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Commentary on "Church Life (1 Thess. 5:12–28)"

RICK BARKER

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, September 1, 2012 - Introduction

 

Let's start by reading what the verses (ESV) actually say before we start to examine the claims about these verses.

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 iBrothers, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The first statement I would like to review is the claim that these verses deal with "how to relate to new light in the form of prophecies". There is no indication here that the prophecy is "new light". SDAs insert the idea that it is new light because they need to have an excuse for their prophet to introduce new light. Prophecy includes admonition, correction, and direction; none of which are "new light." Ultimately prophecy is the revealing of Jesus Christ (Heb 1:1-2).

Nonetheless, accepting the instruction to test everything is a good idea. How many failed prophecies can a true prophet have? How many times can a true prophet provide a message that is different than what is written in the Bible? How many false teachings can a true prophet have? Are you willing to test Ellen White according to Scripture and hold her to the standards you would apply to Joseph Smith?

But the blasphemous and continued error being presented in this SS lesson is found in the next paragraph. "In the concluding prayer Paul summarizes a main theme of this letter: that believers in Thessalonica and beyond would continue to grow in holiness until the Second Coming itself. In other words, they are to live every day in preparation for the Lord’s return. In one sense, what could be more of a “present truth” message than that?"

The author of the SS lesson presents growth in holiness as a topic of this letter and as a task that we must complete. Once again we see how opposite this is to the verses presented.

"23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."

Who does verse 23 say is responsible for the sanctification?

What is the difference between keeping yourself blameless and being kept (passive) blameless?

What does verse 24 say Christ will do?

Where do these verses say we are to work on growing in holiness and preparing ourselves for the return of the Lord? I'll answer this one. They don't. You can only arrive at the conclusion by reading your own theology backwards into the passage. It isn't stated anywhere in the passage.

The Sabbath School lesson author continues to twist Scripture and manipulate readers by providing summaries of Scripture that are quite different than what the verses plainly read.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

Copyright 2012 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised September 3, 2012. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Camp Verde, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 10

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 10

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Wk 10

SSNET Study Guide Week 10

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

 

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