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Brief Studies in I Thessalonians (Chapter 2)
Introduction:
We learned that Thessalonica was a major city. The city was a great
source for others to find the truth. Paul in this chapter is going to take
time to remind them of the time spent there to tell them the truth, and
how the Apostles worked with them to aid them.
I. They received
the word of God, not as the word of men, but truth (verse 13)
The word is right and done in truth
KJV Psalms 33:4
4. For the word of the Lord is right; and all
his works are done in truth.
The word is truth
KJV John 17:17
17. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word
is truth.
Paul spoke words of truth and soberness
KJV Acts 26:25
25. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus;
but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
The word of truth of the Gospel is what is obeyed by Christians
KJV Colossians 1:5
5. For the hope which is laid up for you
in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
We ought to obey God rather than man regardless of the results of
our actions
KJV Acts 5:25-33
25. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold,
the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching
the people.
26. Then went the captain with the officers,
and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they
should have been stoned.
27. And when they had brought them, they set
them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28. Saying, Did not we straitly command you that
ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem
with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29. Then Peter and the other apostles answered
and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom
ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31. Him hath God exalted with his right hand
to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness
of sins.
32. And we are his witnesses of these things;
and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33. When they heard that, they were cut to the
heart, and took counsel to slay them.
(Gamaliel did not let them die, he was a Pharisee and said if this
is the work of men it will be shown)
II. The Text
I Thessalonians 2:1-20
1. For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance
in unto you, that it was not in vain:
2. 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.
3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor
of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in
trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God,
which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering
words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
(Paul would preach to them regardless of past consiqunces the Apostles
faced for doing so in other areas, they were not afraid nor ashamed
Romans 1:16
16. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.)
(We need to put on the armor of God so that we can speak boldly as
we ought to.
Ephesians 6:10-19
10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may
be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done
all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15. And your feet shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace;
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication
in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints;
19. And for me, that utterance may be given unto
me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel)
6. Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor
yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse
cherisheth her children:
8. 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.
9. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and
travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable
unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily
and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11. As ye know how we exhorted and comforted
and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
12. That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto his kingdom and glory.
(Obviously the Church at Thessalonica had been nurtured (Paul’s
urges were much like to Timothy – his son in the faith.
1 Timothy 4:13
13. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine.)
What is Exhort – as we read in verse 11 and in I Timothy 4:13?
Vine's Greek Dictionary
"to admonish, exhort, to urge" one to pursue some course of conduct
(always prospective, looking to the future, in contrast to the meaning
to comfort, which is retrospective, having to do with trial experienced.
13. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing,
because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received
it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which
effectually worketh also in you that believe.
(This Church were doers of the word - as we need to be
(James 1:22-26)
22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.
23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not
a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way,
and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of
liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26. If any man among you seem to be religious,
and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion
is vain.)
14. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches
of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like
things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15. 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:
16. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that
they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come
upon them to the uttermost.
17. 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.
18. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even
I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
(Satan had tried to keep them from being lifted up. In the meantime
they had faced persecutions as did the Apostles
2 Corinthians 1:6
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation
and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings
which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation
and salvation.
19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at
his coming?
These brethren will be corrected in this epistle with an erring view
they have on the Second Coming
III. The closing verse – Our
conclusion (Verse 20.)
"For
ye are our glory and joy."
Would you, [us] make Christ – the Apostles happy with what we are
doing?
Which congregation are we?
Good
KJV Revelation 3:7-13
7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia
write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath
the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and
no man openeth;
8. I know thy works: behold, I have set before
thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue
of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will
make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have
loved thee.
10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,
I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon
all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which
thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar
in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write
upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which
is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will
write upon him my new name.
13. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches.
Doomed?
KJV Revelation 3:1-5
1. And unto the angel of the church in Sardis
write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the
seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest,
and art dead.
2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before
God.
3. Remember therefore how thou hast received
and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch,
I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will
come upon thee.
4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which
have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:
for they are worthy.
5. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed
in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life,
but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Copyright 2001 by Brian
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