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Again we are conscious of a very different atmosphere in the Thessalonian epistles
from those to the Corinthians, yet as we ponder their message there emerges from the
first epistle to the Thessalonians the trinity of graces, "faith, hope and love".
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thess. 1: 3).
After some very pointed personal statements in chapter two, the apostle reverts to
"these three" and in the third chapter deals first of all with "faith". Timothy is sent to
comfort them concerning their "faith" lest they should have been tempted and when
Timothy brought good tidings of that faith and charity the apostle was comforted, and
expressed the most ardent desire to see them once more that he might "perfect that which
is lacking" in their faith (I Thess. 3: 2, 5, 6, 7, 10).
From faith, the apostle passes to "love" (3: 12; 4: 9), and from love to "hope"
(4: 13-18). In the last chapter of the epistle, the apostle not only repeats "faith, love and
hope", but also repeats "labour", "work" and "patience" (5: 8, 12, 13, 14), consequently it
is clear that we can write as the key words of this epistle "faith, love and hope". Having
seen this, our task in I Corinthians is simplified. We know that after all the correction
had been given and the instruction which the apostle deemed necessary, he concludes
with that wonderful summary:
"And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love"
(I Cor. 13: 13).
We have therefore key passages for five out of seven epistles. There remains to be
adjusted the second epistle to the Thessalonians and the second epistle to the Corinthians.
One feature that is true of both these epistles lies on the surface, they were both written to
correct erroneous conclusions that had been drawn from the first epistles. Another and
deeper parallel is that in both of these epistles there is a strong warning concerning the
devices of the evil one:
"Let no man deceive you by any means . . . . . whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie" (II Thess. 2: 3-11).
"I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ . . . . . For Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as ministers of righteousness" (II Cor. 11: 3, 14, 15).