1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Post-Thanksgiving Reminders

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Post-Thanksgiving Reminders

Introduction

(illustr) I have here a few “post it” notes. These are now on my desktop at the school. They serve as reminders for me.

“These early letters of the apostle supply an important insight into the life of a 1st-century Macedonian congregation which was primarily Gentile. [It is suggested that] Paul probably passed through Thessalonica on at least two other occasions (coming and going from Greece on his third journey).”

Paul sends correspondence in the form of a letter to the converted Christians in Thessalonica. He concludes his final remarks in the form of a litany of judicial injunctions that the Thessalonians are compelled to carry out in their Christian lives.

“So far in this section Paul’s exhortation has been directed to matters of responsible behavior in interpersonal relations inside and even outside the community.

In vv. 16–22 he turns to the readers’ religious duties.

Each of the three actions that he commands in vv. 16–18 either has its source in God, as in the case of the first one, or is directed toward God, as in the case of the last two.

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

“In the centuries that followed, the city remained as one of the major strongholds of Christianity. It won the epithet, “The Orthodox City.” (CIT)

Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Thessalonica.” Baker encyclopedia of the Bible 1988 : 2056–2057. Print.

Which leads us to the purpose of this sermon- that being to share with you some post-Thanksgiving Reminders from the word of God. Reminders to praise, to pray, and be thankful. (MOS/Thesis)

I. Praise (16)

-In this passage we are reminded to PRAISE at all times.

rejoice” - χαίρω (chairō). vb. rejoice, be glad. Be in a state of gladness, happiness, or well-being.

The kind of rejoicing the term chairō denotes is not only a feeling and expression of joy but also an action one chooses. For instance, Paul exhorts his believers to “rejoice with those who rejoice ...(Rom 12:15).

Litwak, Kenneth D. “Joy.” Ed. Douglas Mangum et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014 : n. pag. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.

“evermore” - always adv. — at all times; all the time and on every occasion; constantly

“To rejoice always is to see the hand of God in whatever is happening and to remain certain of God’s future salvation. Without such conviction joy would not be possible in the face of affliction, suffering, and death.”

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

II. Intercession (17)

-Not only are we reminded to PRAISE in this text, we are reminded to PRAY.

- to pray v. — Addressing God DIRECTLY.

to speak out, utter loud, to make known one’s needs, urgently request, beseech, supplicate

5:17

Not surprisingly Paul wished his converts to be people of prayer. He himself was devoted to prayer as a fundamental activity in his life...

In several of his letters he instructs his readers to devote themselves to prayer (cf. 5:25; 2 Thes. 3:1; Rom. 12:12; Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2, 3). Undoubtedly he believed it was the Christian’s duty to engage in prayer regularly.

With this being said...[not only] does the Apostle Paul expect his converts to remember continually to pray for their own needs, but the needs of others-also known as intercessory prayer. This was presumably to be done both privately and in the corporate prayers of the church.

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

5:17b

“without ceasing” -

unceasingly (adv./to what extent)

— with unflagging resolve.

unintermittently, continually, incessantly, constantly,

1. unintermitting, not leaving an interval between

2. without intermission, i.e. assiduously...

3. stretched out, extended; hence, earnest, intent, fervent.

Bullinger, Ethelbert W. A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament 1908 : 140. Print.

Lust, Johan, Erik Eynikel, and Katrin Hauspie. A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint : Revised Edition 2003 : n. pag. Print.

III. Thanksgiving (18)

-In addition to consistent PRAISE and PRAYER, during this Post-Thanksgiving season, we are to continue THANKSGIVING - or GIVING THANKS!

give thanks -

to be thankful v. — to be impressed with a feeling of gratitude for kindness received (and ready and willing to acknowledge it).

“eucharisteo” - Eucharist - an act that commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and his death on the cross...

- To thank God at all times is to see God working in every situation to bring about the divine saving will. This is not to say that God causes suffering and affliction, but to acknowledge, as Paul does in Rom. 8:28, that God works for the good of the elect through every situation. For this reason the Christian is obliged to give thanks to God at all times.

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

Ephesians 5

19b Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19b-20)

Conclusion

Finally, “Paul concludes the three commands of vv. 16–18 with the motivational observation, (“for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”). There is no good reason for limiting this statement to only the last of the three injunctions. The parallel imperatival form of all three indicates an equal stress on each one.”

“For Paul praise, prayer of intercession, and thanksgiving were not optional for the Christian, but were required just as much as proper ethical conduct.”

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

Notes (word study)

“rejoice” - χαίρω (chairō). vb. rejoice, be glad. Be in a state of gladness, happiness, or well-being.

The kind of rejoicing the term chairō denotes is not only a feeling and expression of joy but also an action one chooses. For instance, Paul exhorts his believers to “rejoice with those who rejoice ...(Rom 12:15).

Litwak, Kenneth D. “Joy.” Ed. Douglas Mangum et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014 : n. pag. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.

“evermore” - “always” -

always adv. — at all times; all the time and on every occasion.

Constantly

“To rejoice always is to see the hand of God in whatever is happening and to remain certain of God’s future salvation. Without such conviction joy would not be possible in the face of affliction, suffering, and death.”

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

5:16 So far in this section Paul’s exhortation has been directed to matters of responsible behavior in interpersonal relations inside and even outside the community. In vv. 16–22 he turns to the readers’ religious duties. Each of the three actions that he commands in vv. 16–18 either has its source in God, as in the case of the first one, or is directed toward God, as in the case of the last two.

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

pray - to pray v. — to address a deity or say a prayer; often to make a request.

to speak out, utter loud, to make known one’s needs, urgently request, beseech, supplicate

“without ceasing” -

unceasingly adv. — with unflagging resolve.

unintermittently, continually, incessantly, constantly,

1. unintermitting, not leaving an interval between

2. without intermission, i.e. assiduously, (non occ.)

3. stretched out, extended; hence, earnest, intent, fervent.

Bullinger, Ethelbert W. A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament 1908 : 140. Print.

Lust, Johan, Erik Eynikel, and Katrin Hauspie. A Greek-English Lexicon of the Septuagint : Revised Edition 2003 : n. pag. Print.

5:17

Not surprisingly Paul wished his converts to be people of prayer. He himself was devoted to prayer as a fundamental activity in his life...

In several of his letters he instructs his readers to devote themselves to prayer (cf. 5:25; 2 Thes. 3:1; Rom. 12:12; Phil. 4:6; Col. 4:2, 3). Undoubtedly he believed it was the Christian’s duty to engage in prayer regularly.

...but he does expect his converts to remember continually to pray for their own needs and the needs of others. This was presumably to be done both privately and in the corporate prayers of the church.

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

give thanks -

to be thankful v. — to be impressed with a feeling of gratitude for kindness received (and ready and willing to acknowledge it).

“eucharisteo” - Eucharist - an act that commemorates Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and his death on the cross...

- To thank God at all times is to see God working in every situation to bring about the divine saving will. This is not to say that God causes suffering and affliction, but to acknowledge, as Paul does in Rom. 8:28, that God works for the good of the elect through every situation. For this reason the Christian is obliged to give thanks to God at all times.

Wanamaker, Charles A. The Epistles to the Thessalonians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1990. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.

Ephesians 5: 19b Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19b-20)