The Red Cloud chief., 1916-07-06
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNDGS0lO0L
LESSON
CBy r. O. SELLERS. Acting Director OF
the sunday School Course In the Mood,
Bible Institute OF Chicago)
copyright by Western Newspaper Union,
LESSON FOR JULY 8
THE rHEssALoNiAN CHRISTIANS
LESSON TExr-I Thess. 2:l7-2o; 4ls-1s:

This epistle is probably one OF the
earliest OF Paul's letters GA. u. 50-53O.
II links itself closely with the seven
teerth chapter of the Book of Acts.
Driven from Berea, Paul goes to Ath-
ems and later to Corinth. while Tim.
othy returns to Thcssalonica and car
ries a 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-
vcrts. The first is a particularly cheer
full, positive and helpful exhortation.
I. Thanksgiving and Testimony q:
100; 2:17.20). 1D Salutation 1: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 little to condemn
or to criticize. The deity Of Jesus
Christ and. that grace and peace pro.
coed from God Is clearly set forth.
(2) Thanksgiving wv. 2 and 81 (a)
For works Of faith; (b) for their
labor 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
CD knowledge in Pauls mind ". A.
They were elected" to salvation, holi.
ness and likeness to Jesus wv. SO:
I Pet 1:2; Eph. Ia, 8: Rom. S:29),
(4 Testimony wv. 6-10). Paul could
appeal to the known conduct OF him
self and his friends to substantiate. &c
prove. the standing OF those candi
dates for holiness who had been elect
ed" His words had not come to them
in nero cxhortation and eloquence 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
10Y" in the midst OF affliction to the
end that they became examples (pat'
terms or types: literally, like the far
echoing notes of trumpet ". y to
all that dwelt in the regions there.
about. Their obedience. consistency
and missionary spirit wv. $40 sound
ed forth everywhere and all that
needed to be done was to say. Behold
the church ofThessalonica!" 60 Paui's
glory and Joy (2:17-2O. Paul sets
forth his character as Christian
worker (2:1-16). (a) His physical
boldness wv. 1, %; (b) his faithful, i'm
partial teaching wv. 3-6), affectionate
ly kind G.S), unselfish, working for
his own support ". 81, holy and con
sistent 13.16). No one had anything
on him." and such a life dares to be
bold, though 1t Is not free from per-
secution ". 15). (6) Paul's desire
(2:17.2O). He here sets forth why this
letter was written. Separated from
them by persecution, he desires tc
return and supply the things they were
yet lacking and to see face to face
those whom he loved. Satan pre-
vented ". 18) doubtless using the bit
ter persecution stirred up against him
He had therefore sent Timothy from
Berea to comfort them (3:15), who
had made such a good report (3:1-1O
that it urged Paul to greater prayer
wv. 11.13) on their behalf.
II. Ignorance iIhumined (4:13-1S).
Paul rebukes certain sins (4:1.12), ex'
horting them to godlincss and to love
one another. He then touches upon q
doctrine which was one Of his
strongest reasons for writing t. these
Thessalonians. The imminent return
OF Christ had been strongly empha.
sized, but in the months of Paul's 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 Is
to set their thinkirg Alright that Paul
writes. This he does by outlining the
great and blessed hope Of the 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 shout, with the
voice OF the archangel." Their sor'
row is not that Of the world, for those
departed are 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
tho Lord in the air" all to dwell to-
gather forevermore with the Lord.
Pauls 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 it's nearness. its immi
nence.
III. The Hope Of Church and State
b:14.24. The letter closes with
moral exhortations with reference to
spiritual leaders, care of one another
the spirit of prayer; and h. exhorts
them not to "quench the Spirit" by de
spising prophesying, that preaching
and testifying which can be exercised