Conclusion 1 Thessalonians chapter5

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Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idols encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 lThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Commentary

The first thing Paul is to instruct the people to is to treat those who are in leadership positions to be treated with love. Paul goes on to give several commands to the Thessalonians. For our purposes, we will separate the exhortations in this section into four parts, each of which addresses a certain response that is required from those living and worshiping together in a community. They are: (1) respecting the leadership (5:12 – 13); (2) ministering to others (5:14 – 15); (3) keeping the focus on God (5:16 – 18); and (4) keeping order in worship (5:19 – 22).1



. Paul indicated that they are to have love one another, encourage the faint hearted and be patient will everybody. They are to see that no one repays evil for evil. Putting the eve for and eye and evil for evil to rest such it is not to be seen among the church. They are always to do good to one another. Then Paul uses some encouraging words “rejoice always, pray without ceasing give thanks always. Paul wants us to abstain from any form of evil.”    

            Paul then says a prayer for the Thessalonians for them to be sanctified completely. Then Paul makes a request that the church pray for him and is compatriots. Greet another with the Holy Kiss. We no longer observe that during our time of passing of the peace. Paul urges them to pray for him and his companions. Paul them puts them under obligation to read this letter to all the church. In Paul’s days many were illiterate and did not possess their own copy of the Bible so they would need to have it read to them. And finally, Paul wishes the grace and peace upon the congregation.  

            As we think about living the story today, I think it is important to emphasize again that everything Paul has said in this section is to the community as a whole. Nothing was addressed to an individual. For Paul and the early church everything was done together, whether leading, praying, or listening to the Spirit. And what applied to the Thessalonians two thousand years ago still stands for us today.2











2Byron, John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 194). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.


1Byron, John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 194). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition

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