Thursday, April 29, 2004
The Importance of Being Earnest
Paul & company wrote the new-born Thessalonian community a letter containing exhortation, explanation and emotional openness.
In this epistle we find a key to understanding how the pastoral care of a congregation continued even when the apostles were not present.
Apostolic follow up included prayer.
Paul described his team’s intercessory activity for the Thessalonian believers:
“… we night and day keep praying most earnestly …” (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
The New American Standard uses the word ‘earnestly’ to describe the state of Paul’s soul. The Greek allows for this description of the quality of soul, but there is another meaning of this word.
This Greek word describes the quantity as well as the quality of prayer. It’s utilized to emphasize the amount as well as the degree of intensity.
He prayed with intensity, yes. He also prayed a lot. Paul was praying ‘night and day.’
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Paul & company wrote the new-born Thessalonian community a letter containing exhortation, explanation and emotional openness.
In this epistle we find a key to understanding how the pastoral care of a congregation continued even when the apostles were not present.
Apostolic follow up included prayer.
Paul described his team’s intercessory activity for the Thessalonian believers:
“… we night and day keep praying most earnestly …” (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
The New American Standard uses the word ‘earnestly’ to describe the state of Paul’s soul. The Greek allows for this description of the quality of soul, but there is another meaning of this word.
This Greek word describes the quantity as well as the quality of prayer. It’s utilized to emphasize the amount as well as the degree of intensity.
He prayed with intensity, yes. He also prayed a lot. Paul was praying ‘night and day.’
