Love Abounds

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SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIES Rev. Robert C. Lewis
Glendale Baptist Church Houston,
Texas quicknotes.org 1999
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Love Abounds
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Love Grows
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our love for one another may grow(1
Thessalonians 3122 Thessalonians 132 Peter
178)
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2 Thessalonians 134

• We ought always to give thanks to God for you,
  brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith
  is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
  you toward one another grows ever greater (4)
  therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you
  among the churches of God for your perseverance
  and faith in the midst of all your persecutions
  and afflictions which you endure.

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"because" introduces two reasons why Paul,
Silas, and Timothy should always thank God for
the Thessalonians(1)'your faith is growing
beyond measure'the present tense of hyperauxano
indicates their faith is continually growing,
becoming stronger and stronger, We ought always
to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is
only fitting, because your faith is greatly
enlarged (uJperauxanw), and the love of each one
of you toward one another grows ever greater (2
Thessalonians 13)
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(2)auxano 'grow, increase' is used of flowers
growing (Matthew 628) and of a mustard seed
growing into a large plant (Luke 1319),
(3)the prefixed preposition hyper means 'above
measure We ought always to give thanks to God
for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because
your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of
each one of you toward one another grows ever
greater (2 Thessalonians 13)
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severe testing helped their faith grow We
ought always to give thanks to God for you,
brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith
is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
you toward one another grows ever greater
therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you
among the churches of God for your perseverance
and faith in the midst of all your persecutions
and afflictions which you endure (14)
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'and the love of every single one' emphasizes
individual believers in the local churchloving
one another starts with individualsyou must do
your part, not just wait for others to love you

• We ought always to give thanks to God for you,
  brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith
  is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
  you toward one another grows ever greater (2
  Thessalonians 13)

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'of all of you for one another' refers to the
whole churchall must love and all must be loved

• We ought always to give thanks to God for you,
  brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith
  is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
  you toward one another grows ever greater (2
  Thessalonians 13)

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'is growing'the present tense of pleonazo
'grow, increase' indicates a steady growth in
their ability to love each otherincluding
their enemies and the unlovely

• We ought always to give thanks to God for you,
  brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith
  is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
  you toward one another grows ever greater (2
  Thessalonians 13)

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the church at Thessalonika was fantastic their
faith and love were continually increasinglet's
be like them! note Paul's commendation"We
ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches
of God!" (14)
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1 Thessalonians 31213

• (12) and may the Lord cause you to increase and
  abound in love for one another, and for all men,
  just as we also do for you (13) so that He may
  establish your hearts unblamable in holiness
  before our God and Father at the coming of our
  Lord Jesus with all His saints.

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"increase and abound in love for one another"
confirms that our love for one another may grow

• and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound
  in love for one another, and for all men, just as
  we also do for you

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"may the Lord cause you to increase and abound
in love" indicates the Lord Jesus is the cause of
this growth in love

• and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound
  in love for one another, and for all men, just as
  we also do for you

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"for all men" takes us beyond the local
churchour love for all men, both believers and
unbelievers, may also grow

• and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound
  in love for one another, and for all men, just as
  we also do for you

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"but you shall love your neighbor as yourself"
(Leviticus 1918) is called the Royal Lawthe
second most important commandment in the Bible
(Mark 1231)
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2 Peter 18

• (5) Now for this very reason also, applying all
  diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence,
  and in your moral excellence, knowledge (6) and
  in your knowledge, self-control, and in your
  self-control, perseverance, and in your
  perseverance, godliness (7) and in your
  godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your
  brotherly kindness, love. (8) For if these
  qualities are yours and are increasing, they
  render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the
  true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter
  158).

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these verses confirm that both brotherly-love
(philadelphia) and love (agape) can grow

• (7) and in your godliness, brotherly kindness
  (philadelphia), and in your brotherly kindness
  (philadelphia), love (agape). (8) For if these
  qualities are yours and are increasing, they
  render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the
  true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter
  178).

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'if' introduces a conditionmaybe you have
these qualities, maybe you don't

• For if these qualities are yours and are
  increasing, they render you neither useless nor
  unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord
  Jesus Christ (2 Peter 18).

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'these qualities' refer to the preceding eight
virtues mentioned in verses 57(1)faith
(pistis)comes from hearing God's
Word,(2)moral excellence (arete)comes from
obedience to God's moral commandments,
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(3)knowledge (gnosis)comes from the teaching
ministry of the Holy Spirit,(4)self-control
(egkrateia)comes from knowledge and from the
Holy Spirit (a fruit of the Spirit),
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(5)endurance or steadfastness (hypomone)comes
from testing and selfcontrol,(6)godliness
(eusebeia)maintaining a godly attitude while
persevering, not complaining or cursing God,
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(7)brotherly love (philadelphia)comes from the
Holy Spirit,(8)love (agape)comes from the
Holy Spirit (a fruit of the Spirit)
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'render you neither useless nor
unfruitful'argos means "unemployed, lazy,
useless" and akarpos means "unproductive"it's
possible to be a useless and unproductive
Christian

• For if these qualities are yours and are
  increasing, they render you neither useless nor
  unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord
  Jesus Christ (2 Peter 18).

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'are yours and are increasing' means you will
be useful to God and productive in your Christian
life if these eight virtues are present and
continually growing in your soul

• For if these qualities are yours and are
  increasing, they render you neither useless nor
  unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord
  Jesus Christ (2 Peter 18).

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SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIES Rev. Robert C. Lewis
Glendale Baptist Church Houston,
Texas quicknotes.org 1999