A Few Historical Facts on 1 Thessalonians

A Few Historical Facts on 1 Thessalonians § Author: Paul (along with Silas, and Timothy) § Possibly Paul’s very first epistle (or Galatians) § Date: A. D. 50 or 51 from Corinth § Founding of the church: Acts 16 -17 § Second Missionary Journey; arrived after being imprisoned in Philippi.

1 Thessalonians 4: 13 -18 The Classic Rapture Passage

“(13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. (15) For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words. ” - 1 Th 4: 13 -18 NASB

iºna (hina) meaning “so that, in order that” NIV: Brothers, we NASB: But we do do not want you to to be ignorant be uninformed, about those brethren, about who fall asleep, those who are or to grieve like asleep, so that the rest of men, you will not who have no grieve as do the hope. V. 13 rest who have no hope. V. 13

The Purpose of the Letter! V. 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

But we have a problem… Though Paul indicates that the Thessalonians are uninformed about the future of their dead loved ones, he does not specifically state what this ignorance is. This has lead scholars to come to different conclusions. . .

What was their defective eschatology? This is the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question…. § Gnosticism? § Disconnect of Parousia with Millennium? § No instruction of the Resurrection during Paul’s 1 st visit? § Shaken doubt in a future Parousia? § The most plausible answer is that they did not have a proper framework of the connection of the Parousia and the resurrection. And this is strongly implied in Paul’s explanation of the connection of these two events in the following verses (14 -17).

Where is the “then” clause? V. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

NET: V. 14 “For (ga» r, gar) if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. ” § “if this is what we believe about Jesus, this is what follows from it’; he is drawing out the implication of belief in the resurrection of Jesus” - I. Howard Marshall § ga» r (gar) “For” § Verse 14 is the “ground” clause given the basis or reason for Paul’s exhortation in the previous v. 13, which is found in the purpose clause, “so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. ”

V. 15 For (ga» r, gar) this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming (parousi÷an, parousia) of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. § The “unpacking gar (for)” = Fact-Interpretation (“that is, for). Statement (v. 14) and clarifying or explanatory statement (v. 15). § “the word of the Lord” § “who…remain”(perileipo/menoi, perileipomenoi) It carries the idea of “survival, and being left behind” § There is no “ 7 year” gap between the rapture and the Second Coming in this verse!

Excursus on the term “Coming” (parousi÷a, parousia) § The Greek term is “parousia. ” (parousia). It is used 17 times prophetically referring to our Lord’s Second Coming. § It means “presence” and denotes an arrival and a continuing presence. § The term is a noun, not a verb. The Lord's coming (parousia) is a comprehensive whole. In other words, it is not an instantaneous event, such as the rapture will be. Rather, it will cover a duration of time in which God will fulfill certain Divine purposes.

For example, when one thinks of the “First Coming” of Christ, we do not identify it with only his birth; rather, his first Coming (parousia) included his birth, childhood, public teaching ministry, death, resurrection, etc. So shall the Second Coming be a duration of time for God’s purposes to be revealed. It will be initiated by the resurrection and rapture (1 Thess 4: 15 -17), but it will also be followed with the Day of the Lord’s wrath, the salvation of Israel, Armageddon, the culmination of the kingdom of God, etc.

§ There is only one Second Coming (parousia). In every instance, the word “Coming” (parousia) is spoken of in the singular form, not comings, but one coming. There is not a hint in the Bible of two future separate comings, or stages of comings, but only one future comprehensive Coming of Christ.

Second Coming Examples… § 1 Corinthians 15: 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, § 1 Thessalonians 3: 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. § 2 Thessalonians 2: 8 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. § James 5: 7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

Non-Second Coming Examples of Parousia… § 2 Corinthians 7: 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, § Philippians 2: 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, § 2 Thessalonians 2: 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders

(16) For (o¢ti, hoti) the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. § “For” (o¢ti, hoti) is functioning as a ground clause (because, since, for). § Note that this will be anything but a “Secret Rapture”!

(17) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. § “Then” (e¶peita, epeita); indicates in this context chronological sequence. § “caught up” a. Jrpa¿zw, harpazoœ, (snatch, sieze, take away, indicating a suddenness in the action; and in this context “in such a way that no resistance is offered. ”) § “together with them” (a‚ma sun aujtoiß, hama syn autois); “marker of simultaneous occurrence, at the same time, denoting the coincidence of two actions in time”

Excursus on the term “Rapture” A common objection: “the word ‘rapture’ is not found in the Bible” § It comes from Jerome’s 4 th Century Latin translation the Vulgate. When translating 1 Thess 4: 17, he chose the Latin equivalent rapiemur (in which we get our English word “rapture”). § The words “Trinity”, “monotheism”, and many more theological terms are not found in English Bibles as well but the concepts are found in Scripture. § Because the New Testament was written in Greek, technically we can say that no English words are found in the Bible. § The term “rapture” has meant “to be caught up in body or spirit, ” which is precisely why English translations render the term “to be caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4: 17

Harpazo is used 4 times in the Bible to refer to the notion of “rapture” (i. e. caught up and transported through the air) § § § 1 Th. 4: 17, ". . . we which are alive shall be caught up” Rev. 12: 5, ". . . her child was caught up unto God. ” 2 Cor. 12: 2, ". . . such as one caught up to the third heaven. 2 Cor. 12: 4, . . . that he was caught up into paradise. ” Acts 8: 39, "When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him…(v. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus”) Enoch (only one never to die!) Gen. 5: 24; Wis. 4: 11

(18) Therefore comfort one another with these words. § “Therefore” (or “For this reason”) (›Wste, h. OŒste); functioning as introducing an inference statement, or conclusion of a matter. Inclusio: (13 b) so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope [vv. 14 -17] (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.

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