Tag: eido

1 Corinthians 3:16 – We Are God’s Temple

Posted on by Will

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

Truth to Learn

The body of Christ (the church) is the Temple of God.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “know” is eidō, which means “to see.” However, it is often used metaphorically to mean “to perceive,” that is “to know.” It is written here as s second person, plural verb. Therefore it means “you (plural) know.”

Eimi is the verb translated “you are.” It is written as a second person plural verb meaning “you (plural) are.”

“Temple” is from naos, which literally means “a dwelling place.” There is another word translated “temple.” It is hieron, which refers to the entire temple complex. Naos, however refers specifically to the central, most significant portion of the temple. In the Jewish temple, the naos was the building that housed the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). This is where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were located, and it was at the Mercy Seat where God was said to dwell.

The word translated “dwell” is oikeō, meaning “to reside” or “to dwell.” It is derived from the noun oikos, meaning “a house” or “a dwelling place.”

The final word in this verse, “you,” is from the Greek second person, plural pronoun meaning “you (plural).”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one of the most frequently misapplied verses in the Bible. Have you ever heard someone say something like, “Don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohol, or don’t engage in immoral physical activities because when you do you are harming your body, which is the temple of God.” Most often, such people use today’s verse as the proof text. However, this verse does not say that our individual physical bodies are each a temple of God. Neither does this verse say that the Holy Spirit lives within our individual physical bodies. What it says is that the body of Christ (the local church or the church universal) is the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in the church (not the building, but the people). And – as if that doesn’t ruffle enough feathers, did you know that nowhere in the entire Bible does it say that the Holy Spirit indwells you (singular).

Consider the following verses: 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:22; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; and Galatians 4:6. In every one of these passages, the English words “you” and “your” are translated from the second person plural pronoun in Greek (you, plural). Also, in 2 Timothy 1:14, and James 4:5, we are told that the Spirit dwells in “us.”

This may shed some new light on Jesus’ comment:

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)

We are not saying that Christianity is not an individual, personal relationship with God, for that is the crux of the Christian walk. What today’s verse does teach us is the importance of being part of a local church and working together to build the body of Christ, the Temple of God!

Application

Are you just a Sunday morning Christian, or does your life revolve around serving God and building up God’s Temple?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 2:12 – Free and Undeserved

Posted on by Will

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Truth to Learn

God freely reveals Himself to Christians through His Spirit.

Behind the Words

Lambanō is the Greek word translated “we have received.” It means “to take.” However, it is sometimes used in the sense of “to receive that which is given.” This seems to be the meaning that Paul is expressing here. It is written here in the aorist tense, indicating past completed action.

The words “we might know” are from the Greek verb eidō, which we saw in yesterday’s verse, meaning “to know” or “to understand.” It is written here in the subjunctive mood indicating the possibility or probability of it happening.

“Have been freely given” is the translation of the verb charidzomai. It is derived from charis, meaning “a favor done without pre-condition or expectation of anything in return.” Therefore, charidzomai means “to give freely, not under any obligation and without expectation.” It is expressed here in the passive voice, indicating something done to or for us.

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about the mystery of God’s wisdom in His plan of salvation. He told us that this mystery is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit . Also, he has been comparing God’s wisdom with the “wisdom” of the world system around us. He now says that the Spirit which we have received from God is distinctly different from the spirit of the world because, as we learned in yesterday's verse, only the Spirit of God knows the deep things of God.

If we look carefully at this section of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we will see that he talks about three aspects of the working of the Holy Spirit. In verses ten and eleven he talked about the work of revelation of the things of God. In this verse and the next he talks about the work of inspiration in our knowing and communicating the things of God. And, in verses fourteen through sixteen he will talk about the work of illumination regarding the things of God.

There has been some discussion over the centuries as to specifically who Paul is referring to as “we” in the first part of this verse. Some believe that he is only referring to the apostles to whom these truths were initially revealed and who wrote them down for our edification. This seems to be the main emphasis in what Paul is saying here. However, it is equally true that the Holy Spirit performs these works in every Christian in revealing God’s truth to us, in inspiring us with the right words to say as we share these truths to others, and in illuminating our minds and the minds of those to whom we communicate God’s word.

In whatever manner we interpret these works of the Holy Spirit; it is clear that the revelation of the mystery of the gospel message is yet another gift to us from God. More importantly, this gift is given, not because we have done anything to earn it, but because He chose to do so.

Application

When was the last time you thanked God for making Himself known to you? He didn’t have to and we certainly haven’t done anything to deserve it. Let’s give Him thanks right now!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 2:11 – Revealer Of Secrets

Posted on by Will

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit reveals God to Christians.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “what” is tis. This is an interrogative pronoun that introduces an interrogative phrase (a phrase asking a question). It can be translated as “who,” “which,” or “what.”

In each case, the words translated “man” are from anthropos, which refers to a human being or to mankind as a whole. The first occurrence of this word in today’s verse, unlike the others, is written in the plural.

“Knows” is from the Greek verb eidō, which means “to see with perception.” Used metaphorically, as it is here, it refers to mental perception and can be translated as “to know,” “to be aware of,” or “to understand.”

The phrase “the spirit of the man which is in him” can be literally translated as “the spirit of the man, the one in him.”

“No one” is translated from oudeis, which we saw back in verse eight. It means “no one” or “not a single one.” In this case, it can refer to “no human” or “no being of any kind.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse the Apostle Paul made a very bold statement. He said that the Spirit of God has now revealed the secret of God’s wisdom in His plan of salvation. He now explains why it was necessary for the Spirit to reveal this secret to us.

The opening phrase of this verse actually reads a little differently from what our translation (NKJV) gives. It literally reads, “for who of men …” The NIV and NASB have a better rendering of this phrase: “For who among men …” This may seem a little picky here, but the distinction is important. Paul is not saying, “what man knows his own inner thoughts and motives, except his own spirit.” Rather, he is saying “what man knows the inner thoughts and motives of another person except the inner spirit of that person.”

Paul’s point is that none of us knows the inner workings (the thoughts, the plans, the wisdom) of anyone else, and certainly none of us knows the thoughts, plans, or wisdom of God except as they are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. The leaders of this age, the philosophers, the sophists, the “holy” men of the world think they can learn about God through their own efforts. But, Paul very clearly tells us here that the only way to really know God is for Him to reveal Himself to us by His Holy Spirit.

It’s sort of like an animal trying to understand the thought processes and motives of a man. By itself, it doesn’t have the ability to understand us. However, we can teach animals to understand us if we so desire. The Holy Spirit of God is just as important to our salvation as the Father and the Son. The Father chose us, the Son gave His life for us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us and teaches us.

Application

Do you want to know God more intimately? If so, you have to let His Spirit talk to you through prayer and through the reading and studying of your Bible.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 2:2 – And Him Crucified

Posted on by Will

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Truth to Learn

Christ’s crucifixion is the central theme of Christianity.

Behind the Words

“Determined” is translated from the Greek verb krinō, which literally means “to discriminate between good and evil,” that is “to judge, to choose, or to select.”

The words “to know” are from the verb eidō. It literally means “to see with perception.” In its most common usage it refers to understand mentally, that is “to know.”

“Anything” is from the Greek indefinite article ti, which means “someone, some thing, or a certain thing.”

The expression “except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” is constructed such that it places the emphasis on “Him crucified.” It could be literally translated as “except Jesus Christ and this one as crucified.” The central theme of Paul’s gospel message is not just Jesus Christ as the Son of God, but the fact that He was crucified to pay the penalty for our sins.

Meaning Explained

As we discussed in yesterday’s verse, the Apostle Paul was not known for his eloquent style of preaching but for simply and plainly declaring the good news about Jesus Christ. Today we learn that at some time in the past Paul made a conscious decision to preach the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Notice that he did not say “Jesus and Him crucified.” He was not focused on the humanity of Jesus, but His divinity. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed King who, as part of the Godhead, was the creator of all that is. And, as the Messiah, He is the one promised to come and save the world.

The Jews expected their Messiah would come as a conquering King who would free them from oppression. However, He came instead as a humble servant who was condemned to death and was crucified because He claimed to be the Son of God. This is precisely why the Jews find Him to be a “stumbling block,” and the great philosophical minds of the day considered Paul’s message to be foolishness:

but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, (1 Corinthians 1:23)

Christ’s crucifixion was the central theme of Paul’s preaching, but he did not preach only the crucifixion; He preached the whole Word of God, knowing that there is much more to the Christian life than just Christ’s death on the cross:

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:11)

For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:27)

how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, … (Acts 20:20).

It is of vital importance to preach the crucifixion of Christ, but that is only the beginning of the Christian experience.

Application

Fortunately, there are still many churches today that preach the salvation message. Unfortunately, there are still churches where that is the only thing being proclaimed. There is much to know about being a Christian beyond salvation.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Corinthians 1:16 – More Baptisms

Posted on by Will

Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

Truth to Learn

Baptism is not to be a source of bragging or arguing.

Behind the Words

The word translated “yes” is the Greek conjunction de, which is most often translated as “and” or “but.” The purpose of his use of this word here is to tie the baptisms of the household of Stephanas to those of Crispus and Gaius.

“Household” is from the Greek noun oikos which refers to “a dwelling place” or “a house.” It is used here not to refer to the physical structure, but to those who dwell there.

The word “besides” is translated from loipos, which means “that which remains” or “as to the remaining ones.”

Eidō is the verb translated “know.” It literally means “to see with perception,” that is, “to know or understand.”

Meaning Explained

You will recall that Paul is addressing the issues of divisions and factions within the church in Corinth. Apparently these divisions began with certain people claiming that they were baptized by Paul, thus making themselves out to be someone special. Therefore, Paul makes a point of the fact that he baptized very few people in that church. A couple of verses back he admitted to having baptized Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue in Corinth, and Gaius who apparently provided housing for Paul and also allowed the church to meet in his house. It is interesting that Paul mentions the household of Stephanas after his comments of the previous verse and not in the same sentence with Crispus and Gaius. It is possible that the scribe who wrote this letter as Paul was dictating it, reminded him of the household of Stephanas.

What do we know about this man named Stephanas? Very little. The only other mention of him occurs at the end of this letter where Paul refers to his household as “the firstfruits of Achaia” and indicates that he was one of the three who had come to him in Ephesus:

I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. (1 Corinthians 16:15-17)

Because of the mention of his household, some have speculated that Stephanas was the jailer who, along with his household, was converted in Philippi. This was the claim of some of the early Greek writers. However, if Stephanas was converted in Philippi (in Macedonia, northern Greece), then it is unlikely that Paul would have referred to him and his household as “firstfruits of Achaia” which is in southern Greece. It is more likely that Stephanas and his household were among the first converts in Corinth and, therefore, Stephanas was not the Philippian jailer.

Application

Baptism is an important part of any Christian’s life, but neither the mode of baptism nor the person who performed it is anything to brag or argue about.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2013 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Thessalonians 3:7 – Walk, or Just Talk?

Posted on by Will

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

Truth to Learn

The most effective proclaimer of the Gospel truth is someone who lives the kind of life he preaches about.

Behind the Words

The word translated “know” is eidō, which means “to see with perception.” As in English, this verb can refer to visibly seeing something and perceiving what it is, or it can mean “to see with the mind,” that is, “to know.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

“You ought” is from the Greek word dei, meaning “it is necessary.” It is a bold statement by Paul, for he is not saying “you could …” or even “you should.” He is saying “you need to follow our example.”

“Follow” is translated from mimeomai, from which we get our English word “mimic.” It means “to imitate” or “to follow as an example.”

The words “we were not disorderly” are from the word ou and the verb atakteō. Ou expresses absolute negation (the Greek word mē expressed conditional negation). Atakteō is from the same root as ataktos, which we saw in yesterday’s verse, meaning “to be disorderly.” It is used in a military sense, indicating soldiers who have broken ranks and are being disorderly.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse, Paul instructed the Christians in Thessalonica to withdraw themselves from those who are disorderly, those who are not demonstrating obedience to God. You may also recall that the main purpose of this letter was to correct teaching regarding the Day of the Lord. There had been people who falsely taught that this time of God’s vengeance had already begun.

Based on this verse and the following seven or eight verses, Paul appears to be teaching how to identify the difference between those who teach true doctrine and those who teach false doctrine. His first teaching in this regard is that Paul and his companions were not disorderly. And we will find out in the coming verses that they worked hard for what they had.

There are many preachers today who tell you what you want to hear. They claim that God wants you to be wealthy or that God wants you to be completely healed. They are very charismatic, presenting themselves as someone who can lead you out of your misery into an earthly life of peace and prosperity, and usually asking you to send them money “for their ministry.” Paul, on the other hand, was humble, apparently not very tall or charismatic, and supported his own ministry by working as a tent maker. Which of these two types of preachers do you want to follow as an example of Christian teaching and Christian living? Paul was bold enough to tell people, “Do as I do, not just as I say.”

Application

Who is your favorite preacher or Bible teacher? Is he someone who lives an exemplary life of a submitted servant? Does he just talk the talk, or does he also walk the walk?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Thessalonians 2:6 – Holy Spirit Power

Posted on by Will

And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.

Truth to Learn

Only God can completely control Satan.

Behind the Words

The words “you know” are from the Greek verb eidō, which means “to see with perception,” or “to know.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating a past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

“Restraining” is translated from katechō. This word is made up of kata, meaning “down,” but used here as an intensifier and echō, meaning “to have” or “to hold.” Thus, katechō means “to hold firmly” or “to suppress.”

“Revealed” is from apokaluptō, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” or “away from” and kaluptō, meaning “to cover” or “to conceal.” Therefore, apokaluptō means “to uncover” or “to reveal.”

Meaning Explained

This verse is another one that is cryptic enough that theologians and Bible scholars have been discussing it for centuries. But before we talk about that which is not perfectly clear, let’s talk about what is very clear. The people in Thessalonica did know what Paul was talking about. He clearly tells them, “You have known in the past and now know perfectly well what is restraining.” Apparently, Paul had previously taught them about this restraining force so that he didn’t need to be specific about it in this letter.

Unfortunately for us, since Paul wasn’t specific about this restraining force, we don’t know for sure what it is. Some of the suggested explanations include human government, preaching of the gospel, the Jewish nation, the church, Michael the Archangel, and the Holy Spirit. Although we can’t know for certain, we can come to a pretty good logical conclusion based on what we know from other portions of Scripture.

As described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4: 8-10, this “man of sin” or “lawless one” accomplishes his deeds through the power of Satan. We know that nothing about mankind can restrain Satan. And, Michael the Archangel would not even bring an accusation against him:

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (Jude 1:9)

But we do know someone who is more powerful than Satan:

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

So, we can logically conclude that Paul must be talking about the Holy Spirit as that which restrains the power of Satan, preventing him from revealing the “man of sin” until God’s appointed time.

Application

Even though we are told in James 4:7 that resisting the Devil will cause him to flee, we don’t have the power to stop him. Only God can do that. Battling Satan and his demons can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit, and even then, we only know victory when we are submitted to God.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

2 Thessalonians 1:8 – Righteous Blazing Fire

Posted on by Will

in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

God will judge unbelievers, so we don’t need to.

Behind the Words

“Flaming” is translated from the Greek word phlox, which means “to burn brightly.” It could be translated as “blazing.”

The word “fire” is from pur, which refers to something that is burning. When combined with phlox, as it is in today’s verse, it refers to a hot, blazing fire.

Didomi is the Greek word translated “taking.” Actually, the primary meaning of didomi is “to give” rather than “to take.”

“Vengeance” is translated from ekdikēsis. This word is made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of dikē, meaning justice. Thus, ekdikēsis refers to handing out a just sentence.

The verb “know” is from eidō, meaning “to see” or “to perceive.” It is often translated as “to know.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

“Obey” is from the Greek verb hupakouō, which is made up of hupo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and akouō, meaning “to hear.” It is a picture of a disciple listening attentively to his or her master and obeying the instruction given.

Meaning Explained

In verse six Paul told us that it is a righteous, or proper, thing for God to repay with tribulation those people who have been persecuting the Christians in Thessalonica. Now in this verse and the next, Paul tells how God will repay them. He says here that God will give a just sentence to them. That just sentence, according to Paul, is blazing fire. This is a clear description of hellfire. Observe that it is God who hands out this judgment. In his letter to the Roman Christians Paul said:

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

The words translated “avenge” and “vengeance” are from the verb form and noun form of ekdikēsis, the same as in the current verse. So, Paul is telling the Romans that it is not up to them (or us) to be judge, jury, and executioner. We may be suffering from persecution and injustice from non-believers, but we can rest in the fact that not only has God prepared a glorious future for us, He will also repay our persecutors with a just sentence.

Now, let’s take a look at the two main characteristics of those who are persecuting us and causing us tribulation. Paul says that they “do not know God” and they “do not obey the gospel.” As we discussed in Behind the Words, this word “know” indicates a perception or awareness of God. They either refuse to believe that there is a God, or the god they choose to worship is not the true God. As a result, they don’t believe the truth that He has communicated to all mankind, that we are all sinners and that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has paid the price for our sins.

Application

When you suffer for being a Christian or for proclaiming the Gospel message, don’t be discouraged. Know that God will bless you and will judge those who are persecuting you.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

1 Thessalonians 5:12 – Encouragement and Prayer

Posted on by Will

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

Truth to Learn

Pastors have a tough job. Encourage and pray for him today.

Behind the Words

The word translated “we urge” is erōtaō, which literally means “to interrogate.” By implication, however, it means “to request” or “to urge.”

“Recognize” is from the Greek word eidō, which means “to see with perception and comprehension.” Therefore, it takes on the meaning of “to know, to comprehend, or to recognize.”

Kopiaō is the word translated “labor.” It literally means “to feel fatigue” and by implication it means “to work hard.”

The words “are over you” are translated from the Greek verb proistēmi. This word is made up of pro, meaning “before” or “in front of” and histēmi, meaning “to stand.” Thus, proistēmi means “to stand before” or “to stand in front of.” By analogy, this word refers to someone who “leads.”

“Admonish” is from the word noutheteō, which is made up of nous, meaning “the mind” or “the intellect” and tithēmi, meaning “to put” or “to place.” Noutheteō literally means “to put in mind” or “to caution or reprove.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul now changes the topic of his teaching to how we are to think about our spiritual leader(s). The grammatical form of this verse indicates that these leaders are characterized by three things. The first is that they work hard. The second characteristic is that they “are over you.” And, the third thing is that they “admonish” you. It’s fairly obvious that Paul is talking about your pastor(s). Let’s look at these three things.

Most of us have jobs that require us to work five days a week, with the weekend off. The job of a pastor, however, is one that requires effort seven days a week. Yes, I know, many pastors take Monday off to recuperate from a very full Sunday (often twelve or more hours). But, even on his day off, your pastor is often contacted by a church member needing spiritual guidance or emotional support. Like a surgeon, your pastor is on-call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Six days a week your pastor is studying and preparing sermons (often several a week), visiting families with spiritual/financial/physical needs, and preparing for/conducting meetings. He’s a busy man.

The second thing about your pastor is that he has been placed in a position of authority over you. He is directly accountable to God for your spiritual wellbeing. It is his job to open up the Scriptures and teach you what God expects from you. Remember, we are to submit to all those in authority over us.

The third thing a good pastor does is “admonish” you. This means that he has to deliver encouragement and challenge, but it also means he has to deliver the harsh truth about sin and its consequences. I firmly believe that if you aren’t getting your toes stomped on occasionally, either your pastor isn’t doing his job or you just aren’t listening to him and to God.

Application

Don’t wait for pastor appreciation week. Take some time right now to send an e-mail, a text message, or a letter to your pastor. Tell him how much you appreciate him and pray for him. He needs your encouragement and your prayers!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 5:2 – Noisily Versus Quietly

Posted on by Will

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

Truth to Learn

The Day of the Lord will come quietly, the rapture noisily.

Behind the Words

“Know” is translated from the verb eidō, which refers to “seeing with perception and comprehension.” Thus, it takes on the meaning of “knowing” or “understanding.” In English someone might explain something and then say, “Do you see what I’m saying?” In such a case, they are not asking about vision but about understanding. This is the sense that eidō has in today’s verse.

The word translated “perfectly” is akribōs, which means “accurately” or “exactly.” It is not an expression about perfection, but of accuracy.

Hēmera is the word translated “day.” It can refer to a complete twenty-four hour period or, as in today’s verse, it can refer to the timeframe of a specific event.

The word “as” is from the Greek word houtō, meaning “in this way” or “in this manner.”

The word “thief” is from kleptēs. This is derived from the verb kleptō (from which we get our English word kleptomaniac, meaning someone who has an obsession with stealing things). Kleptē refers to someone who steals things, that is, “a thief.”

“Night” is translated from nux, which refers to the time period from sundown to sunrise.

Meaning Explained

In today’s verse we see a couple more reasons why the rapture (the Day of Jesus Christ) and the Day of the Lord are two distinctly different events. When Paul introduced the topic of the rapture back in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, he said “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren,” meaning that they were ignorant of the facts surrounding the rapture. In yesterday’s verse he said, “you have no need that I should write to you,” and in today’s verse he completes that thought. The reason that they didn’t need additional information is because, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

Apparently, Paul had previously taught the Christians in Thessalonica the facts about the Day of the Lord. Since they had accurate knowledge about the Day of the Lord and were ignorant concerning the rapture, they must be two different things. One of the possible reasons for this is that the Old Testament has numerous references to the Day of the Lord, but there are no references to the rapture. Since the Old Testament is the only Scripture the Thessalonians had, they could only have learned about the Day of the Lord from it.

The other thing to note is how these two events occur. The rapture occurs with a loud proclamation and a trumpet blast. The Day of the Lord, on the other hand, comes like a thief in the night. A thief doesn’t announce himself and he doesn’t make a lot of noise; he comes quietly and secretly. In other words, the rapture will come with lots of noise, but the Day of the Lord will come quietly, like a thief.

Application

Christians, keep your ears open, listening for the shout and the trumpet blast. You’ll be gone when the Day of the Lord comes.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved