Articles
1 Thessalonians 5 – Faith of Our Fathers
1 Thessalonians 5 – Faith of Our Fathers
Paul started the church in Thessalonica (read about it in Acts 17). “ …they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. (2) And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (3) explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."(4) And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. (Acts 17:1-4)
While SOME were persuaded, many were not and became hostile to Paul and his group. Having left under such troubling circumstances, Paul continued his teaching of these new disciples by writing this letter to them. Notice, as we close our reading of this letter, Paul’s controlled and authoritative teaching on how they were to conduct themselves in an environment of anger and hatred towards them.
First, his short commands on their conduct (vs. 11-22). If you are into memorizing, this is an excellent passage to memorize! Then, he assures them that as they conduct themselves according to these instructions, that God will preserve them so that they can be ‘without blame’ at the coming of Jesus. He doesn’t promise that they won’t have trouble or be persecuted, rather that they WOULD suffer such (1 Thess. 3:3), but rather preserved THROUGH such opposition. They were to stand fast in the faith: Jesus Is Lord.
IF they could (and they did) stand in the midst of such difficult times, we need to have ‘the faith of our fathers’, in particular the faith to be faithful. We often sing “Faith of Our Fathers”, let us live out what we affirm in our singing! (see below).
Hugh DeLong
1. Faith of our fathers! living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
When e'er we hear that glorious word:
2. Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
How sweet would be their children's fate
If they, like them, could die for Thee!
3. Faith of our fathers! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life:
(Faith of Our Fathers, Hymns For Worship, #265).
