1Thessalonians

First Thessalonians encourages young believers in their faith while addressing questions about Christ's return and the fate of deceased believers. Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians' work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their faith in God has gone forth everywhere so that Paul needs not say anything. They turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers believers from the coming wrath.

Paul reminds them how he came to them—not in vain, but though he had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, he had boldness in God to declare the gospel amid much conflict. His appeal doesn't come from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but as one approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, he speaks not to please man but God who tests hearts. Paul never came with words of flattery or a pretext for greed. Though he could have made demands as an apostle of Christ, he was gentle among them like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

So, being affectionately desirous of them, Paul was ready to share not only the gospel of God but his own self, because they had become very dear to him. They remember his labor and toil—working night and day that he might not be a burden to any of them while he proclaimed God's gospel. The Thessalonians are witnesses, and God also, how holy, righteous, and blameless was Paul's conduct toward them. Like a father with his children, he exhorted, encouraged, and charged each one to walk in a manner worthy of God who calls them into His own kingdom and glory.

Paul constantly thanks God that when they received the word of God which they heard from him, they accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in believers. They became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, suffering the same things from their own countrymen as those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, drove out Paul, displease God, and oppose all mankind by hindering the gospel from being spoken to Gentiles that they might be saved, thus always filling up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last. Since Paul was torn away from them for a short time, in person not in heart, he endeavored the more eagerly with great desire to see their face.

Paul wanted to come—once and again—but Satan hindered. What is Paul's hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not the Thessalonians? They are his glory and joy.

When Paul could bear it no longer, he sent Timothy to establish and exhort them in their faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions, for they themselves know believers are destined for this. Now that Timothy has returned with good news of their faith and love, reporting that they always remember Paul kindly and long to see him, Paul has been comforted about them through their faith. Now he lives if they are standing fast in the Lord. What thanksgiving can he return to God for all the joy he feels for their sake before God?

Night and day he prays earnestly to see them face to face and supply what is lacking in their faith. May God direct Paul's way to them, and may the Lord make them increase and abound in love for one another and for all. May He establish their hearts blameless in holiness before God at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all His saints. Paul urges them to excel more and more in how to walk and please God.

God's will is their sanctification—that they abstain from sexual immorality, that each one know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who don't know God, that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things. God hasn't called believers for impurity but in holiness. Concerning brotherly love, they themselves have been taught by God to love one another, and they do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But Paul urges them to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, mind their own affairs, work with their hands as he instructed, so they may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Paul doesn't want them to be uninformed about those who are asleep, that they may not grieve as others who have no hope. Since believers believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. By the word of the Lord, Paul declares that believers who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

The dead in Christ will rise first. Then believers who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so they will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Concerning times and seasons, they have no need to have anything written to them, for they themselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying there is peace and security, sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But believers are not in darkness for that day to surprise them like a thief. They are all children of light, children of the day. They are not of the night or of the darkness.

So then let them not sleep as others do, but let them keep awake and be sober. Those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since believers belong to the day, let them be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. God has not destined them for wrath but to obtain salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ who died for them so that whether they are awake or asleep they might live with Him.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up. Paul asks them to respect those who labor among them and are over them in the Lord and admonish them, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. Admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for them. Don't quench the Spirit. Don't despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

Abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace Himself sanctify them completely, and may their whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls them is faithful; He will surely do it.