Sermon Tone Analysis

*1THESSALONIANS 4:1-12  *

In chapter 4 we have reached the watershed of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.

There is an abrupt change of topic between chapter 3 and chapter 4. So far Paul has been looking back to his visit and the events which followed it, and has been defending himself against his critics’ accusations.

Now, in chapters 4 and 5, he looks to the present and future of the Thessalonian church, and addresses himself to certain practical problems of Christian conduct which were evidently troubling them.

* Paul continues his kind of SWOT analysis by drawing attention to some weaknesses that were present among them and some threats to their future success as the church of Christ.

* This section is a move from focussing on the /proclamation/ of the gospel to the /demonstration/ of the gospel;

 

Note John Stott’s framework for the study of 1Thessalonians:

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Christian evangelism - how the Church spreads the gospel [1:1-10].

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Christian ministry - how pastors serve both the gospel and the church [2:1-3:13].

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Christian behaviour - how the Church must live according to the gospel [4:1-12].

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Christian hope - how the gospel should inspire the Church [4:13-5:11].

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Christian community - how to be a gospel Church [5:12-28].

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*THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN GENERAL  *

*1.        **The Authority *

*a.       **The Voice *

The authority with which Paul spoke: “/we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you/…” [4:1].

§  ἐρωτῶμεν - “/beseech/” [4:1], present active indicative, ‘to ask for’; ‘to request, urge’;

§  παρακαλοῦμεν - “/exhort/” [4:1], present active indicative, from para, ‘to beside’, and kalew, ‘to call’; ‘to ask for earnestly’; ‘to urge towards accepting some kind of conduct’;

*b.       **The Basis *

*                                                                                                         i.

**By the Lord Jesus *

The source from which Paul exercised the authority: “/by the Lord Jesus/…” [4:1].

§  ἐν - “/by/” [4:1], primary idea of ‘withinness’; ‘close relationship’; ‘identification with’;

§  κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ - “/Lord Jesus Christ/” [4:1],

*                                                                                                       ii.

**Through the Lord Jesus *

The authority: “/by the Lord Jesus/” [4:2].

§  διὰ - “/by/” [4:2], genitive, ‘through, by way of’;

§  κυρίου Ἰησοῦ - “/Lord Jesus/” [4:2],

*c.        **The Framework *

The authoritative framework: “/for you what commandments/…” [4:2].

§  οἴδατε - “/know/” [4:2], perfect active indicative, ‘to have seen or perceived and hence know’;

§  παραγγελίας - “/commandments/” [4:2], from /pará/, ‘to the side of’, and /aggéllō/, ‘to tell, declare’; ‘to pass on an announcement’, hence, ‘to give the word to someone nearby, to advance an order, charge or command’; ‘command, order, instruction’;

§  ‘often used either for a military command or for a civil order, for example, by a court or by magistrates’;

§  ἐδώκαμεν - “/gave you/” [4:2], aorist active indicative, ‘to give, grant, appoint’;

*Application*

Paul’s gospel is the “word of God” [2:13]; Paul’s instructions are the “commands” [4:2] of Christ.

*2.

**The Imitators *

*a.       **The Teaching  *

The teaching of the apostles: “/as you have received of us how/…” [4:1].

§  καθὼς - “/as/” [4:1], conjunction, ‘just as’; ‘according as’;

§  παρελάβετε - “/received/” [4:1], aorist active infinitive, from /pará/, ‘from, to beside’, and /lambánō/, ‘to take, receive’; ‘to take near, with, or to oneself, to receive to oneself’; ‘bring along with’; ‘learn from someone’;

§  παρʼ ἡμῶν - “/of us/” [4:1], ‘from, to beside’;

*b.       **The Current Behaviour *

The imitators of Paul and his companions: “/as also you are doing/…” [4:1].

(ESV)

§  καθὼς καὶ - “/as also/” [4:1], ‘just as’; ‘according as’;

§  περιπατεῖτε - “/you walk/” [4:1], present active indicative, ‘to walk around’; ‘to conduct one’s life’;

*                                                                                                         i.

**The Imitators *

They began to follow the example of the apostles and of the Lord: “/you became followers of us/…” [1:6].

§  ἐγενήθητε - “/became/” [1:6], ‘to come to exist’; ‘to come into being’;

§  μιμηταὶ - “/followers/” [1:6], ‘to imitate, mimic’; ‘to do what is seen to be done by someone else’;

§  ἡμῶν ἐγενήθητε καὶ τοῦ κυρίου – “/of us and of the Lord/” [1:6], ‘continuity’;

*                                                                                                       ii.

**The Role Models *

They were also role models in the way in which they received the gospel: “/so that your were examples/…” [1:7].

§  γενέσθαι - “/you were/” [1:7], aorist middle infinitive, ‘to come to exist’; ‘to come into being’;

§  τύπον - “/examples/” [1:7], literally ‘to blow’; by metonymy, ‘the impression made by the blow /mark, trace’/; ‘image’; ‘model to be imitated’.

§  The τύπον could be (i) the example or model that would be used to produce clay pots; (ii) a relief carving or painting that represented not only the one depicted but also the person’s character; (iii) the seal that leaves an impression; (iv) the mould by which some material, such as soft clay, was shaped.

*Application*

Paul recognises their present achievement; but Christian can never rest satisfied; so Paul urges them to further endeavour.

*3.

**The Foundation *

*a.       **The Necessity *

The divine necessity: “/how you ought to walk/…” [4:1].

§  δεῖ - “/ought/” [4:1], ‘necessity and inevitability arising from the plan of God’; “/he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things/…” [Mar.8:31];

“/Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory/” [Luk.24:26].

§  περιπατεῖν - “/walk/” [4:1], ‘to walk around’; ‘to conduct one’s life’;

*b.       **The Foundation *

The foundation on which Christian ethical behaviour is built: “/and to please God/…” [4:1].

§  ἀρέσκειν - “/to please/” [4:1], ‘to make one inclined to’; from the original legal sphere the term passed into the aesthetic in the sense of ‘to please’ someone;

*                                                                                                         i.

**The Concept *

The concept is based on personal relationships: ‘to soften one’s heart towards another’;

§  It implies the establishment of a positive relationship between two factors and therefore ‘to make peace’ or ‘to reconcile’.

§  It strikes at the root of discipleship: “/the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him/” [Joh.8:29].

§  The only alternative: “/they please not God, and are contrary to all men/” [2:15].

§  Paul’s motivation: “/But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts/” [2:4].

*                                                                                                       ii.

**The Orientation  *

There is the beginning of a new life in the active service of God: “/to serve the living and true God/” [1:9].

§  δουλεύειν - “/to serve/” [1:9], present active infinitive, ‘to be a slave’; ‘to be under the control of’;

§  ζῶντι - “/living/” [1:9], ‘to have life’;

§  ἀληθινῷ - “/true/” [1:9], ‘real, genuine’;

*c.        **A Progressive Principle  *

The need to progress and advance: “/so you should abound more and more/” [4:1].

§  περισσεύητε - “/abound/” [4:1], present active subjunctive, ‘to be present over-abundantly’; ‘to provide in abundance’; 

§  μᾶλλον - “/more and more/” [4:1], ‘very much’; ‘exceedingly’; 

§  The progressive principle: “/That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God/” [Col.1:10].

*Application*

The idea of “pleasing God” is a radical concept: “/for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ/” [Gal.1:10].

§  It challenges the reality of Christian profession; how can we claim to know God and love if we do not seek to please him?

§  The way of life they have adopted is ‘to give way to’ ever-increasing excellence in their moral conduct.

§  The conduct prescribed was not optional but obligatory since the source of the reaching was not simply human but divine.

§  The norms for conducting themselves in this “service” [1:9] are those that God establishes and not those that the society considers acceptable.

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*IMMORALITY & SELF-CONTROL  *

Despite praise for the conduct of the Thessalonians [4:1], there were some deficiencies in their conduct.

*1.        **The City of Thessalonica *

*a.       **The Roman Context *

Paul was writing from Corinth to the Thessalonians.