Introduction Throughout the book of 1 Thessalonians, the author is writing a letter to the church in Thessalonica. In this letter the author is speaking about several significant parts of faith and Christianity that the thessalonians are lacking in or do not understand. In this particular passage, the author is speaking about Jesus’ return, how that affects the lives and souls of those who have passed away as well as the return of Jesus and how it will take place and is serving as a reminder to the church to comfort and uplift each other with the promises God has made.
Genre
The book of 1 Thessalonians is an epistle, the format of epistles are more conversational and less strict or serious (Green, 72), this makes it more personal and very …show more content…
Paul wants the members of the church to focus on the comfort of Christ’s return, like he says “therefore comfort one another with these words”. They no longer have to worry about the deaths of their loved ones or even themselves because they now know that all who believe in him will be risen with him when he returns.
Big Idea
God’s promise holds true for all who believe in him; find joy in his promises and look forward to the fulfilment of it.
Life Application While reading this passage I was reminded of many things I have either chosen to ignore or have forgotten I even remembered. Those things being either the previous passing of friends or family members, and just a few of the promises Christ has for us. In verse 13 Paul begins by informing the people and by giving them hope. This parallels my life in some instances. The first time I experienced the death of a loved one and had the ability to really understand it, I was about nine, my great grandmother had just died. For a long time I felt the grief of her death as confusion and loss. My family took their time to explain to me, that while it was okay to be sad, it was important to remember that we were more sad than she was. The end of her painful time on earth had stopped and she was with my great grandfather in Heaven, where eventually all of us who believed would be. Of course I continued to mourn for her, but I knew that Christ’s death meant that one day I would see her
Genre
The book of 1 Thessalonians is an epistle, the format of epistles are more conversational and less strict or serious (Green, 72), this makes it more personal and very …show more content…
Paul wants the members of the church to focus on the comfort of Christ’s return, like he says “therefore comfort one another with these words”. They no longer have to worry about the deaths of their loved ones or even themselves because they now know that all who believe in him will be risen with him when he returns.
Big Idea
God’s promise holds true for all who believe in him; find joy in his promises and look forward to the fulfilment of it.
Life Application While reading this passage I was reminded of many things I have either chosen to ignore or have forgotten I even remembered. Those things being either the previous passing of friends or family members, and just a few of the promises Christ has for us. In verse 13 Paul begins by informing the people and by giving them hope. This parallels my life in some instances. The first time I experienced the death of a loved one and had the ability to really understand it, I was about nine, my great grandmother had just died. For a long time I felt the grief of her death as confusion and loss. My family took their time to explain to me, that while it was okay to be sad, it was important to remember that we were more sad than she was. The end of her painful time on earth had stopped and she was with my great grandfather in Heaven, where eventually all of us who believed would be. Of course I continued to mourn for her, but I knew that Christ’s death meant that one day I would see her