The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-07-06
LESSON FOR JULY 8
THE rHessALoNiAN CHRISTIANS.

s:N-st
GOLDEN TExT-If We believe that
Jesus died and rose again. even so them
also that are fallen asleep In Jesus will
ood bring with HIM Thess. t:N r. v.
This epistle Is probably one OF tho
earliest OF Paul's letters "a. ID. 50-53O.
II links itself closely with the seven
teenth chapter OF the Book OF Acts
Driven from Berea, Paul goes to Ath-
ms and later to Corinth. while Tim
othy returns to Thessalonica and car
rtes q 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 a particularly cheer
full. positive and helpful exhortation.
!. Thanksgiving and Testimony q:
100: 2:17-20. u ssiutatIon u:D
The phrase. the church Of the Thes-
salonians which Is In God" is nowhere
else used. Some think II 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.
tg Thanksgiving wv. Q and 81 (a)
For works Of faith: tb) for their
labor Of love-" and (c) their pa
tience' (endurance). That these
works were in the sight Of God" 10
evidence Of their genuineness. and
such spiritual fruitage awakened
(9 knowledge In Paui's mind ". ~.
They were elected" to salvation. holi-
ness and likeness to Jesus wv. So:
I Pet 1:2 Eph. Ia. 8: Rom. s:29.
90 Testimony wv. 6-i0). Paul could
appeal 10 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 eloquence but
ALSO In power" which governed their
conduct This was not to win ap-
piause. 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 affiiction to the
end that they became examples (pat-
terms or types: literally. like the far
echoing notes OF trumpet ". ~ TO
all that dwelt In the regions there
about. Their obedience. consistency
and missionary spirit wv. S-lO) sound
ed forth everywhere and all that
needed 10 be done was to say. Behold
the church ofThessaionics!" 90 Paui's
glory and Joy t2:i7-2o). Paul sets
forth his character as q Christian
worker t2:l.l6). ta) His physical
holiness wv. I. ~: (b) his faithful. i'm
partial teaching (vv. 3-6l. anectionate-
~ kind (7,s). unselfsh. working for
his own support w. 81. holy and con-
sistent 1910. No one had anything
on him." and such q life dares to be
bold. though II 10 not free from per-
secution ". 15). (6 Psuls desire
(2:I7-20). 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 ". Is) doubtless using tho bit
ter persecution stirred up against him.
He had therefore sent Timothy from
Berea TO comfort them (3:l5). who
had made such q good report t3:1-10)
that II urged Paul to greater prayer
wv. Il.l3) on their behalf.
u. Ignorance iIivrIned N:13-1S.
Paul rebukes certain sins (t:1.12. ex-
horting them to godlincss and to love
one another. He then touches upon
doctrine which was one OF his
strongest reasons for writing to these
Thessalonians. The imminent return
OF Christ had been strongly empha-
sized. but In the months Of Pauls abb
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 Gomez II Is
to set their thinking Alright that Paul
writes. This he does by outlining the
great and blessed hope OF the church
In its 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 q 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
the Lord In the air" all to dwell to-
gather forevermore with the Lord.
Paui'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 nesrness. Its immi-
nence.
~. The Hope Of CHURCH and state
tb:1+2D. The letter closes with
moral exhortations with reference to
spiritual leaders. care OF one another.
the spirit OF prayer: and he exhorts
them not to "quench the Spirit" by de-
spisinR prophesyinR. that preaching