who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men,
Truth to Learn
Persecution and suffering can make us stronger Christians.
Behind the Words
The word translated “killed” is from the Greek verb apokteinō. This word is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from,” used here as an intensifier and kteinō meaning “to slay” or “to kill.” Apokteinō means “to kill outright.” This word indicates an intentional killing rather than an accidental killing.
“Prophets” is transliterated (bringing a word from one language directly into another) from the word prophētēs. This word is made up of pro, meaning “before in time or location” and phēmi, meaning “to show or make known one’s thoughts.” Thus, prophētēs can mean “one who tells something before it happens” or “one who makes a proclamation in front of others.”
The word “persecuted” is from ekdiōkō. It is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of,” used as an intensifier and diōkō, meaning “to pursue or persecute.” Therefore, ekdiōkō means “to drive out” or “to banish.” This word implies a stronger persecution than that which is spoken of in Romans 12:14.
Enantios is the word translated “contrary.” It is made up of en, meaning “in” and antios, meaning “set against.” It is a picture of an army in the field set in battle array against an opposing army. It is sometimes translated “opposed to” or “opposite.”
Meaning Explained
In the previous verse Paul told the Christians in Thessalonica that they had become like the Christians in Judea because they suffered at the hands of the people of their own country. He reminds us here that the Jews killed their own Messiah as well as many of their own prophets. In the book of Acts, Peter described the killing of Jesus this way:
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (Acts 2:23)
Some people argue that Jesus was not killed by the Jews, but by the Romans. The reason for this is that under Roman law the Jews were not permitted to execute anyone for violating their religious laws, even though those laws required death by stoning for some offenses. However, Jesus was found innocent by the Romans. Also notice that Jesus was convicted by the Jews for claiming to be God, a claim they considered to be blasphemous, but was in fact true. Therefore, because the Jews weren’t permitted to execute Him, they insisted that the Romans carry out the execution for them.
Paul also tells us here that those who persecute Christians are not pleasing to God. But couldn’t God have stopped the persecution? Couldn’t He have prevented the crucifixion of Jesus? The answer, of course, is “yes” to both these questions. However, God had a purpose for both the crucifixion of Jesus and the persecution of Christians.
Application
If you are suffering as a Christian, it doesn’t necessarily mean that God is displeased with you. It may be that He is allowing it so that you will become a stronger Christian. Thank Him for it!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved