I Thessalonians 2
History lesson to churchverses 1-3
For yourselves – brethren – know our entrance in unto you
that it was not in vain but even after
that we had suffered before
and were shamefully entreated
as you know – at Philippi – we were bold in our God to speak
to you the gospel of God with much contention
For our exhortation was not of deceit – nor of uncleanness – nor in guile
God examines motivesverses 4-6
BUT as we were allowed of God
to be put in trust with the gospel
even so we speak
not as pleasing men
BUT God – which tries our hearts
FOR neither at any time use we flattering words
as you know
nor a cloak of covetousness
God is witness
Nor of men sought we glory
neither of you – nor yet of others
when we might have been burdensome
as the apostles of Christ
Treatment of people importantverses 7-8
BUT we were gentle among you
even as a nurse cherishes her children
so being affectionately desirous of you
we were willing to have imparted to you
not the gospel of God only
but also our own souls
BECAUSE ye were dear unto us
Paul’s personal provision for ministryverses 9-12
FOR you remember – brethren – our labor and travail
FOR laboring night and day
BECAUSE we would not be chargeable to any of you
we preached to you the gospel of God
You are witnesses and God also – how holily and justly
and unblameably we behaved ourselves
among you that believe
as you know how we exhorted
comforted – charged
every one of you
as a father does his children
that you would walk worthy of God
WHO has called you to HIS kingdom and glory
Acceptance of message of Paulverse 13
FOR this cause also thank we God without ceasing
BECAUSE – when ye received the word of God
which you heard of us
you received it not as the word of men
BUT as it is in truth the word of God
which effectually work also in you that believe
Persecution part of the Christian lifeverses 14-16
FOR you – brethren – became followers of the churches of God
which in Judea are in Christ Jesus
FOR you also have suffered like things of your
own countrymen – even as they have of the Jews
who both killed the Lord Jesus
and their own prophets
and have persecuted us
and they please not God – and are contrary to all men
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles
that they might be saved
to fill up their sins always
FOR the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost
Hindrances of Satan to ministryverses 17-20
But we – brethren – being taken from you for a short time in presence
not in heart endeavored the more abundantly
to see your face with great desire
WHEREFORE we would have come unto you
even I Paul – once and again but Satan hindered us
FOR what is our hope or joy
or crown of rejoicing?
Are not even you in the presence of our
Lord Jesus Christ at HIS coming?
FOR you are our glory and joy
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts. (1381 “tries” [dokimazo] means to approve, judge as good, to test, allow, entrusted, discern, examine, prove, or scrutinize)
DEVOTION: This word is used twice in the same verse. Paul explains to the believers that they were shamefully treated in Philippi for presenting the gospel of God. Their message caused much contention there.
Now they are in Thessalonia and their message is the same. It is not given in deceit or uncleanness or in falsehood or because they are trying to get money from the people. They are not trying to please men. They are only pleasing God.
Paul is stating that God checks out the hearts of those who are preaching the gospel. Paul knows that some people preach the gospel to hurt the cause of Christ. Most want to please men because they love the praise of men. However, God knows the motivation behind everyone who presents the Gospel.
Pastors have to make sure that when they are preaching the gospel that they want to see souls in heaven and not just in their church. Pastor/teachers are trusted with a message from God to the world. Our outward actions sometimes seem to be in line with what Christ wants in our lives. Sometimes our words are what Christ wants us to say. However, God looks inside to see what are real motives are for our actions and words. HE sees into our soul and KNOWS who we are.
Don’t try to fool God. HE knows what is going on in our lives. We need to keep short accounts with God. Before any preacher enters the pulpit, he should have confessed his sin to the LORD. The world needs to hear the good news. The good news is that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose from the grave. There is only one way to heaven and that is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Some pastors believe there are other ways. They are false teachers. Don’t follow them.
Continue to realize that all believers are ministers. As a minister we have the responsibility to reach everyone in our world with the Gospel.
CHALLENGE: It is not just the pastor/preacher’s responsibility to reach those in your world. It is yours!!! And we have to do it with the right motives and methods.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted to you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us. (27 “dear” [agapetos] means dearly loved and cherished, object of one’s affections, beloved, prized, or esteemed)
DEVOTION: The motivation to serve the LORD has to be one of love. Love that is described in I Corinthians 13 is the type of love Paul had toward these believers. It is love that is not selfish. It is not a love that is full of false pride. It is a love of genuinely caring about a group of people.
This love produced a message concerning the good news of the gospel. They taught them about the love God had for them through the death of HIS Son, Jesus Christ. They wanted them to know that there was a offer there for everyone to turn from their sins and repent. There was a way to have a new relationship with God that only brings joy.
When they shared the gospel they also shared themselves. They were not just strangers to those who became followers of Jesus but they were friends as well. We are to continue a relationship with those who became followers of Jesus Christ through our ministry. A friend never leaves those they love behind. They pray for them the rest of their life.
CHALLENGE: Love cares to be available to those who need help at any time.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. (1912 “chargeable” [epibareo] means overcharge, to put a burden upon, to load, be a financial burden, excessively weigh down, to be heavy upon or be expensive to)
DEVOTION: Paul had his standards. He went into a new community to reach them for the LORD. He set up his tent making business. He made tents days and night so that he didn’t have to ask those who came to Christ for money to support his ministry with them.
In the letter he was reminding them that he never charged them any money for his ministry. He wanted them to know that he didn’t go into the ministry to make money off the people who he ministered to. He would accept money after he left the area if they wanted to support his ministry in other cities. Some supported him and others never did. That goes with the territory of serving the LORD.
Every pastor needs to realize that they are not supported in the ministry by the local church because if they looked at that source some would not be happy because some churches don’t pay the pastor enough to make ends meet and think nothing of it.
However, every pastor needs to realize that their money comes from the LORD alone. HE promises to supply our every need. We will never be rich in the ministry or at least we should expect it because money can hinder our ministry.
Paul wants us to realize that HE was not doing it for the money or the prestige. He was doing it for the LORD alone. He suffered misunderstanding just like every minister does today. Some people think that the pastor is only after their money. That is a lie from the enemy. Any Biblical pastor is there because the LORD has called him to service.
The ones who are only after the money will use flattery rather than the words of Scripture to train those under their ministry. We are not to use flattery to cause people to become believers because their belief will be based on a lie.
When we visit with people we need to always try to help them realize that you are there because you care. Not because you are looking for money for your ministry.
CHALLENGE: Yes, money is necessary for ministry but the LORD will provide it through those the Holy Spirit instructs to give.
: 11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father does his children. (3143 “charged” [marturomai] means to solemnly assert something, offering firsthand authentication of the fact, often concerning gave or important matters, to testify, to witness, urge, affirm, or attest)
DEVOTION: The relationship between Paul and those who became followers of Jesus through his ministry was like that of a father with his children. This relationship is very important to the LORD. The LORD gives special instructions for fathers and their relationship to their children. Those who are fathers and even grandfathers need to look into the Word of God for instructions on how to raise those HE has given them for a short time to train for their future life away from their parents.
This word seems to mean that fathers are to be encouragers of their children. Fathers are there to give them a shot of to make them feel better about themselves in all their activities of life.
They are to be there to pick them up when they fail. They are not there to cause more frustration over any given activity. Fathers are to lift the spirits of their children.
Finally, fathers are there to urge their children to keep moving ahead in life. They are to help them learn from their mistakes but not bring them up over and over again. They are just to help them keep moving toward another goal in life.
CHALLENGE: It is important for every father who is a Christian to be an encourager of this children. That is part of the training they need to receive. Leaders in a Biblical church are to do the same.
:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. (1465 “hindered” [egkopto] means 1 to cut into, to impede one’s course by cutting off his way. 2 hinder. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: Have you ever been in a position where you felt something was God’s will for your life, and yet the door was closed? That happened to Paul. He wanted to come back to the church at Thessalonica which he had started, and yet he wasn’t able to do so because he was in prison. His plans to go and visit these believers had been thwarted more than once. In fact, his first visit to this church was a direct result of God closing the door for him to go back into Turkey during his second missionary journey (Acts 17)!
That means that we can be wrong about thinking that we know God’s will for our lives. He ultimately knows sovereignly what is best for us, and chooses those things that will help us grow more in the character of His Son. Paul was no doubt disappointed by his inability to visit these believers based on the tender love that he had for them. Yet, he was willing to release this in order to see God’s true will fulfilled (including the writing of this letter as part of Scripture).
Still, this verse also teaches that Satan has a role in blocking some things in our lives. Since God has given Satan some authority over this world and the people in it, Satan is able to orchestrate circumstances in a way that it appears he blocks God’s will. God allows this so that we will learn to fully trust Him in spite of our circumstances. Just look at the life of Job and see how much freedom Satan was given by God to test Job.
So there is a real enemy out there (Satan) who desires to stop God’s work. He is described as a roaring lion and an adversary, one who is the accuser of the brethren before God. His hindrances are only partial, as he is not able to frustrate the ultimate plans of our Almighty God!
CHALLENGE: Are you doubting any aspect of God’s will for your life at the present time? Maybe that is Satan trying to cause you to doubt the goodness and power of God. Confess this to the Lord, and ask Him to help you see Him as He really is. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Paul thanks God without ceasing for themverse 13
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Gospelverses 2, 4, 9
Word of Godverse 13
Works effectually in belieververse 13
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 2, 4, 5, 8-10, 12, 13, 15
Gospel of Godverses 2, 8, 9
Allowed of Godverse 4
Tries heartsverse 4
Witness of Godverse 5
Word of Godverse 13
Churches of Godverse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 6, 14, 19
Apostles of Christ verse 6
Jesusverses 14, 15, 19
Christ Jesusverse 14
Lordverses 15, 19
Lord Jesusverse 15
Lord Jesus Christverse 19
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Satan hinders believersverse 18
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Philippiverse 2
Menverse 6
Nurse cherishes her childrenverse 7
Father does childrenverse 11
Gentilesverse 16
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Shamefully entreatedverse 2
Contentionverse 2
Deceitverse 3
Uncleannessverse 3
Guileverse 3
Pleasing menverse 4
Flattering wordsverse 5
Cloak of covetousnessverse 5
Seek glory of menverse 6
Word of menverses 13
Forbiddingverses 16
Sinsverses 16
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Sufferedverses 2, 14
Boldverse 2
Exhortationverse 3
Put in trust gospelverse 4
God tries the heartverse 4
Gentleverse 7
Affectionately desirous of fellow believersverse 8
Labor and travailverse 9
Witnessesverse 10
Holilyverse 10
Justlyverse 10
Unblameablyverse 10
Behaviorverse 10
Believeverses 10, 13
Exhortedverse 11
Comfortedverse 11
Chargedverse 11
Walk worthyverse 12
Calledverse 12
Thankverse 13
Truthverse 13
Received Word of Godverse 13
Effectually works in believersverse 13
Followersverse 14
Savedverse 16
Hopeverse 19
Joyverses 19, 20
Crown of rejoicingverse 19
Gloryverse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Judaeaverse 14
Fellow Jews (countrymen)verse 14
Jewsverse 14
Jews killed the Lord Jesusverse 15
Jews killed their own prophetsverse 15
Christians persecuted by Jewsverse 15
Jews please not Godverse 15
Jews contrary to all menverse 15
Jews forbid speaking to Gentilesverse 16
Church (New Testament people of God)
Brethrenverses 1, 9, 14, 17
Gospelverses 2, 4, 8, 9
Speak gospelverse 2
Exhortationverses 3, 11
Allowed of God to preach gospelverse 4
Apostles of Christverse 6
Gospel of Godverses 8, 9
Fellow believer dearverse 8
Labor and travailverse 9
Not chargeable verse 9
Churches of Godverse 14
Paul endeavoring to see churchverse 17
Last Things (Future Events)
Called to kingdom of God verse 12
Wrathverse 16
In presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at HIS comingverse 19
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QUOTES regarding passage
19 Paul’s rhetorical questions tie the Thessalonians into Paul’s anticipation of the Lord Jesus’ coming and presence. They will bring him joy and be a victor’s wreath for him to glory in at that future moment of truth. As always with Paul, this is a boasting or glorying in what God has done (cf. 1 Cor 1:31), not in personal accomplishment (Rom 3:27; 4:2; cf. 2 Cor 1:14; Philippians 2:16).
Interrupting his own question, he anticipates the answer: “Is it not you?” The untranslated kai (“even”) in this answer heightens the effect of his statement: “Is it not [in fact] you?” This is Paul’s answer to those who say he did not care for the Thessalonian Christians. The future event Paul is looking toward is identical with the appearance of every Christian before the bema (“judgment seat”) of Christ (2 Cor 5:10), where the works of every Christian will be evaluated. Because of his converts’ evident spiritual attainments, Paul feels that this will be an occasion of joy and victory
“When he comes” translates the literal meaning—“in [or at] his presence [or coming].” Here the noun is parousia, which in extrabiblical Greek sometimes meant a ruler’s visit to a certain place. Parousia comes from two words: “to be” and “present.” It may point to the moment of arrival to initiate a visit or it may focus on the stay initiated by the arrival. In the NT the word applies to the return of Jesus Christ. The various facets of this future visit are defined by the contexts in which parousia appears. In this instance it is Jesus’ examination of his servants subsequent to his coming for them (4:15–17) that is in view. (Thomas, R. L. (1981). 1 Thessalonians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 262). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Crown of glorying (στεφανος καυχησεως [stephanos kauchēseōs]). When a king or conqueror came on a visit he was given a chaplet of glorying. Paul is answering the insinuation that he did not really wish to come. At his coming (ἐν τῃ αὐτου παρουσιᾳ [en tēi autou parousiāi]). This word παρουσια [parousia] is untechnical (just presence from παρειμι [pareimi]) in 2 Thess. 2:9; 1 Cor. 16:17; 2 Cor. 7:6f.; 10:10; Phil. 1:26; 2:12. But here (also 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2 Thess. 2:1, 8; 1 Cor. 15:23) we have the technical sense of the second coming of Christ. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, pp. 372ff.) notes that the word in the papyri is almost technical for the arrival of a king or ruler who expects to receive his “crown of coming.” The Thessalonians, Paul says, will be his crown, glory, joy when Jesus comes. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Th 2:19–1 Th 3). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press).
2:19–20. Paul’s affection rose to its climax in this almost lyrical passage. The Philippian believers were the only others who received such warm words of personal love from Paul.
He voiced a rhetorical question to heighten the intensity of his fervor. In effect he asked what would be the greatest blessing he could possibly receive at the judgment seat of Christ. They were! They were everything that was worth anything to Paul. They were his hope; their development was what he lived for as a parent lives to see his children grow up to maturity, to produce and reproduce. They were his joy, they filled his life with sunshine as he thought of what they used to be, what they had become, and what they would be by the grace of God. They were his crown; they themselves were the symbol of God’s blessing on his life and ministry. They were his glory and joy, and not only his but also the glory and joy of his companions in labor. Paul said in essence, “When life is over and we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming, you Thessalonians will be our source of glory and joy; you mean that much to us.”
This profession of affection should have removed any thoughts from the Thessalonian Christians’ minds that Paul had not returned because he was unconcerned or selfish. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 697). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
In times of trouble and testing, it is important that we take the long view of things. Paul lived in the future tense, as well as in the present. His actions were governed by what God would do in the future. He knew that Jesus Christ would return and reward him for his faithful ministry; and on that day, the saints from Thessalonica would bring glory to God and joy to Paul’s heart. As the familiar song says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.”
The fact that we shall one day stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ ought to motivate us to be faithful in spite of difficulties. We must remember that faithfulness is the important thing (1 Cor. 4:2). At the Judgment Seat of Christ, our works will be judged and rewards will be given (Rom. 14:10–12; 1 Cor. 4:1–5; 2 Cor. 5:9–10). In his letters, Paul often pictured these rewards as crowns. The word used signified the “victor’s crown” at the races, not the royal crown of the king. It is the word stephanos from which we get the names Stephen and Stephanie.
Paul did not say that he would receive a crown, though this is suggested. He said that the saints themselves would be his crown when he met them at the Judgment Seat. To be sure, some of the believers in the church were not living as they should, and some were a burden to Paul. But when he looked ahead and saw them in glory, they brought joy to his heart.
This joy of greeting believers in heaven also brings with it a solemn warning: we will lose joy if we go to heaven empty-handed. The Christian who has not sincerely tried to win others to Christ will not experience this glory and joy when Jesus Christ returns. It is not enough to “wait for His Son” (1 Thes. 1:10). We must also witness for God and work for His Son, so that when we get to heaven, we will have trophies to present for His glory. There is a special joy and reward for the soul winner (Dan. 12:3).
There is also a crown for the believer who subdues his body and keeps it controlled for the glory of God (1 Cor. 9:24–27). Self-control is produced by the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Since our bodies are God’s temples, we must be careful not to defile them. The ultimate in giving the body to God is dying for His sake; and for this there is a crown (Rev. 2:10). Those who lovingly look for Christ’s appearing will receive the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8). The faithful pastor can anticipate the “crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4).
We must never look on future rewards as a means of showing up the other saints. Like the elders described in Revelation 4:4 (a picture of the glorified church), we will worship the Lord and lay our crowns at His feet (Rev. 4:10). After all, our work was done in his power and for His glory, so He deserves all the praise.
The fact that God promises rewards to us is another evidence of His grace. God could demand our service simply on the basis of all He has done for us. Our motive for serving Him is love. In His grace, He gives us rewards so that we may have something to give Him in return.
When the Christians at Thessalonica read this letter, it must have encouraged them tremendously. They were going through intense persecution and suffering, and perhaps some of them were tempted to give up.
“Don’t give up!” Paul encouraged them. “Lay hold of the spiritual resources you have in Jesus Christ. You have the Word of God within you, the people of God around you, and the glory of God before you. There is no need to give up.” (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 170–171). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
2:19 crown of exultation. The Bible speaks of eternal life like a wreath awarded for an athletic victory. It is spoken of in terms of: 1) the imperishable wreath that celebrates salvation’s victory over corruption (1Co 9:25); 2) the righteous wreath that celebrates salvation’s victory over unrighteousness (2Ti 4:8); 3) the unfading wreath of glory that celebrates salvation’s victory over defilement (1Pe 5:4); 4) the wreath of life that celebrates salvation’s victory over death (Jas 1:12, Rev 2:10); and here 5) the wreath of exultation which celebrates salvation’s victory over Satan and mankind’s persecution of believers. at His coming. “Coming,” or parousia, lit. means “to be present.” It can be understood as: 1) actual presence (Php 2:2); 2) moment of arrival (1Co 16:17); or 3) expected coming (2Co 7:6). In regard to Christ and the future, it can refer to: 1) Christ’s coming at the Rapture (4:15), or 2) Christ’s second coming prior to His 1,000 year millennial reign (Mt 24:37; Rev 19:11–20:6). Paul referred directly to Christ’s coming 4 times in 1Th (see also 3:13; 4:15; 5:23) and once indirectly (1:10). Context indicates Paul most likely refers here to Christ’s coming for the rapture of the church. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Th 2:19). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 19. For what is our hope, or joy, &c.] The apostle here gives a reason why they were so concerned at parting with the Thessalonians, and were so desirous of seeing them again, and attempted it so often, because they were their hope; not the foundation of it, which was Christ; nor the thing hoped for, which was eternal life; nor the ground of their hope, which was the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ; but they were persons whom they hoped well of, and of whom their hope was steadfast; as of their election of God, of their redemption by Christ, of their effectual calling, of their perseverance in faith and holiness, notwithstanding all reproach and persecution; and of meeting the Lord, and being together with him for ever: and they were also their joy; their conversion was matter of joy to them, because of the glory of God, Father, Son, and Spirit, displayed therein; because of the abundant grace bestowed on these persons; and because that hereby the kingdom of Satan was weakened, and the kingdom of Christ enlarged, and his churches increased and beautified; and their own ministry was blessed and confirmed, and their hearts and hands strengthened, and they encouraged to go on in it: and they continued to be their joy, inasmuch as they stood fast in the Lord, walked on in the truth, and had their conversations as became the Gospel of Christ; and they were persuaded would be their joy hereafter, at the second coming of Christ; when they should give up their account of them with joy, and not with grief: and ’tis added, or crown of rejoicing; or of glorying, or boasting; not that they gloried in them, for they gloried not in men, but in the Lord, in his righteousness, riches, wisdom, strength, and grace, in the person, blood, and cross of Christ; but they gloried of them, as trophies of divine grace, as a prey taken out of the hand of the mighty, and as lawful captives delivered from the power of Satan, and of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of Christ. The Alexandrian copy reads, as we render it, crown of rejoicing: which is but a stronger phrase, to express the joy they had in their conversion and perseverance, in allusion to crowns wore at times of rejoicing, as at marriage-feasts, and the like: hence we read of the crowns of the bridegrooms, and of the brides, which were forbidden the use of in the war of Vespasian; the latter were made of gold, in the form of the city of Jerusalem, and from thence called golden citiesk; and the former, some say, were made of salt and sulphur, to put them in mind of the destruction of the Sodomites, for their unnatural lusts; others of a salt-stone as clear as crystal, or of the stone Bdellium, painted in the colour of sulphur; and some were made of myrtles and roses, but in the war of Vespasian only those made of reeds were usedn; these crowns at weddings seem to be the beautiful crowns in Ezek. 23:42 where the Septuagint use the same phrase as here, ςεφανον καυχησεως, a crown of rejoicing, or glorying: the Hebrew phrase עטרת תפארת, may be rendered a crown of glory, as the phrase here is by the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions; but does not mean the crown of glory, life, righteousness, and immortality, the apostle expected at the hands of Christ another day; nor that his being an instrument of the conversion of these persons was the ground of such an expectation, or was what entitled him to such a crown; since he knew that conversion-work was owing to the powerful grace of God, and the crown of eternal life was his free gift; but that it would be an honour to him, and give him abundant joy and pleasure at the coming of Christ, to be encircled with such a number of souls he had been useful to, and who were his spiritual children; just as children’s children are the crown of old men, Prov. 17:6 all this is put by way of question, which strongly affirms, are not even ye; or ye also, as well as others, as the Corinthians and Philippians; see 2 Cor. 1:7; Phil. 1:6, 7 and 4:1. In the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? to judge the quick and dead, when both they and these should meet him, and stand before him with confidence, being clothed with his righteousness, and clad with robes of immortality and glory. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 225–226). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
By power I do not mean wealth. We are the richest people on the earth; nineteen-twentieths of all the wealth or all the money in the United States today [1914] is in the hands of professing Christians, Catholic and Protestant. That ought to mean that it is in God’s hands; but it doesn’t. They are robbing God. I was in a church in Iowa that had three members who were worth $200,00 each and they paid their preacher the measly salary of $600 a year, and I will be hornswaggled if they did not owe him $400 then. If I ever skinned any old fellows I did those old stingy coots. A man who doesn’t pay to the church is as big a swindler as a man who doesn’t pay his grocery bill and he is dead-bearing his way to hell. You let somebody else pay your bills, you old dead-beat.God hasn’t any more use today for a dead-beat in the church than he has for the man who doesn’t pay his grocery bill – not a bit! (p. 304, “Billy” Sunday: The Man and His Message by William T. Ellis)
TRIALS
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. John 17:15
God’s way is not to take us out of the difficulties and trials, not to avoid them. His way is to enable us and to strengthen us, so that we can go through them with heads erect and undefeated, more than conquerors in them and over them. And that is a wonderful thing.
We must never grumble at our lot, nor ask doubting questions. We must rather believe that there is always a purpose in these trials, if we can but see it; we must believe that God has laid this thing upon us and that He has left us in this situation in order that we may show forth His glory. The disciples were left in the world to do that, and you and I can be certain that whatever we may be passing through at this moment is a part of God’s plan and purpose for us to show forth His glory.
The world may not recognize you; it may ignore and dismiss you, and others may get all they want from the world. Do not worry about it. The saints have experienced the same thing, and Christ knew something similar: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!” (Luke 6:26). All is well—you are fulfilling the glory of God even as you go through a trial. Paul came to see that about his thorn in the flesh. “All right, God,” he says in effect, “I asked You three times to remove it, but You are leaving it. I see now that Your glory is going to be shown through me. Very well, I will glory in this infirmity. I will stop asking You to take it away. It is really when I am weak that Your power is made manifest in me and through me.” So we must never grumble. We must gladly accept what He allows and remember that we are fulfilling the glory of God.
A Thought to Ponder: We must never grumble at our lot, nor ask doubting questions. (From Safe in the World, pp. 155-156, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jesus continues teaching with parables, then returns to His hometown of Nazareth.
INSIGHT
Throughout His ministry, there are periods during which Jesus teaches extensively in parables. Often the multitudes do not understand the meaning of the parables, but Jesus is careful to explain them to His disciples.
This pattern is illustrative of God’s ways: to those who are the most receptive to truth, the Lord grants understanding.
However, for those who do not receive the truth, greater understanding is not given. Light received brings greater light; light rejected leaves darkness. If you hunger for greater spiritual understanding, it is vital that you strive for faithfulness in what you do understand. Then light received can bring more light in your life. (Quiet Walk)
Glorious Holiness
“Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)
Our finite minds would never grasp the idea of holiness if not for the revelation granted to us in the Scriptures. God’s “separateness” requires even the awesome four-faced, sixwinged Seraphim to “rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
Samuel’s gentle mother, praying before the tabernacle, was no doubt moved by the Spirit of God to proclaim, “There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee” (1 Samuel 2:2). Her short statement of faith is the core of holiness—the separate unique character that only the Creator of the universe can possess.
Those who have been “born again” (John 3:3) are called “saints” (Romans 1:7) when they were “created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). Our “holiness” is part of the “gift of God” from the One who is holy, “without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Because our Creator, Lord, and King is “righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works” (Psalm 145:17), it should come as no surprise that “as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
The “great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4) given to us by our gracious Lord are the spiritual means by which we can “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Our destiny is sure. Our duty is clear. “Yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength” (Isaiah 49:5).
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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