Commentary on "Friends Forever (1 Thess. 2:13-3:13)"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 6: Thursday, August 9, 2012 - Paul’s Renewed Prayers (1 Thess. 3:11–13)

 

Overview

The 1st Thess. 3:11-13 passage has the sound of what we would normally think of as a benediction even though we are only midway through this epistle. Paul focuses on being prepared for “the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (verse 13).

 

Observations

The word ‘now’ at the start of verse eleven is a sign-post word. It means that Paul is now about to say something that is founded upon the joyful news and concern he has just recounted in the previous verses. This ‘prayer’ of Paul’s points to the need for the Thessalonians to grow in sanctification in anticipation of the expected joyous return of the Savior. It would be correct to assume that everything Paul now writes is directed toward their becoming spiritually mature and strong in their ‘Christian walk’.

The lesson author expresses his puzzlement over Paul’s use of the phrase “with all his saints”. The only real problem here is that it tends to contradict Adventist theology concerning the need for the conclusion of the Investigative Judgment before anyone can even know they are saved and are in fact one of God’s saints. Obviously, if these saints are all those saved by the blood of Christ at the cross, both the living and the dead, then there is no place to chronologically insert the Investigative Judgment doctrine.

In the Quarterly lesson there is then introduced an example of classic Adventist proof-texting in an attempt to show Paul doesn’t really mean what he seems to be saying. Defending a doctrine by connecting unrelated passages while ignoring other parts of scripture that teach otherwise proves nothing except to show the person doing so is a fool.

All that is really needed to understand who the saints are is to continue reading into the next chapter:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thess. 4:13-18 ESV)

The underlined part of this passage provides us with Paul’s own definition of whom the saints are that he mentions in 1 Thess. 3:13. The compelling point here is that this definition of who are saints are is within the context of what Paul is teaching the Thessalonians.

 

Summary

1. Paul is very clear concerning who these saints are that return with our Savior. Jesus returns with the saints who are none other than those who are covered by his blood shed at Calvary, both the living and the dead who arise first, and meet him in the air.
    
2. Paul’s declaration of who meets with Jesus in the clouds is only one of many passages that do fatal damage to the unbiblical doctrine of Investigative Judgment. The bonus however is that when you abandon this doctrine and have placed your faith solely upon the atoning blood of Christ then you can with great joy claim the many biblical promises that you will never be separated from the love of your Savior Jesus Christ.
    
3. The real problem for the lesson author is that he is forced to publically support in any way he can the teachings of Ellen G. White if he wishes to remain part of the Adventist organization. No matter how absurd he becomes, he must not abandon or contradict her.

 

GO TO DAY 7

 

Copyright 2012 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 4, 2012. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 6

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 6

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Wk 6

SSNET Study Guide Week 6

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

 

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