Continuing our study
of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 2:13-16
We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God’s wrath has overtaken them at last.
Thought for the Day: I doubt Paul had any idea how his words would be used over the years to argue a line of thinking that was contrary to the life and teachings of Jesus. Yet those simple words that accused the Jews of killing the Lord Jesus became the catalyst for brutal torture, massacres and genocide throughout the centuries. Just last week, I saw a clip of a neo-Nazi using the line from the above passage as argument for why the Jews should be permanently removed from the Earth. What Paul’s words don’t appear to recognize is that the Jews would have had very little authority when it came to the execution of anyone, including Jesus. Jesus was executed using a method that was set aside for revolutionaries and those who threatened the Roman government, and though we often say he was crucified between two thieves, the Greek word, Lestes, really describes insurrectionists.
In looking at the larger context of this passage, Paul appeared to be seeking common ground with the Thessalonians. When trying to build a relationship, we often search for anything that might unite us. Just a year or two before writing this letter, Paul had gone to Jerusalem where he dealt with the Apostles (Jewish Christians) who had opposed any mission to the Gentiles. In the end, Paul received reluctant and less than enthusiastic support for his project of ministering to non-Jews. Though Paul was a Jew until his death, there was a constant struggle with many who, though they followed Jesus, believed that to do so properly required that you seek circumcision and follow all the Jewish laws. The church in Thessalonica was predominantly Gentile, yet its members probably experienced conflict with the local Jewish community.
Even though his words sound very accusatory, Paul was more likely providing us insight into the tension between the two groups instead providing any sort of historic description. It has been said, “If two people find a common enemy, they must be friends.” Throughout the letter, Paul used all kinds of approaches to build a relationship with the Thessalonians, and though his words might be taken out of context today and used for all kinds of evil, they probably should be viewed in terms of a guy simply looking for a shared experience that would build rapport and create a sense of camaraderie.
Prayer: Holy God, though my words may not always be understood as I intended them, I pray that nothing I say is used to bring violence or suffering upon anyone. Amen.
NEXT SUNDAY
One Service
10:30am
