Archives For Bible – 1 Thessalonians

1. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Ex. 20:4-6)

2. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust…  But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. (Ps. 103:13-14, 17-18)

3. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name’s sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known. (Ps. 106:6-8) Continue Reading…

“But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” (1 Thess. 4:18)

Paul writes the Thessalonians and says that they are doing a fantastic job of loving one another and in fact that love has been evidenced toward all the churches in Macedonia. The Thessalonians have carried on the model of the early chapters of Acts caring for one another’s needs, caring for orphans and widows, and making sure no one lacks anything. And Paul instructs the Thessalonians here how to continue in that love. And he says that centrally it is found in seeking a quiet life, minding your own business, and working hard. And says specifically that this is what they commanded them, and this is so that they may have a good testimony towards unbelievers and so that they might not lack anything. I just want to zero in on one of those principles that Paul reminds the Thessalonians of: working hard with our hands. Paul says that one of the foundational virtues of the Kingdom is hard work. Continue Reading…