Scofield Reference Notes Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. SCOFIELD REFERENCE NOTES (Old Scofield 1917 Edition)
Book Introduction The First Epistle of Paul The Apostle to the Thessalonians WRITER The apostle Paul (1Th 1.1) DATE The Epistle was written from Corinth, A.D. 54, shortly after Paul's departure from Thessalonica (Ac 16., 17.), and is the earliest of his letters. THEME The theme of the Epistle is threefold: (1) To confirm young disciples in the foundational truths already taught them; (2) to exhort them to go on to holiness; (3) to comfort them concerning those who had fallen asleep. The second coming of Christ is prominent throughout. The Epistle is incidentally most interesting as showing the richness in doctrine of the primitive evangelism. During a mission of about one month the apostle had taught all the great doctrines of the Christian faith. The divisions of the Epistle are sufficiently indicated by the Chapters. I. The model church, and the three tenses of the Christian life 1.1-10 II. The model servant and his reward 2.1-20 III. The model brother, and the believer's sanctification 3.1-13 IV. The model walk, and the believer's hope, 4.1-18 V. The model walk, and the day of Jehovah, 5.1-28 [1] great doctrines outlined (See Introductory notes). That is: election, 1Th 1:4 Holy Spirit, 1:5,6 4:8 5:19 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Margin work of faith
Lit. operative faith, and laborious love, and hope-filled patience. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; [2] how ye turned
The tenses of the believer's life here indicated are logical and give the true order. They occur also in 1Th 1:3. The "work of faith" is to "turn to God from idols" (cf) Jn 6:28,29 the "labour of love" is to "serve the living and true God"; and the "patience of hope" is to "wait for his Son from heaven" (cf) Mt 24:42 25:13 Lk 12:36-48 Acts 1:11 Phil 3:20,21. Paul repeats this threefold sequence in Ti 2:11-13. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. Scofield Reference Notes by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [1917] Bible Hub |
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