Called Higher: Living Pure, Hope-Filled, and Awake as the Day of the Lord Approaches
- Be God's Glory
- 5 days ago
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 341 of The Glory Team Bible Reading Plan.
In these final chapters, Paul instructs believers on how to walk in holiness, brotherly love, sexual purity, and quiet diligence as they await the return of Christ. He comforts them with hope concerning believers who have died, revealing the Lord’s return, the resurrection of the dead, and the gathering of the saints. Paul urges the church to remain spiritually alert and sober, living as children of light in contrast to a world unprepared for the Day of the Lord. He closes with practical commands that shape daily Christian living—rejoicing, praying continually, testing everything, avoiding evil, and honoring spiritual leadership. These chapters blend doctrine, encouragement, and practical holiness, reminding the church that salvation includes both present obedience and future glory.
1 Thessalonians 4
Paul begins by urging believers to live in a way that pleases God, emphasizing sanctification and moral purity as essential to Christian identity. He specifically commands them to abstain from sexual immorality, teaching that holiness involves controlling one’s body in honor, not in worldly passion. Paul encourages them to grow even more in their love for one another, demonstrating the transforming work of God in community life. He also instructs them to live quietly, work diligently, and avoid dependence on others. Shifting to the topic of death, Paul comforts them by explaining that Christians mourn differently because of the guaranteed hope of resurrection. He concludes by describing the Lord’s return—the dead in Christ rising first, followed by living believers who are caught up to be forever with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5
Paul teaches that the Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, catching unbelievers off guard but not surprising those who live in the light. Because believers belong to the day, he urges them to remain spiritually awake, sober, and protected by the armor of faith, love, and the hope of salvation. Paul emphasizes that God has not appointed His people to wrath but to obtain salvation through Christ, leading to encouragement and unity among the church. He continues with rapid-fire exhortations: respect spiritual leaders, pursue peace, warn the idle, comfort the faint-hearted, and be patient with everyone. Paul instructs them to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances as expressions of God’s will. He finishes with commands to test all things, cling to what is good, reject evil, and trust God to sanctify them completely until the coming of Christ.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The title “1 Thessalonians” comes from the city of Thessalonica, a major urban center in ancient Macedonia. The name Thessalonica means “Victory of Thessaly” or “Victory of Thessalonike,” named after Thessalonike, the sister of Alexander the Great. The letter is addressed to the Christian believers living in this influential port city. Because the apostle Paul wrote two letters to this church, the first received the name First (1) Thessalonians.
Purpose of the Book:
Paul wrote this letter to encourage a young church facing persecution, strengthen them in holy living, clarify misunderstandings about Christ’s second coming, and affirm their faithfulness. The church at Thessalonica grew quickly despite opposition, and Paul wanted to:
Reassure them that their suffering was not a sign of God’s displeasure
Encourage their spiritual growth, especially in purity and brotherly love
Correct confusion about the return of Christ
Defend the integrity of his ministry against critics who questioned his motives
Strengthen their hope in the resurrection and Christ’s ultimate victory
1 Thessalonians is considered one of the earliest New Testament writings, making it foundational for understanding early Christian teaching, especially about end-times hope and Christian endurance.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The book of 1 Thessalonians was written by the Apostle Paul, with support from Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy.
Biblical Evidence Supporting Paul’s Authorship
Direct Claim in the Letter —
“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy…” (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
Paul repeatedly uses personal statements only he could make, including recalling his ministry among them (2:1–12) and expressing his desire to visit again (2:17–18).
Acts of the Apostles —
Acts 17:1–10 describes Paul founding the church in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey, matching the historical context and details found in the letter.
Cross-References in Other Pauline Letters —
Paul references the Thessalonian believers in Philippians 4:15–16, stating that they supported him financially.
2 Corinthians 8:1–5 reflects the generosity of Macedonian churches (Thessalonica being a primary one).
Romans 15:26 connects Paul’s ministry with the Macedonian believers again.
Historical and Ancient Sources Supporting Paul’s Authorship
Early Christian writings unanimously attribute the letter to Paul:
Clement of Rome (c. AD 96) references themes from 1 Thessalonians, affirming Paul as the author.
Irenaeus (2nd century) quotes from the letter and identifies Paul as the writer (Against Heresies, Book III).
Tertullian (2nd–3rd century) defends the authenticity of Paul’s letters, including 1 Thessalonians.
The Muratorian Fragment (c. AD 170–200) lists Paul’s letters and includes 1 Thessalonians as his.
Early manuscripts (such as Codex Vaticanus and Codex Sinaiticus) place 1 Thessalonians firmly within the Pauline corpus.
There is no historical or textual evidence that disputes Paul’s authorship; it is one of the least contested books in the New Testament.
Key People:
Paul — the apostle and primary author of the letter.
Silas (Silvanus) — missionary companion who helped establish the church.
Timothy — Paul’s young co-worker who visited Thessalonica and brought back a report (1 Thess. 3).
The Thessalonian believers — the faithful but persecuted church community.
The Judaizers/opponents (implied, not named) — those who stirred up persecution and opposed the gospel.
While Christ is central to the theology of the letter, these are the primary human figures connected to the narrative.
Conclusion
1 Thessalonians is a powerful letter of encouragement, hope, and spiritual strengthening. Paul affirms the believers’ vibrant faith in the midst of trials and urges them to grow in holiness, love, and readiness for Christ’s return. He provides foundational teaching about resurrection hope, godly living, moral purity, and spiritual endurance. The book closes with practical instructions for Christian living, emphasizing prayer, joy, discernment, and peace. Ultimately, the letter reveals Paul’s deep pastoral love and God’s unwavering faithfulness to those who steadfastly follow Christ. It remains a timeless message of hope for believers who face hardship and look forward to the return of the Lord.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
1 Thessalonians 4
In 1 Thessalonians 4, God is revealed as holy and deeply committed to the sanctification of His people. He calls believers to walk in purity, love, and honorable living, showing that He desires their lives to reflect His character. God is personal and attentive, caring about how His people conduct themselves in both public and private matters. He is also the God of hope, promising comfort and resurrection through Christ for those who grieve.
No Hebrew names of God appear in this chapter, but His actions resemble Yahweh M’Kaddesh—the Lord who sanctifies—because He commands His people to live in holiness. The lesson He teaches is that sanctification is not optional; it is His will for every believer’s life. God invites us to reflect His purity in our decisions, relationships, and conduct. He also teaches us to anchor our hope in the return of Christ and the resurrection He has promised.
1 Thessalonians 5
In 1 Thessalonians 5, God is revealed as sovereign over time and history, controlling the Day of the Lord and calling His people to live in readiness. He shows Himself as the God of light who equips His children to remain spiritually awake, sober, and protected in a dark world. God is also gracious and merciful, appointing believers not to wrath but to salvation through Jesus Christ. His character is pastoral and caring as He shapes His people through encouragement, instruction, and spiritual discipline.
While no Hebrew names appear directly, God is portrayed in a way consistent with El Roi, the God who sees, because He watches over His children as they stay alert and faithful. The lesson He teaches is that spiritual vigilance is a necessity, not a suggestion. God calls us to live differently from the world by walking in joy, prayer, gratitude, discernment, and holiness. He assures us that He Himself will sanctify us completely and keep us blameless until Christ returns.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
How does God’s call to holiness in chapter 4 reveal His desire for His people to be set apart from the world?
What does God’s role as the Avenger in 4:6 show about His justice and protection over His people?
In what ways do God’s instructions for love and purity demonstrate His heart for relationship and community?
How does the promise of resurrection in 4:13–18 reflect God’s compassion and comfort during grief?
What does God’s design for believers to “live soberly” and “belong to the day” in chapter 5 reveal about His nature as light?
How does God’s faithfulness in 5:23–24 show that He not only commands holiness but also empowers it?
What do God’s commands for encouragement, peace, and unity in the church teach about His character and desires for His people?
Questions About Themes:
Why is personal holiness such a central theme in Paul’s teaching to the Thessalonians?
How does the theme of sexual purity connect to spiritual identity and belonging to God?
What role does brotherly love play in strengthening the church community in these chapters?
How does the theme of hope shape Paul’s teaching on the return of Christ?
What does being “children of light” teach us about living intentionally in a dark world?
Why is watchfulness and spiritual alertness emphasized so strongly in chapter 5?
How do Paul’s final instructions (5:12–22) reinforce a lifestyle of Christian maturity and spiritual discipline?
Reflective Application Questions:
What areas of your life is God calling you to pursue greater holiness and purity?
How can you practice brotherly love more intentionally within your church, family, or community?
Are there any habits or influences that pull you toward spiritual “sleep” instead of alertness?
How does the hope of Christ’s return change the way you respond to trials or discouragement?
Which of Paul’s final instructions in chapter 5 do you need to apply most in your daily routine (rejoicing, prayer, gratitude, discernment, etc.)?
In what ways can you actively encourage and build up someone in your life this week?
How does knowing that God Himself sanctifies and preserves you (5:23–24) strengthen your walk when you feel weak or inadequate?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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