Biblical Theology XLVIII: 1 Thessalonians

Paul writes his first letter to the Thessalonians because he is concerned that their hearing of his persecutions/sufferings might cause them to turn away from the faith. The bulk of the letter is actually personal. Only in Chapters 4 and 5 does Paul give instructions in theology and ethics that go beyond what they already know or are doing.

Theology: Paul divides the letter up between faith, love, and hope in that order (1:3). He first encourages them in their strong faith that led them to turn from idols to a living God (1:9-10), and to endure severe persecution/suffering, becoming a model for all the saints everywhere (1:7-8). Paul conveys his love for them in Chapters 2 and 3, and then remarks that they know they are to love the brethren (4:9), but instructs them further to let that love be expressed in the obedience of Paul’s instructions to live in sexual purity with one another. Finally, Paul further solidifies their hope by explaining that even those who have died have not perished, but will return with Christ in the resurrection (4:13-18). 

He encourages them to live in a manner worthy of Christ, knowing that Christ’s return is not known, nor does it need to be known, by those who live according to the world to come, and not in accordance with this world (5:1-11). Those who live according to the thought and life patterns of this world now will perish, but God has not appoint His people for wrath, so He pushes them to live in light of the world to come in holiness so that they do not perish as the world. He finishes this with an inclusio started in 1:3 by saying, “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (5:8).

Paul ends the letter in a blessing upon them that the Lord would purify/make them holy completely in body, spirit, and soul (5:23-24). Hence, sanctification is tied, not only to the inward man, but to the body, as the Christian looks forward in hope to the resurrection at the coming of the Lord.

Ethics: The faith, hope, and love of the Thessalonians is what has produced their continued work and perseverance in the faith (1:3). Hence, they have not given up the faith, but have continued to grow stronger. Paul informs them of what an encouragement they have been to him and now wishes to encourage them in the fact that they have done so well in their repenting from false theology and living out a godly life. He encourages them, however, to go even further, to keep growing, and not to think they merely have arrived (4:1-8). 

He warns them to be careful to continue in their sanctification, specifically to refrain from sexual immorality and the defrauding of a brother or sister when it comes to sexuality. This could refer to avoiding adultery, where a brother or sister are defrauded by another believer stealing his or her spouse, or it could refer to defiling a fellow brother or sister by engaging in sexual activity with them when he or she is not married to them. Either way, Christians are not to take the rights with other Christians that only their spouses would have with them, nor are they to defile other Christians by taking advantage of them in a sexual way because God will be the avenger of these Christians (4:6). The word “avenger” here refers to God as the One who will issue the death penalty upon a person. Paul is basically saying that God will damn the one who does it, so it is a much harsher warning than many realize. He ends by saying that anyone who does not heed this warning is not rejecting human opinion, but God (v. 8).

Paul further expresses his encouragement that they love other believers, but urges them to go even further as a witness to outsiders by leading a quiet life and working if they are able so that they are not in need (vv. 9-12). In other words, they have their theology and ethics in place, but now they are to set their lives in order by being disciplined even more than they are already for the sake of the gospel.

Paul ends with various ethical instructions that should flow from their faith, love, and hope. They are to “mind those who labor among you, preside over you, and rebuke you,” and that they are to be held in “high esteem” (5:12-13). They are to not be at odds with one another (v. 13), rejoicing, always praying, and giving thanks (vv. 16-18), not grieving the spirit or ignoring God’s revelation to them (vv. 19-20). He sums up by saying they are to stay away from all forms of evil.