BIB361 Early Pauline Epistles

BIB361 Early Pauline Epistles
- Epistolary Introduction 1:1
- Thanksgiving (Thessalonians’ conversion and relationship with Paul) 1:2-3:13
  - Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' faith 1:2-10
    - Thanksgiving/prayer report
      - We thank God,
      - Remembering you in our prayers
      - We continually remember
        your work from faith
        labor from love,
        and endurance from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
    - Reason:
      - We know God has chosen you
      - Reasons:
        The gospel came with not just words, but with power, Holy Spirit and conviction
        Just as you know how we were among you
        You became imitators of us and of the Lord
        You welcomed the message in spite of suffering
        You became a model for all the churches
        The message rang out from you to everywhere
        Your faith has become known everywhere
        We don't need to say anything about it
        They report your reception
        They report how you turned to God from idols
        to serve God
        and to wait for His Son from heaven
        Whom He raised from the dead
        Who rescues us from the coming wrath
  - Description of Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica 2:1-12
    - Paul was empowered to speak the Gospel freely in the midst of persecution 1-8
      - Intro Formula: You yourselves, brothers, know our coming to you 1a
      - Specificallly what it was not, and what it was 1b-8
        Our coming to you was powerful by God 1b-2
        Neg. - our coming to you was NOT in vain 1b
        Pos. - BUT We were emboldened to speak the Gospel of God 2
        Even though we suffered in Phillipi
        Even though we were suffereing and being mistreated in Phillipi
        like you already know
        we were bold/emboldened in/by our God to speak the Gospel of God to you in much opposition/struggle
        Reason: God entrusted us with this Gospel task 3-8
        Our exhortation comes from God's call 3-4
        Neg. - Our exhortaion does not come from error or from impure motive or from deceit
        Paul is defending himself in order to defend the gospel and encourage the Thessalonians
        This is a good safety check for our own ministries - don't be underhanded/scheming
        Pos. - BUT by contrast
        We speak
        Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel
        We speak in the way appropriate to that calling
        The manner in which we speak
        Not as attempting to please men
        BUT attempting to please God who is testing our hearts
        same word as "approved" earlier
        but present tense - continually testing here, tested and approved there
        The Reason/Evidence: We displayed God's character and ways 5-8
        Neg. - We were not seeking to take from you 5-7a
        Our methods were not bad 5
        We did not act with a word of flattery - just like you Know!
        Nor did we act in a pretense/screen for greed - God is witness
        Our motivations were not bad 6-7a
        We did not seek praise/glory from men, either from you or from others
        Even though, as apostles of Christ, we were able to be a burden to you
        Pos. - But rather we were seeking to give to you 7b-8
        Our methods were good 7b
        We were childlike/innocent
        Textual issue, reading neypioi, "child" instead of eypioi, "gentle"
        Our motives were good 7c-8
        just like a nursing mother cherishes her own children
        So also we gave ourselves for you
        having a similar strong yearning/desire for you
        we were pleased to give you not only the Gospel of God, but ourselves as well
    - Paul worked hard to preach the Gospel without being a burden 9
      - Intro Formula: You, brothers, remember our work and labor (hardship) 9a
      - Specifically: how I worked and preached 9b-d
        The manner in which we lived while preaching
        working night and day - cf. 3:10, 2Th 3:8 on "night and day"
        Purpose: so that we would not be a burden to you
        We preached to you the Gospel of God
    - Paul was blameless and holy in their midst 10
      - Intro Formula: You and God are witnesses 10a
      - Specifically: We were this way to you who believed 10b
        we were morally upright, devout, holy
        we were upright, just, correct
        we were blameless, innocent, without fault
        to you who believed
    - Paul encouraged and urged them to walk worthy of God 11-12
      - Intro Formula: Intro Formula: You know 11a
      - Specifically: How we dealt with you 11b-12
        I dealt with you as a Father 11b-c
        I dealt with each one of you
        As a father deals with his own children
        Manner that he dealt with them 12
        What he did 12a-c
        urging/encouraging you
        Consoling/comforting you
        testifying/witnessing
        Purpose for all this 12d
        so that you may walk worthily
        worthy of the God who called you into His own Kingdom and Glory
  - Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ response 2:13-16
    - We give thanks to God continuously for this reason
    - Reason:
      - You received the Word as it truly is
        Not as a word from man
        But as it truly is, the Word of God
        As you received from us the Word of the report of God
        Which is working among you who believe
      - You became imitators of the church of God in Christ in Judea
        That is, you suffered the same things from your contrymen
        Just as those from Judea suffered from the Jews
        Who killed the Lord and the prophets
        Who persecuted us/drove us out
        Who are not pleasing to God
        Who are hostile to all people
        Who try to hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles - so that they may be saved
        So that they always fill their sins to the full
        The Wrath has come on them at last
  - Description of Paul’s longing for the Thessalonians 2:17-20
    - Paul Tried to come to them 17-18
      - Being separated from you for a short time
        in face
        not in heart
      - We overwhelmingly strive with much desire to see your face
      - We longed to come to you, again and again
      - But satan hindered us
    - Reason: The Thessalonians are important to Paul 19-20
      - Rhetorical quesiton:
        Who is our hope and joy and crown of boasting?
        in the presence of our Lord Jesus
        when He comes (in His parousia)
        If not you?
      - For You are our glory and joy
  - Explanation of Timothy’s visit 3:1-5
    - Paul couldn't stand it any more
    - He thought it best to be left alone in Athens
    - He sent Timothy
      - Timothy
        Our Brother
        and coworker with God
        in the Gospel of Christ
      - Purpose
        to establish/strengthen you
        to encourage you on behalf of your faith
        so that no one will be unsettled/thrown off by these trials
        For you know
        that we are appointed into this kind of trial
        For when we were with you
        We told you in advance that we were about to be persecuted/afflicted/pressed
        just as has happened
        just as you know
    - He sent Timothy
      - because of this
      - when I could no longer stand it
      - so that he would know your faith
      - lest the tempter tempted you
      - and our work turned out to be in vain
  - Description of Paul’s joy in Timothy’s report 3:6-10
    - Timothy returned to Paul
      - Came to us from you
      - told us the good news of your faith and love
        that you always have good memories of us
        longing to see us
        just as we long to see you
    - Paul was encouraged
      - because of this
      - in all our distress and affliction
      - We have been encouraged
      - because of your faith
    - For we now live, since you are standing in the Lord
    - Paul can't give thanks enough to God
      - concerning them
      - upon all joy - which we rejoice through you before our God
    - praying unceasingly
      - night and day
      - cf. 2:9 night and day worked, here prayed
    - purpose
      - to see your face
      - to provide whatever is lacking in your faith - remember very young church
  - Prayer report for the Thessalonians 3:11-13
    - may this same God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ prepare our way to you
    - may the Lord superabound and overflow you with love toward one another and toward all - just as we to you
    - so that he may strengthen your heart
      - to be blameless
      - in holiness
      - before Our God and Father
      - at the Parousia of Our Lord Jesus - cf. 2:19
      - with all His saints
- Instructions for Some Problem Issues 4:1-5:24
  - Holy living 4:1-12
    - Walk/Live as pleasing to God 1-2
      - We ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus
      - So that
        Just as you received from us how it is necessary for you to walk/lifestyle and to please the Lord
        Just as you are already walking/lifestyle
        so that you do so abundantly more
      - For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus
    - Your sanctification is the will of God 3-8
      - This is the will of God
      - Namely - your Sanctification/holiness - both process and result
        that you keep away from/abstain from/ be far from sexual immorality
        defined generally, not precisely
        therefore, no loopholes
        Positive alternatative - each of you should learn/know
        to acquire/possess his own vessel
        often translated control/gain full possession over one's own body/desires - true, of course
        could also be translated to acquire one's own spouse
        cf. Prov. 5, the solution to chasing the 'foreign' woman is to be enraptured with your wife -
        guys, get a wife- not as a sex toy to solve your lust problem, but as a life partner to love and cherish, to fight your lust problem together, which will help, but not automatically solve your lust problem
        in holiness - same word as v. 3
        and in honor
        positive virtues to combat negative vices
        not to live in the passion of lust
        just as the Gentiles
        who do not know God
        knowing God is not compatable with passionate lusts
        if you pursue/allow/give room for passionate lusts, God will be squeezed out over time
        if you wholeheartedly pursue God, passionate lusts will be squeezed out over time
        alternate worships - Driscoll - "you worshipped your way into this, you will worship your way out of it."
        notice that this issue is primarily connected with God, not ourselves and our desires
        What are you looking at?
        Looking at your lust will never cure it, only grow it
        In order to cure our lust, stop looking at our lust and start looking at God
        No one should sin against or take advantage of his brother in this matter
        How is this connected?
        How would you feel if you were married and your spouse cheats on you? - I hope it never happens to you
        How can you expect to be faithful/self-controlled after marriage if you can't be before marriage?
        If you are fooling around with some girl before marriage - you are training her to be unfaithful - this is someone's daughter and possibly someone's future wife - you are wronging them (not to mention her)
        If you are lusting after some girl that is not married to you - you are wronging her family and future/present spouse (not to mention her)
        Make sure you see that connection - it is not just about you and your desires - other people are involved and ultimately hurt
        And make sure you see the connection with what follows
        The Lord is the one who will avenge in all these things
        just as we already told you
        and warned you
        If the girl's green beret blackbelt father walked in - your sex drive would shut off like a light
        If we keep God and the Gospel in view, our sex drive can be controlled
        The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
        But also the blessedness of seeing God face to face motivates purity of heart
        For God Called you to better things
        God did not cally you into uncleanness
        But He called you into sanctification
        by faith, we need to concentrate on our goal and better reward
        we need to love holiness more than sex
        we need to see Jesus as more desirable than Miss October
        connect this with God's character, the cross and our eschatological inheritance
        be killing sin or it will be killing you
        Rejecting this is rejecting God
        again close connection to God and the Gospel
        the one who rejects this does not reject man
        but he rejects the God who gives you His Holy Spirit
        Why bring up the Holy Spirit here?
        emphasis in the way Paul says it falls on the word "Holy" - "His Spirit, the Holy One"
        God's nature and character is holiness
        God's will for us is holiness
        God's Holy Spirit works in us toward holiness
        What a great idea, what a great thing to have in our lives!
        What could be worth going in the other direction?
        Actively, strongly, passionately pursue holiness and lust problems will be conquered
    - Grow in love and right living 9-12
      - I don't need to write you about brotherly love
        you have been taught by God to love one another
        does this just describe the Thessalonians or all Christians in general? yes!
        For you are doing this to all the brothers in all of Macedonia
      - I encourage you in a few things
        continue to grow in love for one another
        make this your ambition
        live a quiet life
        do/attend to your own affairs
        i.e. mind your own business/don't be a busybody
        but the emphasis is on tending your own affairs not on avoiding other's affairs
        work with your own hands
        just as we commanded you
        purpose:
        so that you may walk in a way that is pleasing to outsiders
        so that no one will have need - not only take care of your own needs, but supply the needs of others
  - Question about the Second Coming 4:13-5:11
    - Much of this is parallel in the Olivet Discourse of Christ
    - The Manner of the Parousia 4:13-18
    - The Timing of the Parousia 5:1-11
      - What Paul Wants them to Know 1-10
        Timing is unknown and unexpected 1-3
        We don't need to write to you about times and dates
        You know that the Day of the Lord will come like a theif in the night - Jesus' teaching Mt. 24:43
        Destruction will come unexpectedly on those who are not prepared
        Christians are not unprepared 4-10
        You are not in darkness so as to be surprised
        You yourselves are all sons of light and sons of day
        We are not night or darkness
        Therefore, be alert
        don't sleep like those others
        but be watchful
        and be sober/self-controlled - cf. I Pet 4:7-8
        We are not night people
        Those who sleep, sleep at night
        Those who are drunk, are drunk at night
        We are sober/self-controlled
        because we are day people
        Putting on the breastplate of faith and love
        and the helmet of hope of salvation
        cf. Eph 6 armor of God
        cf. Isa 59:17 God's armor
        Reason
        neg. God did not appoint us for wrath
        pos. But for preservation/possession of salvation
        through our Lord Jesus Christ
        Who died on our behalf/in our place
        Purpose:
        so that we may live together with Him
        whether we are awake (those living and watchful)
        or whether we are asleep (those who had already died)
      - What Paul Wants them to Do 11
        Therefore encourage one another
        and build up each one
        Just as you are already doing
  - Miscellaneous Instructions 5:12-24
    - Re: Living with One Another 12-15
      - honor leaders
        Respect
        those who labor among you
        and those who rule over you in the Lord
        and those who admonish you
        probably referring to the same group of people - i.e. Christian leaders/pastors
        Hold them in highest regard
        in love
        because of their work
      - Be at peace/live in peace with one another
      - Various Admonishments
        warn/admonish the unruly idle
        encourage the small-faith
        take a strong interest in - in order to help the weak
        be patient toward all
      - Don't do revenge
        see to it
        that no one pay back someone evil for evil
      - Rather pursue the good toward one another
        always
        in all things
    - Re: Attitude 16-18
      - Rejoice Always
        shortest verse in the Bible
      - Pray Unceasingly
      - Give Thanks in all things
      - Reason: This is God's will for you in Christ Jesus - God's revealed will
    - Re: Prophecy 19-22
      - Do not quench/ stifle/ put out the Spirit - put out the Spirit's fire -
        i.e. don't resist the Spirit's work in prophecy
        elaborated by next command
      - Do not distainfully reject prophecies - not the general phenomenon, but specific example
      - Test all things -
        referring to all prophecies
        test first by Scripture
        Test by fulfillment
        Mature leaders test by Wisdom and Spirit leading
      - Hold on to the good
      - abstain from every form of evil
        in this context every bad/false/untrue prophecy
        not appearance as in outward perception, but every example of evil
        same word abstain as 4:3 abstain from sex sin
    - Re: Power for life 23-24
      - May this same God of peach sanctify you completely
      - May your entire Spirit, Soul and Body be kept blameless in the Parousia our our Lord Jesus Christ
      - The One Who Called you is Faithful - Who will also do this
- Conclusion 5:25-28
  - Pray for us
  - Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss
  - I charge you in the Lord to have this epistle read to all the brothers
  - The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all