Summary of 1 Thessalonians 1:

Paul writes to the church in Thessalonians (a church he founded), telling them he thanks God for them and prays for them, remembering how their work is produced by faith, their labor prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by hope in Jesus.

God has chosen them as evinced by the power of the Holy Spirit and their deep conviction. They welcomed the message with joy despite suffering.  The Thessalonians then became a model for Macedonia and Achaia and everywhere. It is known how the Thessalonians turned from idols to the One, True God and how they wait for his Son to return from heaven–the one who was raised from the dead–and who will rescue all from the coming wrath.

Summary of Acts 17:1-10:

Paul preached in the Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica, explaining and proving Christ had to suffer and was raised from the dead. Some of the Jews as well as Greeks were persuaded and joined Paul. The Jews were jealous of Paul’s success so they rounded up a mob and rioted in the city. They searched for Paul and Silas but did not find them.  Instead, they dragged Jason (whom Paul was staying with) and others before city officials, saying they have defied Caesar by declaring a new king called Jesus.  The officials were not happy, but they released Jason and the others on bond.

Thus, Paul and Silas had to flee to Berea, where they preached in the Jewish synagogue.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 1 with Acts 17:1-10

3) Part personal Question. My answer: The Thessalonians did their work by faith, their labor by love, and their endurance inspired by hope in Jesus. They imitated Jesus despite suffering and welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit. I like how they welcomed the message with joy. I can take the message for granted a lot since I have such an easy life relatively speaking.

4) Personal Question. My answer: The Christian life is all by faith and has suffering and joy. Jesus because he is King, Lord, and Savior.

5) Personal Question. My answer: Verse 6 because I need to be more joyful.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 1 with Acts 17:1-10

All personal questions again. Wonder if this will be a pattern for the second have of the study of Acts. I like joy and suffering again appearing together. Seems they are forever intertwined.

Another great video for an overview of 1 Thessalonians:

Holiness, Love, and Future Hope is the themes of this book.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 1 with Acts 17:1-10

History of the Church of Thessalonica

Paul visited Thessalonica when enemies were chasing him from town to town (Acts 16-17). After Paul left the Thessalonians, they continued to experience trouble.

This letter is the earliest record we have of a Christian community. Paul wrote this letter after Timothy reported back positive things about this church. While Paul rejoiced, he was concerned about their problems. The Thessalonians were disagreeing about Jesus’ return to earth and about morality.

Paul is in Thessalonica with Silas. Timothy had previously visited Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

Paul founded this church (Acts 17:1-9), but was driven away. Still, he never forgot them, which prompted this letter.

Thessalonica was the prosperous capital of the province of Macedonia (northern Greece), located on the famous Egnatian Way.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

After only three weekends of prosperous ministry (Acts 17:2), Paul had to flee from an angry mob. He moved on to Berea – again enjoying several weeks of ministry, but soon driven out by the same Thessalonian mob.

His next stop was Athens where he preached a good sermon but had mixed results. By the time he came to Corinth, he was in weakness, in fear and in much trembling (1 Corinthians 2:3). At this point of the second missionary journey, it seemed that Paul was a very discouraged missionary.

While in Corinth, it is likely that Paul was greatly concerned about the churches he had just founded, and he wondered about their state. While at Corinth, Silas and Timothy came to him from Thessalonica with great news: the church there was strong. Paul became so excited that he dashed off this letter to the Thessalonians, probably his first letter to any church. He wrote it just a few months after he had first established the church in Thessalonica. After writing and sending this letter, Paul enjoyed a sustained and fruitful ministry in Corinth – and eventually returned to the Thessalonians.

Paul brought this customary greeting to the Thessalonian Christians, hailing them in the grace and peace of God the Father.

Despite the problems, Paul was so grateful to God for the Thessalonians because there was an undeniable work of the Holy Spirit and a marvelous change in their lives. The three great Christian virtues were evident among them: faith, love, and hope.

“Here for the first time, chronologically, in Paul’s writings we have this famous triad: faith, love, hope. But Paul’s stress is not on these virtues alone, but rather upon what they produce.” (Hiebert)

• Faith produces works
• Loe produces labor
• Hope produces patience

“There are two different ancient Greek words for work: ergon and kopos. Ergon “may be pleasant and stimulating,” but kopos “implies toil that is strenuous and sweat-producing.” (Hiebert)

Paul reminded the Thessalonians that God loved them (beloved) and that He chose them (election). The two go together. When we love someone, we naturally choose them.

• “The phrase beloved by God was a phrase which the Jews applied only to supremely great men like Moses and Solomon, and to the nation of Israel itself. Now the greatest privilege of the greatest men of God’s chosen people has been extended to the humblest of the Gentiles.” (Barclay)

The Gospel is more thatnwords, it also has power.

The Holy Spirit, a living Person, who works within the hearts of the hearers, to convict, to comfort, and to instruct.

The Thessalonians stopped following other things but followed after Paul and the Lord.  Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Examples to Others

First, Paul was an example to the Thessalonian Christians. Then they became examples to others. This is exactly how the work of God should happen.

The Christians in Macedonia and Achaia needed examples, and the Thessalonians supplied that need. This was true even though they had only been followers of Jesus a short time. As Christians, we always need others who will show us how to follow Jesus Christ, beyond the need of hearing about how to follow Him.

“Sounded forth”means “a loud ringing sound, as of a trumpet blast.”  The word of the Lord sounded forth, and their faith toward God has gone out

It seems that the verb douleuo (to serve) was apparently never used in a religious sense in pagan literature. Hiebert quotes Denney: “No Greek or Roman could take in the idea of ‘serving’ a God… There was no room for it in his religion; his conception of the gods did not admit of it. If life was to be a moral service rendered to God, it must be to a God quite different from any to whom he was introduced by his ancestral worship.”

Later in this letter, Paul used the expression God did not appoint us to wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9) to refer to God’s deliverance of His people in the context of the wrath to come upon the world in the last days. He may have the same idea in mind here. “Used technically, as it so frequently is in the NT, ‘wrath’ (orges) is a title for the period just before Messiah’s kingdom on earth, when God will afflict earth’s inhabitants with an unparalleled series of physical torments because of their rejection of His will.” (Thomas)

End Notes Acts 17:1-10:

Thessalonica

Thessalonica was an important port city, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) and a three-day walk from Philippi. Modern Thessalonika is still a large, thriving city.

Paul uses the Scriptures, explains them, demonstrates how Christ died for us, and talks about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Some believed.

When Paul was in Thessalonica, he received financial support from the Christians in Philippi (Philippians 4:15-16).

As happened at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:45, 50), at Iconium (Acts 14:2, 5), and at Lystra (Acts 14:19) on the first missionary journey, here also Paul was opposed by a mob incited by jealous Jews.

Jason was a Christian in Thessalonica whose house seems to have been a center for the church.

Other versions say “men who have turned the world upside-down” instead of caused trouble. This more effectively reflects what Christ had done and continues to do for those who know him.

No one wanted to defy Caesar and bring Rome’s wrath upon them. This further stirred up people since no one wanted Roman soldiers to come and restore order. So Jason had to post the bond even though he did not start the riot.

Paul and Silas left Thessalonica quickly, not wanting to bring more persecution on the Christians there or to jeopardize Jason’s security deposit.

Paul only spent a few weeks in Thessalonica (Acts 17:2) and it seems he wished he could have taught them more. He decided to teach them more in a written letter, and many believe that 1 Thessalonians was his first letter written to a congregation.

Summary of 1 Thessalonians 2:

Paul writing to the church in Thessalonica:  We preached God’s gospel despite strong opposition, Paul proclaims.  We are not trying to trick you.  We are men approved by God entrusted with the gospel.  We are trying to please God, not men, who tests our hearts.  We never used flattery.  We were open and honest.

We were gentle among you like a mother caring for her little children.  We loved you we shared God and our lives with you.  We were not a burden to you.  We were holy, righteous, and blameless and we dealt with each of you as a father does who encourages, comforts, and urges you to lead Godly lives.

You accepted God’s word as such which is at work in you.  Your churches imitated God’s church which are in Christ Jesus and you suffered for it.  But the wrath of God has come upon those against us.

We wanted to come to you, but Satan stopped us from doing so.  You are our hope, joy, glory, and crown.

Summary of 1 Thessalonians 3:

We sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you in faith.  We (believers) are destined for trials and persecution and I (Paul) wanted to make sure you were not tempted by the Devil.

Timothy reports back that you have good memories of us and long to see us again.  You encouraged us in our distress because of your faith.  We really live because you stand firm in the Lord.  You give us joy.  We pray for you night and day to see you again and for God to supply what is lacking in your faith.

We hope to see you again.  May your love overflow like ours does for you.  May God strengthen your hearts so you will be holy when Jesus comes again.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 3: 1 Thessalonians 2-3

6) Part personal Question. My answer: Paul preached God’s gospel despite strong opposition. He did not try to trick them.  They are approved by God. He never used flattery.  They were open and honest. They were gentle among you like a mother caring for her little children.  They loved you, so they shared God and their lives with you. They were not a burden to you.  They were holy, righteous, and blameless, and they dealt with each of you as a father does who encourages, comforts, and urges you to lead Godly lives. It’s about pleasing God, not others.

7) Personal question. My answer: Paul says in all of his distress and persecution, he was encouraged by the faith of the Thessalonians who suffered. He will come if God clears the way for him to come. We all suffer some degree of affliction in our lives; it’s how we deal with it that matters the most. For me, it’s difficult when faced with sin opportunities that are pleasureable to pick the Godly way. While I have no suffered any physical afflictions like Paul did, I believe we all are under mental affliction as we struggle in today’s society that so wants to sugar coat everything and call sin something else entirely, like a mistake. It’s the mental battle now that we all must win.

8 ) Part Personal Question. My answer:  Paul was encouraging, comforting, and urging the Thessalonians to live Godly lives (2:12). He tells them that he longs to see them but that Satan stopped them and continues to do so. He, however, still wants to see them if God clears a way for him to do so. It’s nice to have such an intimate connection with other believers. For me, I have none of that so it’s definitely something I need to work on.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 3: 1 Thessalonians 2-3

It’s cool to see such a faith-filled and loving community that sadly many of us don’t experience in this world.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 3: 1 Thessalonians 2-3

1 Thessalonians 2:

Paul defends his own character and ministry before the Thessalonians because he had many enemies in Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-6 and 17:13) who discredited him in his absence, especially because of his hurried departure from Thessalonica. Paul’s enemies said he left town quickly because he was a self-serving coward, untrustworthy, had impure motives, deceived others, and only wanted personal glory

Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his sufferings in the ministry. He made the point that he would not carry on in the face of beatings and conflict if he were in it only for himself. When Paul arrived in Thessalonica, the wounds on his back from Philippi were still fresh.

Acts 16:23-24 records that he suffered a public flogging and had his feet in stocks while confined in the city’s inner prison.

In the first century world Paul lived in, there were many competing religions, and many ministers of those religions were motivated by greed and gain.

The city of Thessalonica sat on the Egnatian Way, the famous highway that went east to west through Macedonia. Thessalonica was also an important port and a melting pot city with cultures from all over the world. There were a staggering variety of religions and religious professionals in Thessalonica. In this city, you would find the worship of the gods of the Olympian pantheon, especially Apollo, Athena, and Hercules. There were the native Greek mystery religions, celebrating Dionysis and the sex and drinking cult. The Greek intellectual and philosophical traditions were also represented. There were shrines to many Egyptian gods: Isis, Sarapis, Anubis. Also present were the Roman State cults that deified the political heroes of Rome. There were also the Jewish people and the God-fearing Gentiles.

Most of these religions were missionary minded and sought to spread their faith using itinerant evangelists and preachers. Most of these missionaries were opportunists who took everything they could from their listeners, and then moved on to find someone else to support them.

Paul’s satisfaction came from his relationship with Jesus, not from the praise of people. Paul was among the Thessalonians to give something to them, not to take something from them.

The sacrifices Paul endured for the sake of ministry to the Thessalonians were not a burden. He was well pleased to do it because Paul was affectionately longing for the Thessalonians as they had become dear to Paul and his associates.

Paul recognized his right to be supported by those he ministered to (1 Corinthians 9:14), but voluntarily gave up that right to set himself apart from missionaries of false religions. Paul denied his rights and took a higher standard upon himself.

As seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, Paul was comfortable in the idea of other Christians following his example. He repeated the same idea in passages like Philippians 3:17 and 1 Corinthians 11:1.

Paul earnestly believed and taught others that God had spoken to man and that we have recorded this word of God. Paul believed in a voice that speaks to mankind with the authority of eternity, and speaks above mere human opinion. Since we do have this word of God, we have a true voice of authority.

When the Thessalonians responded to the Gospel, they became the targets of persecution.

Paul comforted these suffering Christians with the assurance that they were not the first to suffer this way. The Lord Jesus faced persecution, and the Christians in Judea faced it first. Additionally, Paul and his associates were also persecuted.

Paul comforted the Thessalonians by assuring them that God would indeed take care of their persecutors. When Christians forget this, they often disgrace and curse themselves by returning persecution for persecution towards others.

Paul’s Response to Satan’s Attack:

• Paul understood who was attacking him (Satan)
• Paul had faith
• Paul was committed to fight what was against him
• God brought victory as Paul returns to the Thessalonians in Acts 20:1-5

1 Thessalonians 3:

For the sake of the Thessalonians, Paul was willing to be left in Athens alone. It cost him something to send Timothy to the Thessalonians, and he thought it was good to pay that cost.

Paul sought to establish first. Encouragement can really only come after we are established in the right direction.

As part of the normal Christian life, believers have an appointment with affliction.

It is true that there is a great deal of suffering we could be spared by simply obeying God’s Word, and God wants to spare us that suffering. Nevertheless, suffering was good enough to teach Jesus (Hebrews 2:10 and 5:8), therefore it is good enough to teach us. God does teach the believer perseverance, obedience, how to comfort others, and deeper fellowship with Jesus in trials.

There are two ancient Greek words used to translate the concept of suffering, and neither of them is used exclusively in regard to persecution. Thilipsis was used for such things as physical pain, emotional hardships, and suffering under temptation. Pasko was used for such things as physical sufferings unrelated to persecution, suffering under temptation, and hardships in a general sense.

Affliction means that God loves us enough to give the best when we may only desire what is easy. Paul recognized that Christians are appointed to affliction.

Paul could barely endure the thought that the faith of the Thessalonians might crumble under this season of affliction, so he sent Timothy to both check on them and to help them. He sent Timothy to them, because those who are in affliction need the help of other godly people.

Calvin on faith and love: “In these two words he states concisely the sum total of godliness. All who aim at this double mark are beyond the danger of error for the whole of their life.”

Morris on good news: “The verb he employs is the one which is usually translated ‘preach the gospel.’ Indeed, this is the only place in the whole of Paul’s writings where it is used in any other sense than that.”

Paul wrote this letter from Corinth, and his coming to that city was marked by difficulty. He said of his coming to Corinth, I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling (1 Corinthians 2:3). Yet since Timothy came back with good news, Paul had a renewed strength and freshness of life. It made Paul feel much better that the Thessalonians were doing well.

The church is founded upon the apostles, with Christ Himself the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation of the New Jerusalem is the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14). There was something significantly unique about the first-century apostles and prophets, and that unique ministry is preserved in the New Testament.

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians emphasized three things that are important for every Christian today:

1. First, he wanted to be with them, so they could benefit from his apostolic wisdom and authority.
2. He wanted them to abound in love.
3. He wanted them to be established in true heart-holiness.

Summary of 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12:

We (Paul and his followers) have instructed you how to live to please God and we urge you to do this more and more. It is God’s will that:  you should be sanctified; avoid sexual immorality; learn to control your own body in a holy way and not lustfully; and no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.

The Lord will punish for such sins since God has called you to live a holy life. You reject God himself if you reject His instruction.

Love your brothers and do so more and more.

Lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your hands so you will be respected by non-believers and independent.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28:

We (Paul speaking again) ask you to respect authority, those over you and who admonish you. Love them. [I see this as an extension of God who admonishes us]. Live in peace with each other. Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Don’t seek revenge and be kind to one another.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will. Test everything (including prophecies) and hold on to the good and reject the evil.  Do not extinguish the Spirit’s fire that burns in you and others.

May God sanctify you and you be kept blameless as we wait the coming of Jesus. Pray for us. Grace be with you.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 5:12-28

9) Part personal Question. My answer:  You should be sanctified; avoid sexual immorality; learn to control your own body in a holy way and not lustfully; and no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. Live a holy life. Love each other more and more. Lead a quiet life, minding your own business and work with your hands so you will not be dependent on others.

Respect authority, those over you and who admonish you. Love them. [I see this as an extension of God who admonishes us]. Live in peace with each other. Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Don’t seek revenge, and be kind to one another.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will. Test everything (including prophecies) and hold on to the good and reject the evil.  Do not extinguish the Spirit’s fire that burns in you and others.

I struggle with most of these at some point in live. I struggle to love others, to be joyful and give thanks in all circumstances, to hold onto the good, and to live a holy life.

10) Personal Question. My answer:  God helps us by traversing our paths at our side faithfully.  He sanctifies us with the Holy Spirit, which helps us in times of our greatest need.  But we must pray, be joyful, and be grateful always in all circumstances to God and what He gives and does for us.  We must constantly remember His grace, mercy, and presence in our lives if we are to have any hope of keeping His will for us.

11) Personal Question. My answer: Every day is an opportunity to live out His will. This doesn’t have to be specific. I think everything in my life is from Him, and thus, as I live, it glorifies Him and lives out His will. By making Godly choices daily, I live out His will. Specifically, by being a good wife, mother, pet owner, worker, and writer.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 5:12-28

My favorite part here of Paul’s words to live a holy life is to “hold on to the good.” I think if we all did this, the bad wouldn’t be so bad after all.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12; 5:12-28

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12:

Christian maturity is never finished on this side of eternity. No matter how far a Christian has come in love and holiness, he or she can still abound more and more.

The purpose of Christian living is to please God and not ourselves.

Paul gave these commands to a first-century Roman culture that was marked by sexual immorality. At this time in the Roman Empire, chastity and sexual purity were almost unknown virtues. Nevertheless, Christians were to take their standards of sexual morality from God and not from the culture.

Paul said this was a commandment (1 Thessalonians 4:2). That word was a military term describing an order from an officer to a subordinate, and the order came from Jesus and not from Paul.

Interesting Cultural Note: The ancient writer Demosthenes expressed the generally amoral view of sex in the ancient Roman Empire: “We keep prostitutes for pleasure; we keep mistresses for the day to day needs of the body; we keep wives for the faithful guardianship of our homes.”

The idea behind sanctification is to be set apart, and God wants us set apart from a godless culture and its sexual immorality. If our sexual behavior is no different than the Gentiles who do not know God, then we are not sanctified in the way God wants us to be.

The older King James Version translates sexual immorality as fornication. “Fornication is used here in its comprehensive meaning to denote every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse.”

Immorality is the opposite of honor because it degrades and debases the self. Those who do not restrain their sexual desires act more like animals than humans, following every impulse without restraint.

Paul meant to encourage each Christian to possess or hold his own body (vessel) in a way that honored God. Sexual immorality is a sin against one’s own body (1 Corinthians 6:18).

Four Reasons for Sexual Purity

1. God punishes sexual immorality
2. We are to live holy
3. Reject God’s call if you are sexually impure
4. We have the Holy Spirit to overcome sexual impurity

We should have an aspiration or ambition in life, and that we should aspire to lead a quiet life.

• Aspire has the thought of ambition and is translated that way in several versions of the Bible. Quiet has the thought of peace, calm, rest and satisfaction.
• The quiet life contradicts the hugely successful modern attraction to entertainment and excitement. This addiction to entertainment and excitement is damaging both spiritually and culturally. We might say that excitement and entertainment are like a religion for many people today. When we live the quiet life, we can listen to God and get to know Him better.

Work is God’s plan for the progress of society and the church. We fall into Satan’s snare when we expect things to always come easily, or regard God’s blessing as an opportunity for laziness.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28:

Pauls tells the Thessalonians to do three things for leaders:

1. 1. Recognize leaders
   2. Esteem leaders
   3. Love leaders

Leaders shepherd us (are over us) and admonish us (gently reprove)

• Unruly: The idlers of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
• Fainthearted: Those anxious about their departed loved ones in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17.
• Weak: Those suffering under temptations to lapse into immorality in 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8.

Christians should be patient always and not seek revenge.

Paul will write about more spiritual matters such as prayer, thanksgiving, and worship. But before these spiritual or religious matters comes teaching about right relationships. Jesus made it plain that we should get things right with men before we come to worship God (Matthew 5:23-24).

Rejoice always, pray always (every moment of every day in constant, flowing conversation with God), and give thanks for everything. Prayer can take place anywhere, anytime, in any posture.

Spurgeon: “When joy and prayer are married their first born child is gratitude.”

“‘Quench’ properly applies to the putting out of a flame of some sort, as that of a fire (Mark 9:48), or a lamp (Matthew 25:8). This is the only place in the New Testament where it is used in a metaphorical sense.” (Morris) Thomas says that the phrase could be more literally translated, “Stop putting out the Spirit’s fire.”

We can quench the fire of the Spirit by our doubt, our indifference, our rejection of Him, or by the distraction of others.

Between the time Paul last saw the Thessalonians and the writing of this letter, he had spent time in Berea (Acts 17:10-12). There, the Christians were of a noble character because they heard Paul’s preaching and diligently searched the Scriptures to see if what he said was true. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to have more of the heart and mind of the Bereans.

Completely: “The adjective (holoeleis), occurring only here in the New Testament, is a compound of holos, ‘whole, entire,’ and telos, ‘end.’ Its basic connotation is ‘wholly attaining the end, reaching the intended goal,’ hence has the force of no part being left unreached.” (Hiebert)

Spirit, Soul & Body

Paul’s use of spirit, soul, and body in this passage has led many to adopt what is called a trichotimist view of man, believing that man is made up of three distinct parts: spirit, soul, and body.

One might say that Mark 12:30 divides man’s nature into four parts (heart, soul, mind, and strength), and that 1 Corinthians 7:34 divides man’s nature into two parts (body and spirit). In some passages the terms soul and spirit seem to be synonymous, other times they seem to be distinct and hard to define precisely. It seems that there are indeed these three different aspects to the human person, yet the specific meaning of spirit or soul must be determined by the context.

The great Greek scholar Dean Alford described the spirit and the soul as thus:

• “The SPIRIT (pneuma) is the highest and distinctive part of man, the immortal.”
• “The SOUL is the lower or animal soul, containing the passions and desires which we have in common with the brutes, but which in us is ennobled and drawn up by the spirit.”

God intends there to be a hierarchy within the human person, ordered first with the spirit, then with the soul, and finally with the body.

We are to sublimate the needs of the body to the soul, and the needs of both body and soul to the needs of the spirit.

Holy kiss:  “Apparently at this time the sexes were segregated in the assembly and the men kissed the men and the women the women… When the kiss came to be exchanged between men and women it became the occasion for their critics to charge the Christians with impurity. The resultant embarrassments gave rise to numerous regulations concerning the practice by the early church councils.” (Hiebert)

I charge you: Paul used a strong phrase here. It was important that this epistle be read among Christians. This is an unusual statement, unique in Paul’s letters.

It All Comes Down to Grace

Nearly all Paul’s letters begin and end with the idea of grace. This is also true of almost everything God has to say to His people.

Grace is God’s unmerited favor, His bestowal of love and acceptance on us because of who He is and what Jesus has done.

It is appropriate that this letter – the first of Paul’s preserved correspondence to the churches that is full of love, encouragement, and instruction — ends on a note of grace.

“Whatever God has to say to us – and in all the New Testament letters there are things that search the heart and make it quake – begins and ends with grace… All that God has been to man in Jesus Christ is summed up in it: all His gentleness and beauty, all His tenderness and patience, all the holy passion of His love, is gathered up in grace. What more could one soul wish for another than that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ should be with it?” (Denney, cited in Morris)

Summary of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11:

Jesus died and rose again so those who have died will be risen when Jesus comes again.  The Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command, a trumpet call, and the voice of the archangel.  The dead in Christ will rise first.  Then those who are still alive will meet the Lord in the air to be with Him forever.

The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, suddenly.  Destruction will come and they will not escape.  Let us be alert and self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate and hope of salvation as a helmet.  God appointed us to receive salvation through Jesus and not for wrath.  He died for us so we may live together with him.  Encourage one another in this.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

12a) To be with him forever. To be sons of the light, be alert, self-controlled, being faithful and hopeful, to receive salvation through Jesus, encourage each other

b) To live in darkness, to be like others, to suffer wrath

c) Personal Question. My answer: It makes the days seem not as long.

13) God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Those who are still alive will not procede those who have died before to heaven. Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command, the voice of an archangel, a trumpet call, and the dead will rise first. Then those who are still alive will meet with the Lord and be with Him forever. The day of the Lord will come like a thief at night.

14) Personal Question. My answer: We will all be together with Him forever. It’s encouraging.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Interesting Paul throws this in here to the Thessalonians. Great encouragement to them.

Paul here is addressing will Jesus return and what about those who have already died. The Thessalonians lived in constant danger of persecution so wondered when Jesus would return to save them. Paul advises to lead a quiet life and mind your own business while you wait. Thessalonica thrived with Paul’s encouragement and became known as “The City fo Orthodoxy” because of their faith.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 18, Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Don’t Be Ignorant

Four times in all of Paul’s letters, he asked Christians to not be ignorant:

1. Don’t be ignorant about God’s plan for Israel (Romans 11:25).
2. Don’t be ignorant about spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).
3. Don’t be ignorant about suffering and trials in the Christian life (2 Corinthians 1:8).
4. Don’t be ignorant about the rapture and the second coming of Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

These are still areas today that many Christians are confused on.

Sleep was used by pagans at the time to express death. In the ancient world, there was no hope after death for many. Christians called death sleep, but they emphasized the idea of rest. Early Christians began to call their burial places “cemeteries,” which means, “dormitories” or “sleeping places.” Yet the Bible never describes the death of the unbeliever as sleep, for there is no rest, peace, or comfort for them in death.

Jesus will bring those who have died with him. When a believer dies, we only mourn for ourselves, because they are with the Lord.

Trumpets in the Bible

The rapture will not be silent or secret, though the vast majority of people may not understand the sound or its meaning. Jesus will come with angels and will be gathered by a trumpet sound.

In the Old Testament, trumpets sounded the alarm for war and threw the enemy into a panic, in the sense of the seven trumpets described in Numbers 10:9 and Revelation 8 and 9. Trumpets also sounded an assembly of God’s people, as in Leviticus 23:24 and Numbers 10:2. Here, the trumpet of God gathers together God’s people.

There are three other associations of trumpets and end-times events.

1. The last trump of 1 Corinthians 15:52, which seems clearly to be connected with this same trumpet of 1 Thessalonians 4.
2. The seven trumpets which culminate at Revelation 11:15,
3. The trumpet gathering the elect of Israel at the end of the age in Matthew 24:31.

Either the present dead in Christ are with the Lord in a spiritual body, awaiting their final resurrection body; or, because of the nature of timeless eternity, they have received their resurrection bodies already because they live in the eternal now.

This passage is the basis for the New Testament doctrine of the rapture, the catching away of believers to be with Jesus. The word rapture is not in the ancient Greek text, but comes from the Latin Vulgate, which translates the phrase caught up with rapturus, from which we get our English word rapture.

Many Christians believe the Bible teaches that there will be an important seven-year period of history before the Battle of Armageddon and triumphant return of Jesus. The debate about this catching away centers on where it fits in with this final seven-year period, popularly known as the Great Tribulation, with reference to Matthew 24:21.

• The pre-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up before this final seven-year period.
• The mid-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up in the midst of this final seven-year period.
• The pre-wrath rapture position believes believers are caught up at some time in the second half of this final seven-year period.
• The post-tribulation rapture position believes believers are caught up at the end of this final seven-year period.

In the end, no one knows except God for certain.

1 Thessalonians 5:

The day of the Lord is fulfilled with Jesus judging the earth and returning in glory.

It does not refer to a single day, but to a season when God rapidly advances His agenda to the end of the age. The day of the Lord “Is a familiar Old Testament expression. It denotes the day when God intervenes in history to judge His enemies, deliver His people, and establish His kingdom.” (Hiebert)

The phrase labor pains suggest both inevitability and unexpectedness. Jesus used the same idea in Matthew 24:8, when He spoke of calamities preceding the end times as the beginning of sorrows, which is literally the beginning of labor pains. The idea is both of giving birth to a new age and implying an increase of intensity and frequency in these calamities.

Be ready for Jesus’ return is Paul’s main message here.

Spiritually speaking, we need to be active and aware, to watch and be sober. Sober means don’t get too excited about the things of this world.

When one compares this description of spiritual armor with that found in Ephesians 6, there is not an exact correlation. Paul saw the idea of spiritual armor as a helpful picture, not something rigid in its particular details.

Faith and love are represented by the breastplate because the breastplate covers the vital organs. No solider would ever go to battle without his breastplate, and no Christian is equipped to live the Christian life without faith and love.

The hope of salvation is represented as a helmet, because the helmet protects the head, which is just as essential as the breastplate. Hope isn’t used in the sense of wishful thinking, but in the sense of a confident expectation of God’s hand in the future.

The Wrath of God

We deserve God’s wrath, but we are saved from it through Jesus’ death.

We deserve God’s wrath fro Adam’s sin and our sin.

Give comfort and build up each other.

Rest of 1 Thessalonians 5:

Recognize your leaders, esteem them in love, and be at peace.

Paul addresses 3 kinds of people:

1. Unruly: The idlers of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
2. Fainthearted: Those anxious about their departed loved ones in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17.
3. Weak: Those suffering under temptations to lapse into immorality in 1 Thessalonians 4:2-8

Be patient with everyone and not seek revenge. Be forgiving. Jesus made it plain that we should get things right with men before we come to worship God (Matthew 5:23-24).

Rejoice always, pray continually (a constant communication with God), give thanks in everything. We can do this because it is God’s will.

We can quench the fire of the Spirit by our doubt, our indifference, our rejection of Him, or by the distraction of others. When people start to draw attention to themselves, it is a sure quench to the Spirit.

Prophesy was being despised because individuals were abusing the gift. There were idlers among the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12), perhaps who spiritualized their idleness with prophecy. There were date-setters and end-times speculators among the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5), perhaps who backed up their speculations with supposed prophetic authority.

Sanctify means “to set apart” – to make something different and distinct, breaking old associations and forming a new association. God wants us to be set apart to Him.

Completely: “The adjective (holoeleis), occurring only here in the New Testament, is a compound of holos, ‘whole, entire,’ and telos, ‘end.’ Its basic connotation is ‘wholly attaining the end, reaching the intended goal,’ hence has the force of no part being left unreached.” (Hiebert)

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 1:

Second Letter to the Church in Thessalonica. We ought to thank God for you as your faith is growing more and more and you love one another more and more. We boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

God’s judgment is right and you will be worthy of the kingdom of God. God is just. He will pay back those who trouble you and bring relief when the Lord Jesus comes from Heaven in a blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus with everlasting destruction. Those who believe will marvel in him as he’s glorified in his holy people.

We pray that God may count you worthy of his calling and that he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 2: 2 Thessalonians 1

3a)  Because their faith is growing more and more and the love every one of them has for each other is increasing. They have perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials they are enduring.

b) Personal Question. My answer: I think we all grow in our struggles, whether we think we do or not. Often, we don’t see it till later on down the road, but having the faith that we are growing helps.

4a) Jesus will be revealed from Heaven in blazing fire with powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Jesus will be glorified in his holy people and be marveled at.  He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to those who are troubled. Unbelievers will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people.

5) Part personal Question. My answer: That God may count the Thessalonians worthy of his calling, that he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. Myself and everyone.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 2: 2 Thessalonians 1

Powerful prayer we should be praying for ourselves and others regularly. That our purpose is His purpose. That we find His purpose in our lives. That we live out that purpose despite the world’s pressures to hinder and squash us at every turn. That we may be always prompted by faith in what we do. That we live for Him every moment of our lives.

Major Theme: What You Hope For is What You Live For

Great Video of 2 Thessalonians Here:

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 2: 2 Thessalonians 1

Silas we met in Acts. He was a long and experienced companion of Paul who traveled with Paul on his second missionary journey and was imprisoned and set free with Paul in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:19-27). When Paul first came to Thessalonica, Silas came with him (Acts 17:1-9), so the Thessalonians knew him well. He also collaborated with Paul on the first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Timothy was a resident of Lystra, a city in the province of Galatia (Acts 16:1-3). He was the son of a Greek father (Acts 16:1), and a Jewish mother named Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). From his youth, he had been taught in the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). Timothy was a trusted companion and associate of Paul, and he accompanied Paul on many of his missionary journeys. Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians on a previous occasion (1 Thessalonians 3:2). With Silvanus, Timothy was also a collaborator on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Paul himself founded the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9). This letter covers the same topics as 1 Thessalonians, but in a sterner manner.

The Thessalonians’ suffering was evidence of the righteous judgment of God. Where suffering is coupled with righteous endurance, God’s work is done.

Since God is righteous, He will repayall evil, and it will all be judged and accounted for either at the cross or in hell.  A day of rest is promised for every believer. Life may be unfair, but in the end, God would make it fair.

The judgment of God means that there is nothing unimportant in my life. Everything is under the eye of the God I must answer to.

What truly characterizes hell is that people are not in the presence of the Lord, in the sense of being apart from anything good or blessed in God’s presence. The separatedness from God is eternal.

We live worthy of God’s call when we display God’s goodness to others, glorify Jesus, and we are glorified through Jesus — all by God’s grace.

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12:

Paul in His Second Letter to the Thessalonians says the day of our Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming to be God.

The secret power of lawlessness is already at work but he is being held back and will be continued to be held back until he is removed. The lawless one will be revealed and Jesus will then overthrow him. We will see the coming of the lawless one by witnessing the counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders and other deceiving evils. The unbelievers refuse to love the truth so God will send them a delusion so they will be condemned.

Summary of Revelation 13:6-13:

The beast opened his mouth to blaspheme God and was given power to conquer the saints in war. He was given authority over all people. All unbelievers will worship the beast whose name is not written in the book of life.

Another beast emerged with two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon. He was the first beast’s helper who made everyone worship the first beast. He performed miraculous signs including fire coming down from heaven.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 3: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 with Revelation 13:6-13

6a) A rebellion will occur, and the man of lawlessness will be revealed.

b) The man of lawlessness is a man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, claiming to be God. Jesus will overthrow him easily. The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the works of Satan, such as counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders, and evil. Those who will be unsaved wil be condemned who have not believed the truth.

7a) Because of people’s refusal to open their eyes and see and accept God’s truth He allows them to be deluded by the Devil and things of this world and not His world. For instance, they worship and serve created things instead of the Creator.  Although they know they will have death if they do these things, they continue to do so and approve of others who do so as well.

b) Personal Question. My answer: Deception can come in a beautiful package to deceive us. Truth will save you.

c) Personal Question. My answer: We need to always be vigilant, always testing what we are told with God’s word, and always in tune with God so we don’t fall into any lies set forth by Satan. Know God’s truths and engrave them into your heart with steel. Pray and pray some more. Read and study God’s words. Use it as a shield against the Enemy. Accept God’s truth, what Jesus did for us on the cross, and reject the world’s acts as much as possible. Make God your center and the delusion will be repelled like a dog is to ultrasonic sounds.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 3: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 with Revelation 13:6-13

Great warning to us how the Devil is everywhere and will try to make us fall at every turn. We must be vigilant in our walk with God and not stray off His path for it is all too easy. We must be aware that the lawlessness one will come and be prepared for it by becoming more and more like Jesus every day of our lives.

The man of lawlessness is also referred to as the Antichrist and many scholars believe it will be a human man.

The beast of the Revelations passage also refers to the man of lawlessness. They are one in the same just called different names. The beast, the man of lawlessness, and the Antichrist are all the same person who will come instead of Jesus to lure people into wickedness. We (humans) are unsure what this person/thing will look like so there are many descriptions of him throughout the Bible.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 3: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 with Revelation 13:6-13

2 Thessalonians 2:1-12:

Paul here addressed questions raised by his first letter, where he instructed the Thessalonians about the catching away of the church to be with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

The challenge in understanding this chapter comes from the fact that it is a supplement to what Paul has already taught the Thessalonians in words, and we don’t know exactly what Paul said to the them. Yet the ideas are clear enough if carefully pieced together.

Two Comings of Jesus in One Rapture

Paul clearly wrote of the return of Jesus, but the wording here implies a difference between the coming and our gathering. This strongly suggests that there are essentially two comings of Jesus. One coming is for His church (as described clearly in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), and the other coming is with His church, to judge a rebellious world.

• Different world conditions: (Matthew 24:37-42, Matthew 24:21, Revelation 6:15-16).
• Different manners of Jesus’ return: (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 19:11, 14-15, 21).
• Different scenarios regarding the predictability of the date of Jesus’ return: (Matthew 24:36, Daniel 12:11).

A preferred manuscript reading of 2 Thessalonians 2:2 has the day of the Lord rather than the day of Christ. The day of the Lord is a concept with a rich Old Testament background, and was mentioned in Paul’s previous letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:2). It is not a single day, but a period associated with God’s outpouring of judgment and the deliverance of God’s people. A significant aspect of the day of the Lord is the Great Tribulation described in Matthew 24:1-31.

The Thessalonians were afraid that they were in the Great Tribulation (the day of the Lord), and feared that they had missed the rapture. But Paul will demonstrate that they are not in the day of Christ; because if they were, then certain signs would be present.

• Bible scholars debate if there will be an apostasy among those who once followed God, or a general worldwide rebellion. In fact, Paul may have both in mind, because there is evidence of each in the end times (1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 4:3-4).
• Some scholard believe that the man of sin  not an individual, but a system or an office. However, Daniel described an individual person: The prince who is to come (Daniel 9:26), the king of fierce countenance (Daniel 8:23), the willful king (Daniel 11:36-45), and Jesus described an individual person: The one who comes in his own name (John 5:43).

The Man of Sin

• The man of sin demands worship for himself that belongs to God only (Luke 4:8). This demand for worship is also described in Revelation 13:1-6.
• The man of sin will set himself up as God in the temple at Jerusalem, demanding this blasphemous worship from everyone (Revelation 13:14-15 and Matthew 24:15, 21, 29-31).
• The prophet Daniel told us the Antichrist will break his covenant with the Jews and bring sacrifice and offerings to an end; that the Antichrist will defile the temple by setting something abominable there (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11).
• Jesus said to look for an abomination standing in the holy place, which would be the pivotal sign that the season of God’s wrath was upon the earth (Matthew 24:15-16 and 24:21).

The man of sin is truly an Anti-Christ. Satan has planned the career of the man of sin to mirror the ministry of Jesus.

• Both Jesus and the man of sin have a coming (2 Thessalonians 2:1 and 2:9).
• Both Jesus and the man of sin are revealed (2 Thessalonians 1:7 and 2:3).
• Both Jesus and the man of sin have a gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
• Both Jesus and the man of sin say that they alone should be worshipped (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
• Both Jesus and the man of sin have support for their claims by miraculous works (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

The Man of Sin Comes When:

• The Holy Spirit removes His restraint.
• Second, the lawless one will be destroyed by the mere brightness of Jesus at His coming.

Satan will give the man of sin power. Antichrist is only God’s messenger, revealing God’s judgment on the people.

Revelation 13:6-13:

The beast makes war against the saints (God’s people). Everyone will worship the final world dictator, except the chosen.

The two horns may express the fact that this beast has authority in two realms, such as religious and political authority. Or, he may have two horns simply because that’s how many horns lambs have (two horns like a lamb).

Signs and wonders will be present among Christians, but the real marks of God’s work are love and truth.

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17:

From the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit if you believe in the truth. Through the gospel you might share in the glory of Jesus Christ. Stand firm and hold to the teachings (the Word) and may Jesus and God encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

8a) God chose us (man) to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through our belief in the truth and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross  We must believe to have the Holy Spirit indwell within so we may be with God. Always thank God and hold to his teachings.

b) Personal Question. My answer: God is good and full of merciful grace.

9) So that you can be saved and not fall into Satan’s lies.

10) Personal Question. My answer: By not believing the lies the world tells us and how some sins are okay. Stick to God’s word and you will be strengthened.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Short days are nice to break up the longer days. To sum it up: believe in God’s truth (who He is and His word), accept Jesus as your Savior, and receive God’s sanctification of the Spirit and the glory of Jesus Christ (who he is) as well as eternal salvation.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Paul repeats his idea from 2 Thessalonians 1:3, that he was obligated to thank God for His work in the Thessalonians, in light of the greatness of that work.

God’s love for us is the primary motivation for all His work in and through us.

God’s work of sanctification uses two great forces, the Spirit and the belief in the truth. The Spirit of God and the Word of God are essential to our sanctification.

This is the same glory John wrote of in 1 John 3:2 – we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Why Christians Should Stand Firm:

• The current stresses (the persecutions and tribulations described in 2 Thessalonians 1:4).
• The judgment is coming (in flaming fire taking vengeance, 2 Thessalonians 1:8).
• Deception is coming (all power, signs, and lying wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9).
• Our glorious destiny (the glory of our Lord Jesus, 2 Thessalonians 2:14).

God’s Word is what we must stand fast and firm upon.

When praying remember God’s past faithfulness and present blessing. His faithfulness in the past is a promise of His faithfulness for the future.

Paul wanted God to comfort their hearts. Second, he asked God to establish them in every good word and work.

Summary of 2 Thessalonians 3:

Paul requests prayer for the message of the Lord to be spread rapidly and be honored and for safety in essence (delivered from the wicked and evil men). The Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the Devil.

Paul commands them to stay away from idlers and who do not live according to his teachings. We were not idle. We worked night and day so as not to be a burden. For if a man will not work, he shall not eat. We urge you to earn the bread you eat and never tire of doing what is right.  those who are not following our instruction.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 5: 2 Thessalonians 3

11) Part Personal Question. My answer: Paul requests prayer for the message of the Lord to be spread rapidly and be honored. Direction for the future.

12) The definition of idleness is someone who is avoiding work, is lazy, without purpose, and is working for no point. It was important to Paul that everyone who is able earn the bread they eat. Plus, idleness led to busybodies, or gossip. Idle is choosing not to work when you can. Rest is recovering from work, whether that be mental or physical.

13) Personal Question. My answer: It allows me not to have to worry.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 5: 2 Thessalonians 3

I love how we are to never tire of doing what is right. I know that is hard for all of us sometimes when we are tired and we just want to take the easy way out. Yet, we must remember Jesus took the hard road and died for us; nothing we face can compare.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 19, Day 5: 2 Thessalonians 3

The Power of Prayer

Paul constantly asked other Christians to pray for him (Romans 15:30, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:18-19, Philippians 1:19, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, and Philemon 1:22). Paul knew that the success of his ministry to some degree depended on the prayers of God’s people.

Paul’s prayer request makes us wonder how often the work of God’s Word is hindered by our prayerlessness.

God has promised that His Word would be free and perform its work: It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). But as with many of God’s promises, we are expected to take this promise in faith, and in prayer, to ask God to perform the promise for His glory.

God promised to keep Satan on a leash. He will not allow any temptation to become too great for us (1 Corinthians 10:13), and will not allow Satan to do whatever he wants with us (Luke 22:31-32).

Paul wisely prayed for both love and patience (endurance) for the Thessalonian Christians. These were two qualities essential for the kind of spiritual stability and strength the Thessalonians needed.

The purpose in withdrawing from these disobedient was not so much punishment, but more so simply to deny these disobedient ones the aid and comfort of the fellowship of the body of Christ until they repented. It put them out of the church into the “domain” of Satan (the world), in hope that they might miss the fellowship of the church so much they would repent of their disobedience.

• Paul echoed the same idea in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5.
• Church is a place of love and comfort. One should be sad to be excluded from the church.

Rail Against Idleness

God’s plan is to provide for our needs through our work.

There is a play on words between the ancient Greek phrasing in the lines not working at all and but are busybodies. The idea is something like “busybodies who do no business.”

Perhaps these busybodies thought that if Jesus was coming soon, it made no sense to work.

The early church did provide for the truly needy among them, but only after being certain that they were truly needy and after putting them to work for the church (1 Timothy 5:3-16).

Be not weary in well doing. There is plenty of well-wishing in the world. Well-resolving, well-suggesting, and well-criticizing are also found in plenty. Many people are good at well-talking, but there is not enough of simple well doing.

“The intention of excommunication is not to drive men from the Lord’s flock, but rather to bring them back again when they have wandered and gone astray… Excommunication is to be distinguished from anathema.” (Calvin)

As was his custom, Paul himself wrote the final words of the epistle with his own hand. This was both a personal demonstration of affection and proof that the letter was authentic.

For Paul, God’s grace was the beginning and the end of the Christian life. It was appropriate that this letter – and most – of his letters began and ended with a mention of grace.

Summary Acts 18:23-28:

We pick up Paul again as he’s leaving Antioch to travel to Galatia and Phrygia to strengthen the disciples on what would become his third missionary journey. During this time a Jew named Apollos from Alexandria came to Ephesus. He had a vast knowledge of the Scriptures and had been instructed in the way of the Lord. He spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus Christ accurately in the synagogues. Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak and invited him to their home where they explained God more adequately.

Apollos was encouraged by the brothers to spread the News to Achaia and he helped those who believed. He vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving Jesus was the Christ using Scriptures.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 2: Acts 18:23-28

3) Paul left Antioch and went throughout the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples there.

4) Part Personal Question. My answer: Apollos was a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately.  He spoke boldly in the synagogue. He wanted to do more for the Lord, so he did, traveling to Achaia to defend Jesus. I love how he goes above and beyond for Jesus, traveling to far off places (which, at that time, was a big deal), defending Jesus. Great example for all of us.

5) Personal Question. My answer: Through the example of Priscilla and Aquila, we are all to help and support one another, including in the education of God, Jesus, and the Word.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 2: Acts 18:23-28

I love how the Bible is full of Christians helping one another. This is something we all probably could be better at doing.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 2: Acts 18:23-28

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

We don’t know exactly how much time Paul spent back at his home congregation in Syrian Antioch. Luke wrote the account to give the sense of an immediate move on to Paul’s next missionary journey.

Since Paul’s first focus on this trip was strengthening all the disciples, he went back to the churches already founded on previous missionary works. This would include congregations in Tarsus, Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Pisidian Antioch.

Paul had a passion for building disciples, not merely making converts.

Apollos in the Bible

It seems Apollos (like many in his day) was a missionary called by God alone, because we have no indication that he was sent or commissioned by any specific congregation or apostle. He simply came to Ephesus.

The reputation and work of John the Baptist was widely known throughout the Jews of the Roman Empire, reaching here as far as Alexandria.

Because Apollos knew of the work of John the Baptist, it is likely that he preached that the Messiah had come and we must repent and respond to Jesus, but he probably had little knowledge of the full person and work of Jesus Christ.

Priscilla and Aquila in the Bible

Paul met this couple that shared his profession of tentmaking in Corinth (Acts 18:3). They went with him from Corinth to Ephesus, and Paul left them there while he continued eastward to Caesarea, Jerusalem, and Antioch (Acts 18:18-22).

Aquila and Priscilla helped someone who had a passion for God.

With both instruction from Aquila and Priscilla and letters of reference from the church in Ephesus, Apollos served effectively in Achaia, especially among opposing Jews .

When Apollos went to the region of Achaia, it probably means he went to the city of Corinth in the region of Achaia. From what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, he apparently had a remarkable ministry there.

Though some Corinthians fixated on Apollos in a divisive spirit (1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4), there is no reason to believe that Apollos himself encouraged this. Paul regarded Apollos as a trusted colleague (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 and 16:12).

Apollos was Jewish, eloquent and fervent in spirit (Acts 18:24-25), refuted the Jews, and knew Scripture. Thus, some scholars consider him a possible author of the book of Hebrews.

Summary of Acts 19:

Paul is now in Ephesus and he runs into some disciples who had not been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (this shows us still just how much misunderstanding and confusion abounded during these early days of the Church) so Paul re-baptized them.

Paul spoke in the synagogue there fore 3 months but left when some Jews were barring the Way. He moved to the lecture hall (or gymnasium) of Tyrannus and spoke for 2 years to all the Jews and Greeks in Asia (what we call Asia Minor). God did extraordinary miracles through Paul during this time and when the Seven Sons of Sceva tried to mimic him for their own personal gain, they were set upon by the evil spirit and beaten badly.

Yet God used this for when word spread of what happened to the Sons many more were converted and repented of their sorcery. Others saw this and converted as well.

Then Paul decided it was time to move on. He sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia while he planned to go to Jerusalem. Before he left, a riot broke out instigated by the craftsmen who were losing business since Artemis was slowly being replaced by Jesus. Finally, a city clerk had to quiet the crowd by saying they either bring up charges or be charged with rioting. The group quickly disassembled.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 3: Acts 19

6) Paul said that John’s baptism is a baptism of repentance and to believe in Jesus who was coming after him. It was not necessarily for salvation. After that, they are baptized into the name of Jesus. They then believed and received the Holy Spirit.

7) Part Personal Question. My answer: Paul began in the synagogues (as usual) and preached there for about 3 months until some of the Jews became obstinate. So he moved his teaching to the lecture hall (or gymnasium) of Tyrannus where he preached for 2 years. He performed miracles and spread the Word to most of Asia (Asia Minor).

Paul then decides it is time to move on to Jerusalem via Macedonia and Achaia but before that happens a riot breaks out in Ephesus, led by the craftsmen who are losing customers as more people convert to Christianity.

It’s encouraging because when people became difficult, Paul moved on. We need to at some point leave belief up to God. Badgering people won’t do us any good.

8 ) Part Personal Question. My answer: We see here the seven sons of Sceva trying to drive out evil spirits, but if it’s not from God, the whole process could backfire. They failed because they had no personal relationship with Jesus. The people became frightened when they found out that the seven sons of Sceva were beaten. However, they did confess their sins and evil deeds and burn their sorcery scrolls, so good did come out of it. It made them fear the Lord and the demons, and God’s name was magnified.

9) The riot was caused by a group of silversmiths who were upset that their idol trade was being disrupted because of the number of converts to Christianity. They rose up against Paul, and in the process, others rioted as well, many not knowing why. The crowd was quieted and dispersed. God wants things done the right way, not cutting corners for demons or for work.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 3: Acts 19

I see again the message of doing what is right over what is evil (2 Thessalonians 3:13) from the riot. The Seven Sons of Sceva felt first hand what it is like to mess around with evil spirits. People today take this lightly (like palm-reading and contacting the dead and the occult and such) but God does not.

We learned the importance of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and how powerful that is. You must accept Jesus or you won’t receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Anything else falls short of this.

We see mob mentality and how powerful it is.  I actually blogged about this in relation to Jesus’ death (see post HERE). The power of people to “follow the crowd” is real and something we must always be wary of.  It is outside the confines of the government authority and therefore something we should not obey since it is not in God’s authority.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 3: Acts 19

Paul is now in Ephesus. Paul was last in Ephesus on his way back from Corinth on his second missionary journey. Now he came from the east, arriving in Ephesus from the region of Phrygia. He came back to Ephesus as he had promised in Acts 18:21.

It may be that this was not the core group of disciples that Paul originally spoke to in Ephesus (Acts 18:19-21) and whom Aquila and Priscilla were left behind to serve. Aquila and Priscilla were with Paul for a year and a half in Corinth, and it seems from his letters to the Corinthians that Paul taught them about the Person and the work of the Holy Spirit. They knew enough to be saved and to be students of Jesus (they were called disciples), but they didn’t know much about all Jesus did for us, especially in His promise to send the Holy Spirit when He ascended to heaven.

They were in the same place as Apollos before Aquila and Priscilla explained the way of God more accurately (Acts 18:24-26).

They could have received John’s baptism from the hands of John himself; or perhaps from some of John’s disciples who continued on in his ministry after John’s death.

Paul wrote the letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians during his stay in the city of Ephesus at this time, and 1 Corinthians has much to say about person and work of the Holy Spirit.

Bible scholars debate if these disciples were actually Christians when this scene takes place.  It is difficult to say with certainty if they were already Christians or not, but one can say with certainty that Paul perceived they lacked something of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

God always wants us to go deeper. We tend to sip where we could drink deeply; we drink deeply where we could wade in, and we wade in where we could plunge in and swim. Most of us need to be encouraged to go deeper and further into the things of the Holy Spirit.

Paul had an extended time of preaching in the synagogue, but eventually, the influence of the Jews who rejected the message drove him out. He then resumed his teaching in the hall of a Gentile teacher named Tyrannus.

One ancient writing says that Paul held his meetings at the school of Tyrannus from eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon. This was the time most people rested from work, including Paul, who worked to support himself while in Ephesus (Acts 20:34-35). These also may have been the “off hours” for the school of Tyrannus.

Paul taught daily. Considering he stayed in Ephessus for two years, this meant many hundreds of hours of teaching. It is no wonder that the work in Ephesus was so broad and effective.

By himself, there was no way that Paul could reach this region. But he could equip Christians to do the work of the ministry, just as he described in Ephesians 4:11-12.

Miracles in Ephesus

It was unusual for God to use handkerchiefs or aprons in such a way. We don’t really know how this worked, other than the same way that the shadow of Peter (Acts 5:15) or the hem of Jesus’ garment (Matthew 14:36) might heal. God will stoop down to meet us even in our crude superstitions. This never means that God is pleased with our superstition, but that in His mercy He may overlook them to meet a need.

The Seven Sons of Sceva

At that time, there were Jewish exorcists who practiced their trade with a lot of superstition and ceremony. Here, a group of them tried to imitate what they though was Paul’s formula for success. However, these Jewish exorcists failed because they had no personal relationship with Jesus.

“Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan. Here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were practiced. Books containing formula for sorcery and other ungodly and forbidden arts were plentiful in that city.” (Gaebelein)

The value of fifty thousand pieces of silver today has been estimated at anywhere between $1 million and $5 million. Christians must purge thier world today, removing books, images, computer files, statues, charms, games, or whatever else might have connection with demonic spirits. They should also destroy them so they are of no use to others.

Paul Moves On Towards Rome

Paul decides to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, then to Jerusalem and Rome. He had to collect and deliver a fund he had been collecting from other churches to help out the church in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25-31; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4).

Paul’s passion to visit and serve the Christian community in Rome is mentioned in Romans 1:8-15.

Paul sent Timothy and Erastus on ahead to Macedonia, while he stayed in Ephesus (Asia) for a time.

A significant part of the work of Timothy and Erastus was simply to help Paul. They were truly assistants to the apostle, helping Paul to maximize his ministry.

Demetrius the Idol Maker

For the third time in Acts (and the second time in this chapter), the Christian movement is called the Way.

Temple of Diana in Ephesus

This huge temple to Diana (also known as Artemis) in Ephesus was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported by 127 pillars, each 60 feet high, and was decorated with great sculptures. It was lost to history until it was discovered in 1869, and its main altar was unearthed in 1965.

“The epicenter of Artemis worship was a black meteorite that either resembled or had been fashioned into a grotesque image of a woman. The lower part was wrapped like a mummy…the idol was covered with breasts, symbolizing fertility.” (Hughes)

“The Temple of Artemis was also a major treasury and bank of the ancient world, where merchants, kings, and even cities made deposits, and where their money could be kept safe under the protection of deity.” (Longenecker)

The temple of Diana in Ephesus was indeed famous around the world. The trinkets and idols from it must have been a substantial trade, no matter how immoral the worship of the sex-goddess was.

As people came to Jesus, they naturally stopped worshipping Diana and buying shrines associated with the temple.

Christianity should affect the economy – not just personally, but in a community as well. This effect will not always be welcomed. In Ephesus, business was down at the pagan shrines because of the transforming work of the Jesus Christ. This happens again and again as Jesus does His work. For example, a Roman official named Pliny later wrote a letter to another official named Trajan, describing how people were not going to shrines anymore because of Christian influence. Pliny wanted to know what he should do about it. This is how we should endeavor to change society.

When God moves among His people and they become very serious about their Christianity, that it affects the livelihood of those who trade in vice or immorality.

For two hours the mob shouted, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

God used the city clerk (equivalent to town mayor today) to calm the mob and end the immediate threat to Paul and the other Christians. God had preserved His work, and His people, again.

Assembly in Acts19:41 is the Greek word ekklesia, the same word used for “church.” It was a non-religious term used to describe a gathering or association of people.

Summary of Acts 20:1-12

Paul heads out to Macedonia encouraging the people and then arrives in Greece where he stayed 3 months. Intending to sail back home but having to change plans because of a plot against him by the Jews, Paul travels back through Macedonia overland. He was accompanied by representatives of various churches since he was purportedly carrying a large amount of famine relief money with him.

Paul arrives in Troas where he speaks all night to a group of people before his final departure to Jerusalem. A young man named Eutychus was seated in a window when he fell out of it during Paul’s long sermon and dies. Paul then throws himself on the man, wraps his arms around him, and brings him back to life.  Then Paul continues with his sermon until daybreak.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 4: Acts 20:1-12

10) Encouragement is “the act of giving someone support, confidence or hope,” according to online dictionaries. Paul would have encouraged them by praying for them, staying positive, and telling them of a future home with Jesus — the same way we would today.

11) Part Personal Question. My answer: There was Sopater, son oe Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. I learn that Paul’s journey changed many times due to hardships and avoiding those who would do him harm. Yet, he always ends up where he was headed and where God is putting him. This is a great lesson for us as we often take the circuitous route to our destination — and that’s ok!

12) Part Personal Question. My answer:  Eutychus fell asleep late at night as Paul was talking and fell three stories. He died, but Paul performed a miracle by laying on him, bringing him back to life. I can minister through prayer and daily care of needs.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 4: Acts 20:1-12

I would hope if I feel asleep during preaching that someone would catch me before I fell! So many times we all get caught up in the perfection of God that we forget that we’re all human. Here we see the recording of a basic human need — sleep. Great stuff!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 4: Acts 20:1-12

Paul is now in Macedonia in Greece, home to Alexander the Great when he lived.

Paul spent his time working with the churches he had already established, as recorded in Acts 16-17.,and collecting money for them.

The Book of Acts never specifically mentions a visit by Paul to Illyricum, but it may fit in here at Acts 20:2-3, Illyricum is due west from Thessalonica, and there was a famous Roman Road (the Via Egnatia) that went between Thessalonica and the Roman province of Illyricum. Today, the area of Illyricum is modern day Albania, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, with the mainland of Italy westward across the water.

The mention of Illyricum in Romans 15:19 reminds us that the Book of Acts is by no means a complete accounting of all that God did through His people in the first century. There is much, even in the life of the Apostle Paul, that is not described – not to mention the life and work of many, many others.

From Greece, Paul had planned to take the long journey by sea directly back to Syria (where his sending church at Antioch was), but the plotting of some anti-Christian Jews made him take a more overland route back through Macedonia, accompanied by many companions.

These traveling companions of Paul were probably representatives from other churches who had sent money with Paul to Jerusalem. They were also present as ambassadors from the churches Paul has founded among the Gentiles, and were there to vouch for Paul’s good stewardship in regard to the collection destined for Jerusalem.

Aristarchus’ name was connected with aristocracy, the ruling class. It’s likely that he came from a wealthy and powerful family. Secundus was a common name for a slave. It meant “Second.” Slaves were often not called by their true names, and the first-ranking slave in a household would often be called Primus. The second-ranking slave was often called Secundus.

Paul sailed back across the Agean Sea, eastward towards the Roman province of Asia Minor.

Luke has resumed the we narrative  that he uses when he travels with Paul. He met Paul in Philippi and then sailed with Paul to Troas where they met Paul’s other traveling companions. Paul had left Luke in Philippi in Acts 16:40.

This is the first certain example we have of Christians making a practice to gather together on the first day of the week for fellowship and the word – though here, it seems they gathered in the evening, because Sunday was a normal working day for them.

Eutychus Falls Asleep in Church

The combination of the late hour, the heat, and perhaps the fumes from the oil lamps made the young man Eutychus fall asleep. His fall and death certainly would have put a sour note on the meeting.

It is comforting for any preacher to think that people might fall asleep during the preaching of even the Apostle Paul. Yet, Paul taught for many hours and after a long day of work for most of his audience. God made us need sleep.

I don’t know many of us who can sit through a 6 hour sermon until midnight after having been up since daybreak, working in the fields performing manual labor as we have to assume Eutychus was (that’s why Paul was preaching at night because everyone worked during that day).

We are also told there were many lamps. Lamps in Paul’s time were oil lamps and gave off a lot of smoke and fumes (unhealthy to breath). We’re not talking kerosene here. The fuel was most likely olive oil. We can also assume there’s a lot of people packed into a tiny space to hear Paul before he leaves (another reason Eutychus may have been sitting on the window).

So here’s Eutychus breathing in all these fumes, probably sweating from all the people and the heat from the lamps, being lulled to sleep by Paul because he’s exhausted, and he falls out the window. I would have too!

Why wouldn’t Paul show compassion?  What’s he gonna do?  Blame the guy?  Doubt it.  Eutychus died because he was eager to hear the word of God and couldn’t overcome his exhaustion that was not caused by any fault of his own.  It was the times he lived in.  Naps were non-existent back then for most people.

In the end, God made humans and humans require sleep.  It’s not something we can go without.  Trust me, I’ve pulled enough all-nighters in my college days to know this is horrible for the body

I see no fault here whatsoever with Eutychus falling asleep, and I believe Luke told the story either as a diligent reporter who was recording Paul’s travels or to show the dedication of believers.  I don’t think he ever intended it as a warning that “If we fall asleep in church we’re doomed to Hell.”

Summary of Acts 20:13-21:15:

From Troas Paul head to Assos, Mitylene, Kios, Samos, and then Miletus.  He avoided Ephesus because he wanted to reach Jerusalem by Pentecost.  But he sent for the elders of Ephesus to come to Miletus to speak with him.

Paul tells them he lived a life of humility and tears as he served the Lord.  He preached helpful words to both Jews and Greeks about having faith in Christ and repenting to God.  Paul is compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem where he knows he will face prison and hardships.  His life is worth nothing to him if only he will finish the race and complete the task set out for him by Lord Jesus.

They won’t see him again so they must keep watch over the church and believers.  They must be on their guard for wolves will lurk and try to hurt the believers.  He commits them to God who can build them up and give them an inheritance.  We must help the weak, work hard, and remember Jesus’ words “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

They Paul prayed.

Acts 21:1-15:

Then Paul boards a ship to Cos, Rhodes, Patar, Phoenicia, Syria, Tyre (where he stayed to encourage disciples and prayed), Ptolemais, and then Caesarea.  Here, the prophet Agabus bound his own hands and feet in warning to Paul about what will happen to him in Jerusalem.  Paul says he is ready to die for Jesus and his companions finally said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Finally, Paul arrives in Jerusalem.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 5: Acts 20:13-21:15

13) Personal Question. My answer:  Paul doesn’t really say good bye to the Ephesians. He sails past Ephesus, in a hurry to return to Jerusalem. Instead, he calls the elders of Ephesus to him. He tells them how he has preached the Good News to them, served the Lord with humility. But he has to finish the race the Lord has laid for him, and that means he won’t see them again. He is innocent of all blood of me. He advises them to watch themselves and the flock and be shepherds of the church of God. To be on guard against those who will distort the truth to draw them away from God. He commits them to God and tells them to help the weak. He prayed for them, wept, kissed and hugged them goodbye. Unsure about being relevant to my life today, excpe the part of finishing the race that God has for me. I think we all have to move on, leave people behind that we care for, because God calls us someplace else. This is what Paul is facing now.

14) “They must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Verse 21 Grace, faith, and repentance are fundamental to our fath and to who God is. He offers us grace; we believe in faith; we repent of our sins to be forgiven and to be able to stand with a holy God.

15) Personal Question. My answer: Paul is ready to live and die for Jesus. When it comes down to it, I wonder if I am. Saying you live by the Lord’s will and doing so are two different things. When something bad happens, we ask God “Why?” when we really should be asking “Why not?”

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 5: Acts 20:13-21:15

You definitely can feel Paul’s heart here for his people. Leaving is such sweet sorrow, but we have the internet to keep up with our family. They have nothing. It really was saying goodbye to someone you would never see again. We can’t imagine this, but it must have been heart-wrenching.

Great pictures and explanation of Paul’s journey home HERE

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 20, Day 5: Acts 20:13-21:15

Acts 20:13-38:

Paul apparently preferred to walk from Troas to Assos instead of sail with the rest of his group; but he sailed with them from Assos to Miletus.

Paul “stayed till the last possible moment, probably to be assured of Eutychus’s complete restoration to consciousness and health, and then took a shortcut by land to join the ship at Assos.” (Bruce).

Paul wanted to get to Jerusalem for the Day of Pentecost, so he met with the elders instead.  “It is the only Pauline speech delivered to Christians which Luke has recorded, and it is not surprising to discover how rich it is in parallels to the Pauline letters (especially, in fact, to the later ones).” (Bruce)

Paul was an example of how to live a Christian life, like we all should be. He knew the dangers ahead, but he had no fear.

The bond Paul had with these Ephesian leaders was immense. He was in Ephesus for two years, and the ministry was so effective that Acts 19:10 says, all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

It was hard for the elders to believe it. Maybe at first they thought he was joking. But they quickly understood that he wasn’t and they understood why he asked them to walk 36 miles to meet with him.

Paul’s Life Mirrored Jesus’s

• Paul traveled to Jerusalem with a group of his disciples.
• Paul was opposed by hostile Jews who plotted against his life.
• Paul made or received three successive predictions of his coming sufferings in Jerusalem, including being handed over to the Gentiles.
• Paul declared his readiness to lay down his life.
• Paul was determined to complete his ministry and not be deflected from it.
• Paul expressed his abandonment to the will of God.

Paul’s conscious was clear because he held nothing back about God and Jesus.

TRUTH: Many preachers today simply use a Bible text as a launching pad, and then go on to say what they want – what the people want to hear. Others throw in Bible quotations to illustrate their points, or to illustrate their stories. Yet the real calling of a preacher is to simply let the Bible speak for itself and let it declare its own power. How many of you know exactly this point?

Paul offers words of encouragement and advice, to look after the flock (others), to serve them and feed them (teach them about Jesus), and to watch out for false teachers.

Paul says three therefores in this passage:

1. He gave one therefore about himself (his clear conscience, Acts 20:26).
2. He gave a second therefore about what they should do (take heed, Acts 20:28).
3. The third therefore is given after the urgency of taking heed has been explained.

Paul ends by telling them to be more concerned about giving to their flock than receiving.

Jesus taught many things unrecorded in the gospels; John said as much in John 21:25. But we can trust that God has preserved all that is necessary of the teaching of Jesus.

Fun Fact: My study bible says that the quote “It is more blessed to give than to receive” is the only quote from Jesus not found in the New Testament Gospels.  I found this fascinating, especially since it is such a popular saying, and we only have it written down because Timothy wrote it when Paul said it. Totally cool!

Acts 21:1-15:

These short verses cover many miles and stops of Paul’s third missionary voyage to Jerusalem. Paul again is warned in Tyre not to go to Jerusalam, but he goes anyways.

The practice of walking with a traveler to the outskirts of the city was traditional; yet the practice of kneeling on the shore together for prayer was uniquely Christian.

It must have been wonderful for Paul and his companions to find Christians in virtually every city they stopped. This showed the expansion and the deepening of the Christian movement across the Roman Empire. Christians were everywhere, it seemed.

Acts 8:40 tells us that after Philip’s work in bringing the Ethiopian eunuch to faith, he preached through the costal region and ended up in Caesarea. Many years later he was still there.

It’s interesting that with these four daughters who had the gift of prophecy, none of them seemed to tell Paul anything about his upcoming time in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit could have used them, but He chose to use someone else.

In the spirit of Old Testament prophets, Agabus acted out his message to Paul – that certain danger awaited him at Jerusalem.

Acts 21:12 shows that even Luke and Paul’s traveling companions tried to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul had received several prophetic words on this very topic. This is God’s custom with such a remarkable prophecy, that there should be a great deal of confirmation, as there was in Macedonia (Acts 20:22-23), in Tyre (Acts 21:4) and now in Caesarea.

Paul’s insistence on going to Jerusalem despite the dangers predicted by the Holy Spirit was not a result of rebellion, but an obedient response to the command of the Holy Spirit in his heart. He was bound in the spirit to go to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21 and 20:22).

The warnings from the Holy Spirit were intended to prepare Paul, not to stop him.  Whether Paul was right or wrong in going to Jerusalem, God would use it.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 1:1-17:

Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians: Paul thanks God for them because through Jesus the Corinthians have been enriched in every way. They do not lack any spiritual gifts and so will be blameless before the Lord. However, there are divisions in the church as some are following certain church leaders (Apollos, Peter, and even Paul) instead of Christ. Paul explains he is merely preaching what Christ did not what anyone else did. Christ died for their sins not any of these other leaders.

The message of the cross is the power of God.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

3a) Through Jesus the Corinthians have been given grace and enriched in every way, such as speaking and knowledge. They do not lack any spiritual gifts, and they are made strong to the end so that they will be blameless before the Lord. God is faithful

b) Personal Question. My answer: Made strong because otherwise, I wouldn’t make it every day.

4a) Disagreement amongst members of the church and divisions. Some are following particular disciples (Paul, Peter, Apollos, etc) instead of Jesus. We are weaker when dividied and cannot get much done of the kingdom of God on our own. We spend all of our time arguing instead of acting (Congress is a great example). Only together can we grow in Christ.

5) You put all of your allegiance in a person instead of THE person of Jesus Christ. Christ saves; the messenger does not. You risk not being saved if you don’t understand the heart of the gospel.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

Last time through Acts, we did 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 in one day.

The idea of independence sometimes superceded unity in today’s world. Independence does not mean do life by yourself. You will be miserable that way. Stand firm, and together you are unstoppable.

Great Overview of 1 Corinthians Here:

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 1:1-17

The apostle Paul follows the normal pattern for writing a letter in ancient times. We write a letter by saying who the letter is to first, and we conclude with writing who the letter is from. In the ancient culture of Paul, a letter began with writing who the letter is from, and then stating who the letter is to.

No other letter in the New Testament reveals such a wide range of Paul’s emotions. At his own expense, he spends 18 months in Corinth, whereby he was thanked by being personally attacked by the Corinthians. He is angry, ashamed, and sad.

Paul established the church in Corinth, coming there after Athens and staying a year and a half (Acts 18).

He wrote a letter to the Christians in Corinth from the city of Ephesus (Acts 19), which is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:9. This “previous letter” is lost.

Paul received reports from people in Chloe’s household about disturbances in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11); and he may have received a delegation from Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:7) who brought him questions from the congregation (1 Corinthians 7:1).

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to respond to these reports. But because of all the time Paul spent in Corinth, and all the letters he wrote them, we know more about the Christians at Corinth than we know about any other church in the New Testament.

Paul fearlessly declares his apostolic credentials. As is evident from 1 and 2 Corinthians, Paul’s standing and authority as an apostle were not appreciated among the Christians of Corinth.

This man Sosthenes is perhaps mentioned in Acts 18:17, as the head of a Corinthian synagogue who was beaten because he protected Paul.

• When Paul first came to Corinth, the ruler of the synagogue was a man named Crispus. Crispus believed on the Lord with all his household (Acts 18:8), and was saved.
• Now, a man named Sosthenes, who was beaten by the Roman officials, is in charge.
• It was common in the ancient world to dictate a letter to a scribe who would write it all down. Probably, Sosthenes was Paul’s scribe (or, more technically, his amanuensis).

the ancient Greek word for church (ekklesiai) was a non-religious word for an “assembly” of people, typically gathered together for a specific purpose. It was not a building, like we think of today.

Corinth

Corinth was second only to Rome with a population of 700,000 in Paul’s time, and it was known as a town of sinners much like Las Vegas is today. The Romans destroyed Corinth in 146 B.C., but Julius Caesar rebuilt the city a hundred years later.

Many things made Corinth famous. Pottery and “Corinthian brass” (a mixture of gold, sliver and copper) from the city were world famous. Famous athletic contests known as the Isthmian Games – second only to the Olympian Games – were held at the temple of Poseidon in Corinth every two years. Athena, Apollo, Poseidon, Hermes, Isis, Serapis, and Asclepius, among others, had temples to their honor in Corinth. But most prominent was the worship of the Corinthian Aphrodite, who had more than 1,000 hierodouloi (female prostitutes and priestesses) in her service.

Corinth was a major city of business, especially because of its location. It was on a four-and-one-half mile-wide isthmus of land. “At its narrowest part the isthmus was crossed by a level track called the diolcus, over which vessels were dragged on rollers from one port to the other. This was in constant use, because seamen were thus enabled to avoid sailing round the dangerous promontory of Malea.” (Vincent) Sailors wanted to avoid the dangerous journey around Malea, which was indicated by two popular proverbs: “Let him who sails around Malea forget his home,” and “Let him who sails around Malea first make his will.” If the ship was too large to be dragged, the cargo was unloaded and loaded onto another ship on the other side of the isthmus.

The Corinthian people were also world known for partying, drunkenness, and loose sexual morals. The term Korinthiazomai was well known in the Roman Empire and it meant literally “to live like a Corinthian.” But everyone knew it really meant “to be sexually out of control.” “Aelian, the late Greek writer, tells us that if ever a Corinthian was shown upon the stage in a Greek play, he was shown drunk.” (Barclay)

Understanding the tension between the church and the city is important to understanding the letter of 1 Corinthians.

The Corinthians were called saints, not called to be saints.

Fun Fact: Grace and peace — Paul uses this exact phrase five other times in the New Testament.

Paul will later spend most of this letter rebuking sin and correcting error, yet he is still sincerely thankful for God’s work in the Corinthian Christians. Paul praises God for their positives, and expresses confidence that God will take care of their weak points,

In these first 10 verses, Paul refers to Jesus in every verse, for a total of 11 times. In this emphasis on Jesus, Paul promotes the sure cure for the problems of the Corinthians: getting your eyes off self and on Jesus.

Divisions is “schismata.” Although we derive our English word “schism” from this Greek word, it does not really mean a “party” or a “faction”; it properly means “tear or rend.” Paul’s plea is that they stop ripping each other apart, tearing up the body of Christ.

Chloe was a woman (probably a Christian) whose business interests caused her representatives to travel between Ephesus and Corinth. Paul writes this letter from Ephesus, where these people from Chloe’s household visited and told him about the condition of the the Corinthian church.

Though division is ungodly, it is not wrong to make distinctions between churches and ministers. God has made different churches and different ministries with different callings and characters, because the job of preaching the gospel is too big for any one group.

For Paul, preaching was more important than baptizing, though he was certainly not opposed to baptism. Yet, we can see by this that baptism is not essential to salvation.

Paul came to Corinth from Athens, where he contended with the great philosophers of the day in terms they could understand (Acts 17:16-34).

Paul makes it clear that it is possible to preach the gospel in a way that makes it of no effect. If one preaches the word with a reliance on wisdom of words, they can make the gospel of no effect.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16:

Christ is the power and wisdom of God. Man is foolish for man did not know God (which God allowed). The foolishness of God (which is non-existent) is wider than man’s wisdom. The weakness of God (which is non-existent) is stronger than man’s strength.  God is that much higher than man.

God chose those deemed foolish by human standards (we’re all foolish in comparison to God) to shame the wise and the weak to shame the strong.  chose the lowly so that no one will boast before him. It is because of God that we are in Jesus who had become for us wisdom from God.  So if you boast boast in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:  Paul says he came to the people in weakness and fear. Paul’s message of wise and persuasive words were from the Spirit’s power so your faith could rest on God’s power.

Now, they speak of God’s secret wisdom (Jesus).  One that has been destined since before time began. God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God so we have received the Spirit of God so that we man understand God’s gift (Jesus and grace). This is the message Paul speaks.

The man without the Spirit does not understand things that come from the Spirit of God. The spiritual man is not subject to man’s judgments. But we have the mind of Christ.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

6) It seems foolish to those who are perishing (unbelievers). God has purposely destroyed the wisdom of the wise and frustrated them. God has made the wisdom of the world foolish.

7a) The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom. The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.  God has made foolish man’s wisdom when man did not know Him.  God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise–to prove they were foolish.  The Spirit–or God–that indwells in man is what makes him wise.  Otherwise, he’s a fool.

b) To shame the world and the strong. In this way, no one can boast before Him.

8a) Personal Question. My answer: The Spirit allows us to understand what God has given us — eternal life, wisdom, grace, and mercy. We have the mind of Christ.

b) Personal Question. My answer: In all things, specifically in the balance in my life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

We often think we are wise when so often we are foolish because we are not acting out of the Spirit. We are blind to the Spirit within due to pride and every other fault/sin of mankind. We only have a glimpse of wisdom, which God has given us through His grace.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16

In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul declared the idea that the cross could be made of no effect if it were presented with the wisdom of words. Paul now will show why this is true of the cross and the message of the gospel.

To those who reject the salvation of the cross, the idea of being saved through the work of a crucified man is foolish.

The hearing and trusting of the true gospel will bring the power of God into your life.

In this quotation from Isaiah 29:14, Paul shows that in spiritual matters, God opposes the wisdom of man.

Human “wisdom” is constantly rejecting God and opposing Him, and ultimately showing itself foolish and perishing in doing so.

In Paul’s day, the Jewish world was looking for a sign. Specifically, they wanted the sign of a miraculous Messianic deliverance. They were not looking for the message of the cross.

Instead of giving the Jews and Greeks what they demanded in deliverance and wisdom, God gave them something unexpected: a crucified Messiah.

Christ (Messiah) meant power, splendor, and triumph. Crucified meant weakness, defeat, and humiliation. Christ crucified was the ultimate oxymoron, and this was what Paul preached!

ii. If the cross doesn’t seem strange to you, then you either don’t understand how the cross was seen in Jesus’ day, or you don’t understand who Jesus is. You don’t understand the tension between Christ and crucified.

But our expectations of what God should do keep us from receiving that power and wisdom.

many of the Corinthian Christians were beginning to think of themselves in high terms because of God’s work in them. Paul will not allow this. They have not been chosen because they are so great, but because God is so great.

God has called the weak and ignorant first, but not exclusively; shepherds first, then wise men; fishermen first, then the educated (like Paul, who was himself an educated man).

iii. “The ancient Christians were for the most part slaves and men of low station; the whole history of the expansion of the church is in reality a progressive victory of the ignorant over the learned, the lowly over the lofty,

Jesus is our wisdom.

Paul uses this reference to Jeremiah 9:23-24 to show that God did it all this way so that God would get the glory. The path for God’s glory is Christ crucified; the evidence of God’s glory is His choice of the lowly.

1 Corinthians 2:

Paul came as a witness. If a preacher is not careful, he will get in the way of the gospel instead of being a servant of the gospel. They can obscure Jesus by their preaching, either in the presentation or the message

Paul is rejecting any reliance on the preacher’s ability to persuade with human wisdom.

there is a vast wealth of wisdom sealed off to everyone except the Christian.

1 Corinthians 2:10 tells us God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. This glorious thing has been revealed by the gospel.

Paul is communicating much the same message as Ephesians 3:1-7, where he writes about the mystery of the church, and how the church in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. (Ephesians 3:5)

Only the Holy Spirit can tell us about God and His wisdom. This knowledge is unattainable by human wisdom or investigation.

Every believer can understand the basics of the Christian message, which is unattainable (and undesirable) by human wisdom.

The natural man doesn’t want the things of God because he regards them as foolishness. What is more, he can’t understand the things of God (even if he wanted to) because they are spiritually discerned. It would be wrong to expect the natural man to see and value spiritual things, just as it would be wrong to expect a corpse to see the material world.

Isaiah 40:13 refers to the mind of Yahweh (translated here as LORD); but Paul has no trouble inserting mind of Christ for mind of the LORD, because Jesus is Yahweh!

Summary of 1 Corinthians 3:

Paul still speaking to the Corinthians:  I addressed you as worldly because you are mere infants in Christ.  I could not give you solid food for you were not ready and still are not ready based on your jealousy, quarreling, and divisions. You are acting like men!

Paul once again says he and Apollos are merely servants and seeds planted by the Lord. God made them grow. Paul and Apollos have one purpose which will be rewarded which is to work God’s field (his people).

Paul only laid the foundation (which is Christ) and we must build upon it.  But we must be careful what we build. It must withstand fire in order to receive a reward; otherwise, it will burn and you will suffer loss.  Good things not bad.

We are God’s temple and if anyone destroys us God will destroy them.

God sees this world’s wisdom as foolish.  Putting Paul or Apollos above God or others is foolish.  For God is ours.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 3

9) Because they are still worldly. They are jealous and quarrelling, which is of the world. They are acting like men by following Paul and Apollos and not Jesus. Those who work for God and not for himself or others.

10) Part personal Question. My answer: Jesus. By striving every day to do His will and not my own. By spreading the Gospel. By living a Godly life. By having a heart for Jesus.

11) Personal Question. My answer: When compared to God, I personally see my life as insignificant. Thinking you have an abundance of significance is prideful. That being said, this chapter is a good reminder that if Christ is not your foundation, whatever you are building will crumble. Make it for him instead.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 3

What I’ve missed most is how BSF has cut out all of the other Bible references in the questions. That used to be my favorite part. When BSF would tell you to read many other verses, you got a sense of the connectedness of the Bible.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 3

These Christians, to some extent, are thinking and acting according to the flesh, not the Spirit. Of course, the flesh does not dominate every aspect of their life, or they would then have no evidence of being born again. But Paul is addressing issues where they clearly are thinking and acting in a fleshly manner.

There is the natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14), who is patterned after Adam and rejects the things of the Spirit; there is the spiritual man (1 Corinthians 2:15), who knows the things of God; and there is the carnal man who knows the things of God, yet in some significant ways is still characterized by the flesh.

Paul kept his teaching on the basics, even though they had an inflated view of their spirituality. They believed they were ready for the “deeper things,” but were not living any deeper in the basic things he already preached to them.

The difference between milk and solid food is one of degrees, not kind. Every doctrine that can be taught in seminary can be taught to children, though not in the same words.

There are not two gospels, one for the learned and one for the unlearned; there is no part of the gospel that we are authorized to keep back from the people.

The real problem was the Corinthian attraction to spiritual “junk food,” based on man’s wisdom and eloquence. They were so “filled” with this junk food that they were not able to receive the spiritual solid food Paul wanted to give them.

The divisions amongst the Corinthians showed they were acting of the flesh.

• The problems they had in human relationships showed there was something wrong in their relationship with God.

Paul did not say that they were mere men (that is, not saved), only that they were behaving like mere men. Christians have a higher call than living like the rest of humanity.

Some people are frustrated because they want to water when God has called them to plant, or they want to plant when God has called them to water. Others are frustrated because they want to make the increase happen, when only God can do that. Real fruitfulness in ministry happens when we are peacefully content with what God has called us to do.

All work together, but each is rewarded individually. Reward is not given according to gifts, talents, or even success, but according to their own labor.

• God knows how to reward properly.

By using the figures of gold, silver, and precious stones, Paul seems to have in mind the building materials used in the construction of the temple (1 Chronicles 22:14, 22:16, and 29:2). The “building” is what God builds in His people with the help of His fellow workers.

When God tests our work, it will be revealed what kind of work it was. Just as fire will destroy wood, hay, and straw, but not gold, silver, and precious stones; so the work of some will be revealed as nothing on that Day.

Notice that the amount of the work isn’t going to be evaluated (though it does have some relevance). Paul says the work will be tested to see what sort it is.

Paul will later (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) speak as individual Christians being temples. Here his emphasis is on the church as a whole (though it has application to individuals).

God’s temple – His church – is holy, and it matters to God how we treat His holy temple.

Paul asks them to renounce all worldly wisdom, all humanism (man-centered philosophy), even if it means being called a fool.

We are more excited about being with the influential and famous of this world than about being with God.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 4:

Believers are servants of Christ and entrusted with the secret things of God. We must be faithful and not judge others including ourselves for that is God’s job. Do not put men above one another for it is God who has made all men equal.  Only God should reign above.

The Corinthians have all that they wish.  Sarcastically, the apostles who all walk in the Spirit are treated as the scum of the earth, and the Corinthians who lead a nice life but walk in the Earth believe themselves better than the apostles because of these things they do.  God has made the apostles so low while the Corinthians believe themselves so high. Paul lists things Greeks would never do:  work with their hands, go hungry and thirsty, speak kind words to persecutors, and be homeless.  They should be ashamed of this attitude and behavior.

Yet, this is to warn the Corinthians to live a life like Paul’s which Timothy will show you how.  A spiritual life and not an earthly one.  Paul held the true power of God. The arrogant ones are merely all talk.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 4

12) The Corinthians were judging the apostles and taking pride in who they followed.  They were going beyond what is written (elevating the messenger above each other).  The differences if any in the apostles (and in themselves) are from God so they should be humble and not prideful.  Those who have true spiritual power have everything they want.  They are rich!  Those inflated with pride put themselves above others.

Look at Paul and his life.  He and other apostles are horribly treated everywhere they go–the low of the low — and the Corinthians see themselves as the high of the high.  Yet, it is Paul and the apostles who are walking spiritually, not the Corinthians.  Paul in reality has everything when it is the Corinthians (who appear to have everything) who have nothing. Paul goes hungry and thirsty, is homeless, wears rags, works hard, and is brutally treated. Yet, he answers with blessings and kindness.

13) Personal Question. My answer: True spiritual power is how you act, not how you talk and how you behave. Do you answer persecution with kindness and blessings? Do you speak kindly? Do you give God all the credit?

14) Personal Question. My answer: Similar to above. How do I act when bad things happen to me? This is true test of character. Also, am I boastful when I shouldn’t be?

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 4

I loved that we are entrusted with the “secret things of God.”

I liked how Paul says he doesn’t even judge himself.  This is hard for most of us.  I judge myself based on what I accomplish in a day and other areas of my life.  I must remember not to judge myself.  To offer grace to myself just like God does.  To not be so hard on myself when something does not get done or I do sin.  For God forgives me, and therefore I must forgive myself as well.

And, of course, the over-arching theme of pride.  We all must guard against pride and practice humility every chance we get.  Put others first.  Live for others.  Walk daily spiritually and not earthly.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 21, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 4

Paul uses the word “hyperetas,” which describes a subordinate servant functioning as a free man. He does not use the more common New Testament word for a servant (doulos) which designated a common slave.

We are almost always too hard or too easy on ourselves.

When Jesus judges, it will be according to the motives of the heart, not only the outward action. This is another reason why human judgment is often wrong, and why Paul feels free to disregard the harsh judgment of the Corinthian Christians towards himself.

When the Corinthian Christians used unbiblical standards to judge the apostles, they could easily like one and hate another based on bad standards. But if they learned to not think beyond what is written, they wouldn’t proudly take sides behind certain apostles as 1 Corinthians 3:4 says they did.

Everything we have has come from God, so there is no reason for pride.

Questions to Ask Yourself Every Day

1. Do I truly give God the credit for my salvation?
2. Do I live with a spirit of humble gratitude?
3. Seeing that I have received from God, what can I give to Him?

The image of 1 Corinthians 4:9 is either from the coliseum or the parade of a conquering Roman general, where he displayed his armies first, the booty second, and at the end of the procession, the defeated captives who would be condemned to die in the arena. Just as before going into the arena, the gladiators said, morituri salutamus (“we who will die salute you”), so Paul now salutes the Corinthian Christians.

ii. The word spectacle is “theatron,” from which we get our word “theater.” When Paul says we have been made a spectacle to the world, he speaks of how the apostles were publicly humiliated. This kind of humiliation was the greatest horror to the pride of the Corinthian Christians.

Problems of the Corinthian Christians

1. The Corinthians were proud of their own spirituality
2. The Corinthians were embarrassed of Paul because of his “weakness” and humble state.

Paul’s description of his own ministry focuses on deprivation and humiliation. These were things that the Corinthian Christians, in their pride, wanted to avoid at all cost.

The Corinthians, in their love of Greek wisdom, embraced the Greek idea that manual labor was fit only for slaves. It would offend them that one of God’s apostles would actually work with his own hands!

The Greeks thought a man was a wimp if he didn’t fight back when slandered.

Some ancient Greeks had a custom of casting certain worthless people into the sea during a time of plague or famine, while saying “Be our offscouring!” The victims were called “scrapings” in the belief that they would wipe away the communities’ guilt.

Paul, who was regarded as a fool, as weak, as dishonored; who was hungry, thirsty, and poorly clothed, homeless and beaten; who worked hard with manual labor. Imitate that?

In this section of the letter, Paul faced some of the real challenges of ministry: how to confront sin without being too harsh, or implying that you are above sin; how to get people to conform their lives to the gospel when they think too highly of themselves.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 5:

Paul to the Corinthians says there is a report of sexual immorality amongst you or a man with his father’s wife of which the Corinthians are proud of! Paul says they should be filled with grief and put the man out of fellowship the man who did this. Paul says this is what he would have done in his judgment.  This man needed to be pushed out into the world of Satan so that his spirit will be saved on the day of the Lord.

The boasting is a sign that this immorality could spread amongst them. (A rotten apple spoils the bunch). Act as if it is always Passover and eat the bread of sincerity and truth.  Be what you are.

Paul clarifies a previous point in a previous letter (lost to us) that he is not saying to not associate with sinners of this world. That would be impossible. He is saying to not associate with Christians who are sinning and know they are sinning regularly. Committing sins repeatedly that they can turn from.

For it is a Christians’ business to judge those within the Church but not outside the Church (i.e. believers and non-believers) and expel the wicked amongst you.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 5

3) Paul instructs the Corinthians to hand over to Satan any man who sleeps with his step-mother.

4a) Paul was concerned that the man’s actions would rub off on the others, that they would think that sexual immorality was ok, and that they would be tempted to do it themselves. The Corinthians were proud that they accepted the man. This thinking could not be tolerated.

b) Personal Question. My answer: You have to hold fellow Christians accountable for their sins, and if they choose to continue in sin, then you need to disassociate from them.

5a) God and Jesus cannot tolerate sin, and thus, neither should we.

b) Christians should not judge those outside the church because they are not held to a higher standard like Christians are.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 5

BSF combined 1 Corinthians 5 & 6 in one lesson last go around. I wrote a blog post on faith HERE

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 2: 1 Corinthians 5

The term sexually immorality is the ancient Greek word “porneia.” It broadly refers to all types of sexual activity outside of marriage (including homosexuality).

Originally, “porneia” just referred to visiting prostitutes; but before New Testament times, the Jewish community used the word to refer to any kind of extramarital sex, including homosexuality. This is its sense in the New Testament.

As bad as the sin itself was, Paul was more concerned that the Corinthian Christians seemed to take the sin lightly.  Leviticus 18:8 expressly forbids a man to have sex with his stepmother (The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover),

Paul being there in spirit means he’s there in the letter.

You can judge, just not be hypocritical about it.

God often protects us from the attacks of Satan, even when we never knew about the attacks (Job 1:10 and Luke 22:31-32).

Paul says that as they put him out, the man will be given over to the sinful consequences of his flesh, and the hope is that by wallowing in the results of his sin, the sinful impulse of the flesh in this particular area will be destroyed.

Battle With the Flesh

As Christians, we do continual battle with the flesh, because though the old man is dead, having been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6), the flesh lives on, having been “educated” in sin by the old man, the devil, and the worldly culture around us. God now calls us to crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24). Paul hopes that putting this man out of the fellowship of the Corinthian Christians will lead him to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires.

The goal of the discipline is to being about the man’s salvation, that he will turn again to Christ.

The leaven mentioned isn’t merely yeast, but a pinch of dough left over from the previous batch. A little pinch of dough from the old lump could make a whole new lump of dough rise and “puff up.” In this way the work of leaven was thought to illustrate the work of sin and pride. The presence of a little can corrupt a large amount.

At the Passover feast, all leaven was to be removed from the house, and nothing with leaven in it was to be eaten for a whole week. Paul says that just as the Jews were concerned to remove all leaven from their midst, so the church should have a concern to remove such notorious, unrepentant sinners from their midst.

Our Christian lives are to be marked by the same things which characterized Passover: salvation, liberation, joy, plenty, and purity from leaven.

“Salvation in sin is not possible, it must always be salvation from sin.” (Spurgeon)

In the culture of that day (and in many cultures today), eating with someone is an expression of friendship and partnership. In some cultures, if a man eats at your table, you are bound to regard him as a friend and a partner. Paul warns the Corinthian Christians they cannot continue in Christian fellowship with a notorious sinner who calls himself a Christian.

Unfortunately, too many Christians are busy judging those outside of the church (which is God’s job only) and are neglecting purity within the church.

The Corinthian Christians were failing to judge where they should have made judgment.

We must remember both reasons why it was important to deal with this sinning man among the Corinthian Christians: for the sake of purity in the church and for the sake of the man’s own salvation (1 Corinthians 5:5).

Summary of 1 Corinthians 6:1-8:

Paul tells the Corinthians if there is a dispute amongst believers to settle it amongst believers and not amongst the ungodly. For saints judge the world and as a saint aren’t you competent to judge trivial cases? You will judge angels! The fact you have lawsuits means defeat already. Why not be wronged instead? (This is talking amongst believers only not amongst a believer and a non-believer).

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

6) Paul was addressing the fact that when there was a dispute, believers were going to the court system to work it out, instead of working it out amongst themselves. We are destined for greatness, and here petty things are getting us down.

7) Christians who love one another should approach disputes with a loving heart and should approach disputes not selfishly.

8 ) Personal Question. My answer: I don’t have any specific situation in mind, but, in general, you should approach every dispute with the attitude of compromise and giving in or up in order to settle matters and keep the relationship. Self-sacrifice is key and is what Jesus would do.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

Good lesson on the importance of settling disputes and not letting them simmer.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 3: 1 Corinthians 6:1-8

The local judge in this time period sat in what was known as the “bema” seat of the civil magistrate, located in the heart of the marketplace. Because Greek culture found a good legal battle entertaining, anyone’s lawsuit soon became public knowledge.

It is important for Christians to settle disputes among themselves according to God’s principles. This can be done either through the church, or through Christian arbitration. But today, even as in Paul’s day, there is no reason for Christians to sue one another.

In Romans 13:3-4 Paul says that it is appropriate for the state to handle criminal cases. Christians should, however, be able to handle civil cases among themselves.

Paul chastizes those who cling to their rights and go to court against their own brother. You have lost already if you do so.

Paul called this man to give up what he deserved for the higher good of God and His kingdom. But the man who was wronged should not think Paul was asking him to take a loss. No one who accepts wrong for the sake of God’s glory will be a loser.

Summary of 1 Corinthians 6:9-20:

The wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God:  adulterers, prostitutes, thieves, drunkards, slanderers, homosexuals, etc.  The Corinthians were these things but they have been sanctified by Jesus and the Spirit of God.

Paul refutes common Corinthian sayings with the body is God’s.  It does not belong to man.  It is a member of Christ himself.  Why unite Christ with a prostitute?  We need to unite ourself with the Lord instead.

Paul advises to flee from sexual immorality because this sin is against his own body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  We are not our own.  Jesus bought us with a price.  We must honor God with our bodies.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

9) Sexual purity matters because our bodies are members of Christ himself, so when you commit sexual immorality, you are uniting your body with another and becoming one, but our bodies are meant to be united with the Lord’s as one in spirit. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Our bodies are not our own; they are gifts from God.

10) He is concerned that some people will think they will inherit the earth (eternal life), but the sexual immoral will not.

11) Personal Question. My answer: Temptation of sin. To avoid sexual sin.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

This is one of my favorite all time Bible passages. Remembering how our bodies are temples and are gifts from God that we must use to honor Him.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 4: 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

Paul isn’t questioning the fact that the man will still go to heaven; he’s questioning if the man is a Christian at all since he continues to indulge in sin.

This passage is against homosexuality. Homosexuality was rampant in the ancient world; 14 out of the first 15 Roman emperors were bisexual or homosexual. At the very time Paul wrote, Nero was emperor. Nero castrated a boy named Sporus and then married him (with a full ceremony), brought him to the palace with a great procession, and made the boy his “wife.” Later, the emperor lived with another man, and Nero was declared to be the other man’s “wife.”

God’s great work for us in Jesus Christ is described in three terms.

1. You were washed: We are washed clean from sin by the mercy of God (Titus 3:5). We can have our sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). We are washed by the work of Jesus on the cross for us (Revelation 1:5) and by the Word of God (Ephesians 5:26).
2. You were sanctified: We are set apart, away from the world and unto God, by the work of Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 10:10), by God’s Word (John 17:19), by faith in Jesus (Acts 26:18), and by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16).
3. You were justified: We are declared “just” before the court of God, not merely “not guilty,” but declared as “just” before Him. We are justified by God’s grace through the work of Jesus on the cross (Romans 3:24), by faith and not by our own deeds (Romans 3:28).

God can take the kind of people described in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 10 and make them into the kind of people described in 1 Corinthians 6:11! How great is the work of God!

In the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God: Without trying to present a doctrine of the Trinity, Paul quite naturally lists the three Persons of the Godhead in connection with this great work of God in the life of the believer.

Sexual Purity

Paul tells the Corinthians exactly what he told the Colossians in Colossians 2:16-17: “When it comes to what we eat or drink or on what day we worship the Lord, all things are lawful for me. I am at liberty, and I should not let anyone put me under bondage, as legalists are prone to do.”

Specifically, from the reference to the harlot in 1 Corinthians 6:15, the Corinthian Christians thought they had the liberty to use the services of prostitutes. This was culturally accepted in the city of Corinth, and it was accepted in the religious community among the religious pagans, who saw nothing wrong in a “religious” person using prostitutes.

The Corinthian Christians probably used this motto to justify giving their bodies whatever their bodies wanted. “My body wants food, so I eat. My body wants sex, so I hire a prostitute. What’s the problem?”

Sin made our bodies immoral. There are prices to pay when using the body in ways never intended to. So what we do with our bodies in regard to food does not affect us in the same way as what we do with our bodies in regard to sex.

When an individual Christian commits sexual immorality, it disgraces the entire body of Christ, linking the body of Christ to immorality.

A husband and wife become “one flesh” in a way that is under God’s blessing in marital sex. In sex outside of marriage, the partners become “one flesh” in a way that is under God’s curse.

A person pursuing a casual sexual encounter may not want to become one flesh with their partner but in some spiritual sense, they do. Part of their self is given to that person, and it means there is less to give to the Lord and to the partner God intends for them.

Since we belong to Jesus – body, soul, and spirit – we have no right to give any part of our self away to an “unauthorized” person.

At the root of most lustful passion is the desire for love, acceptance, and adventure – all of which is far better, and more completely, satisfied in a one-spirit relationship with the Lord.

We should follow the example of Joseph, who fled from sexual immorality – even when it cost him something (Genesis 39:7-21).

God gave sex as a precious gift to mankind and uses it powerfully to bond husband and wife together in a true one-flesh relationship. So as Hebrews 13:4 says, the marriage bed is undefiled – the sexual relationship between husband and wife is pure, holy, and good before God.

Paul uses the Greek word porneia, which refers to a broad range of sexual sin.  Sexual sin is physical, but it is also moral and spiritual.

If our bodies belong to Jesus, we also have no right to be idle with, or wasteful of, what belongs to Him. Our bodies should be put to use glorifying God.

God Himself lives within us. This means we have the strength, the power over the sins of the flesh living within us.

Summary 1 Corinthians 7:

Paul says it’s good for a man not to marry.  But if you do each man should have one wife and each wife one husband.  The husband should fulfills his marital duties to his wife and the wife to her husband.  The wife’s body does not belong to just herself but to her husband as well and vice versa.  Therefore, do not deprive each other except by mutual consent so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of control.  He wishes all to be unmarried but each has a different gift from God.

The unmarried and widows should stay unmarried but it’s better to marry than to burn with passion.

A wife must not separate from her husband but if she does she must not marry again or she must reconcile.  A husband must not divorce his wife.

Any one in a marriage with an unbeliever should stay married if the other is willing for you may be the one to save the other.  However, if the unbeliever leaves let them for they are not bound like believers are.  Also, the unbeliever is sanctified through the other and their children will be holy as well.

Every one should stay in the role God has called them.  Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

Paul wishes virgins would remain so and not marry for in marriage you will face many troubles in life.  Time is short and marriage divides a person’s attention from the Lord for you must please your spouse.  An unmarried person is only concerned with the Lord and can be devoted to Him in every way, undivided.

Paul clarifies that marriage is not a sin it’s just better to be single.

If a spouse dies, one can marry again but Paul advises against it so he or she can be devoted solely to the Lord.

BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 7

12) Each man should have one wife and each wife one husband.  The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife and the wife to her husband.  The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband and vice versa.  Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent so Satan will not tempt you.

A wife must not separate from her husband but if she does she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.  A husband must not divorce his wife (Jesus says in Matthew 19:9 that any man who divorces his wife except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another commits adultery).  The same is true of the wife (Mark 10:12).

For celibacy, Paul was for it because you are freer from concern and thus therefore can be more concerned about God’s affairs rather than man’s. He also says this is a calling by God.

13) God calls each of us to a purpose, and each is good.

14) Personal Question. My answer: Just to be devoted to your spouse. To be happy where God has put you in your life.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 7

I love the part about live where you are at and where you are called. So many of us waste precious hours wishing we were somewhere else or doing something else. If we give it to God, He will answer. In the meantime, we are to live where He has put us.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 22, Day 5: 1 Corinthians 7

The Corinthian Christians are asking for clarification on marriage and sex so Paul addresses those concerns. He says sex is ok within a marriage.

For more on a complete theology of marriage, see Ephesians 5:21-33 and Colossians 3:18-19.

Every wife is owed affection and should be shown this. Every wife owes her husband affection and sex. You only need one person to meet your sexual needs.

The word for deprive is the same as defraud in 1 Corinthians 6:8. When we deny physical affection and sexual intimacy to our spouse, we cheat them. Depriving each other of sex opens the door for Satan to enter.

God wants every Christian marriage to enjoy a sexual relationship that is a genuine blessing.

The Benefits of Being Single

Though Paul was unmarried when he wrote this letter, he probably had been married at one time. We can say this because we know Paul was an extremely observant Jew and an example among his people (Philippians 3:4-6). In Paul’s day, Jews considered marriage a duty, to the extent that a man reaching 20 years of age without marrying was considered to be in sin. Unmarried men were often considered excluded from heaven and not real men at all.

It is likely that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin. In Acts 26:10, Paul says I cast my vote against them, speaking of the early Christians, and the logical place he would cast a vote is as a member of that great congress of the Jewish people. An unmarried man could not be a member of the Sanhedrin, so Paul was probably married at one time.

So what happened to Paul’s wife? The Scriptures are silent. Perhaps she left him when he became a Christian, or perhaps she died some time before or after he became a Christian. But we know that it was likely he was married before, and we know he was not married when writing this letter, and the Book of Acts never shows Paul’s wife.

Being single and married are both gifts from God.  When Paul writes his own gift, he uses the same word for spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12

Paul told Timothy that forbidding to marry was a doctrine of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

You should not get divorced to seek more spiritual lives.

Only Reasons God Recognizes Divorce

1. When there is sexual immorality (Matthew 19:3-9)
2. When a believing partner is deserted by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15).

Jesus said the one who divorces for invalid reasons, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery (Matthew 19:9). When Jesus’ disciples understood how binding the marriage covenant was, and how it could not be broken (in the sight of God) for just any reason, they responded If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry (Matthew 19:10)

Jesus never commands divorce in the case of sexual immorality. It is only permitted, and that the permission was given because of the hardness of your hearts (Matthew 19:8).

Why should a Christian try to keep their marriage to a non-Christian together? Because God can be glorified in such a marriage, and He may do a work through the believing spouse to draw the unbelieving spouse to Jesus Christ.

The children of a Christian parent are saved, at least until they come to an age of personal accountability (which may differ for each child). However, we have no similar assurance for the children of parents who are not Christians.

If the unbelieving spouse should depart, the Christian is not under bondage to the marriage covenant. This means they are, in fact, free to remarry because God has recognized their divorce as a valid divorce.

Peter says in 1 Peter 3:1-6: that your unbelieving spouse will probably not be led to Jesus by your words, but by your godly and loving conduct.

Live Where You Are Called

Walk for God where you are at right now; quit wishing to be somewhere else or do something else. A slave can please God right where he is.

Paul calls unmarried people virgins. Each is where God puts us and where we can live for Him.

Paul simply recognizes that when a person doesn’t have family responsibilities, they are more “free” to serve God.

In this ancient culture, a young person’s parents had the primary responsibility for arranging their marriage. So based on what Paul has already taught, should a Christian father recommend celibacy to his child? It’s the better choice in Paul’s opinion.

The choice between married and single was not the choice between good and bad, but between better and best.

Overall theme: Paul will affirm celibacy, but not because sex itself is evil (as some of the Corinthian Christians thought). Instead, the unmarried state can be superior because it offers a person (if they are so gifted) more opportunity to serve God.