The Thessalonians letters Bible study raises this question, “. . . what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?”  The author of the Thessalonians letters answered the question with the secret of living life in this world: Paul wrote,  “Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.”  It should be obvious, according to Paul’s statement, that hope, joy, crown of rejoicing living has something to do with others and the presence of Christ at his coming. In this Thessalonians letters Bible study you can come to understand such mysteries as:

“Dead in Christ Shall Rise First” — 1 Thess. 4:16
“Meeting in the Air” — 1 Thess. 4:17
“Man of Sin” to Be — 2 Thess. 2:3
“Coming of Christ” — 1 Thess. 2:19
Christ “glorified in his saints” — 2 Thess. 1:10
Gain the Knowledge of the Ways of Life — 2 Thess. 1:5

Let Paul reveal what the “coming of Christ” (a phrase, or its equivalent,  that is used over 300 times in the New Testament) really means as you experience the nearness of Christ in your relationship with others. It is your hope, your joy, and your crown of rejoicing.

Thessalonians letters Bible study reveals the mysteries of life.

In one of the first recorded letters of Paul, he referred to this mystery of life when he was encouraging the Thessalonians during severe afflictions. Paul wanted them to understand that when they were be taken down by the persecutions the opportunity for Christ to come among them was occurring.

A seed has to germinate before the essence within the seed can come forth in an expression of new life. Each of the Thessalonians needed to understand that the afflictions and the persecutions they were experiencing were the means that the essence of life within them could come forth in a powerful expression of newness of life.

This experiencing of new life, as the germinated seed, is the experiencing of Jesus in the connections (1 Thess. 2:19-20) with others that always occurred when someone has been taken down. It is when the reality of the outward physical events and circumstances die that the essence of the true life within can come forth in power and in glory. We actually have to die to our belief that the physical event had the ability to produce life. Paul described as,

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Thessalonians letters Bible study examines experiencing the nearness of Christ.

Paul was taken down on the Damascus Road and rose again in the completion of Ananias. Adam was taken down in being put to sleep and rose again in the completion of Eve. Jesus was taken down by his crucifixion and rose again in the completion of the church. Paul tells the Thessalonians to take courage because they too will rise to meet Jesus in the air (literal meaning of the word translated air is new breath). They too will experience the image and the likeness of God in a more clear manifestation of Jesus Christ in their lives..

Paul ask the Thessalonians “. . . what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? He answered his own question for them: “Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?” Then, he concluded by stating, “For ye are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19,20).

Their hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing was Jesus. Jesus would be experienced but not individually in his fullness. He would be experienced completely only in the connection of the relationship between them. The mystery and the power of life was being declared again: the image and the likeness of God would not be manifested in the single person but only in the two. It was again the need for an Ananias, the need for an Eve, or the need for the church  to complete the revelation that Jesus was the Christ. It was the fellowship of the mystery.