Search The Scriptures —The Book of Joshua - Introduction

Study 0 From The Book of Joshua Is: The Introduction 

The book of Joshua tells us nothing about its authorship, but in Jos.15:63 we have a clear indication that it was written before David’s capture of Jerusalem.

The book tells the story of the crossing of Jordan, the conquest of the Promised Land and its division among the tribes, ending with the death of Joshua after he had obtained from the whole people a solemn promise (soon to be broken) that they would be faithful to God.

The apparent discrepancy between the seemingly universal conquest of Palestine (in 9 -11) and the stubborn and often unsuccessful fighting referred to in the latter part of the book and in the early  part of Judges, is explained by the fact that in 9-11 the united army of Israel was meeting and crushing organized resistance.  But, after the division of the land, the Israelite army broke up into its component tribes, each of which attempted to possess its own lot, meeting with a stubborn resistance from those who had fled from the united army or had not come in its way. Other factors may have been the spiritual declension of the people and the ruling geographical factor of Palestine, the division into the hill country and the coastal plain.  The latter remained unconquered until David’s time.

The book is an account of the Israelites’ fight to claim their promised inheritance. The lesson they learnt concerning the conditions of possession can teach us much about the condition of our obtaining the blessings promised to us in Christ. (cf. Heb. 4:1, 2, 8-11; 11:30)

Search The Scriptures —Study 8 — 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:17

Study 8 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:17

With this study, we end the books of Thessalonians and we are getting ready for the book of Joshua next…

1.   2:13-15. We are shown here that God has taken the initiative in our salvation.  What steps has He taken? What is His purpose for us? And what part is our responsibility?

2.    Consider Paul’s four prayers for his readers and also the prayer which he asks them to pray for himself.  What can we learn about Paul’s circumstances and about his ambitions, both for himself and for the Thessalonians?  Do we share similar ambitions when we pray?

3.    2:6-13. What is the place and importance of daily work and other mundane tasks in the life of the Christian? Is there a tendency to underestimate the importance of these nowadays?

Note. 3:2-4. From the unbelief of men Paul turns to the faithfulness of the Lord. This is now turning to the Lord to pray can afford fresh confidence and hope.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 7 — 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Study 7 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1.   What advice and warnings does Paul give here to encourage a healthy attitude towards the Lord’s return?

2.   Examine the methods, motives, power and end of Satan and his human agents. What does this teach us about the subtlety and nature of sin? Who are to be deceived thereby, and for what reasons?

Note.  Verse 3 ‘the man of lawlessness’: in the New Testament this seems to refer to both a principle and a person.  Cf. 1Jn. 2:18. In the last days he will appear in his final form as the incarnation of evil, the Antichrist, but he has had and will have precursors up till that time.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 6 — 2 Thessalonians 1

Study 6 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 2 Thessalonians 1

1.   Verses 5-12. When men suffer for Christ what two prospects of things which are to be fulfilled by Christ at His return should be a comfort to them?  What two complementary things will Christ then do?  

2.   Notice the subjects of Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer for his fellow-Christians at Thessalonica.  Is this how you pray for others? Compare your aims in the Christian life with those here implied to be desirable.

Notes

1.     Verse 5. ‘This evidence of the righteous judgment of God’: it affords proof-since God is righteous—that His day of judgement and just recompense will certainly come.

2.     Verses 7-10. Cf. Is. 66:15, 16; Mt. 13:40-43; Lk. 3:17.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — 1 Thessalonians 5

Study 5 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 1 Thessalonians 5

1.   Verses 1-11. How will the ‘day of the Lord’ break upon the world, and what will it mean (a) for men in general, and (b) for Christians? Cf. Mt. 24:32-44; Lk. 21:25-28.

2.   What practical effect should the prospect of the Lord’s return have on our attitude and behaviour? Make your own list of the injunctions of this chapter and examine your own life in the light of them.

Notes

1.     Verse 2. ‘The day of the Lord’: an Old Testament phrase, signifying God’s future intervention in history in salvation and judgement. (Is. 2:12; 13:6; Zp. 1:14; 3:11, 16), and applied in the New Testament to the second coming of Christ. (Lk. 17:24; 1 Cor. 1:8, etc).

2.     Verses 6, 7, 10. The word ‘sleep’ is used in this passage in three meanings; in verse 6 in the sense of spiritual insensibility, in verse 7 in the meaning of natural sleep, and in verse 10 in the sense of physical death, as in 4:14, 15 (cf. 4:16 ‘the dead in Christ’)

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Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — 1 Thessalonians 4

Study 4 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 1 Thessalonians 4

1.   Verses 1-12. What aims and aspects of Christian living are emphasized in these verses? Why should we so live? And what

2.   makes such a standard of living possible for us?

3.   Verses 13-18. In what ways do these words on the Lord’s return bring comfort? State in your won words what Paul says will happen.  On what grounds can we be sure of your share in such a wonderful hope?

Notes

1. Verse 8. “Who gives his Holy Spirit to you”: the indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal of God’s ownership, the evidence that we are His.  Cf. Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:9b. It is by the power of the Spirit that we overcome the flesh Cf. Gal. 5:16.
2. Verses 11, 12.  Cf. 2 Thes. 3:10-12; Eph. 4:28.
3. Verses 1-12. Notice the repeated emphasis in the verses, not only on upright behaviour, but on the need to advance and progress in the thing of God.

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Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — 1 Thessalonians 3

Study 3 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II  Is: 1 Thessalonians 3

1. In what ways did Paul show his love and concern for the Thessalonian Christians? When, like Paul, we pray for our fellow-Christians, what does his example suggest that we ought to pray for them?
2. What is there taught concerning suffering for Christ? Cf. Jn. 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12. To what dangers does such an experience expose us (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8, 9) and how are they to be successfully faced?
3. Verses 11-13.  How are love and sanctification linked in these verses? Does this teach us anything important about what is involved in becoming holy?

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Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — 1 Thessalonians 2

Study 2  From The Books of Thessalonians I & II  Is: 1 Thessalonians 2

1. Verses 1-12, 17-20. List all the characteristics of a faithful Christian worker which these verse mention.  Which do I particularly need to covet?
2. Verses 13-16.  Consider the place of the Word of God in the work of the Gospel. What differing responses does it evoke from those who hear it? Is this still true today?

Note.  Verses 14-16, 18. He who seeks either to receive or to spread the gospel will meet the opposition of Satan and his agents. Cf. Mk. 4:15; 1 Thes. 3:5

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Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — 1 Thessalonians 1

Study 1  From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 1 Thessalonians 1

1. What explanation does this chapter give of the way in which these Thessalonians became Christians? Am I talking a similar share in the reception and spread of the gospel of Christ?
2. Pick out the outstanding features of the Christian life and character of these converts. Making every allowance for the difference in circumstances, is our Christian life of this kind?
3. What marks of a work of the Holy Spirit are mentioned here? Can we share in a similar experience?

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Search The Scriptures —Study - Introduction On the Books of Thessalonians

Study 0  From The Books of Thessalonians  Is: The introduction

Almost certainly these two letters were the first books of the New Testament to be written. They were written in Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey, and not long after the church at Thessalonica had been founded, about 50 AD (Acts 17:1-10). In them we get an insight into the life of a local Christian church within about twenty years of the death and resurrection of our Lord. The first letter was written on Timothy’s return from a visit to Thessalonica, and the second a few months later.  They are among the most personal of the apostle’s letter in the New Testament, and present a vivid picture both of himself and of his readers, while revealing also the marvellous results of his missionary work in a great heathen city, the capital of Macedonia.

The apostle was greatly encouraged by the report, which Timothy brought, of the church’s steadfastness under persecution and of its continued progress.  But there were some matters that gave him concern, in particular the wrong were some matters that gave him concern, in particular the wrong views that were held about the  second coming of Christ. This is then the chief theme of the two letters.  It is shown to be a comfort in bereavement, a motive for endurance, an inspiration to hope, a safeguard in temptation, a help to purity, a challenge to watchfulness, a ground of rejoicing, and a separating and sanctifying power. The apostle’s great aim is summed up in 1 Thes. 3:13.

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