WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.860 Henry: Welcome to immerse, the daily bible reading experience. 00:00:02.978 --> 00:00:03.658 Day 19. 00:00:04.306 --> 00:00:06.016 Intro 2: II Thess: immersed in First Thessalonians, 00:00:08.836 --> 00:00:10.606 the new believers in Thessalonica. 00:00:11.026 --> 00:00:15.046 A city in the northern part of Greece needed both encouragement and guidance. 00:00:15.616 --> 00:00:19.876 Paul had brought them the good news about Jesus, and they had joyfully embraced it. 00:00:20.416 --> 00:00:23.596 This is described in the Book of Acts, but there were critical 00:00:23.596 --> 00:00:27.136 gaps in their understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus. 00:00:28.216 --> 00:00:32.386 Some of the Thessalonians had stopped working for a living probably based on the 00:00:32.386 --> 00:00:34.516 assumption that Jesus would return soon. 00:00:35.296 --> 00:00:38.266 Others were despondent because they were afraid that loved ones who 00:00:38.271 --> 00:00:42.016 had died before Jesus returned, had missed their share in the kingdom. 00:00:42.766 --> 00:00:46.066 Still, others were anxious about all the details related to when 00:00:46.336 --> 00:00:48.076 and how Jesus would come back. 00:00:49.126 --> 00:00:52.156 The believers also hadn't made a complete transition to their 00:00:52.156 --> 00:00:53.866 new way of living in Christ. 00:00:54.646 --> 00:00:59.236 Some in the community still indulged in sexual immorality and even adultery, 00:00:59.686 --> 00:01:03.316 and some were undermining Paul's authority by questioning his motives. 00:01:04.036 --> 00:01:07.276 Along with this, the Thessalonian believers were facing renewed 00:01:07.276 --> 00:01:10.696 persecution, tempting some to fall away from their faith. 00:01:11.806 --> 00:01:15.796 The Thessalonian community still needed the teaching and leadership of someone 00:01:15.796 --> 00:01:18.166 like Paul, but he was no longer with them. 00:01:18.811 --> 00:01:23.341 As described in Acts, the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica reacted angrily. 00:01:23.341 --> 00:01:27.331 When Paul brought the good news about Jesus to the Gentiles, they set 00:01:27.331 --> 00:01:31.711 events in motion that jeopardized the safety of Paul and Silas, making it 00:01:31.711 --> 00:01:33.541 impossible for them to stay in the city. 00:01:34.321 --> 00:01:37.921 Paul later sent his coworker Timothy to find out how the believers were 00:01:37.921 --> 00:01:40.141 doing and to report back to him. 00:01:40.891 --> 00:01:43.621 It may have turned out for the best that Paul was forced to move on from 00:01:43.621 --> 00:01:45.781 Thessalonica and from other cities too. 00:01:46.756 --> 00:01:50.716 The kind of opposition he faced in those cities forced him to find a new way to 00:01:50.716 --> 00:01:52.456 guide the communities he had started. 00:01:53.116 --> 00:01:56.626 Since he couldn't remain with them in person, he developed a pattern of teaching 00:01:56.631 --> 00:01:58.456 them through letters and messengers. 00:01:58.876 --> 00:02:03.766 Even as he started new communities of Jesus followers elsewhere, these letters 00:02:03.766 --> 00:02:08.086 were later gathered together and became a major portion of the New Testament. 00:02:08.926 --> 00:02:12.706 They have given God's people through the centuries an essential window for 00:02:12.706 --> 00:02:16.996 viewing and understanding the message and meaning of early Christianity. 00:02:18.136 --> 00:02:22.696 Letters in Paul's day had a common form typically consisting of three parts, 00:02:22.906 --> 00:02:25.366 an opening, a main body, and a closing. 00:02:26.116 --> 00:02:29.416 An the opening writers would give their name, identify whom they were 00:02:29.416 --> 00:02:34.006 writing to, and offer a good wish or prayer for the recipients expressing 00:02:34.006 --> 00:02:35.596 gratitude for the relationship. 00:02:36.301 --> 00:02:40.291 In the main body, they would introduce and deal with various items of business. 00:02:40.981 --> 00:02:44.131 In the closing, they would often name and vouch for the person 00:02:44.136 --> 00:02:47.671 delivering the letter who would likely read it aloud to the recipients. 00:02:48.391 --> 00:02:51.301 Then the writers would extend personal greetings and pass 00:02:51.306 --> 00:02:52.561 along greetings from others. 00:02:53.131 --> 00:02:56.851 They might also say when they hoped to see the recipients next, and then 00:02:56.851 --> 00:02:58.651 they end with a final good wish. 00:02:59.551 --> 00:03:02.851 Paul makes masterful use of this ancient letter writing form. 00:03:03.451 --> 00:03:06.241 He often uses the standard opening and closing elements. 00:03:06.481 --> 00:03:11.611 To summarize the letter's main themes, this first letter to the Thessalonian 00:03:11.611 --> 00:03:16.201 believers, the earliest letter we have from Paul provides the guidance and 00:03:16.201 --> 00:03:20.671 support they will need to continue following Jesus with maturity and 00:03:20.671 --> 00:03:23.251 courage with his opening words. 00:03:23.521 --> 00:03:27.871 Paul rejoices in their eager reception of the good news and acknowledges 00:03:27.871 --> 00:03:30.961 the suffering they're experiencing because of their faith in Jesus. 00:03:31.726 --> 00:03:35.746 Then just before his final greetings, he efficiently summarizes his 00:03:35.746 --> 00:03:38.896 responses to the challenges that Thessalonian believers are facing. 00:03:39.526 --> 00:03:44.596 He tells them to work hard, live peacefully, and care well for others. 00:03:45.721 --> 00:03:49.651 In the midst of this letter, Paul focuses on the great vision of Jesus' 00:03:49.651 --> 00:03:54.211 glorious return as king and our great hope of the resurrection of the dead. 00:03:55.111 --> 00:03:59.581 This vision and hope will sustain the Thessalonians as they seek to live 00:03:59.581 --> 00:04:02.311 renewed lives that are pleasing to God. 00:04:07.651 --> 00:04:10.081 The first letter to the Thessalonians. 00:04:12.526 --> 00:04:16.126 This letter is from Paul Silas and Timothy. 00:04:17.566 --> 00:04:22.096 We are writing to the church in Thessalonica to you who belong to God, 00:04:22.096 --> 00:04:24.796 the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:26.056 --> 00:04:28.366 May God give you grace and peace. 00:04:31.186 --> 00:04:37.156 We always thank God for all of you, and pray for you constantly as we 00:04:37.156 --> 00:04:39.526 pray to our God and Father about you. 00:04:39.961 --> 00:04:45.361 We think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you 00:04:45.361 --> 00:04:48.151 have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:04:49.171 --> 00:04:53.191 We know dear brothers and sisters that God loves you and has 00:04:53.191 --> 00:04:55.441 chosen you to be his own people. 00:04:56.431 --> 00:05:00.991 For when we brought you the good news, it was not only with words, but also with 00:05:00.991 --> 00:05:06.541 power for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. 00:05:07.351 --> 00:05:11.791 And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 00:05:12.751 --> 00:05:16.501 So you received the message with Joy from the Holy Spirit. 00:05:16.981 --> 00:05:19.741 In spite of the severe suffering it brought you. 00:05:20.521 --> 00:05:21.391 In this way. 00:05:21.751 --> 00:05:26.161 You imitated both us and the Lord as a result. 00:05:26.581 --> 00:05:30.031 You have become an example to all the believers in Greece 00:05:30.691 --> 00:05:33.541 throughout both Macedonia and Akaya. 00:05:34.471 --> 00:05:38.491 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, 00:05:39.031 --> 00:05:41.581 even beyond Macedonia and Ikea. 00:05:42.031 --> 00:05:46.141 For wherever we go, we find people telling us about your faith in God. 00:05:47.251 --> 00:05:50.881 We don't need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the 00:05:50.881 --> 00:05:55.261 wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve 00:05:55.261 --> 00:06:00.151 the living and true God, and they speak of how you are looking forward 00:06:00.151 --> 00:06:02.401 to the coming of God's son from heaven. 00:06:03.076 --> 00:06:06.106 Jesus whom God raised from the dead. 00:06:06.826 --> 00:06:10.996 He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment. 00:06:12.586 --> 00:06:16.546 You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters that our 00:06:16.551 --> 00:06:18.316 visit to you was not a failure. 00:06:19.186 --> 00:06:24.076 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to 00:06:24.076 --> 00:06:26.356 you and how much we suffered there. 00:06:27.196 --> 00:06:31.126 Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his good news to you 00:06:31.126 --> 00:06:33.826 boldly in spite of great opposition. 00:06:34.726 --> 00:06:39.526 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery 00:06:40.666 --> 00:06:45.436 for we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the good news. 00:06:46.426 --> 00:06:49.426 Our purpose is to please God, not people. 00:06:50.176 --> 00:06:53.236 He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 00:06:54.031 --> 00:06:56.941 Never once did we try to win you with flattery. 00:06:56.941 --> 00:07:01.621 As you well know, and God is our witness, that we were not pretending to 00:07:01.626 --> 00:07:04.141 be your friends just to get your money. 00:07:05.401 --> 00:07:08.851 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or 00:07:08.851 --> 00:07:12.631 anyone else as apostles of Christ. 00:07:12.631 --> 00:07:16.501 We certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead 00:07:16.501 --> 00:07:20.701 we were like children among you or we were like a mother feeding 00:07:20.701 --> 00:07:22.351 and caring for her own children. 00:07:23.566 --> 00:07:26.806 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's 00:07:26.806 --> 00:07:29.566 good news but our own lives too. 00:07:30.646 --> 00:07:34.186 Don't you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we 00:07:34.186 --> 00:07:36.856 worked among you night and day? 00:07:36.861 --> 00:07:41.206 We toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you 00:07:41.206 --> 00:07:43.276 as we preached God's good news to you. 00:07:44.521 --> 00:07:50.161 You yourselves are our witnesses and so is God, that we were devouted and 00:07:50.161 --> 00:07:55.321 honest and faultless toward all of you believers and you know that we treated 00:07:55.351 --> 00:08:01.381 each of you as a father, treats his own children, we pleaded with you, encouraged 00:08:01.381 --> 00:08:07.051 you and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy for. 00:08:07.051 --> 00:08:10.081 He called you to share in his kingdom and glory. 00:08:11.731 --> 00:08:16.036 Therefore, We never stopped thanking God that when you received his 00:08:16.036 --> 00:08:20.416 message from us, you didn't think of our words as mere human ideas. 00:08:20.806 --> 00:08:26.266 You accepted what we said as the very word of God, which of course it is. 00:08:27.016 --> 00:08:30.526 And this word continues to work in you who believe. 00:08:31.756 --> 00:08:35.716 And then dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution 00:08:35.716 --> 00:08:36.896 from your own countrymen. 00:08:37.636 --> 00:08:42.316 In this way, you imitated the believers in God's churches and Judea, who, 00:08:42.346 --> 00:08:46.606 because of their belief in Christ, Jesus suffered from their own people. 00:08:46.636 --> 00:08:51.286 The Jews, for some of the Jews killed the prophets and some 00:08:51.286 --> 00:08:52.936 even killed the Lord Jesus. 00:08:53.596 --> 00:08:55.786 Now they have persecuted us too. 00:08:56.596 --> 00:09:00.616 They failed to please God and work against all humanity as they try 00:09:00.616 --> 00:09:04.096 to keep us from preaching the good news of salvation to the Gentiles. 00:09:05.101 --> 00:09:11.221 By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins, but the anger of God 00:09:11.401 --> 00:09:13.381 has caught up with them at last. 00:09:14.971 --> 00:09:20.311 Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while, 00:09:20.821 --> 00:09:25.381 though our hearts never left you, we tried very hard to come back because of 00:09:25.381 --> 00:09:27.691 our intense longing to see you again. 00:09:28.621 --> 00:09:31.951 We want it very much to come to you and I, Paul. 00:09:32.281 --> 00:09:36.031 Try it again and again, but Satan prevented us. 00:09:37.501 --> 00:09:42.691 After all, what gives us hope and joy and what will be our proud reward 00:09:42.696 --> 00:09:47.941 and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns, it is you. 00:09:48.541 --> 00:09:51.601 Yes, you are our pride and joy. 00:09:52.711 --> 00:09:57.901 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in 00:09:57.901 --> 00:10:00.541 Athens and we sent Timothy to visit you. 00:10:01.276 --> 00:10:05.596 He is our brother and God's coworker in proclaiming the good news of Christ. 00:10:06.166 --> 00:10:10.696 We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith and to keep 00:10:10.696 --> 00:10:15.736 you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through, but you know 00:10:15.741 --> 00:10:17.986 that we are destined for such troubles. 00:10:18.586 --> 00:10:22.216 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles 00:10:22.216 --> 00:10:24.436 would soon come and they did. 00:10:24.436 --> 00:10:25.366 As you well know. 00:10:25.996 --> 00:10:31.216 That is why when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out 00:10:31.216 --> 00:10:33.106 whether your faith was still strong. 00:10:33.976 --> 00:10:37.366 I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and 00:10:37.366 --> 00:10:39.406 that our work had been useless. 00:10:40.576 --> 00:10:45.556 But now Timothy has just returned bringing us good news about your faith and love. 00:10:46.246 --> 00:10:50.356 He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to 00:10:50.356 --> 00:10:52.606 see us as much as we want to see you. 00:10:53.491 --> 00:10:57.721 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering. 00:10:58.111 --> 00:11:02.851 Dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith, 00:11:03.571 --> 00:11:10.591 it gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord, how 00:11:10.591 --> 00:11:13.801 We thank God for you because of you. 00:11:13.801 --> 00:11:16.711 We have great joy as we enter God's presence. 00:11:17.431 --> 00:11:22.021 Night and day, we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you 00:11:22.021 --> 00:11:24.061 again, to fill the gaps in your faith. 00:11:25.231 --> 00:11:30.631 May God, our Father and our Lord Jesus, bring us to you very soon, and may the 00:11:30.631 --> 00:11:35.131 Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow 00:11:35.761 --> 00:11:38.371 just as our love for you overflows. 00:11:39.196 --> 00:11:44.146 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and 00:11:44.146 --> 00:11:49.486 holy as you stand before God, our Father, when our Lord Jesus comes 00:11:49.486 --> 00:11:51.856 again with all his holy people. 00:11:52.366 --> 00:11:53.056 Amen. 00:11:55.336 --> 00:11:59.026 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the 00:11:59.026 --> 00:12:03.016 Lord Jesus, to live in a way that pleases God as we have taught you. 00:12:03.616 --> 00:12:07.696 You live this way already and we encourage you to do so even more. 00:12:08.596 --> 00:12:09.016 For you. 00:12:09.016 --> 00:12:12.526 Remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 00:12:13.726 --> 00:12:16.066 God's will is for you to be holy. 00:12:16.546 --> 00:12:18.976 So stay away from all sexual sin. 00:12:19.666 --> 00:12:23.386 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness. 00:12:23.386 --> 00:12:29.026 And honor not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God in his ways. 00:12:29.941 --> 00:12:33.121 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by 00:12:33.121 --> 00:12:35.641 violating his wife for the Lord. 00:12:35.641 --> 00:12:42.031 Avenges all such sins as we have solemnly warned you before, God has called us 00:12:42.031 --> 00:12:44.941 to live holy lives, not in pure lives. 00:12:45.751 --> 00:12:51.301 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying 00:12:51.301 --> 00:12:57.121 human teaching, but is rejecting God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 00:12:59.026 --> 00:13:02.176 But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving 00:13:02.176 --> 00:13:05.806 each other for God himself has taught you to love one another. 00:13:06.496 --> 00:13:11.326 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. 00:13:12.256 --> 00:13:17.446 Even so dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. 00:13:18.916 --> 00:13:22.906 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business 00:13:22.906 --> 00:13:26.386 and working with your hands just as we instructed you before. 00:13:27.256 --> 00:13:31.816 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live and you 00:13:31.816 --> 00:13:34.246 will not need to depend on others. 00:13:35.926 --> 00:13:40.366 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen 00:13:40.366 --> 00:13:44.566 to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no 00:13:44.566 --> 00:13:50.056 hope for, since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again. 00:13:50.686 --> 00:13:53.296 We also believe that when Jesus returns. 00:13:53.836 --> 00:13:57.406 God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 00:13:58.246 --> 00:14:00.556 We tell you this directly from the Lord. 00:14:01.306 --> 00:14:05.146 We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him 00:14:05.146 --> 00:14:06.916 ahead of those who have died. 00:14:07.786 --> 00:14:12.676 But the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, but 00:14:12.676 --> 00:14:19.426 the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God first, the believers 00:14:19.431 --> 00:14:21.826 who have died will rise from their graves. 00:14:22.231 --> 00:14:27.181 Then together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the 00:14:27.186 --> 00:14:30.421 earth, will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:14:31.021 --> 00:14:33.331 Then we will be with the Lord forever. 00:14:33.901 --> 00:14:36.721 So encourage each other with these words. 00:14:37.091 --> 00:14:42.181 Now, concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and 00:14:42.181 --> 00:14:47.131 sisters, we don't really need to write you for, you know quite well that the 00:14:47.136 --> 00:14:50.881 day of the Lord's return will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night. 00:14:51.826 --> 00:14:56.956 When people are saying everything is peaceful and secure, then disaster 00:14:56.956 --> 00:15:00.076 will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman's labor pains 00:15:00.081 --> 00:15:02.806 begin and there will be no escape. 00:15:03.886 --> 00:15:08.356 But you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and 00:15:08.361 --> 00:15:13.306 you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief for you are 00:15:13.306 --> 00:15:16.066 all children of the light and of the day. 00:15:16.726 --> 00:15:18.856 We don't belong to darkness in night. 00:15:19.396 --> 00:15:22.576 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. 00:15:23.056 --> 00:15:24.796 Stay alert and be clearheaded. 00:15:25.516 --> 00:15:30.436 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk, but let us who live in 00:15:30.436 --> 00:15:36.556 the light be clearheaded protected by the armor of faith and love and wearing as our 00:15:36.561 --> 00:15:39.556 helmet, the confidence of our salvation. 00:15:41.056 --> 00:15:45.256 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not 00:15:45.256 --> 00:15:47.236 to pour out his anger on us. 00:15:47.686 --> 00:15:52.336 Christ died for us so that whether we are dead or alive when he returns, 00:15:52.636 --> 00:15:54.616 we can live with him forever. 00:15:55.246 --> 00:16:01.186 So encourage each other and build each other up just as you are already doing. 00:16:02.926 --> 00:16:07.726 Dear Brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. 00:16:08.611 --> 00:16:11.641 They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 00:16:12.121 --> 00:16:16.801 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work and 00:16:16.801 --> 00:16:18.391 live peacefully with each other. 00:16:19.411 --> 00:16:24.091 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy and 00:16:24.096 --> 00:16:25.861 encourage those who are timid. 00:16:26.401 --> 00:16:28.381 Take tender care of those who are weak. 00:16:28.831 --> 00:16:30.391 Be patient with everyone. 00:16:31.141 --> 00:16:32.791 See that no one pays back. 00:16:32.821 --> 00:16:37.351 Evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 00:16:38.251 --> 00:16:39.811 Always be joyful. 00:16:40.081 --> 00:16:41.371 Never stop praying. 00:16:42.001 --> 00:16:46.201 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you 00:16:46.201 --> 00:16:48.121 who belong to Christ Jesus. 00:16:49.021 --> 00:16:51.001 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 00:16:51.421 --> 00:16:55.751 Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. 00:16:56.821 --> 00:16:58.291 Hold on to what is good. 00:16:58.801 --> 00:17:01.081 Stay away from every kind of evil. 00:17:02.986 --> 00:17:08.536 Now, may the God of peace make you holy in every way and may your whole spirit 00:17:08.536 --> 00:17:14.626 and soul and body be kept blameless Until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 00:17:15.346 --> 00:17:17.026 God will make this happen. 00:17:17.476 --> 00:17:20.236 For He who calls you is faithful. 00:17:23.176 --> 00:17:26.386 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. 00:17:27.736 --> 00:17:31.366 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss. 00:17:32.506 --> 00:17:36.316 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to 00:17:36.316 --> 00:17:38.386 all the brothers and sisters. 00:17:39.706 --> 00:17:43.876 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 00:17:45.556 --> 00:17:48.406 This concludes today's immerse reading experience. 00:17:48.556 --> 00:17:49.786 Thank you for joining us.