Thessalonians - Jared McCormick
Teachers
Lesson Summary
During the class, Jared McCormick led the group through a close reading of 1 Thessalonians, focusing on chapters 2 and 3, especially verses 2:13‑16. He explained how Paul praised the Thessalonian believers for receiving the gospel as God’s word and contrasted their suffering with that of the Judean churches. The discussion then shifted to the perplexing phrase in verse 16, "as always to fill up the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them at last," prompting an exploration of several interpretive theories, including alleged anti‑Jewish sentiment and potential later copyist additions. McCormick concluded that the most coherent explanation was to view the passage within the larger biblical pattern of Israel’s repeated cycles of faithfulness and judgment—a "roller‑coaster" of divine discipline and restoration. He connected this theme to 2 Thessalonians, where Paul discusses the judgment at Christ’s coming, and reinforced the hope found in 1 Thessalonians 1:10, which promises deliverance from future wrath through Jesus’ resurrection. The class left with a deeper appreciation for the complexity of Paul’s message and its relevance to contemporary believers.
Key Scriptures
By hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved. So as always to fill up the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them at last.
To wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.