Articles
The Word of God in Thessalonica
The Word of God in Thessalonica
Paul came as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was chosen, prepared, provisioned, and sent by Jesus. Jesus had stated concerning such apostles:
· "He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. Matthew 10:40
· "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me." Luke 10:16
· "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." John 13:20
Thus, Paul writes as an apostle unto the believers in Thessalonica:
· For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13
· 1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3
· 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
· For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 1 Thessalonians 4:15
· So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 2 Thessalonians 2:15
· Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. 2 Thessalonians 3:6
· ‘Reject’ those who do not obey our instruction – 2T. 3:14
Thus, their teaching, whether by mouth or in writing, was the
· The word of the Lord 1T 1:8; 4:15
· gospel of God (1Th. 2:2,
· the word of God 1T 2:13
· the will of God 1Th. 4:3
· the gospel of our Lord Jesus 2T 1:8
· the truth 2Thess. 2:10
· I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. 1 Thessalonians 5:27
The question is: how are you responding to such teaching?
Hugh DeLong
