1 & 2 Thessalonians (Life Application Bible Commentary)

Very Good For Applying Scripture Soundly

First I would like to mention that although Amazon lists the author as Livingstone, and another reviewer says it is Beale, the authors of this commentary are Bruce B. Barton, Linda Taylor, Dave Veerman, Neil Wilson. Grant Osborne is the General Editor and Philip Comfort is the Series Editor.

This commentary falls into the category I call shorter commentaries. It is for anyone who has trouble making good sense of the fuller commentaries that are available, or if someone needs a very quick take on a particular text in 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The back cover of the commentary says "Throughout, you will find: maps, charts and diagrams, classic quotes from noted Christian thinkers, illustrations, extensive application notes." Although these things are claimed, I would not describe this commentary with this list of features.

Let me explain just a little and then I will give the rest of my review. Perhaps some commentaries in the series have charts and diagrams. The 1 & 2 Thessalonians commentary has a couple of gray maps with black lettering across the gray. Instant trouble for anyone who doesn't have the sharpest vision. The two maps in this commentary show timeline for the publishing of New Testament books (many of the listings go across the page divider and are really hard to read), and the other map shows the location of Thessalonica. It describes Paul's missionary journeys, but doesn't show them on the map. Honestly any study bible available today would have higher quality maps than this commentary offers.

The charts and diagrams are not found in this commentary either. They must have envisioned it for all the commentaries in the series, but failed to require the contributing authors to make some for this book? I don't know, particularly with the eschatological focus of this commentary, a few charts showing the difference between Greek views of the after life and the Christian view might have been very interesting. On page 69 & 70 a review of three major views of the rapture should include (in my opinion) a chart showing how these views visually look.

Although the cover does not tell us lists are offered, there are a few lists. In addition, I found one excursion: A theology of trials and suffering in the N.T. This two page theological review of the doctrine of suffering in the N.T. is not listed in the table of contents, but can be found on pages 112/113. Our friends at Tyndale reduced the font for this article and it is not pleasant to read because of that. The layout of the rest of the book is ok, but not great in my opinion.

Classic quotes from noted Christian thinkers: This is a great idea. BUT, the quotes I read often were not connected to the verses on the page. Sometimes they were, and sometimes they were not. It would be great if the authors had included the quotations in their writings AND then the editors had the stand apart quotes by them. All they have done is put the stand apart quotes on various pages throughout the commentary. Some fit and some don't. So I was left wondering why Tertullian's quote on pg 61 "Behold how these Christians love one another" was on a page commenting on these three verses:

ESV 1 Thessalonians 4:6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

I mean, did the authors/editors mean that as a sarcastic quote?!?

This is not isolated. I found a quote by John Wesley, a great quote, on a page that had nothing to do with the quote. Then sometimes the quotes fit perfectly. I had the feeling that the series editor said 'You have to use so many quotes from famous Christians in the past' and so some people added some in to reach a quota. It really gave me the feeling that someone did not pull this whole book together well. It's one of the reasons why I marked the overall rating down a star.

Application is the great part of this commentary. Unlike most commentaries, which usually give a lot of detail about grammar, interpretive issues based on how to read the text, original language definitions (sometimes using the original language fonts), this commentary is by design focused on applications. It tries to answer the 'so what do I do in my life today as a result of this verse' question. This is tricky. If your application is too narrow, you restrict the meaning of the text and may cause some people to miss valid applications. In this score, and I believe it is the most important area for this book, (because after all it is the Life Application Bible Commentary) this commentary gives so many applications that a preacher has a veritable gold mine lying at his feet. Every verse has something. Then there are related and clearly thought through 'stand aparts' (I don't know what they are supposed to be called-but they are marked by the symbol of a little tree in a box). These 'stand aparts' give great application to the text. What I love about this, and the reason I recommend this commentary, is because these skip all the technical mumbo jumbo that I actually love in most commentaries, and they give you the key thing you need to respond to in your life today! These are systematically tied to the text, but often are principles. So they can be applied in almost any area of your life, and flow directly from the verse you are studying. This is important because it subtly trains the user of this commentary on valid hermeneutics. In todays world of 'have it your way' doctrines and use of the scripture, this is so important.

Let me illustrate:
ESV 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
They use the NIV, but I prefer ESV.

From pg 46
"with overflowing love for this young church, Paul asked a question and then answered it himself. What was the hope, joy or crown in which Paul and Silas would be able to glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus when he comes? It would be the Thessalonian believers! The word hope describes Paul's confidence in these believers. The word joy pictures his own inner feelings when he will see them presented to the Lord and welcomed into the kingdom. The crown pictures a 'Victor's wreath'- the believers were like a victor's crown, giving Paul joy in having run the race for their sakes. (1 corinthians 9:25, Philippians 4;1). One day we will stand together before the Lord Jesus at his second coming. Paul imagined how he would rejoice with the believers who had come to faith through his preaching. The words "glory and joy" could refer to both outward and inward feelings. In these words, Paul left no question about hwo he felt toward these new believers. His love for them welled over into praise to God and joy in partnership with God for bringing them the message of eternal life.

Ultimate Rewards
The ultimate reward for Paul's ministry was not money, prestige, or fame, but new believers whose lives had been changed by God through the preaching of the gospel. This was why he longed to see them. No matter what ministry God has given to you, your highest reward and greatest joy should be those who come to believe in Christ and are growing in Him.

That is all there is for those two verses. This is typical of the entire commentary. When you compare that to a fuller commentary, say G.K. Beale in the IVP NT Commentary Series, Beale gives four pages of material on these two verses, you can see quite a difference. Beale deals with practical and complex theological issues that are raised by these verses. The Life Application Commentary could have gone down that road, but for whatever reason chose not to. The implication that Christ's judgment of all is implied in the reward/return of Christ language is omitted in this commentary!! Another issue raised in this verse is this: How does Paul's claim that he only boasts in the cross of Christ harmonize with his claim that these believer's enduring faith will be a crown of boasting before the Lord Jesus? Beale explores that and other related issues in his commentary (it's really worth getting to accompany this one). Life Application could have dealt with the issue of boasting, but skipped it. Still the application you see here is to the point and very helpful.

The bottom line, although there are some problems with this commentary, and it is small, it is still a great aid for a bible study leader or preacher who is looking for sound biblical life change as a result of the scriptures they are studying. It should not be your only tool for studying Thessalonians, but it's still very practical through and through. So for this reason alone, I highly recommend this commentary.