The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-07

teenth chapter Of the Book OF Acts
Driven from Berea, Paul goes to Ath
ems and later to Corinth. while Tim
othy returns to Thessalonica and car
ries report to Paul at Corinth.
Whereupon, perhaps within six
months. Paul writes his epistle. A
study Of the two letters addressed to
this church teaches US how Paul ad
vised and instructed his Gentle con.
verts. The first is q particularly cheer
full. positive and helpful exhortation.
!. Thanksgiving and Testimony a.:
100; 2:17-2o). ~ saIutation t1:D
The phrase, "the church Of the Thes
salonians which is in God" is nowhere
else used. Some think It to be unique
because Paul had so lit:le to condemn
or to criticize. The deity Of Jesus
Christ and that grace and peace pro
coed from God is clearly set forth
t2) Thanksgiving wv. 2 and 81 (a)
For works of faith; Obi for their
Tabor Of love-" and (c) their pa
thence" (endurance). That these
works were "in the sight Of God" Is
evidence Of their genuineness, and
such spiritual fruitage awakened
t3) knowledge in Paul's mind ". ~.
They were elected" to salvation. holt
ness and likeness to Jesus wv. So;
i Pet 1:2; Eph. Ia. s; Rom. 1921.
(4) Testimony wv. 6-1o). Paul could
appeal to the known conduct Of him.
self and his friends to substantiate, to
prove. the standing Of those candi
dates for holiness who had been elect
ed" His words had not come to them
In mere exhortation and eloduence but
"also in power" which governed their
conduct. This was not to win ap-
plause, but In his own case he labored
for their sakes ". 81 and in their
case they had received the word with
Joy" in the midst of affliction TO the
end that they became examples (pat-
terms or types; literally, like the for
echoing notes Of trumpet) ". y to
all that dwelt In the regions there
about. Their obedience. consistency
and missionary spirit wv. s!10) sound.
ed forth everywhere and all that
needed to be done was to say. Behold
the church Of Thessalonica!" t5) Paul's
glory and Joy (2:17-2O). Paul sets
forth his character as Christian
worker (2:1.16). (a) His physical
boldness Wv. 1, q; tb) his faithful. i'm.
partial teaching wv. 2.6). atfect!onate
Iy kind (7,S), unselflsh. working for
his own support ". 81, holy and con.
sistent (1S.16). No one chad anything
on him." and such q life dares to be
bold. though 1t is not free from per.
secutlon ". 15). (6) Paul's desire
(2:1720}. He here sets forth why this
letter was written. Separated from
them by persecution. he desires to
return and supply the things they were
yet lacking and to see face to face
those whom he loved. Satan pre-.
vented ". 49, doubtless using the bit.
ter persecution stirred up against him.
He had therefore sent Timothy from
Berea to comfort them (3:l5). who
had made such good report (S:1.10)
that It urged Paul to greater prayer
wv. 11.13) on their behalf.
u. Ignorance illumlned t4:13is).
Paul rebukes certain sins t4:1.12), ex.
horting them to godlincss and TO love
one another. He then touches upon a
doctrine which was one OF his
strongest reasons for writing to these
rhessalonians. The imminent return
Of Christ had been strongly empha.
sized, but in the months Of Pauls alb
sence some OF their number had died,
died without seeing Christ's promised
glory. Would those who remained
have any advantage over the dead
saints when Christ should come? 1t ia
to set their thinking Alright that Paul
writes. This he does by outlining the
great and blessed hope OF tho church
in It's rapture" at Christ's coming.
This Is more clearly set forth here
than anywhere else In the New Tesla.
ment. Those who mourned over de.
parted loved ones are not to sorrow
as those who had no hope" Jesus
the risen. everlasting Savior and king,
is certainly coming again In his king.
dom OF glory, with a shout, with the
voice Of tho archangel." Their sor.
row is not that Of the world. for those
departed arc but sleeping" and will
come back with Jesus when he. comes.
Together they who sleep and we who
are alive shall be caught up ito meet
the Lord In the air." all to dwell to-
gather foreyermore with the Lord.
Paul's description Of the events OF
this second coming. this rapture Of
the church, has not yet been fulfilled,
but he and the disciples were not mis-.
taken as to its nearness. It's immi.
nence.
III. The Hope Of Church and State
(6:1+24). The letter closes with
moral exhortations with reference to
spiritual leaders, caro- OF one another,
the spirit OF prayer; and he exhorts
them not to "quench the Spirit" by de
spising prophesying, that preaching
and testifying which can be exercised
BY the weakest, feeblest member Of
the church II he be spirit.endusd.
l