Page 36 - Pauline Epistles Student Textbook

The presence of the unruly, the fainthearted, the weak, and to be patient with all suggests some still
existing frictions (v14). Greek word ἀτάκτους (ataktous [denoting idle or being disruptive) appears
in a number of verses in 1 Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Paul exhorted them to work with
their own hands.

Then in v15, Paul is cautioning those who were idle. In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 11, again, Paul rebuked
those who were idle. If they continued to be idle, then, they were not supposed to eat. The meaning
of idleness is probably laziness. It is a reference to the withdrawal from work while depending on
others’ food. Due to the situation of Thessalonica at the time of the apostles’ mission, which was
with intense persecution, suffering, affliction, deaths of the brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Thess.
1:6; 3:4; 4:13-18; cf. Acts 17:1-5), some could have been discouraged, intimidated, or worried.
Therefore, it was imperative that those (probably the fainthearted) should be consoled or comforted
(cf. 2 Cor. 1:3-7) by the congregational leaders for them to continue to walk in the manner worthy of
God. On the weak, Best suggests that they “are to be understood as Christians who sought
guidelines on how to indicate their rejection of paganism.” While Marshall suggests those should be
Christians “who are susceptible to temptation and sin.” Whatever the nature of weakness that
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could have been, patient help to those by the congregational leaders was necessary. In v15, Paul
commanded those congregational leaders to make sure that no one in the church at Thessalonica
was supposed to pay back wrong for wrong. Not only did he instruct them to continue doing what is
good for each other, but also to do good to everyone else. Based on internal evidence, it appears
that Paul wanted them all God to avenge them (cf. 2 Thess. 1:6).

Commands (1 Thess. 5:16-27)

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16 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God
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in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything;
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hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
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23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul
and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he
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will surely do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. (ESV)

In v16, Paul is calling the congregational leaders to be rejoicing always, praying continually, and
giving thanks in all circumstances (vv17-18a). In v18b, he gave them the motivation behind these
commands: “ for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Not only is sanctification God’s will for us
(1 Thess. 4:3), but rejoicing, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances is also God’s
will for us. The kind of rejoicing should not be understood as that one which is provoked by freedom
from trials, persecutions, sufferings, afflictions, but that one whose ground is the Holy Spirit Himself.
That is, rejoicing with the understanding of seeing God’s hand in whatever is happening and remain
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resolute toward God’s future salvation (cf. 1 Thess. 1:6; 3:9). The believers at Thessalonica were
supposed to pray continually. These could have been both individual and corporate prayers.

How was it possible to pray without ceasing? Does this mean pray all the time and never stop
praying? Obviously, this would be impossible as we live our daily lives and work. Actually the Greek
word for “ceasing” is an interesting word which means “tingle in the throat.” Have you ever had a

62 Wanamaker, The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Epistles to the
Thessalonians, 197.

63 Ibid., 200.

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