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Read This Letter - 1 Thess. 5:27
Read This Letter - 1 Thess. 5:27
Paul wrote this letter to the brethren in Thessalonica. At the end he writes: "I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren" (5:27). This is perhaps the earliest writing among the Christians (some would argue for Galatians). Several things stand out about such a letter.
It was to be read to the brethren. They would not have had their own 'bible' to read and study at home, but they did, as a group, have these letters. They may not have been able to read them individually, but someone within their group could, and they were to read it to all of the brethren. In this way, they were all being taught the principles and precepts of this new religion.
The writings of the apostles were the teaching of the apostles, whether orally or in writing. Paul gave thanks 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" (2:13).
Paul now writes unto them 'instructions from the Lord", the 'will of God". Paul warns that rejecting the instructions of such teaching, whether given orally by the apostles or in writing by them, was rejecting God: "So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you" (4:8). Thus, the revelation to the apostles was revealed unto the brethren both orally and in writing.
As the apostles were dying off and were not replaceable (cp. qualifications in Acts 1:21-22), their writings became the source of knowledge. Their writings are still the authority for believers. These writings have been preserved, copied, distributed, and translated so that it is almost completely universally available to anyone that would want to read it today.
We have no excuse for remaining ignorant of the teaching. I have often thought of how excited the brethren of the first century would have been to receive such letters. I picture them eagerly reading and rereading them together. It is such reverential receiving the word of God that brings about its effectual working in believers.
It is with sadness that we see brethren needing to be cajoled into reading the word. With equal sadness, we see the reading of the text replaced by the theatrics of 'expounding'. Whereas the text bore the central place of teaching, now it is replaced by the oratory skills of the teacher.
What is your attitude towards these writings?
Hugh DeLong
