Bible Study 1 Thessalonians C1 V2-5

Описание: After greeting the Thessalonians, Paul thanks God for them, acknowledging their genuine faith, sacrificial love, and patient hope as they wait for Christ’s Return, proving their election by God.
1Thessalonians 1-3 is personal, like a father speaking to his children, whereas chapters 4-5 are doctrinal. One major theme is the Rapture, our blessed hope, the main content of the doctrinal section, and is part of every chapter in 1&2 Thess. Chapter 1 gives a 3-fold description of the Church: (1) It is a community beloved and chosen by God from eternity (v4), rooted in God and drawing its life from Him (v1), and exhibiting this life of God through their genuine faith in God, their labour of love, and their patience of hope (v3,5-10). The Church is a Divine Institution centred on God, brought forth by the Gospel, which it receives & transmits (v5-10). 1Thess 1:1a: “Paul, Silvanus and Timothy” - the missionary team who evangelised them, also 2Thess 1:1. Paul is the author, but includes Silas & Timothy, as a courtesy, as they were well-known to them, and to indicate their full agreement with Paul, who generally uses ‘we’, and only occasionally ‘I’, although he’s clearly the author (2Thess 3:17). 1Thess 1:1b: “to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (also 2Thess 1:1). In this early letter, the Father & the Son of God (v10) are coupled together as equal, both together being the source of the Church’s life. The ‘Lord Jesus Christ’ is His full Name: (1) LORD speaks of His Deity (kurios translates Adonai & Jehovah), JESUS his humanity, and CHRIST His Office, as anointed Prophet, Priest & King. He describes their earthly & spiritual location, emphasising their vital organic union to the Father & Son (Col 3:3), making possible the sharing of a common life, so that they can draw on His grace and help, as we are the branches in the Vine (John 15) & members of His Body (1Cor 12). We could translate it as ‘belonging to and living in God.’ In later letters Paul would put it the other way round: “the Church of God in Corinth.” Both are true. God’s Church lived in Thessalonica & the Thessalonians’ Church was living in God. We live in God and in the world. Paul used this expression to remind them that in the midst of their trials their security & life was in God. Next he sends his Greeting, 1:1c: “GRACE (charis) to you (God’s free-gift, unmerited favour, imparted through His Spirit, on the basis of Christ’s Blood) and PEACE (eirene, from shalom, fullness of blessing, health & harmony through reconciliation with God, not just the absence of conflict) from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (in the Holy Spirit).” GRACE produces & sustains this PEACE).
After the naming the author, recipients, and sending a greeting, letters normally continued with a thanksgiving, wish or prayer. v2-3: “We give THANKS to God always for you all, making mention of you in our PRAYERS, REMEMBERING without ceasing your WORK of FAITH, LABOUR (springing out) ofLOVE, and PATIENCE of HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight (presence) of our God and Father.” Remembering people’s needs & qualities before God prompts us to thank God for them and pray for them. He thanks God for them and their genuine conversion. He especially remembered the 3 most eminent inner graces & heart motivations that characterised their lives and demonstrated their true conversion, faith, love & hope (1Cor 13:13, Gal 5:5-6, 1Thess 5:8, Eph 4:2-5, Col 1:4-5, Rom 5:1-5, 1Pet 1:3-8, Heb 6:10-12, 10:22-24). Each has direction (1) faith is toward God, (2) love toward others, and (3) hope towards the future (the Coming of Christ). Also, (1) faith rests in the past, (2) love works in the present, and (3) hope looks to the future. Christians are believers, lovers & hopers. They are evidences of regeneration, and together they completely reorientate our lives. Each is productive, producing real results – faith works, love labours (kopos implies great exertion) and hope endures. Bible hope, which looks expectantly for Christ’s Return in the Rapture, produces patient fortitude in the face of opposition & suffering. Calivin described this triple as ‘a brief definition of true Christianity.’ This verse introduces the theme of Chapter 1, which focuses on their conversion & salvation, providing a classic description of true conversion (v5-10). v4: “knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.” Although only God knows those who are His elect (2Tim 2:19), Paul is sure of their election, as seen by their saving faith, genuine love & expectant hope made manifest in their lives (v3), which he elaborates further in v5-10. We’re chosen by God on the basis of His love for us: ‘brethren, loved by God’ (Deut 7:6-8, Rom 9:15). He chose to create the universe in which we exist & are saved. How did he know they were elect? First, from their evident FAITH in Christ – their WORK of FAITH (v3)....

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