition is: 'See Stress. The act of distraining; the taking of any personal chattel from a wrong-doer, to answer a demand, or procure satisfaction for a wrong committed'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 about the word life. That note has the definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators. Please also see the notes for Life in 1John about the word life. Please see the notes for Hebrews 1:8-LJC and Philippians 1:27-LJC about the phrase life everlasting. We find the phrase eternal life in: 6:12 and 6:19. Please see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life.

Please see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast. Please also see the notes for Romans C14S5 and 1Corinthians C15S1 about the word stand. Please see the note for Philippians 1:27-28 about the word fast. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C15S54 about the word stedfast. The functional definition of the word fast is: 'something that is held in place with a fastener and no circumstances will move the thing which is fastened down'. 5:21 says, Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. this is a two-step process and there is a significant doctrinal message based upon that verse, with the link found in the note for that verse. Please also see it for more details on this doctrinal concept.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'when. Ac 18:1,5 exp: 3Jo 1:3. and brought. Pr 25:25; Isa 52:7; 2Co 7:5-7 faith. 1Co 13:13; Ga 5:6; Col 1:4; 2Th 1:3; 1Ti 1:5; Phm 1:5; 1Jo 3:23 and that. 1Th 1:3; 2:9; 1Co 11:2; Col 4:18; 2Ti 1:3; Heb 13:3,7 desiring. 1Th 3:9-10; 2:17; Php 1:8 General references. exp: 1Co 16:14.
we were. 1Th 3:8-9; 2Co 1:4; 7:6-7,13; 2Jo 1:4 in all. Ac 17:4-10; 1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 11:23-28; 2Ti 3:10-12
we live. 1Sa 25:6 (Heb) Ps 30:5; Php 1:21 if. Joh 8:31; 15:4,7; Ac 11:23; 1Co 15:58; 16:13; Ga 5:1; Eph 3:17; 4:15-16; 6:13-14; Php 1:27; 4:1; Col 1:23; Heb 3:14; 4:14; 10:23; 1Pe 5:10; 2Pe 3:17; Re 3:3,11 exp: Pr 23:15'.

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C3-S5 (Verse 9-10) Long-term reaction to their testimony.

First Step: Paul realized that his best thanks to God would be inadequate.

For what thanks can we render to God again for you,
for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;.

Second Step: Paul wanted them to get even better.

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face,
and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?.

Paul and his team gave thanks...to God again for you and were praying for the chance to help them even more.

Our sentence starts with the word For and gives us the reason. why the prior sentence was true. In particular, this sentence relates to the last Equivalent Section of that sentence where we saw Paul talking about the eternal reward that the mission team would have. Now, in our First Step Paul is talking about their spiritual reaction to this news when he talks about the thanks...we render to God again for you and about all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God. The phrase before God should indicate that this is a spiritual reaction. However, when we remember that our sentence is tied to the prior by starting with the word For, and then we consider that the prior sentence said in all our affliction and distress, and add to that the fact that this sentence tells us that they had joy along with their affliction and distress, there can be no doubt that this is a spiritual reaction. Further, the spiritual reaction of joy can only be tied to the physical condition of affliction and distress when the person experiencing both concentrates on the eternal reward that is proportional to the amount of physical affliction and distress.

After this mission team thanked God and reacted spiritually with joy, in the First Step, they did what they could do to increase their spiritual reward and joy. That is what our Second Step tells us.

In our Second Step we see this mission team praying for the specific ability to perfect that which is lacking in your faith. In order to do this they will need to see your face, even though that means returning to the place that they were run out of and returning to the place of affliction and distress. Now think about this. How many of God's people would really react this way under these conditions? Can anyone doubt the spiritual maturity of this mission team to react this way? Can anyone doubt their true conviction of receiving eternal rewards in exchange for their time of affliction and distress?

One of the reasons that we see these things in this chapter is that this is the doctrinal and testimonial foundation for Paul assuring these people that death does not strip us of our reward. If there was no 'Rapture' and no future reward then this mission team would not exist and even if they did they certainly would not willingly suffer with no certain future reward.

Please see the note for Romans C13S10 about the word render. That note has links to every usage in the New Testament along with a note explaining each usage. The functional definition is: 'Give all that is owed'.

Please see the note for 1:5 about the word sake. The functional definition is: 'to press or oppress. the primary sense is to strain, urge, press or drive forward, and this is from the same root as seek, essay and L. sequor, whence we have pursue and prosecute'.

Please see the note for 1:2 about the word pray. The functional definition is: 'In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits'.

Please see the note for Ephesians C2S2 about the word exceed. The functional definition is: 'Going beyond; surpassing; excelling; outdoing'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:6 about the word face. The functional definition is: 'The surface of the for part of an animals head, particularly of the human head; the visage'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C2S5 and 2Timothy C3S10 about the word perfect. The functional definition is: 'Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind'. Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the word perfect love.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 8:13-15 about the word lack. The functional definition is: 'To want; to be destitute of; not to have or possess'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'what. 1Th 1:2-3; 2Sa 7:18-20; Ne 9:5; Ps 71:14-15; 2Co 2:14; 9:15 for. 1Th 3:7-8; 2:19 before. De 12:2,18; 16:11; 2Sa 6:21; Ps 68:3; 96:12-13; 98:8-9 General references. exp: Ex 18:10.
Night. Lu 2:37; Ac 26:7; 2Ti 1:3; Re 4:8; 7:15 exp: 1Th 2:9. praying. 1Th 3:11; 2:17-18; Ro 1:10; 15:30-32; Phm 1:22 exp: Col 1:3. might perfect. Ro 1:11-12; 2Co 1:15,24; 13:9,11; Php 1:25; Col 1:28; 4:12; 2Th 1:11'.

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C3-S6 (Verse 11) Paul's prayer after experiencing what came before.

Now God himself and our Father,
and our Lord Jesus Christ,
direct our way unto you..

Our sentence starts with the word Now, which means 'after what came before'. After they had been run out of thessalonica and tried to return but were hindered and after Paul stayed in Athens to distract the religious liars used by Satan while Timothy returned to check on them and give them a little help, and after hearing how the believers there were continuing in spite of persecution, and after the missionary team thanked God and realized their blessings and sought to return and help this church, Paul asked God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ to make it possible. As powerful as Satan is, God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ are more powerful. This is a prayer of someone willing to become a martyr, if necessary, in order to be a spiritual help to other of God's people.

Please also see the note for this verse within the Lord Jesus Christ Study.

We find forms of the word direct in: Genesis 46:28; Numbers 21:18; Job 32:14; Job 37:3; Psalms 5:3; Psalms 119:5; Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 11:5; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 21:29; Ecclesiastes 10:10; Isaiah 40:13; Isaiah 45:13; Isaiah 61:8; Jeremiah 10:23; 1Thessalonians 3:11; 2Thessalonians 3:5. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to make straight. See Right. 1. Straight; right; as, to pass in a direct line from one body or place to another. It is opposed to crooked, winding, oblique. It is also opposed to refracted; as a direct ray of light. 2. In astronomy, appearing to move forward in the zodiac, in the direction of the sign; opposed to retrograde; as, the motion of a planet is direct. 3. In the line of father and sons; opposed to collateral; as a descendant in the direct line. 4. Leading or tending to an end, as by a straight line or course; not circuitous. thus we speak of direct means to effect an object; a direct course; a direct way. 5. Open; not ambiguous or doubtful. 6. Plain; express; not ambiguous; as, he said this in direct words; he made a direct acknowledgment. 7. In music, a direct interval is that which forms any kind of harmony on the fundamental sound which produces it; as the fifth, major third and octave. Direct tax, is a tax assess on real estate, as houses and lands.
DIRECT, v.t. L. 1. to point or aim in a straight line, towards a place or object; as, to direct an arrow or a piece of ordnance; to direct the eye; to direct a course or flight. 2. to point; to show the right road or course; as, he directed me to the left hand road. 3. to regulate; to guide or lead; to govern; to cause to proceed in a particular manner; as, to direct the affairs of a nation. Wisdom is profitable to direct. Ecclesiastes 10. 4. to prescribe a course; to mark out a way. Job 37. 5. to order; to instruct; to point out a course of proceeding, with authority; to command. But direct is a softer term than command.
DIRECT, n. In music, a character placed at the end of a stave to direct the performer to the first note of the next stave'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'God. 1Th 3:13; Isa 63:16; Jer 31:9; Mal 1:6; Mt 6:4,6,8-9,14,18,26,32; Lu 12:30,32; Joh 20:17; 2Co 6:18; Col 1:2; 1Jo 3:1 and our Lord. Ro 1:3; 2Th 2:16 direct. or, guide. our way. Ezr 8:21-23; Pr 3:5-6; Mr 1:3'.

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C3-S7 (Verse 12-13) Paul's prayer for the Lord to work in their lives.

Equivalent Section: Obedience to the Lord produces results.

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another,
and oward all men,
even as we do toward you:.

Equivalent Section: the Lord keeps us stable.

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,
even our Father,
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints..

This sentence starts with the word And, which adds it to the prior sentence. That sentence started with the word Now, which means 'after what came before'. The note above provides a summary of what was discussed about what came before these two sentences but we can say that these two sentences provide a conclusion of all that has been said in this epistle until this point. Paul has been providing the spiritual and doctrinal basis for his correcting doctrinal error which was taught to these believers by religious liars sent by Satan. When Paul realized that it was Satan himself fighting against this missionary team (2:18) he realized the spiritual significance of this fight. When we find ourselves having unexplained obstacles as we try to do work for the Lord, we need to become aware of the spiritual aspects of our struggle and deal with the struggle from a spiritual perspective instead of from a physical perspective. That is what Paul did. Thus, Paul did not just call the teachers religious liars and show the doctrinal error of what they taught. Paul started by laying the spiritual foundation so that these people would have to spiritual basis for a future fight along these lines. Paul started the prior sentence with the word Now, because he had laid his spiritual basis. He starts this sentence with the word And because it adds to the conclusion started in the prior sentence.

Please notice that our prior sentence had God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ in it. Now the First Equivalent Section of this sentence has Lord in it and the Second Equivalent Section of this sentence has God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in it. Thus, we see Paul 'pulling out all of the stops' and calling on all of the power of God to back what he says here. In the next chapter Paul is going to instruct them how to act based upon the promise of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Also, in the next chapter, Paul will reassure them that the dead in Christ shall rise first and be part of the saints at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. However, before he gets into correcting that doctrinal error, he lets us know that all of the Power of God, in all of His most powerful roles, backs what Paul says here and in the next chapter.

The notes (Lord and Lord Jesus Christ) for this sentence within the Lord Jesus Christ Study provide links to other verses within this epistle which also deal with the subject of this sentence. Please see those notes for more details about how the roles of the Son of God are involved in the prophecy of this epistle. In particular, the first note explains how 'Obedience to the Lord and His laws ' gives us certain blessings. In particular, we see, in our First Equivalent Section that obedience to the Lord and His laws will teach us how to increase our love for all men. In our Second Equivalent Section that Obedience to the Lord and His laws will stablish us and make us unblameable in all of the ministries of the Son of God when we face Him in judgment.

One of the things that is easy to overlook is that the saved people in the church at thessalonica were suffering persecution and 'the authorities of the establishment' were doing nothing to protect them. Now we see Paul instruct these persecuted saints to increase and abound in love one toward another, and oward all men. That means that Paul was praying for the Lord (to)make you...increase and abound in love one towards their persecutors and owards 'the authorities of the establishment' who were refusing to do their job and protect these persecuted saints. Now if you really think about yourself and your family being in their position, you might be able to understand how difficult it might be to say thanks for Paul's prayer.

As difficult as it would be to accept Paul's prayer if we were in those circumstances, we can learn how to do it if we pay attention to the message here. These commands are given with a promise of eternal reward that far exceeds our suffering if we obey the commands. That eternal reward is why our First Equivalent Section uses Lord. These rewards for obedience are given to all saved and are equally available to all saved without respect for persons.

Our Second Equivalent Section starts with the phrase To the end. Thus, it is telling us God's goal. It ends with at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints, which tells us when God will reward those saved people who reach God's goal. We are also told that the goal is: he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness. This phrase of unblameable in holiness is one that the best preachers usually skip over and that the people teaching doctrinal error deny.

Please notice that the he, of Second Equivalent Section, is referring to the Lord of First Equivalent Section. This is also something that is often skipped over or denied. It is God that works in and through us but only after we do the work of faith which gives Him permission to do so. It is the Lord Who wants to (may) stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God.

In Colossians 1:18-29 is the only other place that we find unblameable used in the Bible and there Paul makes our being found unblameable conditional upon If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard. Please see those verses and associated notes. In addition, 2Corinthians 6 warns us to Give no offence in anything (don't break any law). Further, we have the example of Peter, in Galatians 2, who was publicly humiliated for being blameable. There are many more verses that I could reference in relation to this verse and sentence, but the main one that I would point the reader to is 2Timothy 2:15. There we are warned that if we are not studying His Word by rightly dividing then he is going to make us ashamed before all his saints. Most preachers, teachers and other Christians that I've met are not studying His Word by rightly dividing because they are following Baptist traditions instead of what God said to do in His Word. Please see the paper called Dividing and, if you disagree, show me where the word of God says to do differently than what that paper point out that we are to do.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S10 about the word increase. That note has links to every place in the new Testament where We find this word along with the full definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'To become greater in bulk or quantity; to grow; to augment; as plants'.

Please use the link in the sentence outline, above, to access the definition of the word abound and to find links to every place in the Bible where any forms of this word are used along with a note for each word and the full definition from Webster's 1828 . The functional definition is: 'To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 11:15 about the word end. The definition from Easton's Bible Dictionary is: 'n Heb 13:7, is the rendering of the unusual Greek word ekbasin, meaning "outcome", i.e., death. It occurs only elsewhere in 1Co 10:13, where it is rendered "escape"'.

2:4 provides references for the word heart. The functional definition is: 'Our heart controls the same things as our soul only where the soul deals with the long term the heart deals with the short term and we control our heart directly while the soul is the accumulated actions of our heart. Both are the way we think (mind), the way we emotionally respond to circumstances (emotions) and the method we use to make decisions (will).'

Please see the note for 2:10 about the word unblamable. The functional definition is: 'Not blamable; not culpable; innocent'.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S1; 2Corinthians C1S1 and Colossians C1S1 about the word saints. The functional definition is: 'a spiritually mature saved person who is actively involved in the ministry of the church'. Please also see the Message called Spiritual Maturity Levels according to the Bible in order to understand the difference between a saint and other saved people.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the Lord. 1Th 4:10; Ps 115:4; Lu 17:5; 2Co 9:10; Jas 1:17; 2Pe 3:18 abound. 1Th 4:9-10; Php 1:9; 2Th 1:3 love. 1Th 5:15; Mt 7:12; 22:39; Ro 13:8; 1Co 13; Ga 5:6,13-14,22; 2Pe 1:7; 1Jo 3:11-19; 4:7-16 exp: Eph 1:4; Heb 10:24. even. 1Th 2:8 General references. exp: Joh 15:12; 1Co 16:14.
he may. 1Th 5:23; Ro 14:4; 16:25; 1Co 1:8; Php 1:10; 2Th 2:16-17; 1Pe 5:10; 1Jo 3:20-21 unblameable. Eph 5:27; Col 1:22; 1Jo 3:20-21; Jude 1:24 before. 1Th 3:11 at the. 1Th 2:19; 4:15; 5:23; 1Co 1:7; 15:23; 2Th 2:1 with. De 33:2; Zec 14:5; 2Th 1:10; Jude 1:14'.

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Interpretive Study of 1Thessalonians 1-3

Epistle theme: the elements of a true church

God's Way to Study His Word:

Overview of 1Thessalonians

Epistle theme: the elements of a true church

Chapter Outlines by sentence format.

Chapter 1

Chapter theme: the Power of God to change lives.

Chapter 2

Chapter theme: the description of the pastor of God.

Chapter 3

Chapter theme: the people of God.

Chapter 4

Chapter theme: the presence of God.

Chapter 5

Chapter theme: the perfecting of God.

1Thessalonians Chapter 1

links to sentences in this chapter:

Overview of Chapter 1: the power of God.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Chapter 2 Ordered by Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

Overview of Chapter 2: the pastor of God.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Chapter 3 Ordered by Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

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