| 1 THESSALONIANS |
| Explanatory Footnotes |
| 2:9 Working for a Living Paul supported his own ministry with a trade (tentmaking) raher than take funds from others. He did this to avoid suspicion that he was profiting financially from his spiritual work. With the Thessalonians, his hard work gave another advantage: it set a good example for those who were quitting their jobs in anticipation of Christ's return to earth. 3:4 Paul Defends His Actions First Thessalonians indicates some people had questioned Paul's true motives regarding their church. Throughout his ministry, Paul endured constant criticism and personal attacks. Here he replies by reviewing his history with the church. This section (2:17-3:10) details Paul's foiled attempts at a personal visit and then his sending Timothy as a messenger. 4:13 The Sleep of Death The Bible sometimes uses the word asleep to describe people who have died. In this context, Paul was answering a question the Thessalonians had asked. What of people who died before Christ's second coming - would they be left behind? Paul assures them that all people in Christ would have an afterlife with him - not just those still alive when he returned. |