The Church in God and Christ: An Introduction to 1 Thessalonians

Historical Background of Thessalonica and the Setting of 1 Thessalonians

Turn to first. Timothy, I'm just gonna read the first few verses first Thessalonians. All right, what'd I say. Our topic? Is an introduction? To first Thessalonians and today we're going to introduce it and just consider the first verse the greeting or part of the greeting Paul Silvanus and Timothy under the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace be unto you and peace. From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you making mention of you in our prayers. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God.

And our Father please be seated. The two letters that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians are of great interest. To Christians and scholars. They not only can't contain a lot of Paul's inspired teaching on the doctrine of the last things or eschatology.

In the first epistle every chapter ends with the reference of the second coming of Christ. But also we find crucial ethical ethical exhortations as well as description of what will occur at the second coming including the rapture.

There's also the highly debated passages on the meaning of the great apostasy the falling away the man of sin. That which restrains in the mystery of lawlessness. The interest with the end times reflects a concern of the congregation with such matters.

The Apostles primary reason for writing to the Christians in Thessalonica was their concerns and lack of knowledge concerning such matters. It was the largest and most important church in Macedonia.

Or.

Modern Greece at that time. There's also a discussion of persecution which is a constant problem in pagan cities. We also learned of Paul's concern with missionary work at first Thessalonians 1 5 to 9 and the latter.

The letter does not discuss the doctrine of justification or the Judaizers. The heresy was not a problem in Europe at this early date before we examine the Apostles words of greeting there a number of important introductory matters to consider and I'm just going to give you the Orthodox Bible believing conservative view on all these things and not get into all the debates of various scholars.

The city of Thessalonica has a long and fascinating history. In Ancient times the city was called Thurma due to the hot springs in that area. It was the resting place of Xerxes and some of his troops on his March.

It's next to the coast and the ship. He tried to coordinate his troops with the ships that were traveling. Because his quest was Athens in the south of Greece. Eventually the Macedonians conquered all of the Greek-speaking areas.

That'd be Philip and then he would die and his son Alexander would take over and the city grew and became an important trading center. It received its new name Thessalonica when Cassandra the son of Antipater Named the city after his wife who was a half-sister to Alexander the Great.

Philip eggs. Alexander's father named his daughter Thessalonica in commemoration of a great victory that occurred on that day when he heard of her birth. The modern city is called Thessalonica and it's the second most populated city in Greece.

After the Romans conquered Macedonia they united its four provinces into one and made Thessalonica the capital. It was the most populated city of Macedonia and in Paul's day had a population of over 200 ,000.

Before the founding of Constantinople is it the eastern capital of the Roman Empire. The city served as the capital of one of the four provinces of Macedonia. Later, it became the capital of Macedonia where the four parts were merged into one city.

Administratively during the Roman Civil War the city sided with Anthony and Octavian who won. Don't confuse this with Anthony later who gets involved with Cleopatra and loses that's later. This is earlier.

Consequently the city was made a free city in AD 42 by Mark Anthony. A free city in the Roman Empire had a certain amount of local autonomy from Rome and Could min its own coins and imperial coins. It had certain tax concessions was free of military occupation and did not become a mere Roman colony.

It did not have to take in a large large groups of demobilized soldiers as happened in other cities such as Philippi. This gave the city more distinctly Macedonian or Greek flavor with a local ruling elite.

Moreover, the original Greek institutions were left in place. So it's a very Greek city. Although many Romans lived in the city. The population was primarily Greek. There was a sizable Jewish community in the city who had their own as well-established synagogue in Philippi a much smaller city.

There was only a small group of Jews who met out for public worship down by the river and this is where you encounter Lydia and so forth the church. Paul started thrived for centuries and Thessalonica became well known for upholding the Orthodox faith against pagan barbarians and heretics.

Later in the history, of course Constantinople would be come the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire and then the western part of Rome fell and then it continued until 1452 or whatever the date was when they were conquered by the Turks by the Muslims and now it's constant now.

It's Istanbul. The city was on the main Roman Road the via Ignatia, which is the main east-west land route between the Aegean and the Adriatic Seas. It was a port city and was where goods were offloaded for the province of Macedonia and the northern area of the Balkan Peninsula.

The main local products were agricultural farm products and timber. Later mining became very important. The religious situation at the arrival of Paul was greatly varied. Besides a large Jewish community.

There was a variety of pagan cults. In first Thessalonians 1 9 Paul implies that the majority of converts came straight out of paganism. Such cults were state-sponsored and thus at times were pagan deed.

They had pagan deities on their coins for example example Dionysius and Kabyrus. There were cults that were designed to please the Roman authorities such the the cult of Rome a state cult and of course the imperial court cult which involved Emperor worship.

They wanted to keep things happy with the state. There are coins from the area. With Caesar Augustus declaring him to be a god. Pagan religions were carefully designed to uphold the meat and mediate the Roman imperial power over the social order of the city and.

This reality helps explain some of the conflicts Paul and the Christians had with the Romans and local authorities. And of course in the early days. These were all brought on by the Jews who would go to the authorities and try to get them in trouble.

The heathen were very fond of religious festivals. These celebrations were sponsored and paid for by wealthy elites and civil officials. The meats and delicacies were dedicated to various gods and the common people were expected to participate in the religious celebrations.

And later on when the Christians became predominant one of the great charges by pagans against Christians is. They're kind of like a secret society. They don't come to our feast. What's what's going on here?

What are they doing? The founding of a church. The missionary world work of Paul in Europe began on a second missionary journey. When Paul landed in the northeast of Greece and began preaching in Philippi ten miles to the west of the Aegean Sea.

Philippi was a Roman colony with a very very small Jewish community at 1612. Paul's companions were Silas at 1540 Timothy his assistant 1603 and Luke at 1610. After a small house church was established with Lydia her husband.

The jailer in his household as well as others. Paul was forced to leave the city due to a riot. After he cast cast out a demon a spirit of divination from a slave girl. He was arrested shamefully treated but being a Roman citizen.

The authorities apologized and begged him to leave the city. From Philippi he traveled southwest along the Ignatian Road 30 miles to and.

Philipolis and.

Another 32 Apollo Apollonia. He did not stay to preach in these cities. Then he journeyed another 37 miles and arrived at Thessalonica, which was his main goal all along being the largest city. The fact that he merely passed through on the smaller cities as his way to Thessalonica Indicates that this city was viewed Thessalonica as the center of operations in Europe.

Paul’s Missionary Work in Philippi and Thessalonica

After arriving in the city at Paul at first focuses attention on the Jews. This is act 17 for. Then Paul as was his custom went to them the synagogue and for three Sabbaths reason with them from the scriptures explaining and Demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.

Saying this Jesus who I preached you is the Christ. And some of them were persuaded. And a great multitude of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women joined Paul and Silas. Act 17 for you say well, he didn't mention Timothy or Luke.

Well, Timothy was very young and was an assistant. He wasn't really doing much and you didn't mention assistance. Usually it appears that initially most of the Apostles converts came from the Greek God fears.

Who are the proselytes of the Jewish religion. And that's a pattern you see in the New Testament in the book of Acts? The old-fashioned Jews you get a few. But the Greeks were much more open to To Isaiah 53 and the suffering servant Messiah.

The other Jews had been taught from birth of the conquering Messiah on a white horse who's gonna kill the Romans and the Greeks and take over and the Babylonians and the Assyrians. The Jews who did not believe in Christ became haters and persecutors of Paul in the church.

And this is a pattern we see throughout the book of Acts. The Romans persecuted the Christians while they were that they were the they were the the sword the Jews instigated the Romans. Paul arrived in Thessalonica for at least three week.

Remained in Thessalonica for at least three weeks. X 17 to however the three weeks probably only pertains to his synagogue activities. Luke apparently Condensed Paul's activities. Or perhaps Paul left for some time due to persecution and then eventually returned.

Acts 1710 for 1st Thessalonians 2 9 and 2nd Thessalonians 3 8 indicates That the Apostle worked to trade in the city so that he would not be a financial burden on the congregation. Now if he's there for only three weeks, did he actually stop and set up a trade for only three weeks?

I doubt it. Moreover Paul statement you have turned to God from idols. 1st Timothy 1 9 Implies a good deal of evangelization among pagans who were outside of the synagogue. Moreover, I think the more decisive argument for Paul living in Thessalonica for a longer period how long we don't know is based on Philippians 4 16.

Which says that he received financial assistance on more than one occasion from the Philippian Church while he was in Thessalonica. If he was receiving assistance on more than one occasion, then this would indicate communication back and forth between the two established churches and I don't think that's going to happen in three weeks.

So anyway, that's a common view. This may explain why Paul does not directly quote from the Old Testament in these epistles. Or why he does does not see any need to refute the Judaizers who were a problem in the regions of the Galatia Antioch in Jerusalem.

Most scholars believe that the converted pagan Gentiles were the majority in that church. Having noted the majority of scholars who should note that some commentators believe that everything did happen within three weeks.

And that's possible, but I think it's unlikely. Lenski thinks he was there four weeks. The Jews who rejected Jesus were resentful and very angry. Or the success of Paul and drawing away a large number out of their synagogue primarily from God-fearing Greek proselytes.

And you know it's Paul tactic. He goes to the Jews first. He preaches in their synagogues. He's thrown out of the synagogues.

Soon and.

The people who are converted go start a church with Paul. So when you go into somebody's church And you take half of them out of the church in a very short period of time. You're not going to be very well-liked.

The tactic of the Jews who clung to Pharisee Pharisaical Judaism was to provoke a riot in opposition among the Gentiles to get Paul into trouble with the pagan state. They accused Christians of turning the world upside down.

That is disrupting the social order or peace of society the Pax Romana the peace of Rome acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar. There are wicked breakers of Roman law. They don't keep our laws and of saying there is another King Jesus in other words They are traitors to the Roman state and dangerous revolutionaries and the great persecutions that would come later under Nero and others.

This was the charge. Bow the knee to Caesar give a Religious ritual indicating he is your chief Lord your chief God and we won't kill you. And Christians were unwilling to do that and they were put to death.

The Jewish opposition would force Paul to leave the city, but as we have noted He likely returned. Or he just stayed there long and kept out of sight. I don't know what he would do. The Jews were experts at cooperating with a pagan state to persecute Christians.

They did not hold political power, but were experts at influencing and directing that power against Christ and his church and we see that today liberals. People who call themselves Christians who are modernists or liberals who believe in abortion on demand and Socialism and they don't believe in a literal resurrection and they don't believe that Jesus was really God these kind of people.

They hate our guts and they do everything they can if they to persecute us and they would kill us if they could. Time and place. Bible believing scholars place the date of first Thessalonians around 51 52 or 53 51 at the earliest.

Making it the first epistle. Although there's a few scholars like Linsky thinks that Galatians came out two weeks before Thessalonians did. But he's in the minority. According to Acts 16 11 to 40 Paul conducted a second missionary journey, which took him to Philippi to the east near the Aegean Sea, Burya and Then to Athens at 17.

From Athens he traveled to Corinth Acts 18 one. Where he returned with Silas and Timothy who came from Macedonia Acts 18 1 and 5 in both first and Thessalonians 1 1. Silas and Timothy are with Paul when he wrote the two epistles.

He wrote the epistle and this is how we know the date. Very certainly. When Galileo was proud counsel in a ki thus fixing the date it had to be 51 to 53. So, you know if you can if you can tie something into a leader when we have exact dates.

Then you know you can really fix the date. Paul's ministry in Corinth lasted 18 months. He wanted the right to them to defend his ministry encouraged him in the midst of persecution and deal with issues relating to personal and corporate sanctification.

This epistle is far less doctrinal than later epistles. But contains teaching on a number of crucial doctrines. These epistles are important for refuting the full preterist heresy. Because the Apostle wants to dispel the idea of some of the Thessalonians that the second bodily coming of Christ was imminent.

So and he gives a very excellent descript description of the second bodily coming of Christ. Okay, there's there's some introductory. Here's the outline of the book real quickly the greeting one one and two.

It's followed by a lengthy Thanksgiving for salvation good works in the example of the Thessalonians 1 3 to 10. This introductory section is followed by a defense of the Apostles ministry in their midst 2 1 to 12.

Then Paul describes the good effect that ministry had on the church 2 13 to 16. He describes his love and deep concern for the church 2 17 to 3 10 and praise for their progress 3 11 to 13. Then there is a lengthy section dealing with sanctification.

The need for ethical purity for 1 to 8. Krishna brotherly love for 9 and 10. Proper Christian behavior for 11 to 12. Hope regarding the real bodily resurrection of the dead at the second coming bodily coming of Jesus for 13 to 18.

The proper attitude of watchfulness diligence and hope. That are connected to one's faith in his second bodily coming 5 1 to 11 and various brief exhortations 5 12 to 22. The epistle draws to its conclusion with a prayer for sanctification and perseverance 5 23 to 24 final requests 5 25 to 27 and the benediction.

It is noteworthy that it Paul's thinking correct theology and faith in the truth is the foundation of genuine hope sanctification and prayer. You got to get the facts right you get to get your doctrine, right you got to get correct theology.

If you're gonna have a proper life proper worship. Proper communion with each other proper this proper that it all depends on first establishing a correct view of theology. And that brings us to the greetings.

The Outline of 1 Thessalonians and the Importance of Theology

I'll read one and two again Paul Silas and timidly to the church of the Thessalonians and God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now different cultures and societies have different ways of beginning a letter. In our tradition we begin by noting the person we are addressing. Dear Bob, you know Bring over the pumpkin pie makes you get some whipped cream, you know I kind of stop and Greco-Roman culture.

In the first century the common practice was to first identify the person writing a letter or who the letter is from and then noting the addressee. This would be followed by a pious friendly expression with a mention of one's gods or Who the letter the writer believed had the power to impart health peace and prosperity and so on.

So if you're a pagan and you like Zeus, you're gonna mention Zeus or you might mention already, you know Artemis or whatever. For Christians, we always mention, of course God our Father the Lord Jesus Christ and sometimes the Holy Spirit.

Now Paul follows the normal pattern of his own day with a great difference being that he serves the one and only true and living God and it's only begotten Son who? Really has the power and character to impart genuine grace biblically defined false.

God's as you know can't do anything. And he can part real real peace. If you're gonna have real peace, you got to have real grace. There are a number of things to note regarding this greeting which is likely the Apostles first letter to a church first.

He does not identify himself as an Apostle in both first and second Thessalonians, which is very unusual. In all of his other epistles except Philippians He explicitly identifies himself as an Apostle.

Romans 1 1 1st Corinthians 1 1 2nd Corinthians 1 1 Galatians 1 1 Ephesians 1 1 Colossians 1 1 1st Timothy 1 1 2nd Timothy 1 1 Titus 1 1 and I think Five demon, I think this submission is likely due to a few things.

Number one Paul's status and authority were not challenged or questioned at this early date by the churches and he saw no need to emphasize his Calling in his Apostle by Jesus Christ. Once wicked men arose that rejected and challenged his lawful authority.

The notation of a special calling by Christ became a regular part of his greeting. This is a tactic of wicked men throughout history. We see it in our own day. If they can't beat you on the doctrine if you got the truth, you got the facts you're preaching the truth.

You're a true prophet a true preacher. They can't get over that then they challenge your authority. Your church is too small or you're not a real Presbyterian, you know. All these kind of things and that happened to Paul and Crent Corinth in a number of places.

To.

The greetings at first Thessalonian is very simple and abbreviated. Second, even though he is the author of the letter He includes his evangelistic accomplices who are with him when he wrote first and second Thessalonians.

Paul Sylvanus also called Silas and Timothy. This procedure is common first Corinthians includes Sothenes our brother 1 -1 2nd Corinthians 1 well 2nd Corinthians 1 1 Philippians 1 1 and Colossians 1 1 and Philemon 1 1 Include only Timothy.

Timothy our brother or Paul and Timothy bond servants of Jesus Christ. Such introductions raised the question whether the mention of these evangelists means they had any input as to the contents. In 1st Corinthians he mentions Sothenes but by verse 4 he is using the first person singular and he will use that throughout then at times he will say we in First Thessalonians we is used throughout the epistle.

The basic view is that these men read Paul's letter and fully agreed to this contents. Even as an apostle he was in the habit of consulting with other presbyters or overseers in addition. We should keep in mind that the office of evangelist and I'm talking about evangelist in the first century sense.

Which is a unique and temporary office that ceased when the original generation the original Apostles and evangelists all died out. You know Matthew's an evangelist John Marker Mark was an evangelist Luke was an evangelist, etc.

And but they involved they had the gift of divine inspiration. If they contributed in any way their contributions would have been inspired and infallible and authoritative anyway. Now Paul was the greatest or most accomplished of the Apostles.

His former name was Saul meaning asked of God a popular name Among those from the tribe of Benjamin and he was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was born in Tarsus a Roman citizen and thus his Roman or Latin name would have been Paulus.

Which means small or little? Paul due to his former life as a persecutor Regarded himself as and this is a quote from Ephesians 3 8 less than the least of all the Saints. Although Paul always preached to the Jews in a city first He was the chief apostle sent to the Gentiles Peter being the chief apostle to the Jews and then of course Peter ends up in his later days ministering according to tradition in Rome and other places.

There's also Sylvanus who is called Silas. Sylvanus is the Latinized version of a Greek name Silas. Both of which may be based on the Aramaic name Sila which means Saul. Silas figures prominently in the council held in Jerusalem regarding the Judaizers acts 15 22 27 32.

Once the decision was made he was sent by Paul to Antioch to spread the council's decision to the elders and Christians in that city. A very important person in the New Testament in the book of Acts Sylvanus is the one Paul chose for a second missionary journey after the Apostle argued with Barnabas regarding John Mark they had a big falling out and they didn't get along so he chooses some somebody new and Of course John Mark will have a great ministry after that and he'll hook up with Peter and he he gets the primary his source.

Material for the for Mark is from Peter. After the second missionary journey, he is no longer mentioned in the book of Acts and Paul's epistle Silas has always noted with a reverence to the second missionary journey second Corinthians 119 first Thessalonians 1 1 2nd Thessalonians 1 1 he is probably The same Sylvanus noted in first Peter 512 who conveyed Peter's letter to the churches.

So these assistants these evangelists these crucial helpers of the Apostles. They'd move around. They're helping Paul. They're helping Peter. So this this this liberal argument that Peter and Paul were in conflict and they disagreed about the gospel.

That's all lies of Satan made up by liberals. It's just absolute garbage. They all were in total harmony. Some scholars believe that Silas originated from the mother church in Jerusalem. Silas was a reliable church leader and evangelist and risk as a respected colleague of Paul and perhaps later of Peter as well.

I think it I think it probably is the same Silas the associate Timothy Was a close companion of Paul for years. He is listed in Paul's epistolary greetings in 2nd Corinthians Philippians Colossians Philemon as well as 1st and 2nd Thessalonians.

He has mentioned in all of Paul's letters except Galatians and Ephesians. And of course, there's two epistles written to him. According to the history of Acts Acts 16 1 2 3 his mother was a Jewish Christian and his father was a Greek pagan so it's one of those situations where They probably both heard the gospel.

The mother's converted. The father was not the brethren in Lystra and Iconium both in southern Galatia and Asia Minor spoke well of Timothy to Paul. The pot the Apostle had him circumcised Because of the Jews and took him with him as an assistant on his first and then second missionary journeys.

Okay, you say well his mother was a converted Jew. How comes you he wasn't circumcised. Well the father caught in those days. They didn't have feminism and the father called the shots and he says my son's not going to be circumcised.

If you're a pagan why bother with it? It's painful. In Acts 20 verse 4 we learned that he traveled with Paul on his final journey to Jerusalem. The prescripts of Philippians and Philemon Indicate that he was with Paul in his imprisonment probably in Rome.

He is noted as being set free in Hebrews 13 23, which supports the view that Paul is the author of Hebrews. He is the recipient of two epistles from Paul first and second Timothy. After he became a pastor or overseer in a church.

First Timothy is dated circa 80 63 while second Timothy is 80 64 shortly before Paul's death. Most scholars believe that Timothy was quite young when he was asked to join Paul. So he's with Paul for years and years and years and years.

The Meaning of Ecclesia and the Nature of the Church

The terms used in the greeting. Let's look at the greeting now. There are a number of important words and phrases in the greeting that need to be carefully defined. First the word church Ecclesia originally was used of an assembly of citizens who gathered together to discuss political issues and vote and.

You can also find it in Greek literature of just a gathering of people. Let's see you had a bridge club and they would get together. Oh, that's an Ecclesia. It's a gathering. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament the Septuagint it is refer it refers to the people of Israel as a covenant community under God in particular.

The solemn gatherings of the people of Israel as a religious assembly for public worship. For example Deuteronomy 31 31st King 1747. In the New Testament It refers to believers in Christ corporately as the whole body of Saints.

First Corinthians 1228 Ephesians 122. Or a local assembly or congregation. First Timothy 417 Galatians 122. The word is even applied to the small house churches Romans 16 5. So if you have a tiny church and it's small.

Yeah, you're still a church.

Mm-hmm.

Occasionally the term is probably used of all the churches in a single city. Possibly Rome Romans 16 1 and 1st Corinthians 1 2 and Acts 15. The word is applied to a whole group of churches or a synod or a council whatever you want to call it.

I'll read.

There's verse 22. Then it pleased the Apostles and elders with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas Judas who is also named Barabbas and Silas Leading men among the brethren.

Now this is early, but by the time Jerusalem was destroyed there were well over 33 established congregations just in Jerusalem. So you have at minimum a Presbytery at least a synod probably a synod or council and it's used of that.

Well in these kind of passages, of course are a problem for Baptist and those who hold the independency. The New Covenant Church did not hold the independency obviously. Because the Christian community constituted the true New Covenant people of God who gathered for worship fellowship and discipline.

They replaced national Israel as God's covenant bride.

Permanently and.

The divorce was made official in AD 70 when the new Jewish nation Jerusalem in the temple was were destroyed. Jerusalem is no longer a sacred city. It's no more sacred than Kansas, you know, I mean st. Louis, it's not a sacred city at all.

The temple site is not a sacred site. It has no significance whatsoever. Now. It's interesting historically.

Fascinating.

But these Christians who talk about the Jews is still God's people and Jerusalem is still significant and all that that's all nonsense. Ethnic or religious Jews can now only be part of God's covenant people by joining themselves to Christ's multinational Church.

God still has a plan for Israel according to the flesh. But only as a part of Christ's one true church, and yes, there's quite a few Christians in Jerusalem and in the Middle East. But they have to be careful.

The Christian Church holds the keys of the kingdom and through the gospel preaching teaching and Discipline is the chief institution for godly dominion and the spreading of Christ's kingdom on planet earth.

The signs of a true church are number one Fidelity to the deposit of Orthodox Christian doctrine found in the canon of Scripture. If you don't have that you're not a church. Contrary to Doug Wilson and Eskimo liberal Lesbian bishop is not a Christian.

The Church as the New Covenant People of God

To.

Faithful biblical church discipline and I'm basing this basically on what the Protestant reformers said. Three the proper administration of the sacraments. Yes, it's important. Is not baptizing your babies a damnable heresy.

No, it's not. But it is a sin it is wrong and it does. Merit. Separation from Baptist. Second.

The.

City is said to be in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. According to theology of Paul and Jesus to be united to Christ by regeneration faith Unites one to God the Father as well. Here, of course, we have the wonderful Trinitarian Trinitarianism of Scripture.

Those who received Jesus received the Father who sent him. John 13 20 Our Lord said I am the way and the truth in the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me you would have also known my father also and from now on You know him and have seen him.

That's the last parts for the disciples. They're Paul's use of Christ and the Father with only one preposition in grammatically flows from the unity of the Godhead the doctrine of the Trinity both as to essence and Purpose in the economy of both as to essence and purpose in the economy of redemption.

God saved us by sending a son and his son salvation unites us to God spiritually. Christians are not simply people who follow a philosophy or an ethical system. By the redemptive work of Christ received solely by faith.

All believers are vitally connected together by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and are adopted in the God's own family. Our union with the Father in Christ is the root ground or foundation of our spiritual life and Progress in sanctification and Jesus high priestly prayer is very instructive.

This is from John 17 20 to 21. I Do not pray for these alone and he's talking about the Christians. He's right there but also for those who will believe in me through their word that they all may be one as You father are in me and I in you.

That they also may be one in us. That the world may believe that you sent me. That's mind-blowing stuff. And if you don't believe in the Trinity, you're an ignorant fool. It's so clearly taught in Scripture.

Now. Is it a difficult doctrine? Yes, but it's taught in Scripture. And if you don't believe it, you're a heretic. Here's what Calvin says. Calvin says that Paul's statement is designed to teach us That the Thessalonian Church is a true Church of God of Christ.

He writes.

Quote.

We may infer from it that a church is to be sought for only where God presides and where Christ reigns. End of quote. God the Father is the center and origin of all true religion. Well, Jesus's Son is the author and center of all revealed religion as.

The original creation or originates with the Father and is mediated through the Son read Colossians chapter 1. Redemption or originates with the Father's electing love and is accomplished in history by the incarnated Son.

Jesus.

Hebrew Joshua an abbreviation for Yeshua meaning Jehovah is salvation see Matthew 121 is the Savior's human name. When he when we hear it in reference to Christ it reminds us of his assuming a human nature.

A Genuine human nature show he could suffer and die on our behalf. He had assumed a human nature Philippians chapter 2 and other places. In an unusual way, he's without sin. No original sin. No actual sin ever.

He's impeccably sinless, but He assumes a human nature. Capable of suffering and dying. Because he had to be the mediator. He had to die on the cross for our sins. The title Christ or Messiah means anointed one.

It tells us that Jesus was the chosen one greater than Moses and the Arianic priesthood who according to his human nature. That was anointed beyond measure at the baptism of John and it's a baptism of Jesus God.

The Father speaks and the people could hear it audibly. It's the first time God spoke to the people of God since Exodus 19. The title Lord refers to the fact that Jesus is Jehovah the second person of the Trinity moreover.

Then the anthropic that means divine human person. Jesus Christ was declared to be Lord over all at his resurrection as a reward for his redemptive obedience. Yes. He's Jehovah. He's Yahweh. He's God in every conceivable way.

But a lot of times the focus in the New Testament is on his lordship given to him as the mediator. Up to the cross and his death and being in the tomb. He's the suffering servant. He's under a state of humiliation.

He's rejected by his people. He's hated. He endures the wrath of God for our sin after the resurrection. Go. I have been given all authority over heaven and on earth. He now is the Lord with power by the resurrection of the dead Romans 1 3.

I think to him every knee shall bow. The true Christian Church confesses all these things about the Savior to come from the heart. Yeah, Jesus is Lord. Muhammad is burning in hell where he belongs with Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler a satanic rapist and murderer.

Christ is Lord.

Third.

Grace to you and peace concludes the prescript of the letter. This greeting is a simple abbreviated form of the Apostles more elaborate prescript found in later epistles. He'll expand on this. It's very simple.

Paul ignored the typical Greek greeting and developed an explicitly Christian form. Grace from God and Christ refers to the undeserved favor and kindness to those who deserve the exact opposite. We're not just simply some bum that you hand a pie to and say here here's a sandwich.

Where you're being gracious? No, we're God's enemies. Before we were saved humans can be kind and gracious to one another but God's grace is saving grace. It sends a Savior who is by vicarious death and suffering and death delivers us from the guilt and penalty of sin.