|
| |
1
Thessalonians 4:13-18
 | Reading the Text:
|
| Historical
References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
 |
"Jesus' Apocalyptic Return," The Jesus Database, an online annotated
inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus.
Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation. |
| Chapter
XXIX, On Prayer, Tertullian
(c. 199) |
| VI.13, Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria
(c 200) |
| Chapter
IX,
On Patience, Tertullian
(c. 202) |
| II.7, On
The Apparel of Women, Tertullian
(c. 202) |
| III.25, Against
Marcion, Tertullian
(c. 209) |
| Chapter
LV, On
The Soul, Tertullian
(c. 210) |
| Chapter
XXIV, Chapter
XLI, Chapter
LVII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, Tertullian
(c. 211) |
| V.15, V.20, Against
Marcion, Tertullian
(c. 212) |
| II.XI.5, First
Principles (De Principiis), Origen.
(c.225) |
| II.LXV, Against
Celsus, Origen.
(c.246) |
| On
the Mortality -- Cyprian of
Carthage (c. 252) |
| Commentary by St John Chrysostom:
 | Homily
VII
| "There
are many things which from ignorance alone cause us sorrow, so that
if we come to understand them well, we banish our grief." |
|
| Homily
VIII
| "I
could wish also myself that there were no punishment--yes, myself
most of all men. And why so? Because whilst each of you fears for
his own soul, I have to answer for this office also in which I
preside over you." |
|
|
| From the Geneva Notes.
| "We must take heed that
we do not immoderately mourn for the dead, that is, as those do who
think that the dead are utterly perished." |
|
| From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
| "Christianity does not
forbid, and grace does not do away, our natural affections. Yet we must
not be excessive in our sorrows; this is too much like those who have no
hope of a better life." |
|
| From Wesley's
Notes.
| "Believers of all ages
and nations make up, as it were, one body; in consideration of which,
the believers of that age might put themselves in the place, and speak
in the person, of them who were to live till the coming of the Lord. Not
that St. Paul hereby asserted (though some seem to have imagined so)
that the day of the Lord was at hand." |
|
| From the Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
| "The leading topic of
Paul's preaching at Thessalonica having been the coming kingdom
(Ac 17:7), some perverted it into a cause for fear in respect to friends
lately deceased, as if these would be excluded from the glory which
those found alive alone should share." |
|
| From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
| "It seems that the
Thessalonian brethren, expecting the speedy coming of the Lord, mourned
over some of their number who had died, counting it a great loss that
they did not live to meet Jesus." |
|
|
| Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
|
"First
Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary,"
Pentecost 25, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in
Australia.
| "There is a pastoral
trap in the opening verse of our passage which if misread or misheard will
inspire people to guilt about grief." |
|
|
"The Art of Final Judgment," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at)
"Heaven and Hell," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian
Ethics at Baylor University, 2002. |
|
"Hope in
Resurrection," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com:
A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
| "Reflect on your experiences of death.
What funerals or wakes have you attended? What hope did they inspire in
the resurrection? If you could plan your own funeral, how could you
encourage hope in the resurrection?" |
|
|
"The Lord's
Coming," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible
Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed
textual notes. |
| The
Comfort of His Coming from An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary on 1
Thessalonians, by J. Hampton Keathley III at the Biblical Studies
Foundation.
| "But this is not just
to give comfort or reassurance in the face of death; it is to have a
transforming affect on the way we live—on values, priorities,
pursuits, and on moral behavior in general." |
|
|
| Articles & Background:
|
"Aging from the Perspective of the Cross," Stephen Sapp, The Center
for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
| "The discipleship of the cross
recognizes that the cross Jesus Christ bids his followers to take up
includes the ordinary, everyday sufferings of human life—including
those associated with aging—that are borne as Jesus bore his
sufferings." |
|
|
"A Question
of Death: Paul's Community-Building Language in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,"
Richard S. Ascough, Journal of Biblical Literature,
2004. (This URL links entire journal in one .pdf
file. Slow connections will require long download times.) |
|
"Apocalyptic
Discourse in I Thessalonians," by James D. Hester.
Pre-print article at Corpus Paulinum. (Not to be cited without
permission of the author.) |
| "1
Thessalonians 4:17; The Bringing in of the Lord or the Bringing in of
the Faithful?" J. Plevnik, Biblica 80 (1999), 537-546.
| "Hellenistic parousias
depict the citizens making the royal visitor welcome in their city,
whereas 1 Thess 4,13-18 depicts the effect of the Lord’s coming on
them. The faithful are raised; the faithful are taken up. 1 Thess
4,13-18 really depicts the bringing in of the faithful, not of the Lord.
The implication is that they do not return to the earth, but stay with
the Lord forever." |
|
|
| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Konstan, David, and Ilaria Ramelli,
"The Syntax of CHRISTW in 1 Thessalonians 4:16," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 2007.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Oakes, Peter,
"Re-mapping the Universe: Paul and the Emperor in 1 Thessalonians and
Philippians," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005. |
| Plevnik, Joseph, S.J.,
"The Destination of the Apostle and of the Faithful: Second Corinthians
4:13b-14 and First Thessalonians 4:14," The Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 2000. |
|
| Reviews: |
| Sermons: |
| With Children:
|
| Drama: |
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
|
1 Thessalonians 4:14, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint
Backgrounds. |
|
Ready or Not,
Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net.
Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page |
|
| Hymns and Music:
|
| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index: |
| Study Links and Resources for the
Book of 1 Thessalonians |
|
