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1 Thessalonians 2 - The Authority Of The Apostles
1 Thessalonians 2 - The Authority Of The Apostles
The first job of a student is to discern how words are used in context. Words do NOT mean what we want them to mean. Also, words do not always carry the same meaning. Such is true in every language, including ours. This makes it difficult for translators as they need to choose words and phrases that accurately give the meaning of the words/phrases used by the original author.
Here in 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul speaks of how he could have, as an apostle of Christ, asserted such authority. What was the authority of an apostle? Who were such apostles? How do WE today relate to such men?
First and foremost, they were chosen by Jesus for the purpose of revealing the teaching of Jesus – both about Him (who is is and what he has done) AND what he demands of those who would follow Him.
Thus, as we see here, their words were the words of God (vs. 13). If receiving their teaching was to receive the word of God, to reject their words then was to reject the revelation of God to men (cp. Also Luke 10:16).
Their words came not in ‘word only’ (their say-so), but was confirmed by the miraculous work of the Spirit in connection with their teaching (Hebrews 2:1-4 and Mark 16:20). They not only had such miraculous activity performed through them, but they were also able to impart these various gifts of the Spirit unto others. Paul described such as being the ‘signs of an apostle’ (2 Cor. 12:12). Those claiming to be such chosen apostles of Christ can be examined and found wanting by this simple observation!
So, today we yet have the teaching of the apostles as it was received, saved, collected, shared among other brethren, preserved, and translated. Such was the very providence of God in action.
Is this your attitude as you read these letters? Are you impressed that such are actually the words of God? There will always be men who pawn themselves off as ‘apostles of Christ’, who can only offer as ‘proof’ their word for it. Then, examination of their teaching shows that it conflicts, if not outrightly contradicts and denies what these real apostles wrote. Are you able to note the difference?
Hugh DeLong