CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:1:  “Silvanus” = Silas.  The name means, “god of the woods” or “woodland.”  Here is my First Peter 5:9 Note:  This postscript most likely was in Peter’s own handwriting, as Paul did (see 2Th. 3:17; Gal. 6:11-18).  If so, then “Silvanus” would correlate to “Silas,” who was the bearer of this Epistle also.  Paul uses this same name in Second Corinthians 1:19 & First Thessalonians 1:1, whom we know to be referring to Silas.

 

Thus, Paul, along with contributors Silas, and Timothy, are the authors of the Epistle.  Silas was an esteemed member of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:22); a prophet (Acts 15:32); and a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).

 

“Timotheus” = Timothy.  The name means, “honoring God.”  He is mentioned in five of Paul’s Epistles.  The Greek meaning of the name, as spelled out in the “LXX,” is “assembled people of God.”

 

1:4:  “your election” = See my Bible Study:  “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED.”  God has “elected,” better, “chosen,” all to be saved.  Some (like Satan) have decided not to be.

 

“of God” = From “Blind Guides” by G.A. Riplinger, page 46:  “The decision as to whether ‘of’ (genitive) is subjective or objective is a perennial question in any language.  Look at any English sentence.  Does ‘the love of God’ mean God’s love (YES) or one’s love for God (NO).  Look at another phrase -- ‘the love of money.’  Is it one’s love for money (YES) or money’s love (NO).  In First Thessalonians 1:4 the question, in Greek or English, remains.  Is it God’s election of us or our election of God?  The text as it stands in the KJV allows both interpretations; this is fair and right. . . Any lexicon lists both ‘of’ and ‘by’ as appropriate for ‘hupo’ [Greek].”

 

However, the word “your” is not so helpful.  It can mean, “God elected you.”  By contrast, “your election of God” means, “You elect God,” instead of, “God elects you.”  How can we know this?  We must go to the contextual structure of the paragraph.  From the structure of verse 3, we can learn that it was “your work of faith” that brought about “love, and patience” and “hope.”  Continuing on then, it would also be “your election of God.”

 

1:5:  “in power” = The “power” of course, of “the Holy Ghost.”  The Holy Spirit without the Word is powerless; the Word without the Holy Spirit is powerless.  See First Timothy 3:16.

 

1:8:  “sounded out” = The Greek is “execheo,” which is derived from “echos,” meaning “a loud noise, trumpet, thunderclap.”  Your words that come out of your mouth to teach others of your Christ is more powerful than any media blitz.

 

1:9:  “idols” = Paul is speaking not just of the false “idols” made to represent false gods.  But of anything that gets between you “serving the Living God.”

 

1:10:  “to wait for His Son from Heaven” = It has been calculated that this Second Coming statement (doctrine) is the most frequently mentioned doctrine in the New Testament:  approximately one (1) out of every thirteen (13) verses.

 

“which delivered us from the wrath to come” = Anyone can see that this is improper English, because it is stated as if it has already happened.  Either “delivered,” Greek, “rhuomai,” should be translated as present tense as “delivers,” or “to come,” Greek, “erchomai,” should be present tense translated as, “arising; appearing.”  The Greek word “rhuomai” better fits as it carries with it the concept of “current” action.

 

That argument set aside, what Paul is referencing to (in my humble opinion), is that Christ WILL deliver His Own at the end of the time of trouble for sure, and may even deliver some “from the wrath to come,” just as Methuselah died just before the global flood.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

2:4:  “allowed of God” = The Hebrew for “allowed” is “dokimazo,” which really means, “approved of God.”  Its associated word is “dedokimasmetha,” which means, “putting to the test,” as you would coins being tested for genuineness.  In other words, back in Paul’s day, testing for the correct “weight” of the coin.

 

2:5:  “flattering” = A smooth-tongued discourse fiving a favorable impression to gain over others for selfish advantages.  Sometimes you friends can be more dangerous than your enemies.  Why?  Because often you do not expect such actions from them; whereas you do from your enemies.

 

“cloke” = A spacious pretext which conceals the real motive.

 

2:6:  “we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ” = In regards to the word “burdensome,” it could also be better translated as “used authority.”  In other words, Paul and others providing the ministry, could have demanded support from their brethren, thus becoming a burden to their flock in order to maintain them; so the Greek implies.  Paul also refused to accept support from the Corinthian (1Co. 9:11-12) and Ephesian (Acts 20:34) Churches.

 

Why was this important to Paul?  It cut off criticism (2Co. 11:7-12); it proved his unselfish love for them (2Co. 12:13-18); it set an example (2Th. 3:7-9); it allowed him to share his meager means with those in need (Acts 20:34-35); without being responsible to anyone for how he used his (their) money.

 

2:12:  “walk worthy” = The Greek is “peripateo,” where “peri” means “walk,” and “pateo” means “about” or “around.”  It is in “present Tense” and is tied to “moral conduct.”  The meaning that Paul is stressing is “the habitual conduct of one’s daily life.”

 

2:15:  “contrary to all men” = From “Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible” we read:  “They do not merely differ from other people in customs and opinions -- which might be harmless -- but they keep up an active opposition to all other people.”  Paul understood that the Jews hostility to non-Jews was grounded not in their unnatural make-up, but in their rejection of the Gospel, and in their determination to thwart Its progress.  Going so far as to “forbid” Paul or anyone “to speak to the Gentiles” for their “salvation,” First Thessalonians 2:16.

 

2:18:  “Satan hindered us” = We are not told why or how; nor why God allowed it.  Compare with Second Corinthians 12:7.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

3:2:  “minister” = The Greek is “diakonos,” which whould be translated as “deacon.”  The literal meaning is a “table waiter.”  In other thought, “a server” or “servant.”  Thus, a true “deacon” is to supposed to “serve” in the Church.

 

3:3:  “we are appointed thereunto” = “Appointed thereunto” afflictions.”  Brought out again in verse 4, “suffer tribulation.”  Be prepared with the full armor of God (Ephesians, Chapter 6), for it will come; if it hasn’t already.  Pray that the lessons learned during them, are not wasted.  Read John 16:33.  “Afflictions; trials; and tribulations” are wonderful ways to text the salt of our belief.

 

3:5:  “tempter have tempted you” = Satan cannot touch any child of God without our Fathers permission (see the Account of Job; Luke 22:31-32).

 

3:10:  “praying exceedingly” = Praying for someone else’s welfare is ALWAYS appropriate.  And Paul’s prayer is contained in verses 11-13.

 

3:13:  “with all His saints” = The Greek word “Hagios” is translated “holy” 161 times, mostly referring to the Holy Ghost.   It is translated as “saints” 61 times, and “Holy One” 4 times.  In Matthew 25:31, “hagios” is translated “holy angels” which return with Christ, while in Matthew 27:52, “hagios” is translated “saints,” which arose with Christ.

 

In Luke 1:70, Acts 3:21, Ephesians 3:5, and Second Peter 3:2, “hagios” is again used to indicate the holiness of mankind, i.e., “prophets” (see also 1Pe. 3:5 and 2Pe. 1:21).  In Acts 6:13; 7:33; 21:28, “hagios” is used in reference to a Holy place.  In Romans 16:15, First Corinthians 1:2 and other places, we find a clear reference to the fact that this Greek word “hagios” can be used to mean “saints.”

 

If the Greek word “Hagios” simply means “holy ones,” as in referring only to God and angels, than it is not “the saints [that] shall judge the world,” First Corinthians 6:2, or “golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints,” Revelation 5:8; 8:3.  Therefore, since the word “hagios” can be translated either way here, i.e., “saints” or “holy ones,” as in angels (and the same is true for Jude 1:14), then this passage can only be referring to Christ’s Third Coming, since angels are not the “saints” in this passage.

 

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

4:2:  “commandments we gave you” = In addition to the Ten Commandments.  In Chapter 5, we will find 22 of these “commandments.”  However, he rabbles one of these off in verse 3, “that ye should abstain from fornication;” which encompasses more than just “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”  See Christ statement on looking at a woman.  And still another in verse 6, “no man go beyond and defraud his brother.”  Continuing, in verse 11 we have:  “study to be quiet,” “do your ow business,” “work with your own hands.”

 

That Paul received direct communications from our Lord, see Acts 9:5-6; 22:17-21; Galatians 1:12; 2:2; First Corinthians 11:23; First Thessalonians 4:15.

 

4:3:  “even your sanctification” = “Those who would gain the blessing of sanctification must first learn the meaning of self-sacrifice. . . So will it be with all who behold Christ.  The nearer we come to Jesus, and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like exalting ourselves.”  AA:560.

 

“Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience.”  AA:561.

 

“True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God.  We are to be sanctified to God through obedience to the truth.”  AA:565.

 

4:4:  “his vessel” = Mostly meaning just the sexual portions; but twe should consider it to mean he entire “body/vessel.”

 

4:5:  “concupiscence” = “Strong sexual desire.”

 

“Gentiles” = Normally used as meaning the “world” outside of Judaism (or Christianity in this case).  Formally used as non-Jews.  However, here Paul is using the term as those who are not Christians in an individual sense.  Completely understanding Paul meaning:  You are neither Jew nor Gentile; you are in Christ.  See Galatians 3:28.

 

4:8:  “also given” = The Greek concept is “continually gives.”

 

4:9:  “brotherly love” = Tertullian (155-220 A.D.), Christian historian, in quoted as stating, “Behold how these Christians love on another.”  That was the early Churches badge of honor and identity.  How is your church doing?

 

4:11:  “as we commanded you” = See my First Thessalonians 4:2 Note.

 

4:13:  “ignorant” = The Greek is “Agnos.”  But the Latin is “Ignoramus,” which is where we get our English word “ignorant” from.

 

4:14:  “bring with Him” = The Thessalonians were concerned over the fate of their dead brethren.  Paul was not discussing the nature of man, but is discussing the first resurrection.  The Bible nowhere teaches that the soul of man is immortal (“The soul that sinneth, it shall die” Eze. 18:4).

 

Paul is not speaking of immortal souls, but of “them which are asleep,” verse 13.   And “them also which sleep in Jesus,” verse 14, “the dead in Christ,” verse 16.  The “dead in Christ shall rise,” verse 16, and shall not DESCEND from Heaven.

 

Since man is mortal, and the Thessalonians new this, Paul was teaching them that their loved ones would live again.  If the dead had preceded the living and gone to Heaven at death, then the Apostle’s discourse (verses 15-17) would be quite meaningless, in fact, absurd.  Else why would Paul go to the trouble of teaching them that the dead in Christ will eventually be taken to Heaven if they were already there?  To dispel all their concerns, Paul simply would have told the Thessalonians that their loved ones were enjoying the bliss of Heaven.  To be sure, God will also “bring with Him” the living saints at His Third Coming, which is also not the discussion of Paul here.

 

“Many interpret this passage to mean that the sleeping ones will be brought with Christ from Heaven; but Paul meant that as Christ was raised from the dead, so God will call the sleeping saints from the graves, and take them with Him to Heaven.”  AA:259.

 

4:15:  “by the Word of the Lord” = Don’t skip over this:  This is not Paul’s own interpretation; this is what our Lord has revealed to Paul.  Paul either knew this from the Old Testament studies (Deu. 34:6 connected to Jude’s explanation of the dispute over Moses’ body -- and Elijah’s assent to Heaven), and also God could have revealed even more to Paul through visions or dreams.

 

“prevent” = This is an old English term meaning, “precede.”  Better, “go before.”

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4:16:  “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” = For the “shout” and “voice of the archangel,” being at the Second Coming of Christ, see also Revelation 16:17 for a “great voice.”  This “shout” is a Command.  For the last “trump of God” before the Second Coming of Christ, see Revelation 11:15 where “the seventh angel sounded.”  Also see Zechariah 9:14.  This “trump” is the trumpet of “the seventh angle” in Revelation 11:15.  Who this “archangel” really is, see Psalm 47:5.  Then see my Bible Study:  “MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, IDENTIFICATION OF,” which helps us to identify that “arch” means, “Leader of” the angels, but not one of the angels.  That Jesus is the One Who sounds the Trumpet, see all of EW:15-16.  Here is a sentence, “Then Jesus’ silver trumpet sounded, as He descended on the cloud [an enormous crowd of angels], wrapped in flames of fire.”  Other texts are John 5:25 & 28.

 

Take note that the breath of God (“shout” & “voice”), plus the new bodies of the righteous, become united as a living soul again.  This is confirmed By Jesus Himself in John 5:25, “when the dead shall hear the voice [breath] of the Son of God:  and they that hear [only the righteous] shall live [the unrighteous remain dead].”  If this is unclear see my Bible Study: “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT.”

 

“the dead in Christ shall rise first” = “All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb.  Adam, who stands among the risen throng, is of lofty height and majestic form, in stature but little below the Son of God.  He presents a marked contrast to the people of later generations; in this one respect is shown the great degeneracy of the race.  But all arise from their last deep slumber with the freshness and vigor of eternal youth.”  4SP:463.

 

4:17:  “we which are alive and remain” = “Enoch’s translation to Heaven just before the destruction of the world by a flood, represents the translation of all the living righteous from the earth previous to its destruction by fire.  The saints will be glorified in the presence of those who have hated them for their loyal obedience to God’s righteous Commandments.”  1SP:65.1.

 

“caught up” = The Greek is “harpazo,” meaning, “to seize, or to snatch away by a force which cannot be resisted.”  It is also used in this sense in Acts 23:10, where the centurion orders his troops to take Paul by force.  In the “Latin Vulgate” translation, the word used here is “rapturo,” meaning, “The Great Snatch.”  It is also where we get our English word “Rapture” from.

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“clouds” = Here is my Matthew 24:30 Note:  The “clouds” equals the angels (see Psa. 68:17; Matthew 16:27; 25:31; Luke 9:26; Second Thessalonians 1:7), as opposed to with His saints at the Third Coming (see First Thessalonians 3:13 & Jude 1:14).

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CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

5:ALL:  Here are the 22 Commandments alluded to in my First Thessalonians 4:2 Note:  “comfort; edify,” verse 11, “know them,” verse 12, “esteem them very highly; be at peace,” verse 13, “warn them; comfort the feebleminded; support the weak; be patient,” verse 14, “none render evil for evil; follow that which is good,” verse 15, “Rejoice evermore,” verse 16, “Pray without ceasing,” verse 17, “In every thing give thanks,” verse 18, “Quench not the Spirit,” verse 19, “Despise not prophesyings,” verse 20, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” verse 21, “Abstain from all appearance of evil,” verse 22, “pray for us [other believers],” verse 25, “Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss,” verse 26, “that this Epistle be read,” verse 27.

 

5:1:  “the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you” = “Paul had so fully covered the subject of the signs of the times, showing what events would occur prior to the revelation of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven, that he did not think it necessary to write at length regarding this subject.”  AA:259.4. [OH MY; our loss].

 

“a thief” = Please note what Paul makes marvelously clear:  It is not the Lord Who Comes as a thief -- it is the “Day of the Lord,” the time of His return, that sneaks up and surprises those who fail to watch.  Paul explicitly states in verse one, that this passage deals with “the times and the seasons.”  He is discussing here, not so much the manner of Christ’s Coming, but as to the time of Christ’s return.  By contrast, he is giving insight into when Christ will return; not how.

 

There is no reason, in logic or Scripture, for Jesus to Come for His people in the manner of a sneaky thief (an earthquake being hardly very sneaky; see 2Pe. 3:10).  If you told me that the father of the bride was state boxing champion, should I understand that the bride was good with HER FISTS?  Or is the bride simply the object of the preposition of, to identify which father you mean?  Elementary grammar rules dictate that the subject of the sentence is the “day,” not “the Lord.”

 

5:2:  “day of the Lord” = More information about this “day” is given in Second Peter 3:10.

 

5:3:  “travail upon a woman with child” = As “birth pains” come on suddenly, so it is idiomatic of the surprise of the wicked at the events that will take place during the “Time of Trouble.”  See Isaiah 13:8-9; 26:16-21; Jeremiah 4:31; Hosea 13:13; Micah 4:9.

 

5:4:  “that that day should overtake you as a thief” = I’m going to make a bold statement here.  All Seventh-Day Adventists should know the “day” Jesus Christ will Come a Second Time.

 

5:9:  “wrath” = The Greek is “orge,” and by implication and context implies “punishment,” or “damnation,” i.e., which leads to the “second death.”  To apply this verse as speaking of “the time of trouble,” and that the Church member will not go through it because of this verse is really pushing and drawing for straws, if-you-will.  The Christian is “not appointed to wrath,” because our God put it upon His son.  Otherwise, the non-Christian (the opposite being true) is “appointed to wrath.”  Do not put more into a verse than it deserves to support a (false) doctrine that would need such help.  The point is, “to obtain salvation.”  You do not want God made at you.

 

5:10:  “whether we wake of sleep” = Alive at the time of the Second Coming or in the grave then.

 

5:14:  “”unruly” = Or better, the disorderly.  Paul uses a military term here for “unruly.”

 

5:19:  “Quench not the Spirit” = According to Ephesians 4:30, Paul also tells us not to “grieve” the Holy Spirit.  Both of these texts teach us that the Holy Spirit is a personage because of having feelings.  Even more importantly, you cannot “grieve” someone who does not Love you.

 

5:23:  “spirit and soul and body” = See a parallel passage in Job 34:14, then see James 2:26.   To understand the proper relationship between “God’s Breath” and our “bodies,” See my Bible Study:  “DEATH, THE BIBLICAL TRUTH ABOUT.”

 

“spirit” = The Greek word “spirit,” translated incorrectly in this passage, is “pneuma,” from which we get our English word “pneumonia,” meaning:  “An inflammation of the lungs, breathing disorder, current of air, breeze.”

 

“soul” = The word “soul” in Greek is “psuche,” meaning, “breath” or “spirit.”  Thus, to be preserved until the Coming of our Lord, one must, “pneuma,” speak only truthful things; “breath,” breath in only truth; “spirit,” dwell on only spiritual things.  Therefore, the passage should read “your whole air and breath and body.”

 

5:28:  “grace” = This is one of Paul trademark sayings.  In a twist, Paul is the only one, who in all the Epistles, uses the word “grace.”  This is how we can know that Paul wrote the Letter to the Hebrews.