Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Doctrinal Emotive Behavior Therapy in 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Doctrinal Emotive Behavior Therapy in 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

January 15, 2020 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - affliction, doctrinal emotive behavior therapy, Thessalonians

In an earlier post, I talked about what I call Doctrinal Emotive Behavior Therapy (DEBT). It is similar to Albert Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), but with a Biblical basis. REBT treats patients with emotional disturbances by challenging their irrational beliefs and convincing the patient to adopt more rational beliefs. That should lead to greater emotional stability.

REBT has a simple ABCDE method of therapy. Put very simply, according to REBT, people get emotionally disturbed (C) because of their beliefs (B) about a situation or activating event (A). The REBT therapist then disputes (D) those beliefs in order to effect change (E) in the patient. In REBT, a change of mind is supposed to bring a change of feeling.

I find that approach very common-sensical, except for one thing—instead of taking postmodernism and moral relativism as my standard for what counts as “rational” or “irrational” (as REBT therapists seem to do), I go to the Bible. I dispute my irrational beliefs with Bible doctrine.

In this blog, I want to show DEBT at work in Paul’s epistle to the Thessalonians. Paul will recognize that the Thessalonians are disturbed due to their beliefs about a situation. Paul will then dispute those beliefs with doctrine.

For example, in 1 Thess 3:1-5, Paul writes:

Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

A. What is the activating event?

Earlier, Paul told the Thessalonians they had suffered “much affliction” (1 Thess 1:6). Likewise, he had been “spitefully treated at Philippi” (1 Thess 2:2). That is, he suffered persecution, too. And in our passage above, Paul again mentions “these afflictions” (v 3). Let’s say that afflictions are the activating event (A).

C. What is the emotional or behavioral consequence?

Paul says the Thessalonians were “shaken.” The Thessalonians were so shaken that Paul worried they might fall away from the faith so that his “labor might be in vain” (v 5). Paul did not want to see that happen. He wanted the Thessalonians to keep on walking in the faith.

Now, remember, many people assume that A directly causes C. But we will argue that it is really your beliefs (B) about A that cause C. With that in mind…

B. What did the Thessalonians believe about those afflictions to produce their emotional disturbance?

Paul does not say exactly. That’s the trouble with only being able to read one-half of the Thessalonian correspondence. We can only guess at what they believed based on what Paul says.

Perhaps they were shaken because they wrongly believed that afflictions were a sign of God’s displeasure or of God’s plan going wrong or proof that the Christian message was not true. Or maybe they thought that believing the gospel guaranteed a comfortable and prosperous life on earth. I don’t know. But whatever they believed, Paul thought they needed correction.

D. How does Paul dispute their beliefs with doctrine?

Paul reminded the Thessalonians that these afflictions were not accidental. On the contrary, he was appointed to suffer affliction for the gospel, just as he told them before:

for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

In other words, the afflictions were part of the plan. Paul expected them. So did Timothy. And so should the Thessalonians. That doesn’t mean they should enjoy their afflictions. But it should not cause them to be shaken to the point of falling from the faith.

E. What was the intended effect of this doctrinal disputation?

Paul says his goal is to:

establish you and encourage you concerning your faith.

Clearly, Paul expected the doctrinal truths he taught to have an impact on their state of mind. By replacing their false beliefs about affliction with the truth that he was appointed to afflictions, Paul expected the Thessalonians to be established and encouraged instead of being shaken.

They would still go through the afflictions, but with a different set of beliefs. They would see the afflictions in a new light—as part of what God appointed for them. And that knowledge should bring them encouragement, not doubt.

Is that what happened? We don’t know. But when Timothy came back with a good report of the Thessalonians’ walk in the faith, that comforted Paul in his afflictions:

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith (1 Thess 3:6-7).

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

February 3, 2023

Romans–Part 05–The Solution

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Kathryn Wright and Ken Yates conclude this short series as they get to the good part of the...
February 3, 2023

Here’s Why Your February Partner’s Letter Will Be Late

We send a letter each month to those who financially support the ministry of GES. We call the newsletter Partners in Grace. We try to...
February 2, 2023

Romans–Part 04–The Problem

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Ken Yates and Kathryn Wright continue this short series about Romans. Jumping to Chapter 3, they begin with...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Inerrancy for Dummies $7.95 $5.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Hardcover) $13.95 $5.00
  • Grace in Eclipse: A Study in Eternal Rewards (Second Edition) $15.00 $8.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Confident in Christ, 2nd Edition $22.00 $5.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube