Chapter 4
In this chapter Paul is instructing the Thessalonians in life matters: How to conduct themselves, their speech
V1 Amplified: Furthermore, brethren, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please and gratify God, as indeed your are doing; that you do so even more and more abundantly––attaining yet greater perfection in living this life.
Keep on, keeping on. Keep pressing forward in Christ. Keep learning and growing in Him
V2 Acts 15:20. Here Gentiles are coming to know Jesus and the believing Jews thought they should be circumcised. Verses 7-21 give generalization.
V3. This is the will of God
Abstain from sexual impurity
from harlotry includes adultery and incest
The Lord wants us pure for Himself and to be a great witness for Him. We want to live lives different from the world and should
Romans 12:1-3
-present ourselves a living sacrifice––reasonable service
holy
acceptable
to God––always keep in mind that we are always before the Lord. He is always mindful of us and we should always be mindful of Him.
-be not conformed to this world
be transformed by renewing our minds
that you prove the will of God which is good, acceptable and perfect
- don't think more highly of ourselves than we ought
we all need to keep our perspective and not judge others, but judge our own selves.
V4–5 ...know how to possess his/her vessel––how to control oneself.
Self-control always starts with the Word of God. One of the Fruit of the Spirit––temperance
2 Peter 1:2–-9 (pg 1543)
2P 1V2. Grace and peace. To have peace must experience grace.
through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord
Knowledge 1922 is full discernment, having and understanding
2PV3 according His divine power –– He did the work
But he has given it to us––completed
all things that pertain to life and godliness
Through the knowledge of Him. There it is again!
He has called us to glory and virtue
glory–doxa. honor and praise, also means to recognize, to think
virtue–valor i.e. excellence
2PV4 We are given:
Exceeding ––superabound
Great. 3176. superlative--to the highest degree; greatest or very great
AND precious 5093 valuable i.e. costly; honored, honorable, beloved, dear, (had in reputation)
Costly---it cost Him something to give us these things!
Promises 1862 ep-ang-el-mah self-committal
God committed Himself to His promises!!
God committed Himself to over-seeing that His promises are kept.
WOW!!!!!!!!! HIS PROMISES DON'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT!!!!!!
That by these you might be partakers of His Divine Nature
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
CJB: 3:
5-7 For this very reason, try your hardest to furnish your
faith with goodness (KJV = virtue),
goodness with knowledge,
knowledge with self-control (KJV = temperance),
perseverance with godliness,
godliness with brotherly affection (KJV = kindness), and
brotherly affection with love (agape).
8 For if you have these qualities in abundance, they keep you from being barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
9 Indeed, whoever lacks them is blind, so short-sighted that he forgets that his past sins have been washed away.
Furnish––Webster's to provide for or supply
The Lord has given us all thing that we need to live in godliness.
Ephesians 5:23-27
The Lord compares our relationship to Him as a marriage. We are to give ourselves to Him and not at all to the world and worldly ways.
V27 ...that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of the water by the Word.
-sanctify––to consecrate: as being set apart of God and sent by Him for the performance of His will
by the Word: John 17:17
-reason: to present a glorious church...
Romans 12:1-3. Read in CJB
–offer self sacrifice
KJV present your bodies
living sacrifice ––– as alive unto God, ready to be of service
reasonable service––worship
holy ––– blameless in heart and life; set apart from the common to a sacred use
spoken of priest Revelation 1:6 He has made us kings and priests
5:9-10
1 Peter 2:5, 9
kings: rule and reign. priest: intercede and minister to others
Matthew 28:18-26 James 5:16
Mark 16:15-18 1 Timothy 2:1-2
V 6. Don't defraud in ANY matter
The Lord will take vengeance
Hebrews 10:30 vengeance is Mine
He is watching out for His people
V7. We are called to holiness keeping ourselves pure for Him, as a witness before and to others.
V7–8. CJB–– For God did not call us to live an unclean life but a holy one. Therefore, whoever rejects this teaching is rejecting not a man but God, indeed, the One Who gives you the
Ruach HaKodesh, Who is His.
V9 John 13:34-35 (pg 1340) A new commandment
New––2537 Kahee-nos. new, especially in freshness, newly made, not impaired by time or use, current, not known before, newly introduced. Spoken of a new doctrine, commandment or precept.
V10. You do this
but we beseech you to increase more and more
V11. Now here is something!!
Study 5389 to be fond of honor, i.e. emulous em u lus (eager, or earnest to do something): labor, strive, study
Quiet 2270 to keep still, refrain from meddlesomeness or speech; to be quiet, to live quiet.
and to work with your own hands
as we commanded you
V11-12 CJB. Also, make it your ambition to live quietly, to mind your own business and to earn your living by your own efforts –– just as we told you. Then your daily life will gain the respect of outsiders, and you will not be dependent on anyone.
There are a lot of verses that talk about not using much words.
study 5389––in eagerness and earnestness
quiet 2270–– to keep still; i.e. refrain from labor, meddlesomeness or –– cease, hold peace, be quiet, rest. To be quiet, live quiet, be silent, keep oneself from speaking.
We don't need to go around correcting everyone and poking into everyone's lives. We need to be good witnesses for the Lord, mainly just by the way we live our lives; by the way we conduct ourselves.
V12 Two reasons: First and foremost–to be honest before the unbelievers. It is a very bad witness to defraud. People do watch and see even when we don't realize it.
Second–to lack nothing. The Bible says when we give it will be given unto us more than what we gave. We honor God through our giving.
V13. Evidently the Thessalonians were concerned about the believers who already have died would miss Jesus' coming back.
God doesn't want us to grieve as unbelievers grieve. We have the hope of seeing our loved ones again.
V14. Sleep=koy may sis taking a rest, reposing
When Jesus returns He is bringing them with Him!!
V15. shall not prevent= to be before hand
V16. those who have died in Christ will rise first
V17. then we...shall be caught up together with them in the clouds
Clouds––Hebrews 12:1-3. Great cloud of witnesses
So shall we ever be with the Lord!!!!
V18 Comfort one another with these words.
