1 & 2 Thessalonians: A Study of 2 Letters, Part 2

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1 Thessalonians 4: 1-12 - Living for God

As we move on into chapter 4 Paul moves on to some brief guidance on how to live well. I think this can be summarised as “live with love and work hard”. But let’s work through the verses together, unpacking them as we go.

In 4: 1 Paul is reminding the believers in Thessalonica of the instruction he gave when he was with them. Paul is also encouraging and commending them for living that way, and this includes a call to persevere and grow.

“...Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”

1 Thessalonians 4: 1b

Paul is calling them away from the temptation to think that how they live doesn’t matter, or from the temptation to “take it easy” and become ambivalent about what Jesus has done. Personally, this is a challenge I need to hear, that call into following God more wholeheartedly is one we all need to hear and respond to. This call, then, is not just away from temptation, it is a call into something better. The call, the challenge, is to continue in the Christian life more and more. In the Greek we have περισσευητε μαλλον (perisseuete mallon) which means to exceed more, or abound more. This conveys a sense of excess and abundance in this life. Paul is urging them into the best life, he is not simply issuing restrictions or prohibitions. No, he is calling them to the abundant life of Christ.

WHat I love about Paul is that he is clear that he makes these challenges because he has authority from Christ to do so (1 Thessalonians 4: 2). Not only that, he gets practical, addressing real issues head on, something we may find hard to do. He is able to do this because he knows it is part of his mission, and because it is done from a place of love and wanting what is best for those in his care.

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…”

1 Thessalonians 4: 3a

When Paul says “sanctified” we have to ask what he means. 

As always with such questions I like to look at the Greek word. In this case we have ἁγιασμὸς (hagiasmos), it can be translated as holiness, consecration, or sanctification. Considering these words we can see that they refer to being made holy, of being set apart for God. This is a process, the will of God is that we can be called sanctified. When we look at the grammar of ἁγιασμὸς we see that it is a noun, and it is singular. What that tells us it that it is God’s will that each of us are named sanctified, each of can be identified, in Jesus, as holy. This is the identity that God is leading us to.

“They must have regard to the fact that God is interested in all they do, and God’s will is that they should be pure. ‘Your sanctification’ (NASB) points to the process of which holiness is the completed state.”

(Morris, L. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 1 and 2 Thessalonians, IVP, 2009, p80)

Clearly this is something Paul is concerned about, he has prayed for this on behalf of the Thessalonians in 3: 13. That verse also tells us that this is a work that God does.

In practical terms Paul has some specific concerns in mind, that of sexual purity. Here Paul calls for holiness, “that each of you should control his own body in a way that is holy (ἁγιασμω/hagiasmo) and honorable…” (1 Thessalonians 4:4) (the use of “his” is a translation point, this instruction applies to both men and women). What Paul is doing here is speaking against the pervading culture, and calling followers of Christ to a better way. God has, after all, called all believers to live a holy life (1 Thessalonians 4: 7). The lesson for us can be the same, live a life of purity, free from sexual immorality for this causes much pain. I also think there is a broader application we can make here.

“not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God”

1 Thessalonians 4: 6

The phrase “passionate lust” is where we get our broader application. These words capture the sense of a person being passive in response to a feeling that takes over them, παθει (pathei) is a word of passivity, and lust is the active side, seeking out the wrong doing. Combining these ideas together gives us a broader application for Paul’s teaching on sanctification. Yes, this is a work God does, but we are actively involved. We are to control our minds and bodies, not be swept along by overpowering thoughts. We are to seek out holiness, not simply seek whatever we want.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

It is easy to see how this applies to all areas of life, not just sexual purity.

There is one more area Paul addresses in regard to living for God – love and work. We have already seen how important love for one another is and Paul is calling for it again, urging them on even though he knows they express such love already. This emphasis shows us how important this is, and Paul gives another practical outworking of this. Live a quiet life and work with your hands.

Each one of us has been given skills, abilities, and talents by God. We are to use them in a way that wins the respect of others. This can be difficult to read and understand, particularly in times of economic uncertainty. Yet if we stop and consider the context and audience of this letter I think we can find a general principle for us today.

Paul, having told the Thessalonians about work before, is repeating that instruction. Many commentators suggest that this is needed because there were some in the church who were simply living off the work of others without trying to work. There is a heart attitude that Paul is trying to address – don’t simply rely on everyone else in a way that leads to inactivity and laziness. Such behaviour is not loving, and does not win the respect of those around you.

It is interesting that Paul calls them to “work with your hands”, work that in that culture would have been considered beneath them. We must remember that the whole ancient Greek/Roman culture saw manual labour as for the lesser man. God gives us a carpenter King, fishermen apostles, and a tent making missionary (David Guzik in the Blue Letter Bible App). The challenge is to have an attitude that wants to work, this brings the respect of others, particularly those outside the church, and it shows real love for those in the church who may be providing support in some way.

Putting all that together we should support one another, but we should also desire to be productive and seek work where possible. In real terms if you are working, work hard and use wesley what God has given you. If you are looking for work then do so diligently, and if you cannot work in the traditional sense then consider what God has given you, and use that to bless and encourage others.

Practical Application 

• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life where you need more of the sanctifying work of God, then ask for that.

• Share with someone you trust, and who loves you, what that area is and ask for accountability.

• Give your work life over to God and ask Him to use you well in that situation.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13 - 5: 11 - Future Hope

Here we get to what seems to be the subject Paul feels a need to address with this new church - future hope.

There is a lot going on in these verses and I am not going to try to unpack it all here. Rather, I think it is sufficient for our purpose to summarise this passage, 4: 13-18, as Paul articulating that as followers of Christ we have a hope that goes beyond this world and life; a hope that runs into eternity. This is a hope that provides real comfort in some of life’s darkest moments.

How does this apply to our daily life? Beyond the very powerful application of finding real comfort in times of distress I think this has implications for the way we live day to day. Paul is telling us that one day those who follow Jesus will meet Him and be with Him forever, verse 17.

We are, then, to “encourage each other” (verse 18). The word we have as “encourage” is “παρακαλεῖτε” (parakaleite) meaning we are to entreat, admonish, and comfort each other. This speaks of us giving,or sharing, these words, this hope, with each other. The focus is on giving not receiving here. When we look back at the start of this passage we can see the source of this hope, the words that bring encouragement, comfort, and challenge.

“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

1 Thessalonians 4: 14

This belief gives us a future hope that should impact how we live today.

Paul moves on now to articulate more clearly the impact this future hope should have on the everyday life of the believer. As we read 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 we see themes that appear in some of Paul’s other letters - living as children of the light (Ephesians 4), drunkenness Ephesians 5), self-control (Galatians 5), and the armour of God (Ephesians 6). These are important themes for us to pick up on.

In order to make his point about how we are to live Paul first sets up a comparison between those who follow Jesus and those who don’t. Then he provides some instruction for how to persevere, before he reiterates what Christ has done, calling us to encourage one another.

Let’s look at the comparison Paul makes in 1 Thessalonians 5: 4-7. Here he compares darkness and light, night and day, sleep with alertness, and drunkenness with sobriety. The last two are perhaps the most interesting and challenging to us.

The word Paul uses for sleep in this passage is different to the word he uses in chapter 4. In chapter 4 Paul is using sleep to mean death, here is using it to convey a sense of unawareness or ignorance. After all, when we sleep we are unaware of the world around us. We are being challenged to be alert, to be watchful and ready at all times. As we wait for the return of Jesus we are to do so actively. It is important that we are not idle or passive. The Proverbs warn against such passivity with numerous exhortations to activity. Paul is restating these words, calling us to have our mind on the spiritual things as we actively follow Jesus.

Next we should look at the comparison of drunkenness and sobriety. Taken literally this is good advice. If we also consider it metaphorically we can get a broader, more meaningful application. Drunkenness may refer to a passion built on the wrong things, perhaps seeking to become wealthy as fast as possible, maybe pursuing your own acclaim, or living generally for your own entertainment or gain. Such living leads to a lack of awareness of more important, spiritual matters. If this is what Paul had in mind then sobriety, in this context, must be more than a lack of drunkenness. I think it speaks of awareness, alertness, and living with a passion and energy for the right thing. It speaks of living well for Jesus, living in such a way that puts Jesus first in all we say and do.

Paul is not naive though, he knows that such living comes with challenges. This is why he mentions the armour of God here.

“But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 8

The breastplate protects the heart, and the helmet protects the mind. It is our hearts and minds that come under attack as we live for Jesus. Paul knows this from first hand experience, he also knows that God provides the best protection - faith, love, and hope.

Finally, for this section, I’d like to look at verses 9-11. Paul repeats our need to encourage one another, and there is, in these verses, a great sense of community. There are many plural pronouns used here, conveying that we are not to live for Jesus in isolation. We are meant to be part of a community of believers. Let’s make sure we are part of such a community, where we can challenge, encourage, and support one another.

Practical Application

• Thank God for your salvation and future hope.

• Ask God to show you how to encourage your fellow believers.

• Ask God to help you persevere in living for Him, protecting you as you go.

1 Thessalonians 5: 12-28 - Our Action and God’s Work

In looking at this section there is much we could say and apply in our own church context about leadership and work. However, I want to focus on two things; our action, and God’s work.

Starting with our action we can read in verses 14-22 the following actions:

• Warn, encourage, help, and be patient (v14)

• Be kind (v 14)

• Be joyful (v 16)

• Pray continually (v17)

• Give thanks (v 18)

• Allow the Spirit to work (v19)

• Treat prophecy well (v 20-21)

• Avoid evil (v22)

That’s quite the list.

It is verses 16-18 that I really want to pick up on here.

“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

It is vital that we remember that Paul experienced great persecution and suffering, and that this young church community was established amidst persecution, and was continuing in that environment. Yet the call is to joy and thanksgiving!

How can Paul make such a call, how is it he can give such an instruction? We know, from Acts, that Paul lived this way. Even whilst chained up in prison he would pray and worship. The word translated “joyful” is “χαίρετε” (chairete) from χαίρω (chairo). It means I rejoice, or I am glad. The way Paul uses this here is as a command, calling all who hear, or read, this letter to the act of rejoicing. It is the act that leads us to a state of being joyful – as we rejoice we are filled with joy. 

From my own personal experience when things are hard, and when situations feel impossible and unchanging (or even unchangeable) I know that pouring out worship to God, giving thanks to Jesus for His salvation shifts my focus. Such activity brings greater joy as I begin to see again the real perspective, these troubles will pass (1 Corinthians 4: 17-18). When I lift my gaze to God in rejoicing and gratitude I see that whatever my current struggle is, it really is temporary.

The other thing to remember is that joy and happiness are not the same thing. These are often used interchangeably, particularly in the western world, but they are different. Joy speaks of a deeper, more lasting state of contentment. When our joy is in Jesus it can last into eternity. Happiness, on the other hand, is fleeting, and based far more on circumstance. Paul is speaking here about joy; the joy found through rejoicing and gratitude poured out to Jesus.

Having looked at rejoicing and gratitude, let’s look at what Paul says about prayer. To pray is an action, and Paul describes it here as something we should do “continually”. What does that mean? I think it is clear that we are not to spend all day, every day with prayers on our lips. That’s not at all possible or practical. However, we are to have an attitude of prayer – an awareness of our dependence on God and His presence with us as we go about our daily lives. It is this practice that means we can switch to “active prayer”, or move to gratitude and rejoicing when things get touch. It is also this lifestyle that helps us keep a correct perspective on all things. This is still a challenge, and it is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can live this way.

If that is our action, what is God’s work?

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

Paul bookends these verses by saying who will do the work – God and Jesus. We need to remember that. Knowing that it is God at work motivates us in a more positive way than thinking we need to make the change ever can.

In between these bookends we read that God is doing a work of sanctification. This is a verb that clearly conveys that God is acting to make us holy. We cannot make ourselves holy, only God can do that, and He is doing that. What we have translated as ‘through and through” is ὁλοτελεῖς (holoteleis) and could be rendered “perfectly”, or “completely”. There is a significance to this as it shows that the work God does is perfect, the result will be perfect, and no part is left unchanged. This is a point Paul emphasises when he enumerates “spirit, soul, and body”, no part is left unchanged. Paul is fervently praying for the whole of every believer to be changed by the perfect sanctifying work of God.

Practical Application

• Write out things you want to thank God for

• Spend time in worship, lifting your gaze to Jesus

• Pray Paul’s final prayer for yourself, your family, and your friends. As you pray for yourself, be specific about areas of your life that you may have held back from God, or that you know you need Him to work on.

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Part 3