A Private Commentary on the Bible: Thessalonians

By James D. Quiggle

A thoroughly exegetical discussion and application of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonian Church, using the author’s translation. The interpretation is theologically conservative using the historical-grammatical hermeneutic. Attention is given to Calvinistic and Dispensational perspectives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James D. Quiggle
• Release date: Jan 28, 2021

James D. Quiggle

James D. Quiggle was born in 1952 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He grew up in Kansas and the Texas Panhandle. In the early 1970s he joined the United States Air Force. At his first permanent assignment in Indian Springs, Nevada in a small Baptist church, the pastor introduced him to Jesus and soon after he was saved. Over the next ten years those he met in churches from the East Coast to the West Coast, mature Christian men, poured themselves into mentoring him. In the 1970s he was gifted with the Scofield Bible Course from Moody Bible Institute. As he completed his studies his spiritual gift of teaching became even more apparent. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bethany Bible College during the 1980s while still in the Air Force. Between 2006–2008, after his career in the Air Force and with his children grown up, he decided to continue his education. He enrolled in Bethany Divinity College and Seminary and earned a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theological Studies.As an extension of his spiritual gift of teaching, he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to begin writing books. James Quiggle is now a Christian author with over fifty commentaries on Bible books and doctrines. He is an editor for the Evangelical Dispensational Quarterly Journal published by Scofield Biblical Institute and Theological Seminary.He continues to write and has a vibrant teaching ministry through social media.

Book preview

Thessalonians

BOOKS BY JAMES D. QUIGGLE

DOCTRINAL SERIES

Adam and Eve, a Biography and Theology

Angelology, a True History of Angels

Biblical Essays

Biblical Essays II

Biblical Essays III

Biblical Homosexuality

A Biblical Response to Same-gender Marriage

Marriage and Family: A Biblical Perspective

First Steps, Becoming a Follower of Jesus Christ

Christian Living and Doctrine

Spiritual Gifts

Why Christians Should Not Tithe

Antichrist, His Genealogy, Kingdom, and Religion

Dispensational Eschatology, An Explanation and Defense of the Doctrine

Understanding Dispensational Theology

The Literal Hermeneutic, Explained and Illustrated

God’s Choices, Doctrines of Foreordination, Election, Predestination

God Became Incarnate

Life, Death, Eternity

COMMENTARY SERIES

The Old Testament:

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Judges

A Private Commentary on the Book of Ruth

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Esther

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Song of Solomon

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Daniel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Jonah

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Habakkuk

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Haggai

The New Testament:

The Gospels

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Matthew’s Gospel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Mark’s Gospel

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John 1–12

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John 13–21

(John’s Gospel is also in a one volume edition)

The Parables and Miracles of Jesus Christ

The Passion and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ

The Christmas Story, As Told By God

Pauline Letters

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Ephesians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philippians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Colossians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Thessalonians

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Philemon

General Letters

A Private Commentary on the Book of Hebrews

A Private Commentary on the Bible: James

A Private Commentary on the Bible: 1 Peter

A Private Commentary on the Bible: 2 Peter

A Private Commentary on the Bible: John’s Epistles

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Jude

Revelation

The Epistle of Jesus to the Church

REFERENCE SERIES

Old and New Testament Chronology

Also in individual volumes:

Old Testament Chronology

New Testament Chronology

Translation of Select Bible Books (Old And New Testament)

Dictionary of Doctrinal Words

TRACTS

How Can I Know I am A Christian?

Now That I am A Christian

A Human Person: Is the Unborn Life a Person?

What is a Pastor?/Why Is My Pastor Eating the Sheep?

Visit me at https://www.facebook.com/BooksOfQ

A Private Commentary

on the Bible

Thessalonians

James D. Quiggle

Copyright Page

A Private Commentary on the Bible: Thessalonians

Copyright © 2021 James D. Quiggle. All rights reserved.

Published by James D. Quiggle, 2021

Smashwords Edition

Translation of the Books of First and Second Thessalonians by James D. Quiggle

Translations not marked are sourced from Translations of Select Bible Books by James D. Quiggle.

The October Testament, the New Matthew Bible (NMB). The AD 1535 New Testament of William Tyndale for the Matthew Bible. Updated by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Copyright 2016.

Some Bible versions cited or quoted were sourced from PC Study Bible®, version 5, release 5.2. Copyright© 1988–2008, by BibleSoft, Inc. These include:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

New King James Version® (NKJV). Copyright © 1982, 1983 by Thomas Nelson Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, A Division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, USA. All rights reserved.

The Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

This digital edition of A Private Commentary on the Bible: Thessalonians has the same material as the print edition.

Preface

The Private Commentary series on the Old and New Testaments is my interpretation of the Bible, neither more nor less. I am responsible for the use made of all quoted and cited material.

The scope of the Private Commentary series is to bring the reader to a practical understanding of Scripture. I explain and discuss each verse, idea, theme, and biblical truth as discovered in turn during the course of the exposition. My target audience is the Bible college/seminary student, Bible study/small group leader, Sunday School teacher, and local church Pastor. My point of view is a conservative theology. Other opinions concerning the Scripture are presented and discussed as I believe will profit the target audience.

Bible students who desire to understand and apply the scriptures are invited to study the book with me and come to their own conclusions.

This material is copyrighted to prevent misuse or abuse. Those persons using this material in their teaching/preaching ministry may copy and distribute individual pages (e.g., an excursus, a table/list, or an appendix) for distribution to one’s students or auditors. The entire book may not be copied and/or distributed, nor large portions of the book, such as a chapter or extended comments on Scripture passages. The cost of this work has been kept as low as possible so every interested teacher, preacher, and student may afford a personal copy.

Table of Contents

Abbreviations

Introduction

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

First Thessalonians One

First Thessalonians Two

First Thessalonians Three

First Thessalonians Four

First Thessalonians Five

Paul’s Second Letter to the Thessalonians

Second Thessalonians One

Second Thessalonians Two

Second Thessalonians Three

Appendix: Christian Core Values

Appendix: Doctrines of the Christian Faith

Sources

Abbreviations

AD Anno Domini (In the year of YHWH [since Christ was born])

ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers

AUC Anno Urbis Conditae (in the year of the founded city [of Rome])

Ant. Antiquities of the Jews

BC Bello Christo (Before Christ [was born])

ca. about (an approximate date) (Latin: circa)

CE Current Era (year since Christ was born).

cf. compare (Latin: confer)

e.g. for example (Latin: exempli gratia)

etc. and so forth, and so on (Latin: et cetera)

GWT Great White Throne judgment (Revelation 20:11–15)

HCSB Holman Christian Standard Bible

Ibid in the same place (referring to the source cited in the previous entry) (Latin: ibidem)

i.e. that is (Latin: id est)

ISBE International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ANF Ante-Nicene Fathers

NMB New Matthew Bible

NPNF Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers

LXX Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament completed ca. 130 BC)

n. note (referring to a footnote or endnote in the work cited)

m. Mishnah (followed by tractate name, e.g., m. Baba Metzia)

Song Song of Solomon

s. v. under the word (Latin: sub verbo)

TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

TNTC Tyndale New Testament Commentary

TWOT Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament

v. verse

vv. verses

WBC Word Biblical Commentary

WSDNT Complete Word Study Dictionary New Testament

First Thessalonians

James D. Quiggle

Introduction

Many believers think of eschatology when they think of the Books of First and Second Thessalonians. The careful student discovers the books are about how to live the Christian life. The apostle Paul was writing to young Christians, with whom he had spent at least three but no more than six months teaching the basics of Christianity. We can see what he taught them in person as he rehearses that past instruction in his two letters. The doctrine of eschatology was just one part of a basic education in Christian doctrine and practice.

We will see throughout this letter that Paul’s time with the Thessalonian believers covered the doctrines of salvation (which includes the doctrine of sin), Christian living (experiential sanctification, repentance), and eschatology. They were well instructed believers, needing only the experience of passing time and consistency in practice to establish them into the faith.

Five important truths in 1 Thessalonians (developed from Ryrie, 50–51.)

1. The importance of ministries for a healthy and growing church.

2. The importance of prayer in the life and growth of the church.

3. The importance of knowledge of the truth to understand the events of life.

4. The importance of knowing suffering is the appointed lot of the believer, that we may stand and withstand in the tribulations of life.

5. The importance of knowing Jesus is returning for his church, that we may not lose hope.

Throughout the commentary I make reference to ideas Paul uses or further develops in later letters that were first expressed in Thessalonians. Knowing the chronological relationship with the other letters may be helpful [Hollingsworth, Chronology]. (I have come to believe Galatians was written prior to the Corinthian letters, so have changed the dates and order from Hollingsworth.)

1 Thessalonians AD 50–51

Galatians AD 50–51

2 Thessalonians AD 51–52

1 Corinthians AD 57

2 Corinthians AD 57

Romans AD 58

Ephesians AD 62

Philippians AD 62

Colossians AD 62

Philemon AD 62

1 Timothy AD 67

Titus AD 67

2 Timothy AD 68

A brief history of the region will set an historical context for the study.

The city of Thessalonica was located in the country of Macedonia that lay north of Greece. (Today Macedonia is a region of the nation Greece, and Thessaloniki is the capital city of that region.) Macedonia was the country of King Philip (382–336 BC) and his son Alexander the Great (356–323 BC). The city of Thessalonica was founded in 316 BC by King Cassander (one of Alexander’s generals).

Thessalonica became the economic powerhouse of the region. The city was located on major land and sea trade routes. Thessalonica was and is one of the largest ports on the Aegean Sea. Between 146–120 BC, the Roman Proconsul Cnaeus Egnatius had a road constructed from east to west across Macedonia, running through Thessalonica.

This Roman road, the Via Egnatia, was the super highway of the times in Macedonia. A Roman road was normally ten to twelve Roman feet wide (a Roman foot is equal 11.65 English inches), and widened to twenty Roman feet near cities. The products of mining and agriculture, as well as heavy foot traffic, passed through Thessalonica.

The Romans conquered Macedonia in 200 BC. There were several subsequent attempts to restore Macedonia to an independent monarchy. In 168 BC the Romans defeated the last attempt, and took steps to weaken the region. Macedonia was divided into several small regions, the mines were closed, and internal trade between regions was restricted.

With their economic power broken, the Macedonians adapted to life as a Roman province. The economic restrictions were gradually lifted over the course of about one hundred years. By the time Paul came to the city, ca. AD 50, the city and the country had been restored to prosperity.

The accusation against Jason, Acts 17:7, was a reflection of the century earlier conflicts with Rome to restore the monarchial system, and the desire to avoid further conflict with Rome. Acts 17:6–7 (HCSB), These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, and Jason has received them as guests! They are all acting contrary to Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus! The people had adapted to the Roman Empire and did not want the old monarchial conflicts to return.

The accusation against Jason brings up an important point. The Romans viewed Christians as political traitors. The Christians proclaimed a coming king, and they refused to be part of the various religious acts required to support the Roman Empire. Every city had official gods and publicly paid priests. In addition to the approximately twenty gods in Thessalonica, there was also the civic cults, the cult of Thea Roma, and the cult of the emperor.

The civic cults were those temples and gods and priests the city paid to support using public funds. The religions of the day reflected the social system of patronage. In ancient times it really was who you knew, not what you knew. From the emperor down to the common citizen, everyone expected to receive and was expected to give consideration and benefits to those whom they knew as friends and to support others socially below them. Thus the painter had a patron to support his art, the ship builder a patron to help finance his boat, the temple had patrons to support their religion. The Emperor gave benefits to his friends, and they to theirs, and so on. This was the way society was run.

So too religion. Worship and prayer and sacrifices were viewed as a kind of transaction between man and the gods. The gods were the patrons of the cities, the politicians, the businessmen, the farmer, the sailor, and so on down through the strata of society. Make a sacrifice, offer a prayer, dedicate this or that to the gods and the gods were expected to respond with blessings.

In today’s strictly separated civic and religious duties, we can hardly imagine the absence of separation between religion and government in the ancient world. To refuse to engage in the civic cults was an act of treason against the state. In addition to local religions, the cult of Thea Roma created the city of Rome as a goddess. The imperial cult made gods of deceased emperors.

Every person, except the Christians, integrated the many gods into their daily life. One could not actively participate in government or commerce without paying honor to the gods. Feasts and celebrations and parades were frequently held by the state and the trade guilds and the temples in honor of the gods. The Christians did not participate; they had integrated the one true God into their life. They were marked out as traitors and as the cause of evil from the gods because of their atheism. They suffered both civil and economic persecution. This is the meaning behind 1 Thessalonians 1:9, turned to God from idols.

From the first through fourth century, Christians (until the AD 311 Edict of Toleration, followed two years later by the Edict of Milan) were not persecuted so much for their religious beliefs, as their lack of participation in the religious beliefs of the state and its citizens.

The conflict between Christianity and the Roman state did not prevent the Christians from practicing their Christianity. The Thessalonian Christians were a vibrant church engaged in evangelism and missionary support. The former got them into trouble; the latter gained them praise and glory for God. See 1 Thessalonians 1:7–9; 4:9.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

Paul and Silas and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonians in God Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention in our prayers, at every opportunity remembering in the presence of our God and Father your work in the faith and labor in love and the perseverance in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing beloved brothers your election by God, because our gospel came not to you only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and much conviction, just as you know what we were among you on account of you.

And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so as you became an example to all the ones in Macedonia believing, and in Achaia. Because from you the word of the Lord has been proclaimed, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so as there is no need to have us to say anything. Because they themselves declare about us what entrance we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised out from the dead, Jesus, the one delivering us from the coming wrath.

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you has not been in vain. But, just as you know, we having previously suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God, in much conflict. Because our exhortation is not of error, nor of impurity, nor in deceit. But just as we have been proven worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, the one examining our hearts.

Because not at any time were we with a word of flattery, just as you know, not with a pretense for greed—God is witness. Not seeking glory from men, not from you not from others. We could have been burdensome as Christ’s apostles, but we were gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother might cherish her own children. So, being affectionate toward you, we were pleased to have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you have become beloved to us.

Because you remember, brothers, our labor and toil—working night and day so as not to burden any one of you—we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You and God are witnesses, how holily and righteously and blamelessly we were toward those believing. Even as you know, each one of you, as a father his own children, encouraging you and comforting and solemnly charging you to live lives worthy of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

And because of this we also give thanks to God at every opportunity that, having received the word of God, hearing it from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but even as it truly is, the word of God, which is constantly working in you who believe. Because you, brothers, became followers of the churches of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus. Because you also suffered the same as them, from your own countrymen, as they also from the Jews. Who, both the Lord Jesus having killed, and their own prophets, and having persecuted us, and not pleasing God, and set against all men, hindering us to speak to the gentiles that they might be saved, so as to always fill up their sins. Now has come upon them the wrath to the end.

But we, brothers, having been bereaved of you for a short time, in face not in heart, were exceedingly eager, with great desire, to see your face. For this reason we intended to come to you—truly I Paul, both once and twice—and Satan hindered us. Because who is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you before our Lord Jesus as his coming? Because you are our glory and joy!

Therefore, no longer restraining the impulse, we thought it good to be left behind alone in Athens, and we sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker of God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and to encourage you to benefit your faith, that no one be disturbed in these tribulations. Because you know yourselves that for this we are destined.

For even when we were with you, we forewarned you that we are about to suffer affliction, just as also it did come to pass, and you know. Because of this I also, no longer enduring, sent in order to know your faith, lest in some way the one tempting you had tempted, and our labor would be in vain.

But now Timothy has come to us from you. He has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always remember us well, longing to see us, just as also we you. On account of this we were encouraged, brothers, as to you in all our distress and tribulation, through your faith. Because now we live if you are standing firm in the Lord. For what thanksgiving are we able to give to God about you, in return for all the joy that we rejoice because of you before our God night and day, earnestly imploring for us to see your face and to supply the things lacking in your faith?

Now our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way to you. And the Lord make you to increase, and to abound in love toward one another, and toward all, just as also we toward you, so he may make your hearts steadfast, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

As to the rest, then, brothers, we implore and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you received from us the manner in which you ought to live your life and to please God, and just as you are living your life, so you should even more. Because you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: you are to abstain from sexual immorality. Each of you is to know how to control his or her sexuality in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust, as also the peoples not knowing God, not to overstep the limits in the matter of his brother, because the Lord is avenging concerning all these things, just as also we told you before, and repeatedly exhorted. For God has not called us to moral impurity, but to holiness. The result is, the one rejecting this despises not man but God, the one also giving his Holy Spirit to you.

Now about brotherly love, you have no need for me to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. And you are doing this toward all the brothers, all the ones in Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, to abound much more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to attend to your own, and to work with your own hands, just as we commanded you, so that your manner of living may be respectable toward those outside, and you may not have need of anything.

Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those having fallen asleep, so that you should not be grieved, even just as the rest—those not having hope. Because if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God will bring with him those having fallen asleep through Jesus. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we the living remaining unto the coming of the Lord, shall never no never precede those having fallen asleep. Because the Lord himself, by a loud command, by the voice of an archangel, and by the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we the living remaining, together with them, will be caught up in the clouds for the meeting of the Lord in the air. And so always with the Lord we will be. Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

Now about the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to be written to you. Because yourselves fully know that the day of the Lord, as a thief in the might, in this manner comes. For when they might say, Peace and security, then unexpected destruction comes upon them, just as to her having the labor pains in the womb; and never no never might they escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day may come upon you like a thief. Because you all are sons of light, and sons of day. We are not of night, nor of darkness.

So then we should not sleep as others, but we should give attention and we should be sober-minded. Because those sleeping, by night sleep; and those becoming drunk, by night get drunk. But we, being of the day, should be sober-minded, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet, the hope of salvation. Because God has not appointed us for wrath, but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one having died for us, so that whether we might watch or we might sleep, we may live together with him.

Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as also you are doing. Now we implore you, brothers, to know those laboring among you, and set over you in the Lord, and exhort you, and to regard them more abundantly in love, on account of their work. Now we exhort you, brothers, to admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all.

See that no one to anyone has repaid evil for evil, but always pursue the good toward one another, and toward all; rejoice always; pray every time an opportunity presents itself; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. Do not hinder the Spirit. Do not reject prophecies, but prove all things to be worthy, or not. Hold fast to the good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Now, may the God of peace himself completely sanctify you, and your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The one calling you is faithful, who also will do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord this letter to be read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

First Thessalonians One

Translation 1 Thessalonians 1:1

1 Paul and Silas and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonians in God Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

TRANSLATION NOTES

In v. 1, the text reads the name Silouanós, which transliterated is Silvanus [Zodhiates, s. v. 4610], appearing at 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12. The name Silouanós is the same as Sílas [Zodhiates, s. v. 4609], appearing at Acts 15:22, 27, 32, 34, 40; 16:19, 25, 29; 17:4, 10, 14, 15; 18:5. Luke calls him Silas but Paul always refers to him as Silvanus.

I have substituted Sílas for Silouanós to maintain the relationship with the many verses where the person Silvanus is identified as Silas. In Acts 18:5 Sílas and Timothy come from Macedonia to Corinth where Paul was ministering, and where he wrote his letter to the Thessalonians. The city of Thessalonica is in Macedonia, see 1 Thessalonians 3:1–2.

In 1:1, after the words Grace to you and peace, some manuscripts have variations of, from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. If any of those variations had been in the autograph there is no reason why it would have been deleted from the majority of manuscripts [Metzger, 561]. For that reason I have used the shorter text.

EXPOSITION

Introduction

Paul opens his letter in the style of the times, by first identifying himself and those with him who are known to the Thessalonian Christians, before giving greetings to the recipients of the letter. Like some letters of the times, he also closes with a greeting, 5:26. But