Bible Diary - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
February 7, 2008
Paul’s readers accepted the gospel message as God’s message. Why, when it could only lead to persecution and suffering?
2:13 And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. 2:14 For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, 2:15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, 2:16 because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely.
Forced Absence from Thessalonica
2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. 2:18 For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. 2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? 2:20 For you are our glory and joy!
I’ve often thought that certain utterances just have the ring of truth. For reasons I can’t explain, I just know those words represent truth. This is a cognitive decision, not just a passing feeling. The words and the truth they represent stick with me. The power is in the message itself, according to Paul. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: “For the word of God is living and powerful, an sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Two other thoughts worth noting in this passage: First, for the Christian, suffering and persecution is the norm and to be expected. Second, Satan is alive and well in the world. We must develop the skill of a running back. When we run up against Satan the linebacker, we sidestep and find a new hole.
Dave: Aack! Did I really say that? I know nothing about football!
-sdg-
Bible Diary - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
February 6, 2008
Today is Ash Wednesday, and I will try to add to the Bible Diary on a daily basis until Easter Sunday. After that I make no guarantees.
This is one of the many passages in Paul’s writing where he holds himself up as an example for his new converts to follow. In reading these words, I never get the idea that Paul is boasting. As he states in 1 Corinthians, he is just a “foolish” country preacher, and if he boasts, he only boasts in the Lord. I don’t think I would dare say that, but then I am not the beloved Apostle, am I?
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you – it has not proven to be purposeless. 2:2 But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. 2:3 For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit, 2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts. 2:5 For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness – 2:6 nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, 2:7 although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, 2:8 with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 2:9 For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 2:10 You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe. 2:11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, 2:12 exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.
Given that our very lives proclaim the gospel, for good or ill, to those around us, the lesson for me here is to “preach” with affection for the world around me, “as a father treats his own children.”
Dave, thinking maybe he means “as a father wishes he had treated his own children.”
-sdg-
Bible Diary - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
February 3, 2008
With the season of Lent approaching rapidly, I decided that continuation of the Bible Diary I started in 2001 is long overdue. Next in order after Colossians is 1 Thessalonians, so … .
(Quotations from NETBible, http://net.bible.org/)
Salutation
1:1 From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you!
Thanksgiving for Response to the Gospel
1:2 We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers, 1:3 because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:4 We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 1:5 in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).
1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction. 1:7 As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1:8 For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything. 1:9 For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
The Apostle Paul writes from Corinth in 50 or 51, according to my study Bible, to the church at Thessalonica, a provincial capital in Greece. The congregation was predominantly Gentile. The letter teaches about the last days.
Paul’s opening greeting addresses the church in Thessalonica as being “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As I read these words early on this Lord’s Day, I am reminded that the church is much more than a human organization; it is mystically the body of Jesus Christ on earth.
The progression starting in vs. 6 is worthy of note. Paul delivered the gospel to them in words and by his personal example. They followed Paul’s example, and now they had become an example for other congregations throughout Macedonia (Greece). The example involved an obvious turn-around in the new Christian’s lives, from idol worship to serving “the living and true God.”
In the final verse of Chapter 1, Paul introduces the theme for his letter. After his resurrection, Jesus promised to return. We do well to wait in faith for the fulfillment of His promise.
Dave, still waiting… .
-sdg-
Half century in space
February 1, 2008
Fifty years ago on January 31, 1958, Explorer 1 was launched into earth orbit by the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, thus kicking off the era of space exploration for the U.S.
This was brought to my attention by the Astronomy Picture of the Day that pops up on my desktop automagically every morning.
One of the experiments performed by the thirty pound satellite was measuring the density of electrons and ions in space. The designer of this experiment was James A. Van Allen from nearby Iowa University. These measurements by Explorer 1 led to the discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belt that encircles the earth.
Time marches on. The little Explorer remained in silent orbit until 1970, and Dr. Van Allen died in 2006 at the age of 91.
In 1958 I launched my engineering/business career by signing on with Arthur Collins at Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although I worked with earth-bound radio systems, Collins Radio was a pioneer in space communications. My memories of those Collins years are a hazy, pleasant collage of engineering laboratories that were a young engineer’s heaven, travel to exotic (for me) places, pulling on a rising pheasant in the cornfields of eastern Iowa, and catching (and eating) crappies by the dozen.
Dave, not sure how much to make of this coincidence.
