Category Archives: 1 Thessalonians

Third, where I grew up, oaths and swearing were considered sinful based on the seemingly clear teaching of the Sermon on the Mount. And here we have Paul asking his readers to swear that the letter would be shared with … Continue reading →

(1 Thess. 5:27-28 ESV) 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. These are the last two verses of … Continue reading →

1 Thess 5:25 (1 Thess. 5:25 ESV) 25 Brothers, pray for us.  This short verse is striking in its poignancy. I mean, here we have Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, who prays for so many others, who is so … Continue reading →

Now, inevitably, each reader has his own way of expressing how this works, but regardless of exactly how we connect our own efforts with God’s efforts, it’s clear that Paul is insisting on both human effort and divine effort. Now, … Continue reading →

1 Thess 5:23 (1 Thess. 5:23 ESV) 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. To “sanctify” … Continue reading →

1 Thess 5:19-22 (1 Thess. 5:19-22 ESV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. Quench In v. 19, the word … Continue reading →

The next and final section of the letter is a series of very brief ethical instructions. Many students of Paul find these sections uninteresting because they don’t deal with “real” theology — just how to live together in community. But … Continue reading →

1 Thess 5:11 (1 Thess. 5:11 ESV) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  “Therefore” means this is the first conclusion Paul is drawing from his lesson on the Second Coming. In … Continue reading →

1 Thess 5:6 (1 Thess. 5:6 ESV)  6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  Paul is now doing midrash — rabbinic style commentary. He is taking “night” as in … Continue reading →

1 Thess 5:1-2 Roots in Matt 24 (1 Thess. 5:1-2 ESV)  Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of … Continue reading →