>>Bill: On today's "It
Is Written" program, Dr.
00:00:01.33\00:00:02.43
George Knight is with
us and we are going to
00:00:02.43\00:00:03.96
be studying the book of
Thessalonians, first and
00:00:03.96\00:00:08.53
2Thessalonians. So, you
know what that means, go
00:00:08.53\00:00:09.53
get your pad, your paper
and your Bible and we will
00:00:09.53\00:00:13.96
be back in thirty seconds
00:00:13.96\00:00:17.70
(Music)
00:00:18.83\00:00:29.23
Announcer: It has
stood the test of time..
00:00:29.53\00:00:32.36
God's book, The Bible.
00:00:32.76\00:00:35.73
Still relevant in
today's complex world.
00:00:35.96\00:00:40.30
It Is Written.
00:00:40.53\00:00:42.86
Sharing messages of
hope around the world.
00:00:43.10\00:00:47.46
(Music)
00:00:47.93\00:00:56.96
Let me welcome all of
our viewers to this weeks "It
00:00:57.36\00:00:58.40
Is Written" program.
Thank you for taking the time to
00:00:58.40\00:01:00.83
join us. Let me welcome
my special guest, Dr. George
00:01:00.83\00:01:05.43
Knight. Dr.
Knight, welcome back. >>Dr.
00:01:05.43\00:01:06.33
Knight: Good to be
with you Bill. >>Bill: It's
00:01:06.33\00:01:09.10
good to have you again.
00:01:09.10\00:01:09.60
And we know that when
you're here our focus is
00:01:09.60\00:01:11.93
Bible study. >>Dr. Knight:
Amen, brother. >>Bill: And
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so, we don't want to
take a whole lot of time but
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maybe for the benefit of
those that don't know you
00:01:18.10\00:01:22.33
yet, you could give us a
quick biography on who you
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are and then we're
going to get right into our
00:01:28.23\00:01:29.20
study of Thessalonians.
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>>Dr. Knight: Okay.
00:01:33.13\00:01:33.60
Well, I'm supposed to
be retired. Worked as a
00:01:33.60\00:01:35.60
pastor, worked many
years, 30 years in a theological
00:01:35.60\00:01:36.66
seminary, specialist in
church history and also,
00:01:36.66\00:01:41.43
writing a regular
basis commentary on scripte.
00:01:41.43\00:01:47.56
>>Bill: Well, terrific.
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And this is probably,
maybe the fourth.>>Dr.
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Knight: Fourth time
>>Bill: The fourth study
00:01:52.60\00:01:55.90
we've done and the
response has always been
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extremely positive. We
really appreciate you're
00:01:56.80\00:02:00.73
insights and we're
going to be, we're starting a
00:02:00.73\00:02:04.40
series today. We're
going to be doing four programs
00:02:04.40\00:02:05.56
on 1st and 2Thessalonians
and I was thinking maybe
00:02:05.56\00:02:09.83
you could start then
by, sort of, giving us a
00:02:09.83\00:02:13.83
little bit of background
on the books, who wrote
00:02:13.83\00:02:14.83
them, when they were
written, why they were
00:02:14.83\00:02:18.70
written. Sort of, what
was happening behind the
00:02:18.70\00:02:22.70
scenes that motivated
Paul to pen these books? >>Dr.
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Knight: Well, I suppose,
Bill, the most interesting
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thing about these
books, in many ways, is that
00:02:28.86\00:02:32.26
these are the
earliest Christian documents in
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existence. >>Bill: The
earliest. >>Dr. Knight:
00:02:33.33\00:02:38.03
That's right. >>Bill:
Wow. >>Dr. Knight: Written
00:02:38.03\00:02:40.00
probably within 20
years of the crucifixion
00:02:40.00\00:02:40.90
of Christ. >>Bill: So
it should give us a very
00:02:40.90\00:02:46.43
accurate snapshot of
that early.>>Dr. Knight: Oh
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yeah. >>Bill:.of
that early church. >>Dr.
00:02:50.50\00:02:51.33
Knight: You know,
you know these are
00:02:51.33\00:02:52.96
great correctives to much
criticisms of scripture. I
00:02:52.96\00:02:56.56
mean it's very clear
on the Trinity, the full
00:02:56.56\00:02:57.56
divinity of Christ and
many, many other topics
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that people said, oh, no,
no those took a century to
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develop. No. Right
from the get-go. Now, most
00:03:03.40\00:03:04.40
people think that the
Gospels come first. Well,
00:03:04.40\00:03:09.00
they come first in time
but they weren't written
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until probably 60's,
70's of the first century
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with the Gospel of John
probably in the mid 90's.
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By way of contrast,
1st and 2Thessalonians were
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written very closely
together, roughly about
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the year AD 50.
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr. Knight:
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And that can be certified.
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That date can be certified
very closely. >>Bill: And
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there's no question on
the authorship of.>>Dr.
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Knight: No. Nope, some
people have questions on
00:03:43.33\00:03:44.30
other books of the New
Testament, whether Paul
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wrote them or who wrote
them but in Thessalonians
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absolutely no questions.
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>>Bill: In your study,
what do you feel was the
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prime motivator that
drove Paul to write these books
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>>Dr. Knight: Well, to
get to the prime motivation we
00:03:56.36\00:04:01.43
really have to talk
about Thessalonica... >>Bill:
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Okay. >>Dr. Knight:.and
what was happening there
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because Paul had
some new converts who were
00:04:08.50\00:04:12.80
pretty picky. You're an
Evangelist. You know, when
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you go in you hope that
after you leave, you hold
00:04:16.50\00:04:17.53
your meetings, you
have the converts, and after
00:04:17.53\00:04:21.66
you leave you hope the
pastor will be around to
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help nurture these people.
00:04:24.33\00:04:24.90
>>Bill: To disciple,
yeah, that's right. >>Dr.
00:04:24.90\00:04:27.66
Knight: Well, Paul went
in and held, shall we say
00:04:27.66\00:04:28.70
a three or four or five
or six week crusade and had
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to leave. In fact, he
gets run out of town and no
00:04:30.86\00:04:34.60
pastor is behind to
take care of things and Paul
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is deeply concerned.
Will these people be able to
00:04:35.60\00:04:44.40
hang on? >>Bill: Right.
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>>Dr. Knight: Not just
because he's worried about
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their faith but that they
are suffering persecution.
00:04:49.76\00:04:53.00
Pretty serious
persecution, at the same
00:04:53.00\00:04:53.83
time. >>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:04:53.83\00:04:57.23
Knight: And may be
the best way to get the
00:04:57.23\00:04:58.16
pickers to go back to
the book of Acts. >>Bill:
00:04:58.16\00:05:01.13
Okay. >>Dr. Knight: In
the book of Acts, in chapter
00:05:01.13\00:05:03.86
15, we find Paul has
already had his first
00:05:03.86\00:05:04.73
missionary tour into,
what we would call today,
00:05:04.73\00:05:13.70
Turkey. It was
quite successful. There's
00:05:13.70\00:05:18.20
something quite
heartening here, not because
00:05:18.20\00:05:19.23
it's a good experience
but because something good
00:05:19.23\00:05:23.56
comes out of it. Paul
and Barnabus, the partners on
00:05:23.56\00:05:27.03
the first tour, they
get into an argument. Can
00:05:27.03\00:05:28.00
you believe it? It was so
serious that they couldn't
00:05:28.00\00:05:31.30
even go together. One of
them takes John Mark, who
00:05:31.30\00:05:35.53
was a problem of
sorts on the first tour, and
00:05:35.53\00:05:36.63
Barnabas sees great hope
in him and Paul says, I'm
00:05:36.63\00:05:40.40
not going with that
guy He let me down once. So
00:05:40.40\00:05:44.00
Paul goes with Silas
and Barnabas goes with John
00:05:44.00\00:05:45.13
Mark and so now we have
two evangelistic teams. I
00:05:45.13\00:05:51.93
like that. God takes
even bad things and makes good
00:05:51.93\00:05:56.66
things out of them.
00:05:56.66\00:05:57.13
>>Bill: Yes. That's right.
00:05:57.13\00:05:57.66
>>Dr. Knight: And
another thing I like about this,
00:05:57.66\00:06:01.40
sometimes we think that
the church is going to pot
00:06:01.40\00:06:05.26
today and not
everybody gets along.>>Bill: The
00:06:05.26\00:06:06.40
good old days. >>Dr.
00:06:06.40\00:06:09.46
Knight: The good old
days. Yeah.>>Bill: When
00:06:09.46\00:06:10.43
they never argued. >>Dr.
00:06:10.43\00:06:12.96
Knight: That's right.
The good old days never took
00:06:12.96\00:06:13.96
place. Human beings
today are the same as they were
00:06:13.96\00:06:18.60
then. That's why the
Bible is a meaningful book.
00:06:18.60\00:06:25.26
>>Bill: Absolutely. >>Dr.
00:06:25.26\00:06:25.93
Knight: Because I can
read about what they went
00:06:25.93\00:06:28.30
through and say, hey,
that was like a profile of my
00:06:28.30\00:06:29.33
congregation. >>Bill:
In fact I had a, I read
00:06:29.33\00:06:33.10
a commentary once that
said, every time we read
00:06:33.10\00:06:37.50
scripture we should
almost be reading it as a
00:06:37.50\00:06:38.60
self-portrait saying,
how do I fit into this? >>Dr.
00:06:38.60\00:06:42.16
Knight: That's right.
In fact, a lot of times, if
00:06:42.16\00:06:44.53
you put your own
name into some of the
00:06:44.53\00:06:45.36
discussion.>>Bill:
That's right. >>Dr. Knight:.it's
00:06:45.36\00:06:47.56
downright embarrassing
>>Bill: That's right.
00:06:47.56\00:06:49.76
Okay. Great. So you say
Acts 15. >>Dr. Knight: So,
00:06:49.76\00:06:50.83
we're in Acts 15 and
then we move on to Chapter
00:06:50.83\00:06:55.16
16.>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:06:55.16\00:06:55.63
Knight:.and if you go
to the first few verses,
00:06:55.63\00:07:00.80
Paul wanted to do more
evangelism in Turkey and
00:07:00.80\00:07:06.46
the Holy Spirit said,
No. >>Bill: Stop. >>Dr.
00:07:06.46\00:07:07.46
Knight: No. No more
evangelism in Turkey.
00:07:07.46\00:07:11.90
You basically covered the
ground on time through and
00:07:11.90\00:07:16.93
then he has a vision down
here in verse 9. >>Bill: I
00:07:16.93\00:07:18.00
want to put these
glasses on because they say I
00:07:18.00\00:07:23.36
look smarter, okay? >>Dr.
00:07:23.36\00:07:23.86
Knight: Okay. And a
vision appeared to Paul in the
00:07:23.86\00:07:27.56
night. A man of Macedonia
was standing, beseeching
00:07:27.56\00:07:32.16
him, and saying come
over to Macedonia and help us
00:07:32.16\00:07:33.16
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
Knight: Now, Macedonia is on the
00:07:33.16\00:07:39.43
other side of the sea
and so, we know where Greece
00:07:39.43\00:07:43.63
is, north of Greece. And
so Paul went to Macedonia
00:07:43.63\00:07:44.63
and God is behind this,
you know, some people say
00:07:44.63\00:07:50.13
if God is behind something
then you're not going to
00:07:50.13\00:07:53.60
have problems. I'm going
to tell you what; going to
00:07:53.60\00:07:54.73
Macedonia was one
problem after another.
00:07:54.73\00:07:58.96
First location, Philippi
Remember what happens to
00:07:58.96\00:08:06.36
Paul in Philippi. >>Bill:
Yes. >>Dr. Knight: I, yi,
00:08:06.36\00:08:07.40
yi, I mean he tries
to preach and he does a
00:08:07.40\00:08:09.16
fairly good job, he's
getting some converts,
00:08:09.16\00:08:13.40
everybody gets upset,
they have him arrested and then
00:08:13.40\00:08:14.63
he's stripped down
naked and beaten in public.
00:08:14.63\00:08:20.10
I don't know, I've
never been stripped down naked
00:08:20.10\00:08:24.73
or beaten in public.
00:08:24.73\00:08:25.20
These beatings were
pretty brutal. And, of course,
00:08:25.20\00:08:28.26
something good comes
out of that. They get the
00:08:28.26\00:08:29.23
singing praises at the
Macedonia jail, the jailor
00:08:29.23\00:08:33.16
says, what do I need to
do in order to be saved?
00:08:33.16\00:08:36.83
Anyway, so, and then
Paul tells them, look it, you
00:08:36.83\00:08:37.96
can't do this to me. I'm
a Roman citizen. So, they
00:08:37.96\00:08:44.23
apologize but they force
him out of town. And then
00:08:44.23\00:08:52.06
he goes 90 miles
to the west to a big
00:08:52.06\00:08:52.86
commercial center
called Thessalonica. Very
00:08:52.86\00:08:59.23
important town at the
center of trade, going
00:08:59.23\00:09:05.50
north and south and
east and west and there were
00:09:05.50\00:09:06.50
going to read some
from Acts the 17th Chapter.
00:09:06.50\00:09:10.10
Verse one tells us he
went to Thessalonica and Paul
00:09:10.10\00:09:18.86
went, verse two, when
Paul went as his custom was and
00:09:18.86\00:09:19.96
for three weeks he
argued with them from the
00:09:19.96\00:09:28.20
scriptures. >>Bill: Okay.
00:09:28.20\00:09:28.70
>>Dr. Knight: Explaining
and proving that it was
00:09:28.70\00:09:32.13
necessary for the Christ
to suffer and to rise from
00:09:32.13\00:09:36.36
the dead, saying this
Jesus I proclaim to you,
00:09:36.36\00:09:37.33
is the Christ and some
of them were persuaded and
00:09:37.33\00:09:42.80
joined Paul and Silas
as were a great many of
00:09:42.80\00:09:47.36
devout Greeks and not a
few of the leading women
00:09:47.36\00:09:48.36
I mean here you've got
an evangelistic success.
00:09:48.36\00:09:54.13
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr.
Knight: Paul didn't get success
00:09:54.13\00:09:57.40
everywhere he went but
here he has evangelistic
00:09:57.40\00:09:58.36
success. Of course,
he's evangelizing first among
00:09:58.36\00:10:04.20
the Jewish synogue and
suddenly he's taking their
00:10:04.20\00:10:09.46
converts. Verse 5, "But
the Jews were jealous and
00:10:09.46\00:10:10.50
taking some wicked
fellows of the rabble they
00:10:10.50\00:10:16.36
gathered a crowd, set
the city in an uproar and
00:10:16.36\00:10:21.43
attacked the House of
Jason seeking to bring
00:10:21.43\00:10:22.40
them out to the people.
00:10:22.40\00:10:26.16
And when they could
not find them, they dragged
00:10:26.16\00:10:27.20
Jason and some of the
brethren before the city
00:10:27.20\00:10:30.83
authorities crying,
these men have turned the world
00:10:30.83\00:10:35.93
upside down, have come
here also, and Jason has
00:10:35.93\00:10:36.90
received them and
they're all acting against the
00:10:36.90\00:10:41.03
creeds of Caesar
saying that there is another
00:10:41.03\00:10:46.80
King. >>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
00:10:46.80\00:10:47.30
Knight: Jesus. Now,
we're coming to the problem. In
00:10:47.30\00:10:52.70
the Roman Empire there
were certain cities that
00:10:52.70\00:10:53.66
were special cities.
00:10:53.66\00:10:59.03
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr.
00:10:59.03\00:10:59.50
Knight: They got
special favors. Thessalonica was
00:10:59.50\00:11:01.96
the hub of Jewish
administration. They had
00:11:01.96\00:11:02.83
the favor of no
taxes; they had the favor
00:11:02.83\00:11:08.33
of soldiers were not
quartered in the city;
00:11:08.33\00:11:13.16
they had financial
blessings from Rome. And
00:11:13.16\00:11:14.06
so the way that the
Jewish leaders got the
00:11:14.06\00:11:19.06
politicians upset was
to say, look it, these guys
00:11:19.06\00:11:25.10
are challenging Caesar.
00:11:25.10\00:11:25.63
They're saying
there's another King. They're
00:11:25.63\00:11:30.93
preaching another leader.
00:11:30.93\00:11:31.46
>>Bill: These were
Jewish religious leaders? >>Dr.
00:11:31.46\00:11:36.70
Knight: Yes but
they're getting the politicians
00:11:36.70\00:11:37.73
upset because they
want Paul out of there and
00:11:37.73\00:11:41.13
they want him out
quick >>Bill: Yeah. >>Dr.
00:11:41.13\00:11:45.86
Knight: And so what we
find is we find the whole
00:11:45.86\00:11:46.86
community is threatened.
00:11:46.86\00:11:50.43
That they might lose
their privileges as a special
00:11:50.43\00:11:51.50
Roman city. And so, Paul
- go down here a bit - Paul
00:11:51.50\00:11:58.03
is taken away at night
So, he's already beaten
00:11:58.03\00:12:05.36
and run out of
Philippi and then he goes to
00:12:05.36\00:12:06.33
Thessalonica and
they start a riot and he's
00:12:06.33\00:12:13.50
forced out of town and
the only way they can get him
00:12:13.50\00:12:18.10
out safely is by night.
He went 45 miles to the west
00:12:18.10\00:12:19.16
again to Beria. And
when he gets to Beria the
00:12:19.16\00:12:25.56
people are very
faithful, good results from the
00:12:25.56\00:12:29.10
evangelism but then the
Jewish leaders come from
00:12:29.10\00:12:30.23
Thessalonica. We have
a very aggressive group
00:12:30.23\00:12:35.76
of.>>Bill: He's not
far enough away yet. >>Dr.
00:12:35.76\00:12:40.70
Knight: Oh no.
They're after him and they're
00:12:40.70\00:12:41.66
going to get him. And so
Paul has to skedaddle once
00:12:41.66\00:12:44.16
again out of Beria. Three
times. Now, sometimes, you
00:12:44.16\00:12:48.03
know, you hear some of
these television preachers
00:12:48.03\00:12:49.06
go at it, if you
follow Jesus and if you have
00:12:49.06\00:12:52.80
faith, you'll get lots
of money and, you know, if
00:12:52.80\00:12:57.83
anything goes
wrong in your life, you
00:12:57.83\00:12:58.70
know.>>Bill: You have
no faith. You're doing
00:12:58.70\00:13:02.00
something wrong. >>Dr.
00:13:02.00\00:13:02.46
Knight: There must be
something wrong with Paul,
00:13:02.46\00:13:04.46
huh? >>Bill: Yeah. Right.
00:13:04.46\00:13:04.96
>>Dr. Knight: Or else
that theology is wrong. >>Bill:
00:13:04.96\00:13:07.03
Yeah. You would think,
you know, he's sitting there
00:13:07.03\00:13:09.56
saying, Lord, I wanted
to stay in Turkey; you made
00:13:09.56\00:13:10.70
me come this, look,
what's happening here? >>Dr.
00:13:10.70\00:13:13.73
Knight: That's right.
You and I might think are we
00:13:13.73\00:13:16.56
really following God.
00:13:16.56\00:13:17.20
>>Bill: Absolutely. >>Dr.
00:13:17.20\00:13:17.70
Knight: Especially if
we're on the length of
00:13:17.70\00:13:20.26
some preachers.
>>Bill: That's right. >>Dr.
00:13:20.26\00:13:23.06
Knight: No, you've got
to follow scripture for what
00:13:23.06\00:13:24.23
it says. Paul is obviously
being lead but he's having
00:13:24.23\00:13:26.30
on crisis after
another And so, then he goes to
00:13:26.30\00:13:34.10
Athens. Well, he's not
run out of Athens. They don't
00:13:34.10\00:13:35.16
even care that he's there.
00:13:35.16\00:13:38.23
They're deep into
philosophy. He's trying
00:13:38.23\00:13:39.13
to preach the resurrection
and that's a bunch of
00:13:39.13\00:13:42.03
foolishness to the
Greeks And so, he leaves Athens.
00:13:42.03\00:13:48.76
By this time he is
totally discouraged. >>Bill:
00:13:48.76\00:13:49.76
Understandable. >>Dr.
00:13:49.76\00:13:52.16
Knight: And that
takes him to Corinth. And
00:13:52.16\00:13:53.23
when he gets to
Corinth, 1Corinthians, the sixth
00:13:53.23\00:13:55.73
chapter and the third
verse, it says, "I was
00:13:55.73\00:14:02.36
with you and weeped in
weakness and in much fear
00:14:02.36\00:14:03.36
and trembling." I mean
this is the incorrigible
00:14:03.36\00:14:05.60
apostle Paul. I mean
you'd think we were talking
00:14:05.60\00:14:09.83
about Peter here.
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight: Paul
00:14:09.83\00:14:10.86
says, look it, by the
time I got there, just
00:14:10.86\00:14:13.10
thinking, Philippi
disaster; Thessalonica
00:14:13.10\00:14:17.16
disaster; Beria
disaster; Athens.>>Bill
00:14:17.16\00:14:18.06
Indifferent. >>Dr.
Knight: That's worse than
00:14:18.06\00:14:21.56
disaster. >>Bill: I know.
00:14:21.56\00:14:22.06
>>Dr. Knight: I
mean he didn't have any
00:14:22.06\00:14:24.30
evangelistic results. And
he finally gets to Corinth
00:14:24.30\00:14:26.66
or is going to write the
Thessalonian epistles and
00:14:26.66\00:14:27.76
he gets there and he
is just done in. >>Bill:
00:14:27.76\00:14:31.33
Completely demolished.
00:14:31.33\00:14:31.80
>>Dr. Knight: He says,
I am weak, I have fear,
00:14:31.80\00:14:39.26
I am trembling. So
that takes us to the book of
00:14:39.26\00:14:43.46
1Thessalonians.
00:14:43.46\00:14:44.00
1Thessalonians, what's
happening as this book is
00:14:44.00\00:14:56.43
being written. The first
thing that is happening is
00:14:56.43\00:14:57.46
that Paul had to leave
his converts and he had to
00:14:57.46\00:15:01.26
leave quick. He has
a very, very aggressive
00:15:01.26\00:15:04.96
group of Jewish, and
now the political people
00:15:04.96\00:15:05.90
They're .>>Bill:
They're not happy, ya. >>Dr.
00:15:05.90\00:15:10.53
Knight:.just out to
get him. And so, they're
00:15:10.53\00:15:12.46
saying, look it, Paul
didn't really care. He was
00:15:12.46\00:15:13.50
just out for a quick buck.
00:15:13.50\00:15:19.20
He's lying. Like a lot
of teachers in the Greek
00:15:19.20\00:15:20.16
empire, the Greek part
of the world, they come
00:15:20.16\00:15:23.80
in, they teach, they
preach.>>Bill: They're
00:15:23.80\00:15:26.90
gone. >>Dr. Knight:.and
they say, let's have an
00:15:26.90\00:15:27.93
offering and then they're
gone. He was just out for
00:15:27.93\00:15:30.30
the money. >>Bill: Wow.
00:15:30.30\00:15:30.80
>>Dr. Knight: And so,
you know, the Jewish people
00:15:30.80\00:15:36.16
they're saying, look it,
you got suckered in, this
00:15:36.16\00:15:42.93
guy doesn't care, he
hasn't come back, forget
00:15:42.93\00:15:43.86
it. We're going to let
you back in the Synogue. Just
00:15:43.86\00:15:50.63
give it all up and come
back. And that's where we
00:15:50.63\00:15:55.30
find Paul over in the
second Chapter. Down about
00:15:55.30\00:15:56.33
verse 17, "But since
we were breadth of you
00:15:56.33\00:16:08.03
brethren for a short
time in person, not in heart,
00:16:08.03\00:16:13.83
who endeavored the
more eagerly and with great
00:16:13.83\00:16:14.93
desire to see you face
to face because we wanted to
00:16:14.93\00:16:19.76
come to you. >>Bill: Yes.
00:16:19.76\00:16:20.26
Okay. >>Dr. Knight:
And here's Paul.>>Bill:
00:16:20.26\00:16:25.46
Right. >>Dr. Knight:.he's
been run from one city to
00:16:25.46\00:16:27.10
another. He wants to
go back. He wants them to
00:16:27.10\00:16:28.20
know that he cares. And
the only preachers they've
00:16:28.20\00:16:34.33
got there are these
people that are saying, Paul
00:16:34.33\00:16:37.40
doesn't care, Paul is
a gutless wonder, Paul is
00:16:37.40\00:16:38.43
a money grabber, don't
believe anything he said.
00:16:38.43\00:16:43.23
Paul's not worried
about his own reputation, he's
00:16:43.23\00:16:47.40
worried.>>Bill: He's
worried about the flock
00:16:47.40\00:16:48.36
>>Dr. Knight:.he's just
got these new converts and
00:16:48.36\00:16:51.10
he's worried that they're
going to back off and that
00:16:51.10\00:16:55.03
really deeply troubles
him. Verse 18, again, of
00:16:55.03\00:16:56.00
Chapter two, "Because
we wanted to come to you",
00:16:56.00\00:17:03.93
and Paul says, " I,
Paul", again and again he really
00:17:03.93\00:17:12.50
desired to go there
but Satan hindered us. Wow.
00:17:12.50\00:17:13.53
Here's a little view
of the Great Controversy.
00:17:13.53\00:17:19.23
>>Bill: Yeah. >>Dr.
00:17:19.23\00:17:19.66
Knight: I mean, Paul
is working for Jesus and
00:17:19.66\00:17:21.60
Satan.>>Bill: Is working
against him. >>Dr. Knight:
00:17:21.60\00:17:25.30
That's right. A lot of
people in the world today
00:17:25.30\00:17:26.30
don't really believe
that Satan is a personal
00:17:26.30\00:17:30.16
being. Not Paul. He knows.
00:17:30.16\00:17:30.70
>>Bill: Yeah. He had
no doubt who his enemy was
00:17:30.70\00:17:37.20
here. >>Dr. Knight: That's
right. Verse 19, "For what
00:17:37.20\00:17:41.23
is our hope, our joy,
or crown of boasting before
00:17:41.23\00:17:42.20
our Lord Jesus that
is coming. Is it not you?
00:17:42.20\00:17:47.53
For you are our glory and
joy." Well, Paul wanted to
00:17:47.53\00:17:57.86
go but he couldn't go.
00:17:57.86\00:17:58.36
That brings us to Chapter
three, "Therefore when we
00:17:58.36\00:18:05.03
could bear it no
longer," and can you feel the
00:18:05.03\00:18:06.13
anguish here of a true
pastor.>>Bill: Ya, it's
00:18:06.13\00:18:09.76
amazing how many times
he feels he has to reinforce
00:18:09.76\00:18:12.83
that I wanted to come,
I couldn't, I wanted to
00:18:12.83\00:18:13.83
come, I'm in pain
that I couldn't come. >>Dr.
00:18:13.83\00:18:17.30
Knight: And you know
the interesting thing about
00:18:17.30\00:18:19.90
these books, Bill, is
that they are loaded, these
00:18:19.90\00:18:20.93
Thessalonian books,
with pastoral concern. Pastor
00:18:20.93\00:18:23.73
Paul, in chapter two,
is both described as mother
00:18:23.73\00:18:29.66
who cares for her children
and a father who instructs
00:18:29.66\00:18:30.76
them. >>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
00:18:30.76\00:18:33.80
Knight: On and on and on.
00:18:33.80\00:18:34.33
Very positive approach.
00:18:34.33\00:18:34.83
Much caring. He wanted
to go and therefore when he
00:18:34.83\00:18:37.83
could bear it no
longer, were willing to be left
00:18:37.83\00:18:41.66
behind and in Athens
alone and we sent Timothy, our
00:18:41.66\00:18:42.70
brother and servant. He
sent Timothy to find out
00:18:42.70\00:18:48.36
how they were going.
Paul couldn't go but he was so
00:18:48.36\00:18:53.36
concerned that he sent
his chief associate to go find
00:18:53.36\00:18:54.46
out how they are doing.
00:18:54.46\00:19:01.80
And then comes verse six.
00:19:01.80\00:19:02.33
"But now that Timothy
has come to us from you and
00:19:02.33\00:19:12.20
has brought us the
good news", oh my, Paul can
00:19:12.20\00:19:13.20
sleep at last.>>Bill: Yes.
00:19:13.20\00:19:18.50
>>Dr. Knight: "The
good news of your faith and
00:19:18.50\00:19:19.60
love and reported that
you always remembered us
00:19:19.60\00:19:23.80
kindly." >>Bill: Wow.
00:19:23.80\00:19:24.26
>>Dr. Knight: In other
words, the enemies hadn't
00:19:24.26\00:19:28.16
achieved what they wanted
to do. See, now Paul, he's
00:19:28.16\00:19:32.03
got his converts.
>>Bill: Yes. >>Dr. Knight: The
00:19:32.03\00:19:33.16
church is still intact
and they still like Brother
00:19:33.16\00:19:37.36
Paul. >>Bill: Ya. Ya.
It's amazing. It shows that
00:19:37.36\00:19:41.80
here. >>Dr. Knight: And
when Timothy comes back,
00:19:41.80\00:19:42.93
this is the occasion for
writing the first letter.
00:19:42.93\00:19:46.50
>>Bill: Oh, okay. >>Dr.
00:19:46.50\00:19:47.00
Knight: And they have
several questions. And
00:19:47.00\00:19:51.40
as we introduce these
two books, we've got to
00:19:51.40\00:19:56.03
introduce the rest of
the book of 1Thessalonians
00:19:56.03\00:19:57.03
because when he comes to
Chapter four he's got two
00:19:57.03\00:20:03.23
things he wants to say
Number one, he wants to
00:20:03.23\00:20:07.76
say what's on his heart,
you guys are a good church
00:20:07.76\00:20:08.80
but you're messed up in
one area, well, two areas.
00:20:08.80\00:20:15.43
Sexual ethics and two,
work ethics. So, this is
00:20:15.43\00:20:24.56
Paul's burden. He really
wants to help them realize
00:20:24.56\00:20:25.60
that when Christ comes
into your life that being
00:20:25.60\00:20:34.03
saved is not just being
justified. It's just not
00:20:34.03\00:20:38.70
accepting Jesus, it's
doing what He says. That's
00:20:38.70\00:20:39.73
Paul's main. And then he
gets on to three of their
00:20:39.73\00:20:45.86
questions. >>Bill: Okay.
00:20:45.86\00:20:46.33
>>Dr. Knight: They're
signaled by the words 'but
00:20:46.33\00:20:51.30
concerning' which
don't always show up in the
00:20:51.30\00:20:54.66
English translation.
When you get to verse 9, "But
00:20:54.66\00:20:55.66
concerning love of the
brethren,".>>Bill: Sorry,
00:20:55.66\00:20:58.40
verse 9 of which.>>Dr.
00:20:58.40\00:20:58.86
Knight: Chapter four.
00:20:58.86\00:21:02.66
>>Bill: Four, oh, okay.
00:21:02.66\00:21:03.30
>>Dr. Knight:.chapter
four, "But concerning love
00:21:03.30\00:21:05.06
of the brethren",
you're doing a good job but you
00:21:05.06\00:21:06.03
can do it better.
>>Bill: Okay. >>Dr. Knight: And
00:21:06.03\00:21:10.13
when he gets finished
there he's dealing with
00:21:10.13\00:21:11.96
this issue of work. See
what happened was, Bill,
00:21:11.96\00:21:12.96
the people said, Jesus
is going to come real quick.
00:21:12.96\00:21:15.10
>>Bill: So, let's take it
easy. Why do we have.>>Dr.
00:21:15.10\00:21:23.90
Knight: Well, it's not
work. We'll just kind of
00:21:23.90\00:21:24.96
rest until he shows up.
00:21:24.96\00:21:26.40
We're going to come
back to that topic. And then
00:21:26.40\00:21:27.40
in verse 13, "But we
would not have you ignorant,
00:21:27.40\00:21:34.40
brethren, concerning
those who are asleep or those
00:21:34.40\00:21:39.56
who have died." So here's
there second problem. They
00:21:39.56\00:21:40.63
expected Jesus to come
right away and suddenly
00:21:40.63\00:21:43.73
some of them died.
What's going to happen.>>Bill:
00:21:43.73\00:21:47.30
What's going to happen
to these guys, they died
00:21:47.30\00:21:48.26
>>Dr. Knight: Ya. In
chapter five, verse one,
00:21:48.26\00:21:50.13
they're third
question When is Jesus going to
00:21:50.13\00:21:54.23
come? They were concerned
with the time. Now, that
00:21:54.23\00:21:55.23
is the basic reason
that he wrote 1Thessalonians.
00:21:55.23\00:22:05.90
To encourage them, to
give them a little instruction,
00:22:05.90\00:22:12.10
and then answer
three other questions. The
00:22:12.10\00:22:13.03
reason that he writes
2Thessalonians is because
00:22:13.03\00:22:17.33
they've got a problem
>>Bill: Oh, okay. >>Dr.
00:22:17.33\00:22:22.00
Knight: It's found in
2Thessalonians, the second
00:22:22.00\00:22:23.03
chapter, verses one and
two. "Now, concerning the
00:22:23.03\00:22:27.76
coming of our Lord, Jesus
Christ, and the assembling
00:22:27.76\00:22:31.73
to meet Him, we beg
you, brethren, not to be
00:22:31.73\00:22:32.66
quickly shaken in mind
or excited either by Spirit
00:22:32.66\00:22:38.83
or by Word or by letter
purporting to be from us
00:22:38.83\00:22:43.13
to the effect that the
day of the Lord has come.
00:22:43.13\00:22:44.13
>>Bill: Oh, wow. >>Dr.
00:22:44.13\00:22:48.33
Knight: Ya, Paul
had pretty thoroughly
00:22:48.33\00:22:49.16
instructed them about
the Second Coming of Jesus
00:22:49.16\00:22:53.53
in 1Thessalonians.
But somehow they were only
00:22:53.53\00:22:59.26
listening with one ear.
00:22:59.26\00:22:59.80
We've still got people
like that today. >>Bill:
00:22:59.80\00:23:03.36
Yes. >>Dr. Knight:
What I call the one-eared
00:23:03.36\00:23:04.43
listeners. >>Bill:
Now, is he suggesting that
00:23:04.43\00:23:06.40
somebody counterfeited
here. >>Dr. Knight: Ya.
00:23:06.40\00:23:08.66
Actually, we're going
to on our fourth study of
00:23:08.66\00:23:09.63
this we're going to come
back to this but somebody
00:23:09.63\00:23:13.53
had apparently had
claimed that they had a vision
00:23:13.53\00:23:17.30
that Jesus had
already returned but he wasn't
00:23:17.30\00:23:18.36
quite sure how they
got that false news. So, he
00:23:18.36\00:23:22.23
says, maybe somebody
wrote a letter and signed my
00:23:22.23\00:23:28.70
name to it. >>Bill: Oh,
I see. Okay. >>Dr. Knight:
00:23:28.70\00:23:29.70
And, so, at the
end of this letter he
00:23:29.70\00:23:33.43
says, "I, Paul, write
this greeting," this is chapter
00:23:33.43\00:23:38.43
three, verse
17.>>Bill: Oh, I see. Ya. >>Dr.
00:23:38.43\00:23:39.40
Knight: "I write this
with my own hand". He wants to
00:23:39.40\00:23:42.00
make sure that they know
it came from him. >>Bill:
00:23:42.00\00:23:49.06
Oh, I see. Yes. >>Dr.
00:23:49.06\00:23:49.56
Knight: Came directly
from him. So, we have two books
00:23:49.56\00:23:51.86
largely centering on
one theme. That is the major
00:23:51.86\00:23:52.83
content. And that is the
Second Coming of Jesus and
00:23:52.83\00:23:58.63
in these two books we
have Paul's best and fullest,
00:23:58.63\00:24:08.06
most complete discussion
on the Second Advent and
00:24:08.06\00:24:09.03
events surrounding
the Second Advent. >>Bill:
00:24:09.03\00:24:15.30
His best commentary. >>Dr.
00:24:15.30\00:24:15.83
Knight: Pardon. >>Bill:
You said, his best. >>Dr.
00:24:15.83\00:24:19.46
Knight: Oh yes, his
best and his fullest. This is
00:24:19.46\00:24:21.63
Paul's most complete
discussion of what will
00:24:21.63\00:24:22.60
happen when Jesus
comes before Jesus comes and
00:24:22.60\00:24:28.90
what do while we're
waiting for Jesus to come.
00:24:28.90\00:24:33.10
>>Bill: Wow. >>Dr.
Knight: These are, this is the
00:24:33.10\00:24:41.43
heart and everything
else, sanctification, gift of
00:24:41.43\00:24:42.50
prophecy are all
related to the Second Coming and
00:24:42.50\00:24:45.93
these letters. >>Bill:
I think you have given us
00:24:45.93\00:24:52.70
the perfect
cliffhanger for our next episode
00:24:52.70\00:24:53.66
>>Dr. Knight: Yup.
We'll start right up next time
00:24:53.66\00:24:58.06
with, those who have no
hope and Paul's answer of
00:24:58.06\00:25:02.96
hopefulness in the
Second Advent of Jesus. >>Bill:
00:25:02.96\00:25:03.96
Wow. Thank you, Dr.
00:25:03.96\00:25:08.26
Knight. Let's pray.
00:25:08.26\00:25:08.73
Loving, Heavenly Father,
we thank you for your love
00:25:08.73\00:25:12.80
and kindness. We thank
you for scripture. Father,
00:25:12.80\00:25:13.83
please guide us that
we may learn your will for
00:25:13.83\00:25:18.56
our lives and put it
into practice. Bless each and
00:25:18.56\00:25:24.30
every viewer, I pray
in Jesus' name. Amen.
00:25:24.30\00:25:25.23
>>Dr. Knight: Amen.
00:25:25.23\00:25:28.93
(Music)
00:25:29.56\00:25:44.60
>>Bill: We have a
special offer for our viewers
00:25:46.50\00:25:47.50
today. It's this booklet,
"Certainty in an uncertain
00:25:47.50\00:25:50.56
world". It is our
gift to you. Here is the
00:25:50.56\00:25:55.23
information you
need to get your copy.
00:25:55.23\00:25:59.56
>>Bill: Well, let me
thank our viewers that tune in
00:26:58.36\00:26:59.40
faithfully each and
every week. Let me thank our
00:26:59.40\00:27:02.90
special guest, Dr.
Knight, for being here. We look
00:27:02.90\00:27:07.36
forward to next
week's continuing study of
00:27:07.36\00:27:08.30
Thessalonians. Dr.
Knight has written a commentary
00:27:08.30\00:27:11.86
on Thessalonians
called, "Explaining
00:27:11.86\00:27:15.76
Thessalonians". You
can visit our website at
00:27:15.76\00:27:16.70
itiswrittencanada.ca and
there you will find a link
00:27:16.70\00:27:22.73
that will allow you to
acquire this book. It is a
00:27:22.73\00:27:28.03
fascinating read, going
into a lot of the detail,
00:27:28.03\00:27:29.06
a lot of the stuff that
you talked about today is
00:27:29.06\00:27:33.23
in here. So, this, you
can get this from our website,
00:27:33.23\00:27:37.33
itiswrittencanada.ca,
there's a link there
00:27:37.33\00:27:38.26
that will tell you how to
purchase this book and his
00:27:38.26\00:27:42.73
other commentaries.
While on the website you can
00:27:42.73\00:27:48.86
also watch this program,
all of our programs again
00:27:48.86\00:27:49.86
They're all
archived there. You can refer
00:27:49.86\00:27:53.56
a friend to see the
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00:27:53.56\00:27:58.16
prayer request. I want
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00:27:58.16\00:27:59.26
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00:27:59.26\00:28:03.23
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00:28:03.23\00:28:07.40
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00:28:07.40\00:28:08.46
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00:28:08.46\00:28:12.13
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00:28:12.13\00:28:15.36
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00:28:15.36\00:28:16.33
with you again next week.
00:28:16.33\00:28:19.40
Until then, remember, it
is written; man shall not
00:28:19.40\00:28:20.40
live by bread alone but
by every word that proceeds
00:28:20.40\00:28:25.06
from the mouth of God.
00:28:25.06\00:28:29.96
$$$$$$$$$$$$
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