The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1903-01-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Leanon In the Internmtional Series
fsr January rs, t00s--rauf's ooun-
se1 10 the 1'heAsAioniaAs.
THE LESSON TEXT.
II Thesx. E:14-2S.)

them rldt are uhtu coihlvit A''~ AS'~%>4~-
minded, support the weak. be patient to-
ward all men, '... s ,.l
Is. sec that none render evil unto any
man: but ever follow that which Is good
both among yourselves, and to all men
1s Rejoice eyermoro.
IL Pray without ceasinG. M
IL In every thing give thanks: for this
is tho will OF God In Christ Jesus concern
ing you.
u. Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
a Prove all things; hold fast tnat VnAcn
y good.
= Abstain from ali appearance Of evn
81 And thn very GOD 81 psacs sanctify
YOU wholly: and pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body b preserved
blameless unto the coming OF our Loro
Jesus Christ.
4. Faithful ls hs that eallsth you; Who
also VIII DO It.
3. Brethren, pray for ".
Is. Greet all the brethren With an holy
kiss.
n. charge you BY the Lord that this
epistle be read unto all the holy bresnren:
q. The grace Of our Lord Jesus Cnrist oe
with you. Amen.
GOiDEx TExT.-HoId fast thak
which u good.-1 Thess. bs&1.
ANALYSIS OF SCRIPTURE SECTION.
The people Of the Lord. 49,. Il. Thess. b:lz-0
The blessing Of the Lord....I. Thess. 6:2S-2S.
TIME.--A- ID. S.
PLACE-Corinth.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
Anxiety Dissipated. Forced to nee
from Thessalonica after laboring
there but 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 a.
sauits? The letter we study to-day
was written upon learning that they
had been faithful.
IT was great disappointment to
Paul to be obliged to leave Thessa-
Ionica whom ~ did. Review the facts
OF last Sundays lssson. He was
eager to return t. the Christiahs
there, but whom that seemed to b
Impossible, he sent Timothy to en-
courage and help them, and bring
him news Of their welfare. When
Timothy returp& with GOOD re-
port, Paul. Who had been anxious,
was 80 relieved and overjoyed that
he sat down It once and wrote them
the letter that We study to-day.
This il the gentlest Of All Pauls
letters. He writes as the missionary
pastor, without thought Of contro-
versy. Tho Thessalonians had been
greatly troubled by the death Of
some Of their number, for they had
supposed that none OF them was to
die till Christ had como with great
pomp and glory to rule an earthly
In this letter Paul speaks
and consolation and hope
to their souls.
Verses 1a and 1s counsel regard for
church officers, and peace among all
the members. This was specially i'm
portant in new church gathered
Of hitherto discordant elements.
Know them that labor among you:"
or recognize or regard
them. Esteem them exceeding high
ly in loves" Let them stand very
Aigh 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.
30. THAT which is good" Instead |
Of rendering evil for evil, they were
10 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
ives be lives of prayer-not lives
given up to the speaking of petitions,
put lives of constant communion
NTH God. "Quench not the spirit" |
.tc.: "The sober-minded had become |
lispleased with the excess OF en-
shusiasm displayed by some-per-
,aps those instructed in 4:1I-and
we're in danger of discouraging some
ysnuine manifestations Of the spir-
PROF. Bosworth.. Against this
Paul cautions them. ''Prophesy-
ngs:" The exhortations and testi- |
nony of the Christians at their
meetings. Every form Of evil"
yot all appearance as in the Common |
Version. which would mean an en-
'irely different thing.
"a holy kiss" A very common |
eastern salutation. See Oriental Les
ION Lights. Brethren. pray for us:"
Paul's asking the prayers of the
church for himself suggests way in |
which we who believe in prayer can
lelp and strengthen our pastors. |
The paragraph following this letter /
n fha Corurnou Vorrfo~. c4~<t-- a.