What's the point? Why is this letter to be read to all?

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Permalink Reply by Charles Atkinson on June 1, 2009 at 12:00pm

“I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.”

Why? What is it that Paul considers so important that this epistle be read to all the saints?

1Th.3:3 ….that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto [More could be said on this!]…we told you before that we should suffer tribulation…For this cause…I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

From meditation I found that Paul wanted to ensure the holy brethren would stand fast during the tribulations they were currently enduring.

So to strengthen their resolve to stand faithful, he said…
“I would not have you to be ignorant concerning them which are asleep”. (4:13) Meaning, those who are asleep are those who are dead in Christ (possibly, referring specifically to those who were killed as martyrs). Then Paul goes into an expose about the second coming of Christ. Through this exhortation the believers were to be encouraged to “endure to the end.”

So Paul reminds them that they are children of the light – children of the day and therefore not suppose to walk in darkened understanding concerning the day of Christ’s coming.

Now check this out! Then he says, “Therefore let us not sleep, but let us watch and be sober.”
Hey! Does that remind you of anything else we’ve been assimilating?!

“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Eph.5:14

This sleeping is not the “dead in Christ” but the lukewarm or complacent. Oh! This reminds me of Jesus’ words ‘But if that servant say in his heart, ‘My lord delays his coming’ and begins to beat the servants, and to eat and drink – to be drunken; the lord will come in a day when the servant wasn’t looking for, and an hour when he wasn’t aware, and will cut that servant in sunder, and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.’ (Luke12:45-46)

Being watchful of Christ’s coming doesn’t mean to stand on a hill with binoculars looking in the sky (Acts1:11). But rather, it means to be doing the will of the Lord: to walk in the light of His understanding.

I love how the scriptures tie together. Don't you?
Hope you’re still assimilating! ~

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