Deeper Reflection
THE THESSALONIANS WERE “TAUGHT BY GOD TO LOVE one another”, such that Paul says they “have no need of anyone to write” to them “concerning brotherly love” (v.9). “Taught by God” (theodidaktos) is Paul’s shorthand reference to the new covenant promise of the eschatological blessing, “All your children shall be taught by the Lord” (Isa 54:13).¹⁸ Theodidaktos refers to “some form of divine instruction”¹⁹. It is “a supernatural working of God” in our hearts.²⁰ For the Thessalonians, it was “the teaching” they “received through the activity of the indwelling Holy Spirit who produced the fruit of the Spirit (Rom 5:5; Gal 5:22)”²¹ – love, which they were practising even “to all the brothers throughout Macedonia” (v.10).In affirming the Thessalonians of being “taught by God” to the extent that they “have no need of anyone to write” to them, Paul was not instilling in them self-reliance and independence from him. On the contrary, Paul saw the urgent need to give them face-to-face teaching to fill up “what is lacking in your faith”, concerning which he prayed “most earnestly night and day” (1 Thess 3:10). It is clear from Scripture that being personally “taught by God” does not exclude learning from those who are gifted in teaching the Word of God and from one another.We are “taught by God” not just on love as the Thessalonians, but in all the other things of God as well. God teaches us in knowing, understanding and living out truths in life experience – “theology in actual life”²². Being “taught by God” is experiencing God in life according to His Word.

---

¹⁸ Gary S. Shogren, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Zondervan, 2012), 169 ¹⁹ Jeffrey A. D. Weima, 1-2 Thessalonians, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Baker Academic, 2014), 286 ²⁰ Gary S. Shogren, 169 ²¹ Gene L. Green, The Letters to the Thessalonians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Apollos, 2002), 205 ²² Jürgen Moltmann, The Crucified God (SCM Press, 1974, 2015), xvii