1 THessolonians

[angels4u]

Nearly all new believers have questions about their faith . As a seasoned missionary ,Paul knew this. For this reason he send Timothy back to Thessalonians shortly after establishing the church. Timothy,s job was to see how the church was doing. 1 Thessalonians 1 New International Version (NIV)

1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Grace and peace to you.
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

 

 The new Christians were  deep convicted by the Holy Spirit and  filled with power.

They welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with  the joy given by the Holy Spirit. They became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. There faith became known everywhere..they turned from Idols to serve the living God and they were waiting for Jesus to come back who will save them from the coming wrath..

 

[angels4u]

 

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea,which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.The wrath of God has come upon them at last.[

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

 

They were spitefully treated at Philippi and they were bold to speak the gospel in much conflict. They were not  trying to please man but God who test  our hearts. They used no flattering words and God is their witness.They did not look for praise from man. They were very gentle with the love as a mother has for her children. So that you have a worthy walk with the Lord who calls you into His own Kingdom and glory.

Paul thanked God without ceasing because they accepted and received the Word of God not as words of man but as words of God who also works effectively in us who believe. They became imitators of the churches of God in Judea in . They also suffered from their country men just as they did from the Jews who killed the Lord and their own prophets and had them persecuted.They did not please God and are contrary to all men.. They forbid them to speak to the Gentiles so that they could be saved. Satan hindered them for awhile to come to them.

Our hope our joy , is in the presence of the Lord and at His coming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[angels4u]

1 Thessalonians 3 New International Version (NIV)

3 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

 

Paul was afraid  how the Thessalonians were doing because they were persecuted for their faith and he send Timothy to find out. Paul had told them about their affliction  and that they were suffering tribulation. He was very happy to hear the good tidings about their love and faith and he was comforted by their faith,he was rejoicing about their growing faith praising God day and night and he wanted to talk to them about what was still lacking in their faith. He wanted them to increase and abound in love to one another just as Paul and Timothy did to them. He wanted their hearts to be blameless in holiness before God  at the coming of Jesus Christ with all His Saints.

[angels4u]

1 Thessalonians 4 New International Version (NIV) Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For 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.15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Paul urged  them to live a life well pleasing to God and to live by the commandments he gave them through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The will of God for their sanctification that they should abstain from sexual immorality.That they should keep their own body pure  and honorable.They were not to lust as the unbelievers.  They should not defraud their brother in this matter.For God has not called us to be unclean  but in holiness.He who rejects this does not reject man but God who had given us the Holy Spirit.

They were told to  increase in brotherly love more and more.

They were to live a quiet life ,to mind their own business and to work with their own hands. To walk properly towards those who are outside(the non-christians.)

They were also told about  concerning the dead that they should not  be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep so that they did not lose hope and that the dead would  be raised and will share  in the Kingdom. The certainty of the Christian resurrection is based on that Jesus  Christ resurrection. Jesus died and rose again and will bring Him those who are now asleep in Jesus.

We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. The Lord shall decent from heaven with a shout with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God.

And the dead in Christ will be rise first and then we who are alive will be caught up together to meet them and the Lord in the air and thus shall we always be with the Lord.

Comfort each other with those words..

[angels4u]

1 Thessalonians 5 New International Version (NIV) The Day of the Lord

5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 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. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The teaching they received concerning the Day of the Lord.

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. For when they say peace and safety then suddenly destruction will come upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant women. And they shall not escape. Do not let this day overtake you as the people who do not believe. Let us watch and be sober. For those who are drunk will be drunk at night. Let us put on the breastplate of faith and love and with the helm of Salvation.

God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus died for us that whether we are awake or asleep we will live forever with Him

Therefore we should comfort each other  and edify each other.

We should recognize those who labor over us ,to keep them in high esteem and love them very much for what they do for us. Be at peace among our selfs.

Warn the people who walk unruly,comfort the fainthearted uphold the weak be patient with all.

See that no one renders evil for evil ,always pursue what is good both for yourself and for all.Rejoice always! .Pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of Christ Jesus  for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecy. Test all things  hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil so that God may santfy our whole soul body and spirit to be preserved blameless at the coming day of Jesus Christ.

[angels4u]

2 Thessalonians 1 New International Version (NIV)

1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters,[b] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boastabout your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.[c]

 

Paul is so thankful to hear that their faith was growing  and that they had so much love for each other in the midst of persecution and tribulations.

God will pay the people back who are persecuting them...He promised them that He will give them rest when they see Jesus revealed from heaven with all His mighty angels.

He will take out His vengeance on the unbelievers who do not obey the gospel. They will be punished with with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.

When Jesus comes in that day He will be  glorified in His Saints and to be admired because of our believe in Him.

Pray that God will find us walk worthy of God.

That the name of Jesus will be glorified in us according to the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord.

[angels4u]

2 Thessalonians 3 New International Version (NIV) Request for Prayer

3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

Warning Against Idleness

6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

Final Greetings

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

The Lord is faithful and will establish and guard us from the evil one.

Do not forget your faith by getting involved with unbelievers so you might forget God and live ungodly.

Follow Paul and Timothy and walk in path they taught you.

They worked for the food people gave them so that they were not a burden on anybody they were a example how people have to work food food and not be idle.

If a person does not want to work he has shall not  eat. You should be working if you can work,do not sit and do nothing on purpose.

Do not grow weary in doing good.

The grace of God is with all of us. 

Amen.                          

[robinriley]

"1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Grace and peace to you.
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV)

 

(Robin)

... Watchman is your title, right?

 

Do you like the NIV ... I use a number of different versions,

and have even compiled my own reading of Paul's letters, direclty from the Byzanitine Greek ...

I was wondering just what purpose you intended by going through this epistle, verse by verse?

Do you get much feedback ... did you want feedback? Just for fun. let's compare this NIV verse with the Greek: 

 

1:1* Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος, τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρί, καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη 

ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ.

 

 

a) noticed right away that the NIV includes those last eight words that some translation leave off ...

 

apo theou patros hEmOn kai kuriou iEsou christou

from {0575 PREP} of God {2316 N-GSM} of Father {3962 N-GSM} of us {1473 P-1GP} and {2532 CONJ} of Lord {2962 N-GSM} of Yeshua/ of Jesus {2424 N-GSM} of Anointed/ of Christ {5547 N-GSM}

 

b) why do your suppose they treat name Silouanos / Silvanus like that?

 

c) I happen to think that definite articles are important, so I'm pretty careful with them ... but on occasion I do add the article, but always show this addition by brackets around the word ...

does the NIV show the articles before "[the] Father" and "[the] Lord" as additions ... do you think they should have?

 

d) and why do you suppose they added that extra "the Lord" there at the end?

 

 

Paulos, and Silouanos, and Timotheos, unto the ecclesia of Thessalonikians, in God, Father, and Lord Yeshua Anointed: Grace unto you, and peace from God, Father of us, and of Yeshua Anointed.

Paulos/ Paul {3972 N-NSM} and {2532 CONJ} Silouanos/ Silvanus {4610 N-NSM} and {2532 CONJ} Timotheos/ Timothy {5095 N-NSM} unto the [one] {3588 T-DSF} unto an ecclesia {1577 N-DSF} of Thessalonikians/ of Thessalonians {2331 N-GPM} in {1722 PREP} unto God {2316 N-DSM} unto Father {3962 N-DSM} and {2532 CONJ} unto Lord {2962 N-DSM} unto Yeshua/ unto Jesus {2424 N-DSM} unto Anointed/ unto Christ {5547 N-DSM} a grace {5485 N-NSF} unto you {1473 P-2DP} and {2532 CONJ} a peace {1515 N-NSF} from {0575 PREP} of God {2316 N-GSM} of Father {3962 N-GSM} of us {1473 P-1GP} and {2532 CONJ} of Lord {2962 N-GSM} of Yeshua/ of Jesus {2424 N-GSM} of Anointed/ of Christ {5547 N-GSM}

Edited July 15, 2015 by robinriley

[Deborah_]

 

"1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Grace and peace to you.

from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV)

 

 Just for fun. let's compare this NIV verse with the Greek: 

 

1:1* Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος, τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρί, καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη 

ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ χριστοῦ.

 

 

 

b) why do your suppose they treat name Silouanos / Silvanus like that?

 

Probably because he is better known as Silas. There is a footnote (the [a]) to say that the Greek actually says Silvanos.

 

c) I happen to think that definite articles are important, so I'm pretty careful with them ... but on occasion I do add the article, but always show this addition by brackets around the word ...

does the NIV show the articles before "[the] Father" and "[the] Lord" as additions ... do you think they should have?

 

 

The rules for articles differ from language to language. We just wouldn't say ' in God Father' in English; so 'the' has to be added to make the translation grammatical. Just as we have to add indefinite articles (because Greek doesn't have them).

 

 

d) and why do you suppose they added that extra "the Lord" there at the end?

 

 

What do you mean by the extra 'the Lord'? It's in the Greek text:

Paulos, and Silouanos, and Timotheos, unto the ecclesia of Thessalonikians, in God, Father, and Lord Yeshua Anointed: Grace unto you, and peace from God, Father of us, and of Yeshua Anointed. 

Paulos/ Paul {3972 N-NSM} and {2532 CONJ} Silouanos/ Silvanus {4610 N-NSM} and {2532 CONJ} Timotheos/ Timothy {5095 N-NSM} unto the [one] {3588 T-DSF} unto an ecclesia {1577 N-DSF} of Thessalonikians/ of Thessalonians {2331 N-GPM} in {1722 PREP} unto God {2316 N-DSM} unto Father {3962 N-DSM} and {2532 CONJ} unto Lord {2962 N-DSM} unto Yeshua/ unto Jesus {2424 N-DSM} unto Anointed/ unto Christ {5547 N-DSM} a grace {5485 N-NSF} unto you {1473 P-2DP} and {2532 CONJ} a peace {1515 N-NSF} from {0575 PREP} of God {2316 N-GSM} of Father {3962 N-GSM} of us {1473 P-1GP} and {2532 CONJ} of Lord {2962 N-GSM} of Yeshua/ of Jesus {2424 N-GSM} of Anointed/ of Christ {5547 N-GSM}

[robinriley]

Thank you Deborah ... I'd compleatle spaced on that second occurance of "Lord" ... good call, thanks again