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the Thessalonian Christians. He desired to visit them, but the enemy hindered all his
plans.
Just how far Satan can delay the plans of God and obstruct His servants is not possible
to say. We do know that his power and that of the hosts of darkness under his control is
very great. He was able to hold up an angelic messenger to Daniel for three weeks
(Dan. 10: 12, 13), and there is no reason to believe that his power is lessened in any way
today.
The conflict of the ages still goes on and but for the glorious redemptive work of our
Saviour we should certainly not be on the winning side. The purpose of his saving grace
is that we should be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Rom. 8: 37).
Meanwhile may we seek to put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6: 11) and clad in this
way, we shall be safe from all the malignity and enmity of the foe.
No.3.
2: 19 - 4: 2.
pp. 57 - 60
The next section of this epistle commences with the words:
"For what is our hope, our joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not ye in the presence of
our Lord Jesus Christ at His Coming? For ye are our glory and joy."
When the Apostle talks of a `crown', he is not dealing with foundation truths, but with
the subsequent faithful `working out', resulting in reward, which is given when all
service is tested by the Lord at His Bema or Award Seat. In his final summing up of his
life's witness he said:
"I have finished my course . . . . . henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day"
(II Tim. 4: 7, 8).
This is but a figurative way of speaking, not just of living with Christ in glory, but
being associated with His Throne, or reigning with Him (II Tim. 2: 12).
Faithful service earns this crown, and in that day there will be practical evidence of
this in the presence of all those believers who have been saved through his devoted
labours for the Lord. The Thessalonian saints would then be "his crown of rejoicing
(boasting)", even as the Philippian believers were (Phil. 4: 1).
There are two words which are translated `boasting' in the N.T.: kauchema and
kauchesis. They are obviously allied. Dr. E. W. Bullinger in his Lexicon says:
Kauchesis, reason to boast, denoting the act.
Kauchema, a subject of boasting.