INTRODUCTION
Thessalonica stood on the seaboard, and was the center of a large trade, which it shared with Corinth and Ephesus. It is the Saloniki of today, to which the interest of the world has recently been directed. It contained a large colony of Jews and a synagogue. The Apostle visited it, as recorded in Act_17:2-9. Probably he dispatched this Epistle from Corinth; compare 1Th_1:1; 1Th_3:1 with Act_18:15. It is the earliest of the Epistles and more elementary than the later ones. An interesting study would be to trace the development of the Apostle’s thought to the fuller and deeper teachings of the Epistles to the churches at Rome and Ephesus.
OUTLINE OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE TESSALONIANS
Building Up One Another
SALUTATION
FOUNDING AND GROWTH OF THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH
Benediction
5. How is holiness possible to believers?
A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD
Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation].
For you know what commandments and precepts we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality;
that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane],
not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will;
and that [in this matter of sexual misconduct] no man shall transgress and defraud his brother because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we have told you before and solemnly warned you.
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private].
So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation].
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
1 Thessalonians 3:1-8
CALLED TO SANCTIFICATION
The first paragraph of this chapter exhorts to purity, the second to industry, the third to expectation of the Second Advent. But the three are closely combined, because those who wait for the Lord will instinctively wear white robes. The body is compared to a vessel, and we must keep it clean for the Master’s use, walking day by day so as to please Him. Before Enoch was translated, he had the testimony borne him that he had pleased God, Heb_11:5. It is God’s will that we should be holy-the whole object of our redemption has this for its purpose. Therefore we ought to be holy, and if we ought we can, and if we can we must; and if we must we will! If you cannot possess yourself of your own nature, be possessed by the Holy Spirit. God giveth His Holy Spirit for this purpose.
No one must come in between husband and wife to defraud either of the lawful love which each should receive from the other. The home has been rescued and exalted by Christ, and the Christian Church must still be its custodian, not only inculcating the ideal, but revealing the sufficient power for its defense.
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
A Call to Holiness
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