Building Up the Body

The passage we're focusing on, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, is part of what is called a "paraenesis" or a collection of exhortations. These weren't random afterthoughts but carefully selected instructions to address potential points of conflict and build up the community.

The first theme focuses on nurturing healthy relationships within the church community. Paul addresses two crucial aspects: the relationship between the congregation and its leaders, and the relationships among church members. Paul begins by urging the Thessalonians to "respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you" (v. 12). This respect isn't based on a hierarchical structure but on the leaders' work and character. Paul uses three participles to describe these leaders:

1. "Those who work hard" (kopiontas): This term implies strenuous labor, indicating that church leadership is no easy task.
2. "Who are over you" (proistamenous): This doesn't denote a position of authority as much as it does a function of care and protection.
3. "Who admonish you" (nouthetountas): This involves instruction, often with a corrective element.

Paul doesn't mention specific titles like elders or deacons. Instead, he focuses on the functions these leaders perform. The implication is clear: respect is earned through service, not demanded by position. He goes further, asking the church to "hold them in the highest regard in love" (v. 13a). The Greek here is even stronger, suggesting esteem "beyond all measure." This high regard isn't blind obedience but a loving response to the leaders' service.

Paul then broadens his focus to mutual care within the community. He provides a list of instructions that, while seemingly addressed to the whole church, particularly challenge the spiritually mature:

1. "Warn those who are idle": The Greek term (ataktous) can mean disorderly or idle. These might be people neglecting their responsibilities, possibly due to misunderstandings about Christ's return.
2. "Encourage the disheartened": This refers to those who are "small-souled" or fainthearted, perhaps due to persecution or personal struggles.
3. "Help the weak": This could refer to those weak in faith or possibly those physically or economically vulnerable.
4. "Be patient with everyone": Patience is a godly virtue, reflecting how God deals with us.
5. Paul concludes this section with a call to break the cycle of retaliation: "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else" (v. 15). This echoes Jesus' teaching to love our enemies and extends beyond the church to "everyone else."

The second theme shifts focus to the spiritual health of the community. Paul provides instructions that, while brief, carry weight for both individual and corporate spiritual life.

Paul offers three short, powerful commands:

1. "Rejoice always" (v. 16): This isn't a call to superficial happiness but to deep-seated joy rooted in faith.
2. "Pray continually" (v. 17): This doesn't mean non-stop verbal prayer but a life lived in constant awareness of God's presence.
3. "Give thanks in all circumstances" (v. 18): Gratitude, even in difficult times, is a hallmark of Christian faith.

Paul adds, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." These practices aren't just good ideas; they're central to God's purpose for His people. It's crucial to note that these aren't just individual practices but communal expressions of faith. When a church embodies these qualities, it becomes a powerful witness to the transforming power of the gospel.

There is a delicate balance between openness to the Spirit's work and discernment:

1. "Do not quench the Spirit" (v. 19): The church must remain open to the Spirit's moving, even in unexpected ways.
2. "Do not treat prophecies with contempt" (v. 20): While being open to prophetic words, the church must also exercise discernment.
3. "Test everything" (v. 21a): Not every claimed revelation is from God. The community must examine everything in light of the gospel.
4. "Hold on to what is good" (v. 21b): What aligns with God's truth should be embraced.
5. "Reject every kind of evil" (v. 22): The flip side of holding to good is rejecting what is evil.
6. This balanced approach protects the church from both cynical rejection of the Spirit's work and gullible acceptance of every claimed revelation.

This passage then shifts from exhortation to benediction. Paul concludes with a powerful reminder of God's role in the believers' lives and some final instructions.

Paul prays, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 23). This prayer encapsulates key themes from the letter:

1. Sanctification: God is the one who makes us holy, not our own efforts alone.
2. Wholeness: The reference to "spirit, soul and body" emphasizes complete sanctification.
3. Eschatological hope: The goal is to be blameless at Christ's return.
4. Paul then adds a crucial assurance: "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it" (v. 24). Our hope isn't in our ability to sanctify ourselves but in God's faithfulness to complete what He has begun in us.

Paul concludes with some final exhortations that underscore the importance of community:

1. "Brothers and sisters, pray for us" (v. 25): Even apostles need the prayers of the community.
2. "Greet all God's people with a holy kiss" (v. 26): This expression of familial love crossed social and economic boundaries, emphasizing the unity of believers.
3. "Have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters" (v. 27): Paul insists that his teaching be shared with the entire community, not just a select few.
4. The letter ends with a benediction: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (v. 28). This final emphasis on grace reminds us that all of Christian life and community is founded on and sustained by God's unmerited favor.

Paul's instructions to the Thessalonian church address relationships, spiritual practices, and trust in God's faithfulness. In our modern church context, which of these areas do you think presents the greatest challenge, and why? How might focusing on this area positively impact the other two?