NOTES ON THESSALONIANS

I Thessalonians You hold a belief; a conviction holds you.

I Thessalonians 2 In verses 1-12 there are 5 negatives followed by 5 positives about Paul's ministry--

"For" in verses 14, 15, 16 signals more details being given each time.

I Thessalonians 4:4. The same meaning of vessel as in I Peter 3:7. Rabbi Akiba: "The pot in which 

your fellow did his cooking is not for you to cook in."

I Thessalonians 4:4-6. See I Corinthians 7:2-5.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

v. 15. unrecorded saying of Jesus

v. 17. "meet" = technical term used elsewhere in NT only for the parable of the wise and foolish virgins 

(Jewish custom of greeting the bridegroom) and at Acts 28:14-16 when Roman brethren greeted Paul 

as he approached the city (Roman custom applied to dignitaries such as kings approaching city). Image 

in both cases involves people going out to greet one who is approaching and then accompanying him to 

his destination. This is quite different from the common conception of the "rapture."

I Thessalonians 5:16 See parallel in Psalm 5:11.

I Thessalonians 5:19 is the same as "wise as serpents, innocent as doves." Also see 1 Corinthians 

14:20.

I Thessalonians 5:21 "good" = genuine, not a counterfeit. This is in analogy to the best way to detect a 

counterfeit bill. First fully acquaint yourself with the real thing.

I Thessalonians 5:22 form, or type, of evil, not appearance of evil.

I Thessalonians 5:23 Tripartite doctrine of human nature. But see Mark 12:30, Matthew 10:28, and

I Corinthians 5:5.

Soul = self-conscious side; spirit = God-conscious side.

In any case, "whole being" is implied (be kept sound and blameless are in the singular).

II Thessalonians 2:2 Spirit, oral word, and written word: the three ways God speaks to us.

II Thessalonians 2:13-3:6 Love binds together Paul's thanks (2:13), prayer (2:16), and exhortations 

(3:5). 

2:13b--sanctification relates to the original setting apart by the Holy Spirit.

II Thessalonians 3:2 The last phrase (in context of missionary activities) may mean "for all are not 

sound yet." Pray for safety only in this context (as in Romans 15:31).

II Thessalonians 3:5 See the note on II Thessalonians 2:13. Steadfastness of Christ = (a) his obedience 

to God's will, (b) his behavior in the presence of evil, (c) patience in waiting for the Second Coming, 

or (d) Christ's intercession with the Father.

II Thessalonians 3:6 They had been told this at least twice before (see 1 Thessalonians 4:11).

II Thessalonians 3:11 NIV: "not busy, but busybodies"