This coming week I resume the blog series on 1 Thessalonians, and we will study chapter 4, verses 1–8. The topic of those verses is sexuality.
Evidence suggests that the Greco-Roman culture of the first century was highly sexualized, somewhat like many cultures of the twenty-first century. What Paul writes to the Christians in Thessalonica in his day sounds, in my opinion, very relevant.
Human sexuality is an expansive topic. There are so many questions. Is it okay for Christians who are dating or engaged to move in with each other? Can pastors marry a couple that is living together? Should pastors require them to live separately until their wedding day? Is expression of sexuality evil before you say the words “I do,” and then suddenly after you say, “I do,” expression of sexuality in marriage becomes wonderful? What kind of clothing is modest? Not modest?
Then there is homosexuality. Can a Christian be attracted to the same gender without sinning? Some Christians say that the New Testament passages condemning homosexuality did not envision a society where people of the same gender love each other in lifelong committed marriages, because that kind of marriage did not exist at the time. If it did exist in the first century, they say, then Paul and the other writers of the NT would have been okay with it. Is that true? And what about transgenderism? What about polygamy and polyamory? Does Scripture say anything about being married to multiple spouses, or being in love with multiple people simultaneously?
What Paul has to say in 1st Thessalonians 4:1–8 applies to all the above, but what we will see is that Paul mentions none of the above. Read it ahead of time and see what you think. Then join me back here on Monday as I dig into the passage.
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