Bible Diary - 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

February 13, 2008

As Paul traveled from town to town, people would gather around him to hear about the kingdom of God based on the words of Jesus Christ. Paul preached to them the risen Savior, Jesus Christ, pure and simple. As God touched their hearts, their numbers grew. Before Paul moved on to form a new group of believers in yet another city of the Roman Empire, he appointed leaders from within the congregation he was leaving to shepherd their continued growth as Christians.

Final Instructions

5:12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, 5:13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. 5:15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 5:16 Always rejoice, 5:17 constantly pray, 5:18 in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 5:21 But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. 5:22 Stay away from every form of evil.

Paul regarded leadership in the body of Christians a high calling, deserving of respect. I happen to be part of the Presbyterian franchise of the Christian church, and one of our time-proven principles is to do all things decently and in order. This means respecting each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, warts and all. That is exactly what Paul is saying here. The operative words seem to be, “Do not extinguish the Spirit,” and “Examine all things; hold fast to what is good.” This is the heart of classical liberal thought.

My experience in the church has taught me that exercising such servant leadership is not an easy task. Few do it well. Human pride and stubbornness keep getting in the way.

Dave, still trying to get it right.

Posted by Dave | Filed Under Bible