Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians 

FEATURED SERIES

JUNE 2024 – 2025 —

1 CORINTHIANS 

First letter after ACTS of the Apostles:

Epistle of Paul to the Romans Church

Letters – Is he writing to me?
The short answer: YES.

In their epistles or 1st century church letters the Apostles and other men sent out by Jesus build up the saints [small – ‘s’] or members of local first century churches.

A Disciple or other witness of JESUS would write it. Messengers then delivered these church letters to many isolated worshipers.

Followers of Jesus Christ receive these letters as a major encouragement to their personal faith. Then leaders read them to worshipers of their church.

Although the Epistles 0r Letters to the Church were originally written to churches of the first century,

Romans through Jude will seem like letters to your 21st century church.

  • What do Peter, Paul, John and others tell us we must do?
  • Is he talking about an issue in your 21st c. church as well?
  • How does the writer’s advice, warning, or encouragement to the 1st c. believers apply to you as well
  • Is the writer of this letter talking about something you need to address in your 21st century ‘christian’ life?

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.

Certainly Christ our Lord will come again to those God has chosen for eternal life.

Believers currently suffer more than most of you who know Christ in your local church can imagine.

In other lands Christians continue to suffer by the hand of the ungodly.
Go into all the world

A 21st century Common Era church can see and hear nearly any atrocity of man or artificial imagination of sinful man’s mind, yet ‘christians‘ dare not speak of any absolute truth of the Lord God or talk of JESUS CHRIST.

Will YOU comment on Scripture and share the Gospel?

I invite you to read the inspired word of Scripture written in these LETTTERS TO THE CHURCH.

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Will you read this ‘CHURCH LETTER’ and talk of JSUS through your comment, sharing and email to me about this ‘Letter to you?”

Roger@talkofJesus.com

  • Thessalonians and the Righteous Judgment of God

    Thessalonians and the Righteous Judgment of God

    Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus,

    unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

    grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

    WHY are the Thessalonians so special to Paul that the Apostle would write not one but TWO Epistles to their church from Athens?

    After all, hadn't Paul recorded that the Bereans were 'more noble than those in Thessalonica?' 
    
    Actually, this much overstated passage from Acts of the Apostles 17 refers ONLY to the Jews.

    In addition to several Jews, including Jason who had been a leader of the local synagogue, the Church of the Thessalonians had many Macedonians (and perhaps Roman citizens as well.)

    archeological site in Thessaloniki of ruins of a Roman forum where the crowds of Acts of the Apostles 17 would have gathered

    And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

    Acts of the the Apostles 17:4 – Thessalonians during Second Missionary Journey ~ A.D. 50

    ACTS 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying,

    These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

    10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea..

    Jason and other Jews have undoubtedly continued in Christ as members of the church in Thessalonica.

    And they [Berean believers] that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus [who had remained in Berea] for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

    Acts of the Apostles 17:15 AKJV
    Paul writes to the Thessalonians from Athens

    18 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.. 5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

    How was our first epistle received?

    PAUL, TIMOTHY, SILAS (Silvanus), Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others [from Athens and other cities] COMMUNICATED with the Church in places where Paul and Silas had proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Timothy, Jason and others became part of church leadership in cities throughout Asia Minor, Macedonia and Achaia.



    The Apostles must have sent AND RECEIVED letters and brief messages much more frequently than these exemplary New Testament Epistles record.


    Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians

    Once again PLEASE endure a most appropriate formality (17th c. King's English) of the KJV & Authorized KJV for this Apostolic Epistle. 
    - RH

    ~ A.D. 51 (a few months after Paul’s First Epistle)

    .. we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

    II Thessalonians 1:4b AKJV

    Silas, Timothy, Jason and others had delivered first-hand or second-hand accounts of events in Thessalonica after Paul had escaped.

    Paul knew that the Thessalonian believers were suffering. So the Apostle encourages the faithful:

    5 which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

    Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. ..

    11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

    HOW did Paul, Silas and Timothy know about these serious challenges to the Thessalonians?

    COMMUNICATION between church leaders and the Apostles.

    IF you are SUFFERING on account of your witness of the Lord JESUS Christ GOD has chosen you and GOD will repay those who trouble you.

    BUT IF some in your church DO NOT OBEY the commands and example of the Apostles they DO NOT and SHOULD NOT represent Christ as a member of your church.


    When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed!

    Paul preaches clearly about the Judgment to come.

    II THESSALONIANS 1:7-12 AKJVPaul’s Points concerning Judgment

    • .. and to you who are troubled rest with us,
    • when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
    • taking vengeance on them
      • that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
    • who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord,
      • and from the glory of his power;
    • when he (The Lord Christ JESUS] shall come to be glorified in his saints (all believers),
    • and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
    • with his mighty angels, 
    • in flaming fire

    Let no man deceive you

    Paul continues in encouraging these faithful Thessalonians currently enduring persecution to look forward to THE DAY Christ will return and draw the saints unto Him in victory over death.

    .. by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,

    and by our gathering together unto him,

    be not soon shaken

    in mind,

    or be troubled,

    neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

    Don't believe such things.

    .. for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,

    and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

    2 Thessalonians 2b-4 AKJV

    ἄνομος ánomosWicked

    And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

    2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 AKJV

    We can hardly overlook Paul’s warning of Satan’s deception which will precede the returning of Christ for those He has saved.

    Persecuted Thessalonians would obey the Apostle – having received the Holy spirit AND to whom Paul had already written in his first epistle:

    • He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 4:8
    • Quench not the Spirit.1 Th 5:19
    • And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.1 Th 5:23
    ONCE MORE PAUL ENCOURAGES BELIEVERS IN THE TRUTH OF THE RETURN AND JUDGMENT OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

    Pray that we might be delivered..

    • .. pray for us
    • ..that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men:
    • for all men have not faith.
    • But the Lord is faithful,
    • .. and keep you from evil.

    • And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
    • And .. into the patient waiting for Christ.

    Walk away from evil men

    I have already addressed [above] Paul's concern from evil influencers who claim to be 'christians' AND Paul's COMMAND to stay away from such men.

    But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

    And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

    11 Thessalonians 3:13-15 AKJV

    And so, my dear brother or sister in the Lord, WHY NOT respond to Paul’s Epistle by your COMMENT?

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel

  • II Thessalonians  Intro – It is meet and right so to do..

    II Thessalonians Intro – It is meet and right so to do..

    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

    It is meet and right so to do.

    Book of Common Prayer – Celebration of Holy Communion Order One in Traditional language

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

    Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians 1:3-10
    Authorized (King James) Version

    A ‘Meet‘ Epistle to the Thessalonian Church

    I am about to go 'formal' on you with the Authorized King James Version of II Thessalonians; therefore let us look back to the formality of Paul's long opening sentence [above] written after his formal greeting of this Epistle evoking a sense of duty of a responsive brother receiving a second Epistle of encouragement from our beloved Apostle to the Gentiles (of which you and your wife and children are part) as members of a new and growing church at Thessaloniki (as we now Anglicize it centuries after King James).
    

    Paul’s letters or epistles would have been written to a church and VERBALLY delivered by a man leading worship at any first century church.

    The common language of the Roman Empire is GREEK as it was in Thessalonica even prior to Rome’s rule.

    In Macedonia (of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great) Greek had been made the language of Alexander’s vast Empire even as far east as the Jews had been banished to Babylon, later ruled by Persia and then Alexander.

    Intro to Thessalonica via the Protestant Reformation

    JUMPING centuries and millennia toward today..

    At the time of the Renaissance, in this same sense under the rule of a later Empire of Great Britain the BIBLE goes into all the world (largely in English) authorized by King James of England .

    Unlike an impotent inclusion of anti-Christ philosophies of this Common Era, it was a time when Kings and Queens went out to war AND Sovereigns were not only an authoritative Defender of the Faith, but also men who did determine political religious alliances with the Pope and Bishop of Rome as well as other rulers beyond the realm.

    Because the governed now became literate in Scripture the Bible exposed the darkness of Rome’s frequent heretical Bishops and frequently-fallible Popes.

    The King James Bible was commissioned in the year of our Lord 1609 and first published in A.D. 1611.

    At the time of the Protestant Reformation the Anglican Book of Common Prayer standardized the traditional liturgy of the Roman Catholic Mass from centuries of Christian tradition in the King’s ENGLISH, replacing the ancient Latin (archaic even in Italy and its Papal States) used in its liturgy.

    The common language of the King later remained as part of worship in English long after the meaning of its words were common (much as had Latin become unused beyond the Mass) and centuries after Britannia no longer ruled the waves.

    Never-the-less, let us not overlook the validity of this worship, whether in Thessalonica of the A.D. first century or an American colony of Britain of the A.D. 17th century or for our present day church.

    Meet our ‘word of the day’ – ‘meet

    For many years Christians from the Anglican tradition proclaimed corporately each week as a church celebrating the Communion of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ sacrificed for us in the following words [in part], theology imprinted upon our worshiping hearts:

    • Officiant: [Priest leading Holy Communion] The Lord be with you.
    • Response of the Congregation: And with thy spirit.
    • Officiant: Lift up your hearts.
    • Congregation: We lift them up unto the Lord.
    • Officiant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    • Response: It is meet and right so to do.
    Before proceeding with the opening response of the priest celebrating Holy Communion I would like to PAUSE briefly here to consider the response of the worshipers.

    It is meet and right so to do.

    From the Hebrew Bible עֵזֶר

    Lexicon :: Strong's H5828 - ʿēzer
    
     help (19x), help meet (2x).
    • help, succour
    • one who helps

    And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

    Genesis 2:18 King James Version

    Not only does Moses introduce the Hebrew equivalent of meet (as we once translated in KJV in English), the Gospel writers and Paul introduce its importance to solid theology as well.

    Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

    Gospel of Matthew 3:8 KJV – John the Baptist warning religious leaders
    ἄξιος –axios 

    The KJV translates Strong’s G514 in the following manner: worthy (35x), meet (4x), due reward (1x), unworthy (with G3756) (1x).

    • weighing, having weight, having the weight of another thing of like value, worth as much
    • befitting, congruous, corresponding to a thing
    • of one who has merited anything worthy
      • both in a good and a bad sense
    IS YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD CHRIST JESUS BOTH MEET AND RIGHT?

    Our Christian Duty

    Returning to & Continuing from the Book of Common Prayer:
    • Officiant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
    • Response: It is meet and right so to do.
    • Officiant:

    It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty,
    that we should at all times and in all places
    give thanks unto thee,
    O Lord, holy Father,
    almighty, everlasting God,
    through Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord.

    Book of Common Prayer

    Ano Domini 51 – Paul writes a Second Epistle to the Thessalonians

    a context in Paul's missions to write another Epistle
    A couple of reminders to my fellow Christians of this Common Era
    • A.D., used for calendars and timelines of history since about the fifth century derives from the Latin abbreviation for Anno Domini means “IN THE YEAR OF THE LORD” or “In the year of our Lord,” depending on context.
    • Epistle – generally a serious letter on an important subject [Greek epistole] “message, letter, command, commission,” whether verbal or in writing

    Paul first wrote to the Thessalonian church after being forced out of town by crowds provoked by the Jews.

    READ all about it from Acts of the Apostles 17 AKJV & The Message

    The Apostle to the gentiles sends his Epistle after having clarified the commands of the Council of Jerusalem concerning worship of Jews and gentiles together as believers in Christ Jesus, the Messiah crucified and risen some twenty years ago.

    Paul penned I Thessalonians to commend his faithful brethren for their stalwart dedication to Christ and to one another and to encourage them to further progress in love and holiness.

    Intro to Thessalonians – AKJV [A.D. 1964]

    Once Paul’s messengers deliver his
    Epistle to Thessalonica they return with their report.

    Paul then writes a second Epistle after the returning brothers report certain problems that are not solved. The Apostle writes to encourage believers being persecuted, to clarify the Day of the Lord, commanding them to work and to obey his Epistle.


    .. as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure..

    II Thessalonians 1:3b-4 AKJV

    II Thessalonians

    – To Be Continued… God-willing


    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel

  • Paul’s unfinished encouragement of the Thessalonians

    Paul’s unfinished encouragement of the Thessalonians

    Previously on Paul’s Second Mission

    Start new Second Missionary Journey of Paul in Acts 15 and 16 as the Apostle must journey by land to Lystra and Derbe
    Start New Second Missionary Journey

    The apostles sailed to Macedonia, Greece and Achaia

    google earth of Aegean Sea coast between Troas and Macedonia

    Second major stop

    Thessalonica [Θεσσαλονίκη] next destination of Paul, Silas and Timothy when they depart from Philippi on the 2nd missionary journey of Paul.
    Thessalonica

    THESSILONICA where they proclaim the Gospel to the Jews for THREE WEEKS.

    AND NOW, in ~ A.D. 50 Paul writes back to the Thessalonians

    THREE WEEKS?

    Hardly enough time to establish a firm foundation of faith in NEW BELIEVERS!

    ~A.D. 51 – Paul writes to encourage the Thessalonian Church

    Certainly Paul and other apostles must have wondered how the Thessalonians had fared since opponents of the Gospel of Jesus Christ had forced them to exit to Berea, 100 miles away, and cities further south in Greece and Achaia.

    Mentioned among these new believers were Jason (Acts 17:5), Gaius (Acts 19:29), Aristarchus (Acts 20:4), and Secundus (Acts 20:4). Source

    .. and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith..

    .. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always remember us kindly, longing to see us just as we also long to see you..

    Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians 3:2,6 LSB

    Paul’s First letter to the Thessalonians 1:

    We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father..

    The Apostle’s introductory points of encouragement

    For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit

    1 Thessalonians 2:3 LSB
    • [You are] brothers beloved by God
    • your election [by God]
    • our gospel [came] to you in power and in the Holy Spirit
    • You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 
    • You also became imitators of us and of the Lord [JESUS]

    Even though these apostles had not remained in this city of some 200,000 Macedonians, comparable to a Common Era U.S. city of Columbus Ohio, to endure further persecution by the Judaizers, Paul and some of the other apostles would have known from their previous persecutions the afflictions of these new Thessalonian believers.

    • You [Thessalonians] have had much affliction [YET] with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
    sailing from Macedonia through the Aegean Sea to Achia, home of ancient Athens and a larger city of Corinth

    .. you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

    For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth..

    First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 1:7b-8a Legacy Standard Bible

    .. just as you know how we were exhorting G3870 and encouraging and bearing witness to each one of you as a father would his own children..

    1 Thessalonians 2:11 LSB
    Do you get the picture of evangelism by way of example of our Christ-like love in the community of our local church?
    

    19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His coming?

    20 For you are our glory and joy.

    Roman ACHAIA (as we studied in ACTS) includes Athens of ancient Greece as an intellectual center

    AND CORINTH, its capital and largest city of ~100,000 (including its rural areas).

    It is from Corinth that Paul writes back to the Thessalonians in ~ A.D. 51

    Practical Christianity for NEW Christians in Thessalonica

    we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to [conduct yourselves] walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.

    * Specific Ways to excel still more in holiness, hope and love.
    * source

    2 For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

    PAUL’s HELPFUL LIST:


    • abstain from [porneia] sexual immorality
    • know how to possess his own [*]vessel in sanctification and honor
      • not in lustful passion
    * (literally or figuratively [specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband]):—goods, sail, stuff, vessel. 

    Paul’s extensive metaphor mentioning ‘lustful passion’ and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter‘ pointedly establishes the standard of a monogamous marriage to a faithful wife by the Thessalonian brothers and without any adultery or coveting another man’s ‘vessel.’

    Sanctification

    Sanctification is the theological term describing a refining of our holiness in Christ.

    For God did not call us to impurity, but in sanctification. 

    Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

    1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 LSB

    God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. – 1 Thessalonians 4:7 New Living Translation

    IS YOUR CALL TO CHRIST NOW SANCTIFIED IN HOLINESS?

    Now concerning love of the brothers

    Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters..’ reads the NASB20:

    φιλαδελφία

    1 Thessalonians 4:9

    This LOVE is NOT erotic ‘love’ with which the world is enamored and against which Paul has already cautioned, but rather a familial love of a biological brother, i.e. philadelphia.


    How many christians, knowing better, have transgressed that line of love?
    
    And as if to further warn believers concerning our sanctification in the loves of Christ Jesus, Paul adds:

    “.. for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another..”


    This most personal, godly LOVE is agapaō.

    ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους

    agapaō allēlōn

    you yourselves are taught by GOD [theodidaktos] to Love one another.

    of persons

    to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly

    of things

    to be well pleased, to be contented at or with a thing

    —each other, mutual, one another, (the other), (them-

    • make it your ambition to lead a quiet life
    • attend to your own business
    • work with your hands
    • walk [peripateō – lit. ‘behave‘] properly toward outsiders
      • have need of nothing

    DEATH & LIFE

    The Apostle Paul closes his first letter to the Thessalonians with a contemporary issue of the A.D. 50’s an ETERNAL and timeless warning also applicable in these last days of the Common Era of the 2020’s.

    TWO TIMELINES

    • ~A.D. 30 – JESUS Christ crucified by a Roman Governor [Pilate]
    • A.D. 50’s – Paul, an Apostle of the risen CHRIST writes to the Thessalonians as ALL still live under ROMAN rule.
    • A.D. 70 (Twenty years after Paul’s letter) – ROME besieges Jerusalem, drives out the Judeans and destroys the Temple of the Herod’s.

    A COMMON ERA CAUTION

    911 attack plane flying into a second world trade center tower
    • 9/11/2001 C.E.
      • ~ twenty years ago
    collage of worldly leaders - ACTS 2:40 "Be saved from this perverse generation.
    • 2021 of the Common Era
      • TODAY’s contemporary challenges to Christians
    • 2044 of the Common Era
      • Twenty years from TODAY? ? ?
    Without stepping into an apocalyptic mire of last days, let's briefly glance at Paul's exhortation for Christians living for an eternal God.

    Therefore comfort one another with these words.

    • Do not grieve for those in Christ who have died.

    IF WE BELIEVE..

    • Jesus died and rose again
      • (John tells us that those are still living among the 500+ men who witnessed Christ’s resurrection just 20 years earlier.)
    • God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [died] in Jesus.
    • .. the Lord Himself will descend from heaven..
      • and the dead in Christ will rise first.
      • [Those] who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them [believers who have died] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air..
        • NOW, in these last days of the Common Era, this would now include these Thessalonians along with other saints to whom the Apostle wrote.
    • and so we shall always be with the Lord.

    Therefore comfort one another with these words.

    ..  the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly..

    Thessalonians 5:2b-3a LSB

    4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief..

    Paul then reminds us once more of our obedient sanctification in Christ.

    .. let us be awake and sober.

    For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.

    Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians 5:9-10 ~ A.D. 51

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel

    Letters from the Apostle Paul — To be continued… God-willing…