Tuesday / Thursday Expanded Bible Study Outlines P au l’s Conclusions I Thessalonians 5:23-28
by Dr. Lloyd T. Anderson Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, West Covina, California
I n summ arizing this portion of Scrip ture, Erdman declares, “From Ex hortation Paul now turns to prayer. This is quite in accord with his own precepts and practice. He would have his readers ‘rejoice always; pray with out ceasing,’ and ‘in everything give thanks.’ So this Epistle has been in large measure an expression of joyful praise; and now when the writer has given a few sentences of practical ad vice, realizing that all human effort is futile without divine aid, he turns to God in earnest petition. The prayer is addressed to “The God of peace.’ The meaning is ‘The God who is the source of peace.’ This is in possible contrast to those breaches of harmony produced by the moral faults against which the readers have now been warned. ‘Peace,’ however, may be regarded as the chief, or even as the sum, of all divine gifts and bestowals. Thus interpreted, God is here addressed as ‘the Giver of all spir itual grace and blessings.’ ” The exhortations are concluded and Paul passes over to prayer for his read ers. The way in which he effects the transition indicates that it is only in
the power of the God on whom he calls that his exhortations can be brought to fruition. “ I have been urging you to do certain things, but it is only in God’s strength that you will be able to do them.” The prayer is directed to “the God of peace Himself.” “Himself” reinforc es what we have said above. It is only in God that the Thessalonians will be able to do what they have been asked. To describe Him as “the God of peace” is peculiarly fitting in the light of the exhortations of w . 12f., but we cannot feel that it was elicited solely by the situation presupposed theme. Paul often uses the designation, especially towards the end of his letters. Peace brings be fore us the prosperity of the whole man, prosperity in the widest sense, especial ly including spiritual prosperity. That it should be associated with God in this way is a reminder that true peace can come only from Him, and that He is such a God that peace may be said to be characteristic of Him. This Epistle has had important things to say about sanctification (3:13, 4:3ff.), and it is not surprising that in 30
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