1st Thessalonians Chapter 5
Originally posted Tuesday September 16, 2008
1st Thessalonians Chapter
5:1-11 Being Prepared
In
the first passage Paul has addressed the Thessalonians' concerns about the
promised day of redemption, the Parousia of Christ. He encourages them to hold
fast to their hope and not to mourn the death of those who have already died,
for they, too, will participate with the living when the new age arrives. He
continues with a reminder of what they already have learned from him. The
"times and seasons" (judgment day) of this final event are
unknown. But delay does not allow laxness of faith. Rather it calls for
constant vigilance and readiness. In a series of metaphors he echoes the words
attributed to Jesus in the Gospels: the Day of the Lord comes as a thief in the
night (MT 24:42-44). While
nonbelievers rejoice in a false sense of peace and security (Roman Pax
Romana) the Day of Wrath will come upon them like the sudden labor
pains of a pregnant woman (Isa. 13:6-8).
Although
the time cannot be known, the Thessalonians will not be surprised at its
coming. They are the children of the light and not of darkness. They
"belong to the day" (note the play on words: "Day" of
the Lord) and not to the night. Paul, as did John, sees the symbolic dualisms
of day/night, light/darkness and wakefulness/sleeping as comparing two worlds.
One is that of the sober and alert Thessalonian believers awaiting the promise
of salvation. The other is that of those who remain tethered to the delusion of
"peace and security," life as usual. Although the believers will
not be surprised on that Day, they will remain alert and ready - a reminder of
being found living and doing their faith when the time comes. Doing so will not
be easy. The "armor of God" will be necessary for them to persevere
during the interim of temptation and suffering, while waiting to
obtain the final salvation which will come from and with Christ's
return. Salvation in Paul is always understood as both preliminary and
final. The person who confesses faith in Christ, or more exactly the promise
which is fulfilled in Christ, has one foot in the age to come, set on the path
to the final step of redemption by Christ upon his return. Perseverance
until that time is not possible on one's own. Paul stresses the need for
all members of the community to "encourage one another and build up
each other" drawing courage and strength from the Spirit, multiplied and
enhanced through the efforts of all for all.
1st Thessalonians Chapter
5:12-28 Final Exhortations
Paul
has not mentioned any specific structure of community leadership for
Thessalonica. According to this passage there are "those who labor among
you," who would be fellow evangelists who have worked with him in
Macedonia. These are the pastors and teachers whose task it is to nurture the
church and foster its growth after Paul has left. The members are to respect
and "esteem them very highly" with their love. They should welcome prophets
and listen to the voice of the Spirit while, at the same time, testing
everything for spiritual authenticity.
As
in all the churches Paul urges peace among the members, for peace - living
quietly, minding their own affairs and working with their own hands, is a
source of unity. Idlers are to be admonished; the faint hearted encouraged; the
weak helped and all this in a spirit of patience. Doing good, abstaining
from every form of evil, praying and giving thanks in all things are signs
of living in the will of God.
He
closes with his own prayer for God's grace and peace to be with
them and for their "complete sanctification" so that they
will be kept sound and blameless in "spirit and soul and body" (the
whole person) when the Lord returns.
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