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OCTOBER 15

118:22 stone…builders rejected…chief 2:7,8 gentle…as a nursing mother. Paul may
cornerstone. Peter identified the chief cor- have had in mind Moses’portrayal of himself as
nerstone in the New Testament as Christ (Acts a nursing mother to Israel (Num.11:12).He used
4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7). In the parable of the vineyard the same tender picture with the Corinthians
(Matt. 21:42; Mark 12:10–11; Luke 20:17), the (2 Cor. 12:14,15) and the Galatians (Gal. 4:19).
rejected son of the vineyard owner is likened Paul’s affection for the Thessalonians was like
to the rejected stone which became the chief that felt by a mother willing to sacrifice her life
cornerstone. Christ was that rejected stone. for her child as was Christ who was willing to
Jewish leaders were pictured as builders of give up His own life for those who would be
the nation.Now,this passage in v.22 has a his- born again into the family of God (Matt.20:28)
torical basis which is paralleled in its major
features by analogy with the rejection of
Christ who came to deliver/save the nation. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how
Moses’experience,as a type of Christ,pictured devoutly and justly and blamelessly we
Christ’s rejection. On at least 3 occasions, behaved ourselves among you who believe;
Moses (stone) was rejected by the Jews 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comfort-
(builders) as their God sent the deliverer (chief ed, and charged every one of you, as a father
cornerstone). For examples see Exodus does his own children, that you would walk
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2:11–15; 14:10–14; 16:1–20. worthy of God who calls you into His own
kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also thank God without
1 Thessalonians 2:1–20
ceasing, because when you received the word
For you yourselves know, brethren, that of God which you heard from us, you wel-
2 our coming to you was not in vain. But comed it not as the word of men, but as it is in
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even after we had suffered before and were truth, the word of God, which also effectively
spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we works in you who believe. For you, brethren,
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were bold in our God to speak to you the became imitators of the churches of God
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gospel of God in much conflict. For our which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you
exhortation did not come from error or also suffered the same things from your own
uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. countrymen, just as they did from the
4 But as we have been approved by God to be Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and
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entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, their own prophets, and have persecuted us;
not as pleasing men, but God who tests our and they do not please God and are contrary
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hearts. For neither at any time did we use flat- to all men, forbidding us to speak to the
tering words, as you know, nor a cloak for cov- Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always
etousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath
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glory from men, either from you or from others, has come upon them to the uttermost.
when we might have made demands as apostles 17 But we, brethren, having been taken away
of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just from you for a short time in presence, not in
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as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your
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8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well face with great desire. Therefore we wanted
pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of to come to you—even I, Paul, time and
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God, but also our own lives, because you had again—but Satan hindered us. For what is
become dear to us. For you remember, our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not
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brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus
and day, that we might not be a burden to any of Christ at His coming? For you are our glory
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you, we preached to you the gospel of God. and joy.
DAY 15:What is the effect of the Word of God working in a person’s life?
“We also thank God without ceasing,”Paul said,“because when you received the word of God
which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of
God”(1 Thess.2:13).Paul’s message from God is equated with the Old Testament (Mark 7:13).It was
the message taught by the apostles (Acts 4:31; 6:2). Peter preached it to the Gentiles (Acts 11:1). It
was the word Paul preached on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:5,7,44,48,49), his second (Acts
16:32; 17:13; 18:11), and his third (Acts 19:10).
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