Sharper Iron — Christ is Surely Coming: Persecution Can’t Stop the Word of God

Rev. Chris Hull, pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Tomball, TX joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16.

Paul’s thanksgiving for the Thessalonians continues. When they heard Paul preach, they knew they had not heard the word of man. They had heard the Word of God, the powerful Word filled with the Holy Spirit that works in believers. This same Word of God has been written down for us in Holy Scripture by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that pastors would preach it faithfully and hearers would hold it sacred and learn it. That Word of God reveals to us the shape of the baptismal life, that is, the life of Christ which He has given us. That is why the Thessalonians joyfully imitated the other Christian churches in their suffering. They received the same hatred from the world that all Christians are bound to receive, and they received it with confidence and comfort in Christ. They could do so because they knew that such persecution had not stopped the Word of God from doing His work in the past, and it would not stop the Word of God from doing His work among them. That same confidence is ours as the Church of God in Christ Jesus today.

“Christ Is Surely Coming” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that journeys through the two epistles to the Thessalonians. Through these two letters, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy encouraged the young church in Thessalonica to stand firm in the midst of persecution as they eagerly waited for Christ’s second coming. This Word of God still strengthens the Church today to live now with faith, hope, and love, even as we long for the Day of Christ’s return, the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

¹³And we also thank God constantly^[a] for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men^[b] but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,^[c] ¹⁵who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!^[d]

Footnotes:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 Or without ceasing
1 Thessalonians 2:13 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
1 Thessalonians 2:14 The Greek word Ioudaioi can refer to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or completely, or forever

English Standard Version (ESV)

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).