God's Character and Jesus' Return

Introduction

Paul has given the Thessalonians a series of final instructions.

He has operated off of his admonition to the Thessalonians to be holy.

1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3.

Jesus promised his disciples they would not be left alone in his absence.

Paul echoes that promise of Jesus as he expresses his final wishes for the Thessalonian congregation.

There is an important theological reality to the way we are to live and why we are to live that way until Jesus’ return.

Hope is not rooted in the groundless whims of unfounded belief but in the character and nature of the true and living God.

The God of Peace

In the transition to the end of the letter, Paul expresses two wishes much like he did the last time he made a transition in the letter.

Note 1 Thess. 3:11-13: we see obvious similarities in structure.

Paul’s longterm wish is for the holiness of the Thessalonians.

He wants it to be thorough or complete, hence he uses an adjective with an adverbial sense, or so it seems here.

Three things come out of this initial statement:

Holiness (yet again see 1 Thess. 3:13-4:3).

God as the active agent in sanctification.

Paul’s description of God as “the God of peace.”

Paul refers to God in this way in:

Romans 15:33.

Romans 16:20.

Php. 4:9.

We might also interpret Paul’s statement in 1 Thess. 5:23 in light of the recent commands.

He has called upon the Thessalonians to “be being at peace among yourselves” (see 1 Thess. 5:13).

He has also previously called upon them to be holy. Now, God himself is characterized by peace, and holiness now also comes to mean being at peace with one another. If this were the right way to interpret the passage, then this would mean Paul saw false teaching or hardened skepticism toward the Word of God as a threat to the peace, and thus the holiness of the congregation. His desire then was for God, who is characterized by peace, to see to the full, mature response of the Thessalonians.

May Your Spirit Be Kept

Paul’s second wish coincides with the first.

Notice the tripartite references which emphasize totality much like Deut. 6:4.

In addition to the tripartite references, OLOKLHRON corresponds to OLOTELEIS in the previous line.

Paul does not wish to see the Thessalonians deficient in their spiritual growth.

Blamelessly is how he wishes for them to be living at the coming of our Lord.

It would make sense that Paul would not wish for them to be closed off to instruction from the Word of God which would enable them to mature and would guard them in holiness.

What comes out these lines together is the reassurance that God has not left the Thessalonians to struggle to make it on their own until Jesus comes.

He has given them his Word, if they do not cut themselves off from it.

He is the active agent in their holiness. It is not “mind over matter.”

All of this is based upon the reminder of the faithfulness of God.

The Thessalonians can mature in holiness until Jesus comes knowing of the faithfulness of God to fulfill his promise of Christ’s return.

Paul can expresses these wishes knowing that God will accomplish maturity in the lives of the Thessalonians.

Final Instructions

Paul wanted the Thessalonians to pray for him.

Paul was not above what they faced. Just as he prayed for them, he wanted them to pray for him, Silas, and Timothy.

He wanted them to greet one another in love.

He wants them all to hear his letter.

He emphasizes unity in these final commands.

He reminds them that the grace of the Lord is with them.