Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 38

Paul Exhorts them to Prophesy, Test Everything, Stay away from Evil

1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. KJV

Paul comes to the end of these specific, special, and spontaneous exhortations to the believers in the Church @ Thessalonica and in so doing he closes them out with these final four with the first being, "Despise not prophesyings." (1 Thessalonians 5:20) (KJV). This English word 'prophesyings' is translated by the Greek word propheteia meaning prediction (scriptural or other): here also by anology an inspired speaker, that is, a person inspired and invigorated by God the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Word of God in all its mystery, majesty, and might. The Apostle Paul wanted to instill within the inner man and inner woman of every believer the necessity of being fed the truths from the Word of God to the very soul of the believer, for just as prayer to our Heavenly Father is the very breathe of the believer, the prophesying, proclamation, and preaching of the Word of God to the soul of the believer is his or her very spiritual food and nourishment. The Apostle Paul delt with this difficulty of many believers desiring the more showy or flashy spiritual gift of speaking in tongues as he did with the Church @ Corinth when he wrote these words to them concerning his view of the best of the gifts, "Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues, but more especially [I want you] to prophesy (to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and purpose). He who prophesies [who is inspired to preach and teach] is greater (more useful and more important) than he who speaks in [unknown] tongues, unless he should interpret [what he says], so that the church may be edified {and} receive good [from it]." (1 Corinthians 14:5) (Amplified Bible). Paul found the gift of tongues to be useless to the body of believers unless an interprter was present to interpret what was spoken, but the person gifted by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to prophesy, that is, preach and or teach the Divine truths from the Word of God was more useful to the entire body of believers in the Church.

Paul was not the one to receive and believe everyone who came to him or to one of the Churches of our Lord Jesus Christ saying that they were from God, for he spent much of his time refuting to the Churches that many that came to them in the name of Jesus Christ were not really sent by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, but they were actually wolves in sheeps clothing, that is, false prophets and false apostles as he declared to the Corinthian Church with these words, "But what I do, I will continue to do, [for I am determined to maintain this independence] in order to cut off the claim of those who would like [to find an occasion and incentive] to claim that in their boasted [mission] they work on the same terms that we do. For such men are false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah). And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; So it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. [But] their end will correspond with their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:12-15) (Amplified Bible), therefore, he now tells these believers in Thessalonica to, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21) (KJV). The English word 'prove' is translated by the Greek word dokimazo meaning to test (literally or figuratively); by implication to approve: - allow, discern, examine, try. In other words, they/we were/are to test the men that came/come to them/us in the name of Jesus Christ, for some are not of Christ as the Apostle John proclaimed when he wrote these words, "They went out from our number, but they did not [really] belong to us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us. But [they withdrew] that it might be plain that they all are not of us." (1 John 2:19) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'hold fast' is translated by one Greek word katecho meaning to keep in memory or to retain. The little English phrase 'that which is good' is translated by one Greek word kalos meaning properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous; honest, meet, well, worthy. In other words, Paul is exhortiung them/us here to retain in our memory all the things that make up our Lord Jesus Christ and should be a part of our lives in private and in public and that are things that are honorable and true and good just as this same Apostle Paul exhorted the Philippian Church to do when he wrote these words to them, "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence {and} is honorable {and} seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely {and} lovable, whatever is kind {and} winsome {and} gracious, if there is any virtue {and} excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on {and} weigh {and} take account of these things [fix your minds on them]." (Philippians 4:8) (Amplified Bible). Lastly, since he has just exhorted them to do that which is good to and for themselves and for others, he now warns them against the very opposite of good with these words, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:22) (KJV). The English word 'abstain' is translated by a big Greek word apechomai but it pretty much means what we know from our English Dictionary, that is, to hold oneself off, that is, refrain: - abstain. The English word 'appearance' is translated by the Greek word eidos meaning a view, that is, form (literally or figuratively): The little English phrase 'of evil' is translated by one Greek word poneros meaning  hurtful, that is, evil (properly in effect or influence; figuratively calamitous; also (passively) ill, that is, diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, that is, derelict, vicious, facinorous or extremely wicked; mischief, malice, or bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious. In other words, Paul is exhorting them to refrain from doing things, going places, that would be hurtful to themselves/ourselves and to others in the Church of God or outside of the Church or that would involve malice to others or doing vicious and extremely wicked things (morally) and that would hurt others intentionally (that is not in self-defence).

"We are ambassadors, that is, representatives for our Lord Jesus Christ here on the earth during our sojourn to our Heavenly home, therefore, we must practice that which is honoring to Him and refrain ourselves from that which dishonors Him and brings reproach to His Glorious Name. We also are to test the spirits that are out in this world claiming to be from our Lord Jesus Christ and we can only do that by the Word of God, for the spirits that are not from Christ, but from the enemy the devil will not want to here the truth from the Word of God, but will want that which suits their itching ears just as Paul warned brother Timothy with these words, 'For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound {and} wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking {and} to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths {and} man-made fictions.' (2 Timothy 4:3-4) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Subject everything submitted to you to be believed to the proper test. The word here used (dokimazete), is one that is properly applicable to metals, referring to the art of the assayer, by which the true nature and value of the metal is tested. This trial was usually made by fire. The meaning here is, that they were carefully to examine everything proposed for their belief. They were not to receive it on trust; to take it on assertion; to believe it because it was urged with vehemence, zeal, or plausibility. In the various opinions and doctrines which were submitted to them for adoption, they were to apply the appropriate tests from reason and the Word of God, and what they found to be true they were to embrace; what was false they were to reject. Christianity does not require people to disregard their reason, or to be credulous. It does not expect them to believe anything because others say it is so. It does not make it a duty to receive as undoubted truth all that synods and councils have decreed; or all that is advanced by the ministers of religion. It is, more than any other form of religion, the friend of free inquiry, and would lead people everywhere to understand the reason of the opinions which they entertain. Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…