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1
Thessalonians 4:13-18
 | Reading the Text:
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| Historical
References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
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"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. |
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Chapter XXIX,
On
Prayer,
Tertullian (c. 199) |
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VI.13,
Stromata,
Clement of Alexandria (c 200) |
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Chapter IX,
On
Patience,
Tertullian (c. 202) |
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II.7,
On The Apparel of Women,
Tertullian (c. 202) |
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III.25,
Against Marcion,
Tertullian (c. 209) |
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Chapter LV,
On
The Soul,
Tertullian (c. 210) |
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Chapter XXIV,
Chapter XLI,
Chapter LVII,
On
the Resurrection of the Flesh,
Tertullian (c. 211) |
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V.15,
V.20,
Against Marcion,
Tertullian (c. 212) |
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II.XI.5,
First Principles (De Principiis),
Origen. (c.225) |
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II.LXV,
Against Celsus,
Origen. (c.246) |
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On the Mortality
--
Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252) |
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Commentary
by St John Chrysostom:
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| 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." |
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| 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." |
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| 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." |
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| 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." |
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| 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." |
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| Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
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Commentary,
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Karoline Lewis, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
| "At the same time that Paul
offers this extraordinary vision of consolation, he locates the act
of consolation within the community as an ongoing (present
imperative) expression of hope." |
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"First
Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary,"
Pentecost 26, 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." |
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"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. |
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"Hopeful Grieving," James Howell, The Christian Century, 2005.
| "Jesus is coming. Look busy --
busy grieving and busy working. We will begin to recover that
'heartfelt expectation' of our Lord’s return." |
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"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?" |
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"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." |
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| Articles & Background:
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Jesus Now,
Proper (Ordinary) 31A,
lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith Futures
Jesus Then & Now. |
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"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." |
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"Apocalyptic
Discourse in I Thessalonians," by James D. Hester.
Pre-print article at Corpus Paulinum. (Not to be cited without
permission of the author.) |
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"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." |
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| Articles in
ATLAS Journals. (Direct link when you are
subscribed and logged in to
ATLASerials online collection of Religion and Theology Journals.):
| Ascough, Richard S.,
"A Question of Death: Paul's Community-Building Language in 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2005.
Image Browse -
PDF |
| Gillman, John, "Signals of
Transformation in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18," The Catholic Biblical
Quarterly, 1985.
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PDF |
| Harrison, J.R.,
"Paul and the Imperial Gospel at Thessaloniki," Journal for the
Study for the New Testament, 2002.
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PDF |
| Howell, James, "Hopeful Grieving," The Christian
Century, 2005.
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PDF |
| Lüdemann, Gerd, "The Hope of the Early Paul: From the
Foundation-Preaching at Thessalonika to 1 Corinthians 15:51-57,"
Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1980.
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PDF |
| Kettner, Edward G., "Time, Eternity, and the
Intermediate State," Concordia Journal, 1986.
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| Konstan, David, and Ilaria Ramelli,
"The Syntax of CHRISTW in 1 Thessalonians 4:16," Journal of
Biblical Literature, 2007.
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| Krentz, Edgar, "Great Expectations,
Great Choices," The Christian Century, 1996.
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| Malherbe, Abraham J., "Paul:
Hellenistic Philosopher or Christian Pastor?" American Theological
Library Association Summary of Proceedings, 1985.
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| Oakes, Peter,
"Re-mapping the Universe: Paul and the Emperor in 1 Thessalonians and
Philippians," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005.
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| 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.
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| Quanbeck, Philip A, II, "Preaching Apocalyptic
Texts," Word & World, 2005.
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| Scott, J. Julius, "Paul and Late-Jewish Eschatology:
A Case Study, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12,"
Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1972.
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| Still, Todd D., "Eschatology in the Thessalonian
Letters," Review & Expositor, 1999.
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| Turner, Seth,
"The Interim, Earthy Messianic Kingdom in Paul,"
Journal for the
Study for the New Testament, 2003.
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PDF |
| van Houwelingen, P.H.R., "The Great
Reunion: The Meaning and Significance of the 'Word of the Lord' in 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18," Calvin Theological Journal, 2007.
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| Reviews: |
| Sermons: |
| With Children:
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| Drama: |
| Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
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1 Thessalonians 4:14, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint
Backgrounds. |
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Ready or Not,
Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net.
Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page |
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| Hymns and Music:
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| Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's
Art Index: |
| Study Links and Resources for the
Book of 1 Thessalonians |
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