A SINNER FORGIVEN
2 CORINTHIANS
5 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you.

• Some believe Paul is referring to man in 1 Corinthians (10/12/20)
• 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 - It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this?[1]
• “Hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” (v 5)
• Let him choose his own path.
• Logical negative consequences
• Sounds cruel…
• “destruction of the flesh” – Selfishness; his own strength.
• This no different than the “Cancel Culture”
• The difference is… you discuss the issue and give a chance for repentance and forgiveness to occur before you cut them off.

 

• Others believe that Paul is referring to someone who confronted Paul in a public situation.
• Then the division in the church caused people to choose sides.
• Opinions vs Truth
• This crushed Paul and possibly the reason for his severe and harsh letter that we don’t have.

6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person.

• Not everyone participated in the punishment.
• Again, showing division the church.
• But sufficient because the man repented (changed his mind)

7 As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.

• Don’t give up on this man.
• “Cancel Culture” is cool until it is you getting cancelled.
• This is grace.
• All believers have received grace.
• Not all believers give grace.
• When you understand what has been given to you, then you are able to give to others.
• It is almost a way of measuring the spiritual maturity of a believer.
• If Jesus died for all sin and anyone who believes in Jesus can be forgiven for all their sin, then why shouldn’t we be able to forgive?
• We could easily go down a dark path of terrible sins that seem unforgiveable… but in Truth, we know they have already been dealt with at the cross.
• “excessive grief” – There are logical natural consequences that occur with sin.
• But consequences can still occur at the same time that grace and forgiveness is given.

8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

• It’s OK to freely give love.
• Sometimes we want to protect who we give love to because it makes it seem like it is more valuable.
• I can love others because I have been loved much.
• The more love you give away… the more you have.
• Do you really think you don’t have enough love to give to your barber or salon person? Or your wait staff? Or your tax person?
• You have plenty of love because you have been loved much.
• It doesn’t make it any less worth… it actually does quite the opposite. It multiplies.
• What great love it is… to be able to look someone in the eye who has done you wrong and tell them “I love you”.

9 I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything.

• Paul refers to his severe letter he sent.
• He is still licking his wounds for sending it.

10 Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.

• If you live in a state of unforgiveness… you are miserable.
• And the person you can’t forgive may have moved passed it.
• But you are still stuck in something you don’t have to be.
• Feelings and emotions occur… but you have the ability to impact them based upon what you believe.
• What you believe impacts what you do.

 

• This is the part of “church discipline” that rarely occurs.
• The relationship has been severed by actions.

 
A TRIP TO MACEDONIA
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, 13 I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia.

• Show map – (3rd Missionary Trip)
• Now, one thing I want you to think about with this passage is the fact that being right where you’re supposed to be in terms of ministry doesn’t mean that you’re always going to have emotional peace.
• In fact, at times, because you’re right where God has called you to be, you face some type of inner turmoil.
• What Paul does is he ends here, on a very tense moment in his life and ministry and it kind of leaves the tension hanging in the air.
• Then he’s going to go through a long section in the center of the book where he lays out a theological explanation of what authentic ministry looks like.
• Paul is saying, “As an authentic minister of Jesus Christ, I am under orders by God Himself, and God moves me around the world.”[2]

 
A MINISTRY OF LIFE OR DEATH
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.

• Triumphal procession
• Rome defeated many regions/countries during this time period in history.
• The general who led the great defeat would come in on his chariot.
• Wagon loads of wealth from the defeated country
• Loads of armor of defeated warriors
• Slaves in chains from the defeated region
• Paintings of the region now claimed by the empire
• The Roman Army
• The Braves just won the World Series
• Paul is just following Christ through the world in His victory, and as he does that he is proclaiming the gospel.

 
15 For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

• “aroma” – Good and bad smells
• Wednesday night we had chicken sandwiches that were cooked over the open fire. Can you smell it?
• Yesterday, I got in my car sitting in garage with the trash cans that had Weds chicken scraps. Can you smell it?
• Two distinct and different smells.
• In these parades, they had incense burners walking along the route.
• To the Romans, it was the beautiful smell of victory.
• To the slaves in the parade it was the nasty smell of defeat.
• The blood sacrifices at the temple had an awful bloody smell but it was the sweet aroma of the sacrifice being made.
• The Gospel… it is a sweet aroma to those who believe and it makes sense… but to the rest of the world, it stinks.

16 To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life.

• In these parades, you had slaves who were taken captive but you also those who had been oppressed and were now liberated because of the defeat.
• Sometimes, when the gospel goes out, people don’t respond well.
• That’s why so much of 2 Corinthians is filled with Paul’s suffering.
• He is being persecuted for the cause of Christ.
• But, celebrating here, Paul says there are those who do respond positively.
• They are the ones who are being saved.
• Their whole lives are opening up in front of them.[3]

Who is adequate for these things?

• Paul questions who is qualified for what he does.
• Even himself… the man who once opposed Jesus… now celebrates Jesus.

17 For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.[4]

• Paul was having to deal false teachers who were coming to town to pedal their message.
• These were false teachers.
• An issue Paul had to deal with on the regular in Corinth.
• “When we proclaim the Word of God, we are doing it in a way with real integrity.
• We are sincere proclaimers of the Word who are preaching the Word of God in the world as people who are sent by God.

God has sent us.”[5]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Co 5:1–2). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Co 2:5–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Guthrie, G. H. (2018). NT337 Book Study: Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

• We left off last week with Paul talking about the Day of the Lord in the body of his letter found in Chapter 2.
• Chapter 3:1-15 is considered part of the body of the letter as well.

 
2 THESSALONIANS 3
PRAY FOR US

• This 1st paragraph almost makes it seem like Paul got interrupted in the writing of this letter.
• He put down his pen and then came back to the letter.
• He got a running start for the 2nd issue he needed to deal with… rebellious idlers.

1 In addition, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.
 
WARNING AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR

• 1) Paul warned the church in Thessalonica when he was present and the church was starting.
• This was 51 AD on Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey (his current journey) when he was in Thessalonica for at least 3 weeks.
• In 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul says, “For when we were with you, we also were repeatedly commanding this to you: ‘If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.’
• So the first warning goes all the [way back] to the foundation of the church.[1]
• 2) Paul warned them again in his 1st letter
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.[2]
• 3) Now Paul warns the Church for the 3rd time in this 2nd letter.

6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. 13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet don’t consider him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

• There are a group of people in the Thessalonian church that Paul uses the word atakt-, which is the Greek word, to describe.
• He uses that Greek root three times.
• He uses it in verse 6 and verse 7 and 11.

 
Primary Meaning

• And the challenge is there are two different meanings to that particular Greek root word.
• The primary meaning of that word has to do with people who are disorderly or unruly.
• So it refers to—in the context of military officers—to soldiers who do not obey their commands, to officers who neglect their duties, or [to] an army that’s in disarray.
• And in a nonmilitary context, the word is used to describe people who don’t follow the rules of proper conduct in the ancient gymnasium or sons who don’t help out their parents financially or apprentices who miss work or fail to live up to the requirements of their contract.
• So when you look at all the different contexts in which this word is often used, you end up with the meaning of, again, disorderly or unruly or insubordinate.

 
Secondary Meaning

• But there is a secondary meaning to this Greek root, a more narrow meaning where it talks about those who are disorderly specifically with regard to work.
• And a good couple of English words that nicely capture that are those who are “idle,” those who are “lazy.”
• And that translation is supported by the context of our paragraph.
• For instance, this would explain why Paul appeals to his example of one of self-sufficient work (verses 7–9).
• It would also explain why Paul appeals to his teaching about self-sufficient work (verse 10).

 
Combined Meaning

• A combined meaning of these two ideas together, is the translation “rebellious idlers.”
• On the one hand, some in the church were clearly not working, and [were] taking advantage of the love and generosity of fellow members—they were idle.
• On the other hand, this is the third time that Paul has addressed the matter; in other words, the idlers have refused to obey Paul on this matter [or] his appointed church leaders, and so they are also rebellious.
• ‘rebellious idlers’—those who were not merely lazy but who compounded their sin by rebelliously refusing to obey the command of both their congregational leaders and even Paul himself.”

 
1. The first paragraph is found in verse 6, and that is the opening command, “avoid the idlers.”
2. The second paragraph is verses 7–9, and that’s the example of Paul, especially his example of self-sufficient work.
3. The third paragraph is verse 10, and that’s the teaching of Paul, again, on the importance of self-sufficient work.
4. The fourth paragraph is verses 11–12, and that’s applying Paul’s example in teaching to the Thessalonian situation.
5. And then the fifth and final paragraph is verses 13–15, and that can be titled “Closing Commands,” which echo the opening command, and that is, again, “avoid the idlers.”[3]
 
Discipline

• The Thessalonians lived in a strongly communal culture and also a place where honor and shame were powerful forces controlling social behavior.
• So shunning, or ostracizing, a fellow church member in that kind of social context would have actually been very effective.[4]
• The context of discipline:
• In Japan, if you dishonored your family it was acceptable to commit suicide.
• When I was a kid in school… I got swats.
• The context of discipline in our American society changes with the culture.
• How would the Church deal with “rebellious idlers” today?
• How would you deal with “rebellious idlers” today?
• What is the purpose of church discipline?
• To separate bad leaven from good leaven.
• Leaven spreads.

 

• Imitate Paul
• He holds up God; he holds up Christ; he holds up the churches of Judaea; and he holds up his coworkers Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Titus.
• Seneca was a very famous Roman philosopher and statesman, and he said this: He said, “A model of conduct will help you more than the written word. You must go to the scene of action, first, because men put more faith in their eyes than in their ears, and second, because the way is long if one follows precepts, but short and helpful if one follows examples.”
• And other ancient writers say similar things. So when we hear Paul’s language of imitation, we must realize that he’s actually following a rather common practice or idea of his day.
• Paul—and there is good evidence of this—did not belong, originally, to the lower class; he comes from a powerful, rich, Jewish family.
• We can see that in his ability to be trained at the feet of Gamaliel—the Harvard School of Judaism.
• We can see it in the fact that he has Roman citizenship.
• Yet Paul, even though he comes from that upper class background, deliberately works. Why? Because he wants to put himself at the social level of most of his converts in order to enhance the gospel.
• That’s part of his strategy in 1 Cor 9: to “become all things to all people.”

 

• Now, be careful to hear exactly what Paul says in his teaching that he quotes.
• He doesn’t say “if anyone does not work.” No, he says “if anyone is not willing to work.”
• I hope you hear the difference. Paul is not talking about church members who [are unemployed] due to illness or injury or old age.
• No, he’s talking about those who are capable of working, but they nevertheless rebelliously refuse to do so.
• So, for those who are unable to work, actually, Paul is quite gracious.
• He says, in verse 13—we’ll get there in just a little bit—that the church must not be discouraged in doing good, so they should keep on showing love to members of their church who are struggling and unable to work.
• They want to, but for various reasons they are not able to.

 

• Paul begins with an “if” clause; the technical word is a conditional clause.
• Paul is assuming the truth of what he is “ifing.”
• In another words, Paul is actually assuming that there will in fact be some in the church who do not obey his commands in this letter.
• And those whom he’s assuming are not going to listen to him are the rebellious idlers.[5]

 
FINAL GREETINGS
16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand, which is an authenticating mark in every letter; this is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.[6]

• Paul took the letter from his secretary and wrote the personal ending (greeting) with his own hand.
• “Auto-graphed”
• Paul is giving his authority to this written letter.
• Emphasis on Jesus.
• Emphasis on peace.
• May His peace be your peace.
• Grace in salvation and grace in God’s ability to do your life.

 
I’m sure, out of a common conviction that the same Holy Spirit that inspired Paul to write to the Thessalonians so many years ago has indeed been at work in our hearts and lives as we’ve interpreted those letters [and] as the message of the gospel has become [more clearly] known to us.[7]
​
[1] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (1 Th 4:11–12). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[4] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[5] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (2 Th 3:1–18). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Weima, J. A. D. (2020). NT350 Book Study: 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.