Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
0.69LIKELY
Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
0.61LIKELY
Confident
0.73LIKELY
Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
0.82LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.66LIKELY
Extraversion
0.19UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
0.42UNLIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
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Anger
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Introduction
Composed early in Paul’s ministry, this letter encapsulates a history of one church.
Paul praised the Thessalonians for their faith, and leaves the instruction about the social obligations of the believers (vv.
12–15) and turns to the habits that characterize Christians’ relationship with God.
The marks of a Christian laid out in these verses are joy (v.
16), prayer (v.
17), and gratitude (v.
18).
The person so oriented lives according to the will of God (v.
18 and commentary).
The apostle joins these three together, showing the Thessalonians that they should be constant in joy, prayer, and gratitude—at all times and in every situation (“always,” “continually,” “in all circumstances”).
, giving his readers instructions on how to live in a way that pleases God.
Each of the habits are in the present imperative; meaning:
present — The verb tense where the writer portrays an action in process or a state of being with no assessment of the action’s completion.
Paul leaves the instruction about the social obligations of the believers (vv.
12–15) and turns to the habits that characterize Christians’ relationship with God.
The marks of a Christian laid out in these verses are joy (v.
16), prayer (v.
17), and gratitude (v.
18).
The person so oriented lives according to the will of God (v.
18 and commentary).
The apostle joins these three together, showing the Thessalonians that they should be constant in joy, prayer, and gratitude—at all times and in every situation (“always,” “continually,” “in all circumstances”).
Composed early in Paul’s ministry, this letter encapsulates a history of one church.
Paul praised the Thessalonians for their faith, giving his readers instructions on how to live in a way that pleases God.
imperative — The mood that normally expresses a command, intention, exhortation, or polite request.
The imperative mood is therefore not an expression of reality but possibility and volition.
imperative — The mood that normally expresses a command, intention, exhortation, or polite request.
The imperative mood is therefore not an expression of reality but possibility and volition.
Heiser, Michael S., and Vincent M. Setterholm.
Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology.
Lexham Press, 2013; 2013.
Print.
Heiser, Michael S., and Vincent M. Setterholm.
Glossary of Morpho-Syntactic Database Terminology.
Lexham Press, 2013; 2013.
Print.
The New International Version.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011.
Print.
Green, Gene L. The Letters to the Thessalonians.
Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2002.
Print.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary.
I. Rejoice Always (16)
always adv. — at all times; all the time and on every occasion.
to rejoice (feeling) v. — to feel happiness or joy.
always adv. — at all times; all the time and on every occasion.
Rejoice evermore; or, rejoice always (R.V.).
Joy is that feeling of delight which arises from the possession of present good, or from the anticipation of future happiness; and in both respects the believer has abundant reason for constant joy.
He possesses the blessedness of forgiveness and the sure prospect of eternal life, and he has the consciousness that all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom.
8:28).
Rejoice evermore; or, rejoice always (R.V.).
Joy is that feeling of delight which arises from the possession of present good, or from the anticipation of future happiness; and in both respects the believer has abundant reason for constant joy.
He possesses the blessedness of forgiveness and the sure prospect of eternal life, and he has the consciousness that all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom.
8:28).
Rejoice evermore; or, rejoice always (R.V.).
Joy is that feeling of delight which arises from the possession of present good, or from the anticipation of future happiness; and in both respects the believer has abundant reason for constant joy.
He possesses the blessedness of forgiveness and the sure prospect of eternal life, and he has the consciousness that all things work together for good to them that love God ().
Rejoice evermore; or, rejoice always (R.V.).
Joy is that feeling of delight which arises from the possession of present good, or from the anticipation of future happiness; and in both respects the believer has abundant reason for constant joy.
He possesses the blessedness of forgiveness and the sure prospect of eternal life, and he has the consciousness that all things work together for good to them that love God ().
Pray without ceasing.
The means of promoting religious joy is prayer.
This prayer is to be “without ceasing,” implying constancy () and perseverance (; ; ).
This is not a mere precept “capable of fulfilment in idea, rather than in fact” (Jowett); but it is an exhortation to live in a devotional frame of mind.
It is impossible to be always on our bended knees, but we may be in the spirit of prayer when engaged in the duties of our earthly calling.
Prayer may be without ceasing in the heart which is full of the presence of God, and evermore communing with him.
Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1 Thessalonians.
London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909.
Print.
The Pulpit Commentary.
Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1 Thessalonians.
London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909.
Print.
The Pulpit Commentary.
Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1 Thessalonians.
London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909.
Print.
The Pulpit Commentary.
II.
Pray Continually (17)
unceasingly adv.
— with unflagging (persistent, tireless) resolve.
to pray (petition) v. — to petition God (or a deity) to do something.
Pray without ceasing.
The means of promoting religious joy is prayer.
This prayer is to be “without ceasing,” implying constancy () and perseverance (; ; ).
This is not a mere precept “capable of fulfilment in idea, rather than in fact” (Jowett); but it is an exhortation to live in a devotional frame of mind.
It is impossible to be always on our bended knees, but we may be in the spirit of prayer when engaged in the duties of our earthly calling.
Prayer may be without ceasing in the heart which is full of the presence of God, and evermore communing with him.
Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1 Thessalonians.
London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909.
Print.
The Pulpit Commentary.
III.
Give Thanks in All Circumstances (18)
each adjs.
— (used of count nouns) every one considered individually.
to pray (petition) v. — to petition God (or a deity) to do something.
each adjs.
— (used of count nouns) every one considered individually.
to be thankful v. — to be impressed with a feeling of gratitude for kindness received (and ready and willing to acknowledge it).
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