Podcast Introduction

Today we will read 1 Thessalonians 4-5. I’ll have comments on both chapters after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “How To Prepare.”

Comments on 1 Thessalonians 4-5

Some Tools For Bible Study

Today in my comments, I’m going to explain a bit of how I do my Bible studies, and how you can enrich your reading of the Bible, and I’ll do it in the context of today’s reading. Sound good?

Most of us who are serious about Bible study know that reading from more that one translation is a good thing, especially if we’re going to be teaching or preaching. Today’s reading is an excellent example of why this is a good idea.

Chapter 4

The translation we read from today is the Good News Translation. Chapter 4, verses 4 and 5 in the GNT reads like this: “Each of you should know how to live with your wife in a holy and honorable way, 5not with a lustful desire, like the heathen who do not know God.”

As I read that, it seemed just a little “off” to me. Not that there’s anything wrong with living “with your wife in a holy and honorable way”, but tying this thought with “not with a lustful desire, like the heathen” just didn’t sit right with me, because sexual desire between a husband and wife is a gift from God.  I decided that I should look at how other translations rendered this passage.

Here are some examples of verse 4:

The English Standard Version says: that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

The NIV says: that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

And for good measure, the KJV says: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

So the ESV and the NIV agree on the translation the “body”. But as you heard, the KJV said “possess his vessel”. None of the three referred to the “wife”.

So I read this verse in several other translations: the NASB, Young’s Literal Translation, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, New Living Translation. All of them agreed on the “body”. 

The God’s Word translation, and Contemporary English Version used “wife” in one way or another.

So what to do? How should this verse be properly translated? We need to go to the original language. Thankfully, we don’t need to take a complete course in Greek, which is the language used in the New Testament. The first thing I do is consult what is called an Interlinear New Testament. 

An interlinear NT has the complete text of the NT, with the Greek words appearing either directly above or below the English words, so you can see which exact Greek word is used. That’s the first step.

The next step, if you don’t know Greek, is to use either a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance or Young’s Analytical Concordance. Today, I used Young’s. Both Young’s and Strong’s use the KJV, so I looked up the word “vessel”. 

I found that there are two Greek words used in the NT that are translated into the English word “vessel”. One of them is used only twice, in the book of Matthew. In this case, the word means “vessel, or utensil”. The other Greek word is used eighteen times and it means “vessel, utensil or instrument”, and this is the word in our reading today. 

In my opinion, the thought that Paul wanted to convey to us is this: our bodies are the vessel or instrument that contains our souls, and we should not allow our vessels to be controlled by lust, as do those who do not know God.

There is no mention of husbands or wives in the original language, and I therefor do not think that it should be included in the text of the verse. Now, in the defense of the translations that do include it, the argument can be made that Paul implied the thought of husbands and or wives, because sexual desire is only proper in the context of marriage. Since he was teaching against what the KJV refers to as fornication, or what we would today call sexual immorality, he would be saying that sexual desire should only be for your husband or your wife. 

So now you know a bit of how I study the Bible. Having several translations of the Bible is a good thing, but as you read them, it is important to take into consideration that some are more faithful to the original language, and others are less concerned with word-for-word accuracy, and emphasize more of an idea-for-idea approach to Bible translation. When we compare different translations to each other, and then use tools like the Strong’s or Young’s concordances and an interlinear Bible, combined with prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I believe we can reach a more complete understanding of the Scripture. 

The Rapture

Verses 13-18 deal with the return of Jesus. These verses tell us that at His return, the believers who have died will be resurrected. And then those who are believers and are alive will be gathered up, or caught up along with the ones who have just been resurrected to meet the Lord in the air. This event is often called “the rapture.” Where do we get that term? The Latin Vulgate translated the phrase “caught up” as rapturus, from which we get the word rapture.

This event will happen. Paul said, “What we are teaching you now is the Lord’s teaching…” In saying this, Paul was emphasizing that this is not his idea, but it came directly from Jesus. Bible commentator Adam Clarke wrote: “In no place does the apostle speak more confidently and positively of his inspiration than here; and we should prepare ourselves to receive some momentous and interesting truth.”

So there really should be no doubt on the part of the believer that this is something that will happen at some time in the future. 

Chapter 5 – As A Thief In the Night

I believe that it is important to reiterate what Jesus said in Matthew 24:36: “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows.” NLT

Paul told the Thessalonians that “…the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night.” in verse 2. 

A thief does not make an announcement letting his victims know when he will arrive. In the same way, we do not know when Jesus will return. But like the prudent home owner who prepares for the thief, we must also be prepared.

Paul continued in verse 3: “When people say, ‘Everything is quiet and safe,’ then suddenly destruction will hit them!”

For those who are unprepared, for the unbeliever, this day will be a sad one, indeed. 

There was also a clue in this statement as to the conditions in the world when Jesus returns. “When people say, ‘Everything is quiet and safe,’ then suddenly destruction will hit them!” 

So when the rapture happens, it will come when there is quiet and safety in the world. 

But in Matthew 24, Jesus tells the disciples what signs to look for before His return. He talks about the “abomination of desolation” from the book of Daniel…the destruction of the Temple. Some people believe this happened in AD 70, others believe the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, and that is where the abomination of desolation will take place. We do not have time on the show to get into the debate, and as I have said I’m pretty dogmatic about not being dogmatic when it comes to end times prophecy. What we can know for sure is that Jesus talked about a terrible time coming prior to His return.

So what do we do with “quiet and safe”, with the turmoil Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24? 

It seems to me that the rapture will occur before the Tribulation begins. But others believe it will happen halfway through the Tribulation. Still others think it will be at the end of the Tribulation. There are lots of plausible arguments for each theory, and many books have been written by people who have spent lots of time poring over the scriptures. I read several of them back in the 80s, but since then I have not read any others. I think that it is more important just to know that Jesus will return, and that we must be ready. How do we get ready? We have to know that we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ. That’s it. Jesus has to be our Lord and Savior. 

Are You Prepared?

So really, preparing for His return is no different than preparing for eternity. Each of us, if He does not come back first, will die. Nobody gets outta here alive. So what happens when we die? If we have placed our faith in Jesus, we will go to Heaven. 

Preparing for His return is no more than living our lives in such a way that pleases God. We are here on planet Earth to glorify Him. We are to share the Good News of a Risen Savior. We are to be salt and light. We are to make disciples. 

We are not, in anticipation of His coming, to withdraw from the world and just wait. That would be a terrible waste of time, talent and treasure, as in Jesus’ parable in Luke 19:11-27. And the Lord would not be pleased.

Are you prepared? Have you placed your faith in Jesus? Do you know that you will go to Heaven when you die, or that you will meet Jesus in the air if the rapture happens? You don’t have to wonder if you’ll make it. It isn’t about being good enough. There’s no such thing. All of us have sinned. We need the forgiveness that only Jesus can provide. He died on a cross, taking my sins and yours on Himself. And then on the third day, he rose from the grave, proving that He is God. And over the next 50 days, before He ascended into Heaven, He was seen by more than 500 people. (1 Corinthians 15:6) 

Do you want to be sure that you’re ready? Let Him know. Invite Him in. Pray with me. “Lord Jesus. I know that I am a sinner, and I am sorry. Please forgive me. I turn from my sins now, and I ask that from this point on, you be my Lord. Help me to live for you. Amen.”

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 4-5 GNT

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The Team

Transcript Correction: Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise
Podcasting 2.0 Chapters: Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Michael Haner
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