The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1916-07-07
LESSON FOR JULY 9
THE THEssALoNrAN CHRISTIANS.

LESSON TEXT / Thcs,. gY-N; tl3-ls;
5:li-at,
COLLEEN TENT-K We believe TINT
Jesus died ana rose aEntu even so them
also thht ARE fallen asleep IN Jrars wilt
God bring with hlm.--l Thrsa. 4.N IL V.
This opistIo ia probably ono of tho
earliest OF puul'a letters "A. L, Jo.63U,
It links itself closely with the severn
tccnth chapter Of the Book of Acts.
Driven from Dcrea. Paul goes to Ath.
ems and later TO Corinth, while Tim
othy returns to Thessalonica and car
rios Il report to Paul at Corinth.
Nhereupon. perhaps within six
months, Paul writes his optstle. A
study Of the two letters addressed to
this church teaches us how Paul ad-
yised and instructed his Gentle con-
verts. The first is II particularly cheer
full, positive and helpful eXhortation.
!. Thanksgiving and Testimony Il:
100; 2;17'20). a. saIutation u:D
The phrase. tho church Of the Thos-
salonians which Ia in God" is nowhere
else used, Some think II to be unique
because Paul had so little 10 condemn
or to criticize, Tho deity OF Jesus
Christ and that grace and peace pro-
coed from God IA clearly set forth.
t2) Thanksgiving wv. 2 and 81 (al
For works of faith: o. for their
labor OF love-" and (c) their pa
tience' (enduranco). That these
works were an the sight Of Cod Ia
evidence Of their genuIueness, and
(3) knowledge In Paul's mind ". A..
They were elected" TO salvation, hof-
meas and likeness to Jesus wv. SO;
| Pet IL; Eph. IA, s; Rom. S:.Gl.
ca Testimony wv, 6'l0). 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
cd" 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 APP
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 tpat-
terms or types; literally, like the far
| cChoing notes of a trumpet) ". y to
all that dwclt 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!" ~ Paul's
glory and Joy (2:17-20). Paul sets
forth his character as a Christian
worker (2:1-iGD. (a) His physical
boldness wv, 1, p; Oh his faithful, i'm.
partial teaching wv. 3-6), affectionate.
ly kind (7,S), unselAsh, working for
his own support ", 81, holy and con
sistent G3-l6). No one had anything
on him." and such a life dares to be
bold, though 1t is not free from per.
secution ". 49,. co. Paul's desire
(2;17.20). 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 pro.
vented ". 1877 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 t3:1-10
that 1t urged Paul to greater prayer
wv. 11.13) on their behalf.
IT, Ignorance iIlumined N:13-1s).
Paul rebukes certain sins (4:1.12), ex.
horting them to goodness and to love
one another. He then touches upon q
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 PauIs 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 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
mcnt. Those who mourned over de-
parted loved ones are not to sorrow
az 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 the arcbangel" Their sor"
row is not that OF the world, for those
departed are but Sleeping" and win
come back with Jesus when he comes.
Together they who sleep and we who
are alive shall be caught Up TO meet
the Lord in the air." all to dwell TO-
gcther forevermore with the Lord, in
n glorious company when his king
dom Is fully come and his will Is COM
pletely done on earth az we'll as in
heaven. Their bodies, risen from the
grave and reunited to their souls in a
glortfed condition. and W. who re-
main, the whole church or body of
Christ caught UP Ike Enoch Of old
Heb. III or EIijah-a glorious hope!
This is not alone Paul's word upon
this question, but this he says by Cor
I'M the Word of God" ", 15). No
wonder, then, that we should comfort
one another with these words' ".
1877.
The Lord. who is now in heaven
Acts 80; Eph. 100. shall himself
descend from heaven; not his spirit.
not a great revival, army Of angels. or
social reconstruction OF society, but