1 & 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Timothy: instructions for daily life

Today’s study will be on the letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Timothy. As with all his letters, Paul had a purpose, a lesson, to instruct churches and his companions. In 1 Thessalonians, his purpose was to strength the Thessalonian Christians in their faith and give instructions for their daily lives as many weren’t working for their necessities and relying on holdouts. In 2 Thessalonians, he warns the church again about idleness and urges others to practice tough love to those who are idle. In 1 Timothy, he wanted to give encouragement and instruction to Timothy, a young leader. Instructions which he would need as a leader in the church, particularly with false teachings. In 2 Timothy, he wanted to give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, now a pastor at the Ephesian church. Encouragements to be bold and remain firm in the message of Jesus.

Paul instructs the Thessalonian Christian on how to live a life which was pleasing to God. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, he writes, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” Some of the Thessalonians had begin to lead a life of idleness which led to depending on others for handouts. Paul knew that to be effective in sharing the Gospel, one must be respected but how can someone be respected when you lead a life dependent on others. Paul urges believers that whatever you do in life, do it faithfully and as a positive force in society. I think society today needs to hear this as many high school graduates are urged to pursue degrees which could make them money and ignore the part in which they would enjoy doing the job. Whatever your job may be, whether it is as a janitor or a car mechanic or as a CEO or doctor, do your job faithfully and contribute to society. When you are contributing to society, working faithfully at a job and living a life which gives the example of Christ, people will be more willing to listen to your story, to the Gospel and to the message of Jesus.

In 2 Thessalonians, Paul confronts, once again, idleness. Apparently, they did not listen as Paul reminded them, and us, that while Christ can come at any moment, we must still work for our food, our homes and other necessities of life. In Chapter 3, verse 6-13, he warns to stay away from everyone who is “idle and does not live according to the teaching you received” (verse 6). Paul reminds them of his examples as well of the examples of those who traveled with him. They were not idle, they did not eat without paying for the food (verses 7-8). Paul even gave them a rule “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (verse 10). There had become the attitude on the church that since Christ was returning, Christians did not need to work because why bother? Why would I need a home when Christ was coming? While early Christians believed that when Christ said he would be returning he meant within their lifetimes. Despite Christ’s warning that we are not to know the time or date of his return, only the Father knew that (Acts 1:7), some Christians lived as if today would be the day and they did not work to provide for their well-being and relied on the handouts from others. Paul wanted the church to practice tough love when it came to its members who were idle. In verse 15, he says “Yet do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother.” In many ways, Paul was telling the church to have boundaries. To say “no more” to the person who will not help themselves.

In his first letter to Timothy, Paul warns against false teachers. First Timothy 1:3-4, Paul urges Timothy to “command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies” which “promotes controversies rather than God’s work which is by faith.” The church at Ephesus was plagued with teachers who promoted ideas that believers need to discover hidden knowledge and worship beings other than God in order to be acceptable to God. These false teachers would often confuse believers with endless and irrelevant questions. False teachers are still active today. Unfortunately, there are many examples of individuals who like to think they have special knowledge beyond others. These individuals will often use language and facts to engage in religious speculation and pointless theological arguments. I remember when I was a young Christian, still very new to my faith, was on my way to a weekend retreat. On the way up there, one young man was having a one-sided discussion about Calvinism. I was unfamiliar with Calvinism, so I asked him to explain it. After a brief pause, he told me I wouldn’t understand. It wasn’t until years later after being a bit more mature in my faith and studying further I realized that that young man didn’t truly understand it and therefore couldn’t explain it. Was he a false teacher? No; however, he acted as if he was an expert and used what he did know to portray himself as an expert. I learned my lesson. Do not take anyone’s word about the Bible (or about anything) without researching it for yourself. When in doubt, go to the source and find out. Turn to God and the Bible. If the statement contradicts Jesus’ message in the Gospel, it is a false teaching and should be ignored.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul wanted to give Timothy encouragement to be faithful in all times especially in difficult and trying times. 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul writes “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Timothy was a young pastor in a church which gave him opposition to his leadership. Paul encouraged him to be bold and remember from whom we get our power. When people intimidate us, we lose our effectiveness for God’s work. The power of his Holy Spirit can help overcome the fear we experience when we think of what others might say or do to us. Paul urges Timothy to keep to “sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13) and to pursue “righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). There are times when people will turn to those who tell them what they want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3). They will turn away from the truth they know to indulge their own selfish wants and desires and we are to remain in the truth, to boldly and lovingly spread the Word of God. However, being bold isn’t being in someone’s face which is annoying and obnoxious and will most likely turn that person away from the message you are trying to reveal. Being bold is to stand firm in the message, despite the opposition, and do so with love. Always with love.

In conclusion, Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians are examples to us about how to live a life pleasing to God. We are work for what we need and only give to those who truly need help. Do not give to individuals who refuse to work for what they need. There are people who work very hard and still need assistance now and then. There will be times in our lives when we are a day late and a dollar short. It is laziness we need to avoid in ourselves and from encouraging in others. The letters to Timothy were instructions to a young pastor who did not have the experience to deal with people who would challenge his authority. We are to be on the lookout for false teachers who would confuse and undermine the true message of the gospel. We are to be bold in our faith and stand firm against those who may try to intimidate us.