College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
1 Thessalonians 4 - Introduction
I THESSALONIANS, CHAPTER FOUR
Chapter topics
1.
The Walk of the Christian.
2.
The Dead in Christ and the Lord's Coming.
The dead in Christ shall rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
THINKING THROUGH THESSALONIANS
I Thessalonians, chapter four
Chapter Topics1.
The Walk of the Christian. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
2.
The dead in Christ, and the Lord's coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1.
The Thessalonians had received
____________________ how they ought to walk and to please God. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
2.
In instructions on how to walk, Paul urged that they would ___________________ and __________________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:1
3.
The commandments of Paul were given by the ____________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:2.
4.
Your ________________________was the will of God for the Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 4:2
5.
From what were the Thessalonians to abstain? 1 Thessalonians 4:3.____________________________.
6.
What should we know how to possess in sanctification and honor? 1 Thessalonians 4:4 _________________________.
7.
What people live in the lust of concupiscence? 1 Thessalonians 4:5.___________________________. (The notes will explain these words.)
8.
No man should go beyond (or go too far) and ___________________________ his brother in the matter. 1 Thessalonians 4:6
9.
Who is the avenger of sins? 1 Thessalonians 4:6.______________________________.
10.
God has not called us unto __________________________ but unto _____________________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
11.
Whom do we despise when we despise Paul's commands? 1 Thessalonians 4:8. ___________________________.
12.
Concerning what did Paul not need to write to the Thessalonians?. 1 Thessalonians 4:9. _________________________________.
13.
Who taught the Thessalonians to love one another? 1 Thessalonians 4:9. ________________________.
14.
What three things did Paul tell them to do in 1 Thessalonians 4:11? ___________________________; _______________________________________________________________; __________________________________________________________.
15.
For what two reasons were they told to work? 1 Thessalonians 4:12. _____________________________________________________________; ______________________________________.
16.
Concerning what did Paul not want them to be ignorant? 1 Thessalonians 4:13. ____________________________.
17.
Paul gave them information so that ye _______________________________ not, even as others which have no ____________________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
18.
What event gives us assurance that the dead will rise again? 1 Thessalonians 4:14. _________________________________________________________.
19.
The dead Christians are described as them which ________________________________ in._____________________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:14
20.
Whose word did Paul speak? 1 Thessalonians 4:15. _______________________________.
21.
We which are _________________________ and remain unto the _________________________ of the Lord shall not prevent (or go ahead of) them which are ___________________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:15
22.
With what three things will the Lord descend from heaven? 1 Thessalonians 4:16. _____________________________; _______________________________; _______________________________.
23.
Before we are all caught up, the __________________ in Christ shall rise __________________________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:16
24.
After the Christian dead are raised, we which are ________________________ and remain shall be _______________________________ up ________________________ with them in the ________________________________, to meet the ___________________ in the ____________________. 1 Thessalonians 4:17
25.
How long shall we remain with the Lord? 1 Thessalonians 4:17. ________________________.
26.
What are we to do with these words of Paul? 1 Thessalonians 4:18. _____________________________.
27.
Memorize 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.
I THESSALONIANS, CHAPTER FOUR
Chapter Topics1.
The Walk of the Christian. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
2.
The Dead in Christ and the Lord's Coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Outline
I.
The walk of the Christian; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
A.
Abound according to the apostles-' teaching; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
B.
Abstain from fornication; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
1.
This is the will of God; 1 Thessalonians 4:3
2.
Know how to possess your vessel; 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5
a.
In sanctification and honor;
b.
Not in lust like the Gentiles; 1 Thessalonians 4:5
3.
No one should defraud his brother; 1 Thessalonians 4:6-7
a.
The Lord is the avenger of all such.
b.
God has not called us to uncleanness; 1 Thessalonians 4:7
4.
We despise God when we disobey; 1 Thessalonians 4:8
C.
Practice brotherly love; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
1.
Paul did not need to write about this; 1 Thessalonians 4:9 a
2.
They were taught by God to do this; 1 Thessalonians 4:9 b
3.
The Thessalonians did this; 1 Thessalonians 4:10 a
4.
They needed to increase more and more; 1 Thessalonians 4:10 b
D.
Study to be quiet; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 a
E.
Do your own business; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 lb
F.
Work with your own hands; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 c -1 Thessalonians 4:12
1.
As Paul had commanded them; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 c
2.
That they might walk honestly toward outsiders; 1 Thessalonians 4:12
3.
That they might have need of nothing.
II.
The Lord's Coming; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
A.
The dead in Christ and the Lord's coming; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1.
We should not be ignorant about this; 1 Thessalonians 4:13
2.
Jesus's resurrection gives us assurance; 1 Thessalonians 4:14
a.
We believe that Jesus died and arose.
b.
Even so will God bring the dead in Christ with Him.
3.
The living shall not precede the dead; 1 Thessalonians 4:15
4.
Events at the Lord's coming; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
a.
The Lord descends;
(1)
With a shout;
(2)
With the voice of the archangel;
(3)
With the trump of God.
b.
The dead in Christ rise first; 1 Thessalonians 4:16
c.
Those which are alive are caught up with them; 1 Thessalonians 4:17
d.
We meet the Lord in the air; 1 Thessalonians 4:17
e.
We shall ever be with the Lord.
5.
Comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18
THOUGHTS FROM THE OUTLINE
Of I Thessalonians, chapter four
Chapter four includes two distinct topics.
The first of these concerns the walk of the Christian, that is, the way he lives. In this world the gospel depends very heavily upon the lives of those who believe it for its success. Also the salvation of those who believe the gospel depends on how they continue to walk. For these reasons the teaching about the walk of the Christian is very urgent.
The second section about the dead in Christ and the Lord's coming is always of much interest. The discussion about the Lord's coming extends on into the next chapter (to 1 Thessalonians 5:11), where the matter of the times and seasons of the Lord's coming is brought up and discussed.
DID YOU LEARN?
(Questions over I Thessalonians, chapter four)
1.
What is the title and Scripture limitation of Part Two of I Thessalonians?
2.
What is the first topic of chapter four, and what are the Scripture limitations of it?
3.
What did Paul include in all of his letters to Gentile churches? Why? (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
4.
What does Paul mean by the word walk? (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)
5.
List the six points (A to F) in the outline of the first topic of chapter four.
6.
By whom did Paul give the commandments which he gave? (1 Thessalonians 4:2)
7.
What is fornication? (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
8.
What is sanctification? (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
9.
What are the two stages in sanctification? (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
10.
What is the vessel which we should know how to possess? (1 Thessalonians 4:4)
11.
What other interpretation is sometimes given to the word vessel? (1 Thessalonians 4:4)
12.
Did the Gentiles regard immorality as sin? (1 Thessalonians 4:5)
13.
What is concupiscence? (1 Thessalonians 4:5)
14.
How had it come about that the Gentiles did not know God? (1 Thessalonians 4:5)
15.
What does the phrase go beyond in 1 Thessalonians 4:6 mean?
16.
By doing what sin will we go beyond and defraud our brother? (1 Thessalonians 4:6)
17.
Who is the avenger of sins? (1 Thessalonians 4:6), What is an avenger?
18.
God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto what? (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
19.
If we despise (or disregard) Paul's teaching on holiness, whom are we actually despising? (1 Thessalonians 4:8)
20.
Concerning what subject did Paul not need to write them? (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
21.
Who taught them to love one another? (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
22.
Explain the sentence, Study to be quiet, (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
23.
Whose business should we do? (1 Thessalonians 4:11)
24.
Were the Thessalonians loafing because they expected the Lord's coming very soon? (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
25.
Was Paul's exhortation about working carried out by the Thessalonians? (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). How do you know?
26.
For what two reasons should we be quiet and work? (1 Thessalonians 4:12)
27.
What is the second chapter topic of I Thessalonians, chapter four, and what are its Scripture limitations?
28.
Concerning what did Paul not want them to be ignorant? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
29.
For what is sleep a common metaphor? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
30.
Are we forbidden to sorrow for our dead? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
31.
In what way are we to sorrow not? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
32.
What misunderstanding did the Thessalonians apparently have about the dead Christians? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
33.
What fact gives us assurance that the dead shall rise? (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
34.
Did Paul teach that Christ was coming within his lifetime? (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
35.
What does the word prevent in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 mean?
36.
With what three sounds will the Lord descend? (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
37.
Who is the archangel? (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
38.
At what occasion on earth has the trumpet of God been previously heard? (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
39.
Who shall rise first when Christ returns? (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
40.
With what does the word first make a contrast? (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
41.
Why cannot we connect the statement that the dead in Christ shall rise first, with Revelation 20:5? (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
42.
What will happen after the dead in Christ are raised? (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
43.
Where shall we be caught up to meet the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
44.
How long shall we be with the Lord? (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
45.
What should we do with the words about Christ's coming and the resurrection? (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
46.
Write out (or recite) from memory 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. It begins, But I would not have you.