Apostle Paul’s epistle to Thessalonica Church (currently Thessaloniki, Greece) focuses on encouraging new believers in their Faith & lead them to Christian living. Paul mentions that God’s Mission should be done to please God & not please men. He emphasizes the resurrection of dead during Christ’s coming. He urges the importance of Prayer and being Thankful & Joyful in all circumstances. The message in the second epistle also remains the same, with Paul adding the message of the second coming of Christ and the triumph over evil. Here are my quick insights from the 1st & 2nd Epistle to Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians
1
விசுவாசம் செயல்களை உருவாக்கும், அன்பு உழைப்பை உந்தும், மனஉறுதி நம்பிக்கையோடு எதிர்நோக்கும்
Faith produces works, Love prompts labor & endurance inspires Hope
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
2
அருட்பணி, மக்களுக்காக அல்ல, கடவுளுக்கு உகந்ததாக இருக்கவே செய்யப்பட வேண்டும்
Mission is done not to please people but to please God
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
3
விசுவாசிகளின் விசுவாசம் கடவுளின் அருட்பணியை முன்னெடுக்கிறது
Believers Faith advances God’s Mission
1 Thessalonians 3:7-10
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now, we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith
4
இயேசுவில் உயிர்த்தெழுதலும், நித்திய வாழ்வும் கிறிஸ்தவ விசுவாசத்திற்கு அடிப்படை
Resurrection with Jesus & Eternal Life is core to Christian Faith
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18
For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
5
Pray without ceasing; be Joyful & Thankful
இடைவிடாது ஜெபம் பண்ணுங்கள்; மகிழ்ச்சியாகவும் நன்றியுடனும் இருங்கள்
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
2 Thessalonians
1
God qualifies the called
கடவுள் தாம் அழைத்தவர்களை தகுதிப்படுத்துக்கிறார்
2 Thessalonians 1:11
With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.
2
கிறிஸ்துவின் ஒளிரும் மகிமை அறமற்றத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தி அழிக்கும்
Christ’s Splendor will expose and destroy the evil
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.
3
சோம்பல் தகாது
Avoid Idleness
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.