The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1903-01-22
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson in the Internaa ional Sericu
for January %, 1903-PauA's CouE-
sci to the Thessaloniaas.
THE LESSON TEXT.
n ThaSS k.la-9S)

a. Now We exhort you, Brethren. warn
them that are unruly, comfort the feeble
minded, support the weak. he patient to-
ward all men.
Is See that none render evil unto any
man; but ever follow that which is gooS,
bot, among yourselves, and TO AL men.
l6 Rejoice evermore.
Il. Pray without ceas!ng.
IS In every thing give thanks; for this
Is the will OF God in Christ Jesus concern
ing you.
19. Quench not the Spirit.
20. Despise not prophesyings.
p. Prove all things; hold fast that which
Is good.
% Abstain from all appearance Of evil.
%. And the very God of peace sanctiiy
you wholly; and | pray God your who.e
spirit and sou. ana body - preserved
olame.ess unto the coming Of cur Lo!o
Jesus Christ.
"A. Faithful is he that culicth YOU; who
also Will do it,
.. Brethren, pray for us.
26. Greet all the brethren with an holy
Iiss
q. | charge you by the Lord that this
rpistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
IS The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ be
with you. Amen.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Hold fast that
which iS gOOd.-1 Thess. 5;21.
ANALYSIS OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
The people of the Lord ,.....l. Thess. 5:l2-22.
The blessing of the Lord....I Thess. 5:23-2S.
TIME.-A. d. 81.
PLACE.-Cornth.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Anxiety Dissipated.-Forced to flee
from Thess ssalonica after laboring
there but a short time, Paul could
hardly help being anxious about the
converts he had gained while there.
He knew how severely they would be
tried-how they would be frowned
upon and ridiculed and deserted by
their friends; how, too, he would
himself be slandered and accused of
preaching for money. Would they
be able to stand out against such as
saults? The letter we study to-day
was written upon learning that they
had been faithful.
1t was n great disappointment to
Paul to be obliged to leave Thessa-
lonica when he did. Review the facts
of last Sundays lesson. He was
eager to return to the Christians
there, but when that seemed to be
impossible, he sent Timothy to en-
courage and help them, and bring
him news of their welfare. When
Timothy returned with a good re-
port, Paul. who had been anxious,
was so relieved and overjoyed that
he sat down at once and wrote them
the letter that we study to-day.
This is the gentlest of all Paul's
letters. He writes as the missionary
pastor, without thought of contro-
versy The Thessalonians had been
greatly troubled by the death of
some of their number, for they had
supposed that none of them was 10
die till Christ had come with great
pomp and glory to rule an earthly
kingdom. In this letter Paul speaks
comfort and consolation and hope
to their souls.
Verses l. and Is counsel regard for
church officers, and peace among all
the members. This was specially inn
portant i'll new church gathered
of hitherto discordant elements.
know them that labor among you:"
Acknowledge or recognize or regard
them. Esteem them exceeding high
ly in love-" Let them stand very
high in your loving esteem. "Admon.
ish the disorderly:" Not the duty OF
the officers alone, but of "the breth-
rem Compare > Thess. 3:11, "For
we hear of some that walk among
you disorderly, that work not at all,
but are busybodies." SO vivid was
the belief in Christ's speedy coming
that many enthusiasts stopped work.
The effect was of course demoraliz-
ing. Evil for evil:" Private revenge
was not Christian. See Matt. 5:3S.
80. THAT which is good" Instead
of rendering evil for evil, they were
to definitely seek the welfare of their
brethren. "Rejoice always:" An in
junction that Christians sometimes
forget. The Christian above all men
should be cheerful and rejoicing.
"Pray without ceasIng:" Let your
lives be lives of prayer-not lives
given up to the speaking of petitions,
but lives of constant communion
with God. "Quench not the spirit"
ETC.: 1.-The sober-minded had become
displeased with the excess of en-
thusiasm displayed by some-per-
haps those instructed in 4:1l-and
were in danger of dscouraging some
genuine manifestations of the Spir-
it."-Prof. Bosworth. Against this
Paul cautions them. 'Prophesv-
ings:" The eXhortations and testi-
mony of the Christians at their
meetings. Every form of -evil:"
Not all appearance as in the Common
Version, which would mean an en-
tirely different thing.
"A holy kiss" \ very common
eastern salutation. See Oriental Les
son Lighta. "Brcthreu, pray for us"
Pauls asking the prayers of the
church for himself suggests way in
which we who believe in prayer can
help and strengthen our pastors.
The paragraph following this letter
in the Common Version, stating that