Summary 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4
Summary for Ch 4:1-8
This is chock-a-block full of all sorts of very significant issues.
- Moral code
- Debauchery tirade; brought up, dropped, brought up again.
- Debauchery seems to be the point Paul most likes to emphasize, and where he got this from is difficult to say. As a Pharisee? From John the Baptist? Neither seems likely.
- Holiness is equated with refraining from debauchery. A fairly narrow definition. It almost seems like, once he hits the topic, he goes off on a rant.
- Social justice: don’t take more than your share
- Especially: Paul got his instructions directly from Jesus. The point is almost lost among all the fulminating against debauchery, but it may be the most significant point in these 8 verses.
Summary Ch 4:9-18
- Brotherly love that is God-taught. Whatever that means.
- “Strive to be quiet”, or “be quiet to strive for honour”? They are not entirely the same thing. Which is the action, and which is the result?
- Zen moment.
- The Dead. The Parousia.
- Jesus rose, or God raised Jesus? 1:9 vs. 4:14.
- Apocalyptic imagery. Jesus coming from the sky. Angels with trumpets, joining Jesus on the clouds. The dead will rise—how does this affect Jesus rising in V-14?
- From the sky
- Into the clouds
- Parousia—is it imminent?
- Pastoral message of love
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Posted on July 31, 2012, in 1 Thessalonians, epistles, Paul's Letters, Summary and tagged Bible, Bible commentary, commenting, New Testament, St Paul, Thessalonians. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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