The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 22, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 28.

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON VI.—SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 1897.

WORKING AND WAITING FOR CHRIST.

NOTE.—Read 1 Thessalonians, chapters 4 and 5, and commit verses 16–18 of the lesson scripture. Read the story of the founding of the church at Thessalonica, as recorded in Acts 17:1–9. In connection with this it will be well to review lesson 3, which deals particularly with events in that connection. Two themes are presented in this lesson: the conduct of Christians toward one another, and the personal appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Paul was driven from Thessalonica before he had finished his work, and being unable to return, this letter is written to the church there. What might seem an untoward circumstance gives to us the truth which this epistle contains.

Lesson Scripture, I Thess 4:9 to 5:2, R. V.

9 “But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; 10 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; 11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; 12 that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing. 13 “But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in nowise precede them that are fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be 18 with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 5:1 “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.”

Golden Text.—“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Concerning what did the Thessalonians not need special instruction? Verse 9. (2) Why was not such instruction necessary from Paul? Same verse. Note 1. (3) Toward whom outside of their own church was this love shown? Verse 10. Note 2. (4) What exhortation did he have for them? Same verse. (5) What did he admonish them to do? Verse 11. Note 3. (6) In this admonition what was Paul repeating? Same verse. (7) What was Paul’s object in insisting upon their performance of these duties? Verse 12. Note 4. (8) In what regard did Paul desire that they should be well informed? Verse 13. (9) What distinction would this make between their sorrow when death came among them and the sorrow of others for their dead? Same verse. Note 5. (10) What was their belief in regard to the Saviour? Verse 14. Note 6. (11) That being true, what must also be true? Same verse. Note 7. (12) What authoritative declaration does Paul make in regard to those who are translated at Christ’s coming without experiencing death? Verse 15. Note 8. (13) With what manifestations will the second coming of Christ be attended? Verse 16. (14) Who will be raised from the dead at this time? Same verse. Note 9. (15) What will be the experience of the righteous who are alive at the time of Christ’s coming? Verse 17. Note 10. (16) What will be the happy condition of those who meet the Lord in the air at his coming? Same verse. (17) Knowing this, what was it the Christian’s duty to do? Verse 18. (18) Concerning what did they need no information? Chapter 5, verse 1. (19) What did they know in regard to the Lord’s coming? Verse 2.

NOTES.

1. Taught of God to love one another.—In all the vast field of pagan philosophies there was nothing to compare with the Christian teachings of brotherly love. There was no expression or conception of that doctrine in all pagan literature. The Thessalonians had been truly converted, and thus God himself was teaching them. True, they had some misconceptions of the work of God, but their heart was given to him, was teachable, and therefore they were taught.

2. Toward all the brethren.—It was against the teachings of the philosophers of those times to have special regard for those with whom they were not particularly connected, especially those of another nation. Thus is shown the superiority of Christianity over the teachings with which it came in contact. But even this virtue must grow, or it would become inactive. “The room for improvement is the largest room in the world.”

3. Study to be quiet.—Another rendering is, “Be ambitious to be quiet.” “Storms purify the air, but plants grow best in peace.” They were not to have a bustling ambition for the highest places or to become noted, or to possess great things. The quiet, teachable spirit is of great worth in the sight of God.

4. That ye may walk honestly.—Another translation is, “That ye may walk honorably.” They were to let their lives tell the beauties of the profession they made. A dishonorable walk may cast reproach upon the cause we wish to advocate. It was Paul’s desire that no occasion for just reproach might be found against the followers of Christ.

5. That ye sorrow not.—The keen edge of the sorrow which comes with the death of dear ones is dulled by the knowledge that they are asleep in Jesus. The death preceding the first resurrection is spoken of as a sleep, because there is to be an awakening from it. All are to come out from under its influence as the sleeper awakens from his slumbers. In this it differs from the second death, for from that there will be no awakening. Those who are not asleep in Jesus will suffer this second death, the death without hope. For such there is occasion for genuine sorrow on the part of those who have held them dear. It would seem from the context and from 2 Thess. 2:2 that some had obtained the idea that Christ was coming in their day and that those who died before his coming were without hope of eternal life. The apostle desires to correct this idea.

6. For if we believe.—This does not mean to imply that there is any doubt about it, but rather asserts it as a positive fact, and that this being true, the other must be equally true.

7. Bring with him.—That is, bring with Christ, not from heaven, but from the dead; for it was from the dead that God brought Christ. “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep.” Heb. 13:20. “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.” 2 Cor. 4:14.

8. Shall in nowise precede them.—Paul does not give this as his opinion, or his hope, but he had been shown it by the Lord himself, and therefore speaks with divine authority. Those who are alive when Christ comes will be taken to heaven in company with those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. This will be the time spoken of in Isa. 26:19.

9. Shall rise first.—Altho the resurrection here spoken of is the first resurrection, yet the word “first” does not refer to that event. It is to be taken in connection with the word “then” in the following verse: “The dead in Christ shall be raised before the righteous living are ‘caught up.’” “First the dead in Christ shall be raised and then we shall be caught up together with them.” But this is the resurrection to which John the revelator refers in Rev. 20:5, 6.

10. So shall we ever be with the Lord.—Not in heaven forever, for the earth is to be the home of the saints after the “thousand years” are finished. See Rev. 20 and 21:1, 2. “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5. See also 2 Peter 3:13; Ps. 37:11.