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What is our hope, our joy, or our crown of boasting?

  What is our hope, our joy, or our crown of boasting?   1 Thessalonians 2:11 – 12: "For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory." The Greek word *h ō s* ( ὡς ) functions here like the relative adverb "how," conveying the sense of "just as a father deals with his own children." Paul speaks in the Holy Spirit, with the same heart a parent has when addressing their child. We must come to understand the role of the Holy Spirit. Before the risen Jesus ascended to heaven, He instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. He said that when the Spirit comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Sin is the failure to believe in the Word — *ho Logos*. While the Jews defined sin as the transgression of the Law, in the New Testament era, sin is defined as not believing in ...
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Empowered by God, we proclaimed the gospel to you amidst much conflict.

  Empowered by God, we proclaimed the gospel to you amidst much conflict.   1 Thessalonians 2:1 – 2: "For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi — as you know — we had the boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict." The phrase "empowered by God... amidst conflict" differs slightly from the original Greek text. It reads *tou theou en pollo ag ō ni* ( το ῦ θεο ῦ ἐ ν πολλ ῷ ἀ γ ῶ νι ), which translates to "with much divine guidance" (or "divine leading"). It was under this guidance that the gospel was proclaimed. 1 Thessalonians 2:3 – 4: "For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive. But just as we have been approved (*dedokimasmetha*) by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests (*dokimazonti*) o...
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How you wait for the Son to descend from heaven

  How you wait for the Son to descend from heaven   1 Thessalonians 1:1 – 5: "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience (*hypomone*) of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved (*agapemenoi*) brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word (*en logo*) only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance (*plerophoria*), as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake." The church in Thessalonica possessed a stronger faith than many other churches. To be "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" signifies becoming one with God within Christ. The term *proseuch ō n* ( προσευχ ῶ ν ) refers to contemplative prayer — a sta...
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