Constantly (without ceasing, always) (89) adialeiptos

Hiebert writes that... Jowett, indeed, regards for this reason (dia touto) as looking both ways: that which at first was thought of as the ground of thanksgiving, his success in preaching, became the subject matter of thanksgiving.' Although unusual, such an inclusive interpretation of this phrase is appealing. (Hiebert, D. Edmond: 1 & 2 Thessalonians: BMH Book. 1996) Constantly (89) (adialeiptos from a = negative + dialeipô = leave off, cease, leave an interval whether of space or time) means uninterruptedly, without intermission, constantly, incessantly, unceasingly, always, , unintermittently, continually, without omission or without ceasing. Adialeiptos is used to describe that which is continuously done - uninterrupted necessary payment of hard taxes, continual uninterrupted cough, repeated military attacks, continual failing of a military effort, regular and consistent production of fruit. Josephus used adialeiptos for the incessant attacks of the Romans against Jotapatha (Josephus, Jewish Wars 3:155-57) or for the continual hammering of a battering ram against the walls of Jerusalem (Josephus, Jewish Wars 5:298-302). Unceasingly denotes that not much time elapsed between his prayers for them (like a frequent cough...even in that setting one is not coughing without any break whatsoever for that would be physiologically impossible). The point that Paul is conveying to the saints is that were constantly in his thoughts and prayers. Do you have a brother or sister in Christ who cannot seem to get you off of their mind, prayerfully speaking? Thank God for them! Paul must have had a long "prayer list" for it seems he is always mentioning someone he is praying for in one of his epistles. Could there be any relation between his unceasing prayer and his incredible power in ministry? Adialeiptos is found only 4 times in the NT... Romans 1:9 (note) For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 1Thessalonians 1:2 (note) We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 1Thessalonians 2:13 (note) And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 1Thessalonians 5:17 (note) pray without ceasing In the NT adialeiptos is used only by Paul and always connected with prayer (1Th 1:3-note and 1Th 5:17-note) Spurgeon writes regarding constantly thanking God that... this was a continual thanksgiving day...Our gratitude to God should be as lasting as life, as constant as the bounty to which it bears witness. Our American friends have one Thanksgiving Day in the year, but it was Thanksgiving Day all the year round with Paul and Silas and Timothy when they thought of the Thessalonians. They felt as it they never could leave off thanking God for the Thessalonians, for they knew by sad experience that all churches were not of the same happy kind. There were those Corinthians, for ever quarrelling and thus grieving the apostle. "Never mind," he says, "we will thank God for the Thessalonians." Oh, but there are those Galatians! They have gone off the line, bewitched by Judaizing teachers. They have wandered into "modern thought," and left the old orthodox faith. "Yes," says the apostle, "those Galatians are a burden to me; but, then, blessed be God for the Thessalonians." So I think we ought to bless God for those that are kept, and for those that are true, and for those that are faithful; and when our harp is made to hang upon the willows because of part of the work which is barren and unfruitful, yet let us not cease to praise and bless the Lord our God for that part of the work which prospers. Let us magnify him for those that are brought to know his name. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing because ye received the word of God." This spirit of thanksgiving tends to make us stronger and stronger for labor in days to come. Yes, let us sing unto the Lord instead of sighing unto ourselves! Let us not rob him of his revenue of praise even in our most desponding moments. "Although my house be not so with God, yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant ordered in all things and sure." What if Satan does not appear to fall from heaven? What if the devils do not seem to be subject unto us? Yet let us rather rejoice because our names are written in heaven. O child of God, fall back upon what the Lord has done, and this shall make you encounter every difficulty with a brave heart! What the Lord has done is but a token of what he is going to do. Let us hold the fort, and look out for better times. Never let us dream of fainting or retreating. Do not say, "I will give it up because of the Galatians." No, but go at it again because of the Thessalonians. Do not say, "I am worried and wearied with the Corinthians." No, but with your heart full of joy, persevere in your Master's service, because many Thessalonians have received the word, not as the word of man, but as the word of God. Hallelujah, there is still something to sing about! Bring out the trumpets: we are not yet silenced, nor shall we be while the Lord liveth. The walls of Jericho will be more likely to fall before our trumpets than our tremblings. Ah, my hearers, you could make some of us very happy! If you gave your hearts to the Lord, how you would cheer and comfort us! And some of you that do love the Lord would do us a world of good if you would come and tell us what the Lord has done for your souls. If you have been blessed, do not hide it. If you do, you will rob us of our wages, for our wages come to us very much through our knowing that God has blessed our ministry. Think of this, and treat us fairly and kindly, even as we have sought your good. I, for one, have had such weary times of wolf-hunting that I should be heartily glad to have the quiet joy of watching the young lambs, and noting the growth of the sheep. (Sermon) Ray Pritchard has some convicting thoughts writing that Prayer bridges the gap between people. You can be here and they can be way over there, and through prayer you can bridge the gap that separates you. Prayer spans the miles that separate us. Prayer overcomes the misunderstanding that separates us. Prayer leaps across the bad memories that pull us apart. Prayer nullifies the estrangement that keeps us from speaking. There can be bitterness and anger between you, even years of alienation. But that doesn’t matter when you pray because prayer bridges the gap between you and those you love. Your heart can touch their heart by the simple act of praying. What starts in your heart goes first to the Father’s heart, and purified by the sunlight of his love, your prayer falls like an arrow in the heart of the one you love. Prayer can do that! It enables you to touch people you can’t even speak to... If you love someone, you’ll pray for them. If you don’t love them, you’ll stop praying eventually. Because when you pray, one of two things will happen: You will either start loving or you will stop praying. Thank (2168) (eucharisteo from eucháristos = thankful, grateful, well-pleasing from eú = well + charízomai = to grant, give) means to show oneself grateful, to be thankful, to give thanks. Paul began his epistle with eucharisteo - We give thanks to God always for all of you... (1Th 1:2-note). Note the we indicating that this was the feeling not just of Paul but of Silas and Timothy, causing all three men to emote in a continual praise service to God whenever they thought of their beloved converts in Thessalonica. Eucharisteo is in the present tense which denotes that their feeling of gratitude for the Thessalonians' reception of their message was ever on their heart and mind and thus they continued to give thanks (cf 1Th 5:18-note). Their thanksgiving renews the feeling of gratitude expressed in the opening of the letter (see note 1Thessalonians 1:2) but in this verse the reason for the thanksgiving is different. The thanksgiving in chapter 1 was prompted by the receipt of good news about the Thessalonians' faith and love. (see note 1Thessalonians 3:6). In this verse the missionaries gave thanks for how the Thessalonians had welcomed the gospel on Paul's first visit. Thank God - It is only appropriate that their thanksgiving was directed to God for it was His good news (gospel of God) that the hearer's responded to through the gracious, efficacious working of His Holy Spirit. Spurgeon writes that... These three godly ministers are holding what, if I use a Greek word, I may call a holy eucharistical service—a service of thanksgiving. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing. It is a pleasant sight to see anybody thanking God; for the air is heavy with the hum of murmuring, and the roads are dusty with complaints and lamentations. It is a delightful vision to see hard-working, earnest ministers of Christ met together and occupying their time with thanksgiving; for many waste their hours in speculations, doubtings, and discussions. (Sermon) In preaching on this passage the Prince of preachers makes a statement that surely is a clue as to why he was so effective. He declares... Let us keep close to the text The word of God which you heard from us - is literally "a word of hearing from alongside us, of God". The phrase word of hearing indicates it was an oral message. Thus one writer renders it When your ears received God's message. (Lattey) This reference to the oral nature of the message received by the Thessalonians reminds us that at that time the spread of Christianity was largely brought about through the spoken word, for the NT writings had not yet been produced. And so for some 30 years after Christ's ascension the main apostolic teaching was done by a living preacher and not by the circulation of books or letters. This pattern emphasizes the high place which preaching held as a means of bestowing the grace of God upon the hearers. Is preaching still held in such high esteem or is it considered a means of attracting seekers with user friendly stories, etc? Praise God for preachers who are holding fast to the Word of Truth and preaching preach the word, whether the time is favorable or not, patiently correcting, rebuking and exhorting the sheep with great patience and instruction. (cf notes 2 Timothy 4:2) This idea of a word of hearing is seen elsewhere in Scripture... (Negatively in Hebrews) For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they (the Hebrews who came out of Egypt and wandered in the Wilderness for forty years) also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (He 4:12-note) (Positively) However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT (akoe = literally hearing and then that which is heard like a report)?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Ro 10:16, 17-notes) This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:2) Comment: Did they receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not! The Holy Spirit came upon them only after they believed the message they heard about Christ Paul then goes on to describe not only the Thessalonians' outward reception of the word of hearing but also of their inner reaction to the divine word. He emphasizes this contrast by the use of two different verbs, paralambano (received) and dechomai (accepted or welcomed). Paralambano pictures an objective, outward receiving whereas dechomai (see below) pictures an acceptance with approval or welcoming and denotes a more subjective reception. Paralambano looks to the content of that which is received, whereas dechomai implies a favorable evaluation of that which is accepted. In other words the Thessalonians not only heard and intellectually understood the message (paralambano) but they also appropriated and welcomed it (dechomai) into their hearts. McGee asks... How do you receive the Word of God? Do you receive it as the Word of God? Or do you get angry? Does the hair stand up on the back of your neck? Twice in all my years of ministry I was approached by a man after a sermon and asked if I had him in mind when I preached the sermon that morning. My friend, I didn’t even know those men were there! They were giving themselves an added sense of importance that wasn’t justified. But the real issue is that they weren’t receiving the Word of God as the Word of God. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos) Wiersbe adds that paralambano... means simply “to accept from another,” while the second (dechomai) means “to welcome.” One (paralambano) means “the hearing of the ear,” while the other (dechomai) means “the hearing of the heart.” The believers at Thessalonica did not only hear the Word; they took it into their inner man and made it a part of their lives...How do we appropriate the Word? By understanding it and receiving it into our hearts, and by meditating on it so that it becomes part of the inner man. Meditation is to the spiritual life what digestion is to the physical life. If you did not digest your food, you would die. It takes time to meditate, but it is the only way to appropriate the Word and grow. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos)

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Constantly (without ceasing, always) (89) adialeiptos

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