Analysis
The Greek words used in Thessalonians in which we will be studying are as follows:
ἅγιος: 1. as adjective pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God
- in the cultic sense dedicated to God, holy, sacred, i.e. reserved for God and God’s service:
ἁγιασμός: personal dedication to the interests of the deity, holiness, consecration, sanctification. Kittle: sanctifying, i.e. a process.
ἁγιωσύνη: Holiness. Kittle: “This rare word, formed from the adjective ἅγιος by extension of the o to ω after a short syllable as an abstract term of quality, in the same way as δικαιοσύνη is formed from δίκαιος, is not found in pre-biblical Greek. It means ‘sanctification’ or ‘holiness’ rather than ‘sanctifying’, but as a quality rather than a state.”
ἁγιάζω: 1. set aside something or make it suitable for ritual purposes, consecrate, dedicate of things. 2. include a person in the inner circle of what is holy, in both cultic and moral associations of the word, consecrate, dedicate, sanctify. 3. to treat as holy, reverence. 4. to eliminate that which is incompatible with holiness, purify
ὁσιότης: state of proper attitude toward God as exhibited in action, devoutness, piety, holiness.”
Passages where Paul calls the Thessalonians “holy ones”.
2Thessalonians 1:10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy ἁγίοις people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
Holy Spirit passages.
1Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy ἁγίῳ Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy ἁγίου Spirit.
1Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy ἅγιον Spirit.
Holy Kiss.
1Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all God’s people with a holy ἁγίῳ kiss.
Holiness Passages.
1Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ἁγίων ones.
It is an allusion to the end of Zechariah 14:5 LXX:
...καὶ ἥξει κύριος ὁ θεός μου καὶ πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ.
...and the Lord (Yahweh) my God will come and all the holy ones with him.
In the context of Zechariah, “holy ones” probably refers to angels, but Paul is setting up his “resurrection section” of chapters 4 and 5. So, he is probably now referring to the ones who have died in Jesus. There is a good chance that this is intended by Paul as it would parallel with 4:13-14.
4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
These are the “holy ones” that Paul refers to in his allusion to Zechariah 14:5.
1Thessalonians 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified ἁγιασμὸς: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy ἁγιασμῷ and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy ἁγιασμῷ life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
As we have seen through out this study, paganism had a direct influence on sin. In this case, it is sexual sin. This sin is just not something that Christian men or women do. If they do, then they will become like their formal pagan self.
Paul then goes on to state why the pagan Gentiles do such lustful desires. They simply don’t know God. Therefore, if they knew God and had his Spirit in them, they would know that such lustful desires are wrong and that using their “vessel” in such a way is opposite of using it in holiness and honor and doing so can wrong and take advantage of their brother or sister if there is an illicit affair going on.
2Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work ἁγιασμῷ of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It has been stated many times that a person can’t make him/herself holy. Here, Paul openly declares that one is saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Literally:
εἰς σωτηρίαν ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος καὶ πίστει ἀληθείας
for salvation in the sanctifying/holiness of the Spirit and the belief of truth.
1Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy ἁγιωσύνῃ in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
And here it is. Our word ἁγιωσύνη; holiness as a quality. It is the holiness that is reached after the time it takes for the Holy Spirit to refine a person. And yes, it takes the Holy Spirit to do it. It is this quality of holiness that appointed Jesus as the Son of God at his raising from the dead (Romans 1:4). It is a nice set up for Paul’s resurrection passage as well as this one:
1Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify ἁγιάσαι you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Only God can make one holy and blameless. We can’t do it, but we can stand in the way. If we stay faithful to him, he will stay faithful to us and make us holy and blameless at the end; the coming of our Lord Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment