Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-07-07
LESSON FOR JULY 9
THE THEssALoNIAN CHRISTIANS.

GOLDEN TEXT-If we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them
also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will
God bring with him.-I Thess. 4:14 r. V.
This epistle is probably one of the
earliest of PauPs letters CA. D. 5O-53?).
1t links itself closely with the seven
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 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
yerts. The first is particularly cheer
ful, positive and helpful exhortation,
!. Thanksgiving and Testimony q:
100; 2:17-20). ID SaIutation Q: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
ceed 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
tience" (endurance). That these
works were ''in the sight of God" is
evidence CT their genuineness. and
such spiritual fruitage awakened
tS) Knowledge in Paul's mind ". A..
They were elected" to salvation, holi-
ness and likeness to Jesus wv. SO;
Pet IL; Eph. IA, S; Rom. S:29l,
(D Testimony wv. 6-10). 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 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
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) ". y to
all that dwelt in the regions there
about. Their obedience, consistency
and missionary spirit CIV. 8-10) sound
ed forth everywhere and all that
needed to be done was to say, Behold
the church of ofThessalonica!" (5) PauTs
glory and Joy (2:17-2O). Paul sets
forth his character as a Christian
worker (2:1-16). (a) His physical
boldness wv. 1, 2); (b) his faithful i'm
partial teaching (vv. 3-6). affectionate
ly kind (7,S), unselfish, working for
his own support ". 81, holy and con
sistent (13-16) No one had anything
on him." and such life dares to be
bold, though it is not free from per
secution ". 15). (6) Paul's desire
(2:17-20) 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 ". 49, doubtless using the bit
ter persecution stirred up against him
He had therefore sent Timothy from
Berea to comfort them (3:15), whit
had made such good report (3:1-10'
that it urged Paul to greater prayer
wv. 11-13) on their behalf.
II. Ignorance IIlumined (4:13-1Sl
Paul rebukes certain sins (4:1-12), ex
horting them to godliness and to low,
one another He then touches upon
doctrine which was one of hi
strongest reasons for writing to thes'
Thessalonians. The imminent return
of Christ had been strongly empha
sized, but in the months of Paul's at
sence some Of their number had died
died without seeing Christ's promises
glory. Would those who remainet
have any advantage over the dea,
saints when Christ should come? 1t i
to set their thinking Alright that Pau
writes. This he does by outlining tn
great and blessed hope of the churcl
in its rapture" at Christ's coming
This is more clearly set forth her
than anywhere else in the New Teste
ment. Those who mourned over de
parted loved ones are not to "sorrov
as those who had no hope" Jesu
. the risen, everlasting Savior ana kins
is certainly coming again in his kins
, dom of glory, with shout, with tn
, voice of the archangel" Their So
row is not that of the world, for thos
J departed are but sleeping" and wi
come back with Jesus when he come.
Together they who sleep and we VIII
are alive shall be caught up ito NEE
the Lord in the air." all to dwell t.
gether forevermore with the Lord. i
cne glorious company when his kin!
dom is fully come and his will is con
pletely done on earth as well as /
heaven. Their bodies, risen from tn
grave and reunited to their souls in
glorified condition, and we who r
main, the whole church or body
Christ caught up like Enoch of ol
(Heb. III or Elijah-a glorious hope
This is not alone Pauls word upo
this question, but this he says "by e
in) the Word of God" w. 15). n
wonder, then, that we should comfo
| one another with these words" {
| 1s).
| The Lord, who is now in heave
| (Acts 1:9; Eph. 1920. shall himse
| descend from heaven; not his spiri
| not a great revival. army of angels,
| social reconstruction of society. b.
/ descend himself, personally, visib
i and bodily (Acts I'LL; Jno. 14:3; He
i 9:2S; Phil. 3:20, 21).
i Paul's description of the events
i this second coming, this rapture
i the church. has not yet been fulfille
i but he and the disciples were not mi
y taken as to it's nearness. it's INN
nence.
III. The Hope of Church and Sta
- (5:14-24). The letter closes wi
k moral exhortations with reference
or spiritual leaders, care of one anotht
i'd the spirit of prayer; and he exhor
fe them not to "quench the Spirit" by q
lie spising prophesying, that preachil