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1Thessalonians Chapter Five ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) What did Paul say he didn't need to write to them about, how will the day of the Lord come, how will destruction come on the people while they are saying "Peace and safety", and what will they not do?
________________________________________________________________________________ "Times and dates" refers to the knowledge of
what will happen in the future, specifically to the return of Christ.
Efforts to determine the date of Christ's return are foolish. Don't be mislead
by anyone who claims to know. We are told here that no one knows and that even
believers will be surprised. The Lord will return suddenly and unexpectedly,
warns Paul, so be ready! Because no one knows when Jesus will comeback to earth,
we should be ready at all times. Suppose he were to return today. How would he
find you living? Are you ready to meet him? Live each day prepared to welcome
Christ. 2) What did Paul say the church at Thessalonica was not in, who did Paul say they were sons of, who did Paul say they did not belong to, who does Paul tell them not to be like, what does Paul tell them to be, what did Paul tell them to put on as a breast plate, and what does he tell them to put on as a helmet?
________________________________________________________________________________ In contrast to the non-Christians referred to
in verse 3 are the believers ("brothers") in Thessalonica. Continuing the figure
of night (verse 2) "darkness" refers to the realm of wickedness and the darkened
understanding and ignorance of impending doom that go with it. In reassuring his
converts, Paul declares without qualification that believers in Christ belong to
a realm different from that of the world. Thus they will not participate in
"this day" of the Lord. It will not overtake them by surprise; their position in
Christ guarantees their deliverance. 3) What did God not appoint us to do, what did God appoint us to receive, why did Christ die for us, and what did Paul tell the church at Thessalonica to do?
________________________________________________________________________________ As you bear the end of a long race, your legs ache, your throat burns, and your whole body cries out for you to stop. This is when friends and fans are most valuable. Their encouragement helps you push through the pain to the finish line. In the same way, Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the way. Look around you. Be sensitive to others' need for encouragement, and offer supportive words or actions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Final Instructions ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4) Who does Paul ask them to respect, who did Paul say to hold in the highest regard in love, how did Paul say they should live, who are they to warn, who are they to encourage, who are they to help, what are they to do with everyone, what does Paul say not to pay back wrong with, and what does he tell us to always be?
________________________________________________________________________________ "Those who work hard among you, who are over
you in the Lord" probably refers to elders and deacons in the church. 5) What does Paul tell us to always be, what does he tell us to do continually, and why does he tell us to give thanks in all circumstances?
________________________________________________________________________________ Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not
fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. Obeying these commands-be
joyful, pray continually, and give thanks-often goes against our natural
inclinations. When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we
will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God's will, we will
find it easier to be joyful and thankful. 6) What does Paul tell us not to put out, what does he tell us to not treat with contempt, what are we to test, what are we to hold on to, and what are we to avoid?
________________________________________________________________________________ By warning us not to "put out the Spirit's
fire," Paul means that we should not ignore or toss aside the gifts the Holy
Spirit gives. Here, he mentions prophecy (5:20); in 1Corinthians 14:39, he
mentions tongues. Sometimes spiritual gifts are controversial, and they may
cause division in a church. Rather than trying to solve the problems, some
Christians prefer to smother the gifts. This impoverishes the church. We should
not stifle the Holy Spirit's work in anyone's life but encourage the full
expression of these gifts to benefit the whole body of Christ. 7) Who does Paul say may sanctify you through and through, how should our whole spirit, soul, and body be kept at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and who is faithful?
________________________________________________________________________________ The spirit, soul, and body refer not so much to the distinct parts of a person as to the entire being of a person. This expression is Paul's way of saying that God must be involved in every aspect of our lives. It is wrong to think that we can separate our spiritual lives from everything else, obeying God only in some ethereal sense or living for him only one day each week. Christ must control all of us, not just a "religious" part. 8) What does Paul ask them to do, how does Paul say to greet all the brothers, who does Paul charge you before to have this letter to read to all brothers, and what does Paul say may be with them?
________________________________________________________________________________ For every Christian to hear this letter, it
had to be read in a public meeting-there were not enough copies to circulate.
Paul wanted to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to hear his message
because he was answering important questions and offering needed encouragement. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answers 1Thessalonians Chapter Five ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) dates and times...like a thief in the
night...suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman...escape ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taken from The NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan Publishers |