Articles
The Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 4
The Word of God - 1 Thessalonians 4
“(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.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
One of the on-going discussions is about our ‘canon’… what was the established rule of authority before all of the NT letters were written? When did the letters that we today recognize as authority become recognized? Did it take an uninspired church council some 300 years to determine what disciples should live by?
The problem to me can be answered as we start with even this early letter. 1 Thessalonians has been recognized as one of the ‘undisputed’ letters of Paul. (Yes, I know there have been and will be some in this world who do not recognize the various letters as being from Paul). Being a letter of Paul, it is one of apostolic authority. Thus, we see:
· The ‘gospel’ was revealed and confirmed by God working miracles in conjunction with these chosen men 1 Thess. 1:5 –6
· They received the teachings as the Word of God – 1 Thess. 2.13
· They were instructed – 1 Thess. 4:1-2
· The rejection of such teaching in these letters is the rejecting of God – 1 Thess. 4.8
· Their teaching was by the authority of the Lord – 1 Thess. 4.15
· Such was NOT to be a blind faith but an examined one – 1 Thess. 5:19-21
· These letters were then to be READ TO ALL THE BRETHREN – 1 Thess. 5:27
They were instructed first by oral teaching, then through these letters. In this they learned how they were to ‘walk’ (to live, to conduct themselves). So should we walk, live, and conduct ourselves.)
Are you listening to the Word of God?
Hugh DeLong