He repeatedly uses phrases like you know and you remember, and then reminds the thessalonians what they have learned from him. His aim for this letter was to strengthen the christian church in thessalonica by. Paul overviews his history and relationship with the church members which. Continue to serve the living and true god, the will of god is for us to be holy, god didnt call us to impurity but holiness, whoever rejects that god calls us to be holy is rejecting god, jesus will come like a thief in the night, etc.
The book of revelation is the ending to the greatest story ever told. All believers will meet jesus in the air to begin an eternity spent with the lord 1 thessalonians 4. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Thus, pauls first two letters were written to thessalonica. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. Paul established the congregation at thessalonica during his. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars. The way jesus followers respond to such hostility should always be with love, and they should meet opposition with grace and generosity. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica. Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Pauls letters to the thessalonians were written from corinth around 50 ad, just after he was with the church in thessalonica.
The authenticity of this epistle is attested by iren. Paul thanks god for the thessalonians faith, love for others and hope in jesus despite persecution. We remember before our god and father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul from corinth, greece, about ad 50 and addressed to the christian community he had founded in macedonia. For three sabbaths, paul preached in the synagogue with impressive success acts 17. Impressed by the faithfulness of the thessalonians in the face of persecution, paul wrote to encourage the christians in that community with the goal that they would continue to grow in godliness.
The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead. He was afraid that their afflictions may have given the devil a chance to tempt them and render his work in vain. For since we believe that jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when jesus returns, god will bring back with him the believers who have died. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible history online. Paul was an amazing man and apostle of god, but he usually did not work all by himself. I want to briefly focus in on a couple of sections as i think they will show the quality of the commentary. This commentary is a treasure trove of exegetical and theological insights. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. However, timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting paul to pen 1 thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers. This summary of the book of 1 thessalonians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 thessalonians. The city and the church thessalonica was a bustling seaport city at the head of the thermaic gulf see map, p. Throughout 1 thessalonians, we see how the thessalonian church embodies holiness.
Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Nov 17, 2016 watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians introduction. This way of life is motivated by hope in the coming kingdom of jesus that has already begun in his resurrection from the dead. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy 1. The first epistle was penned at corinth by the apostle paul in response to timothys report on the progress of the church they had recently established there 3. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul from corinth.
In 1 thessalonians chapter 3, paul explained to the church why timothy had been sent to them and why paul remained in athens. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several grounds. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of second thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. The historical context is acts 1618, especially acts 17. The historical context is acts 16 18, especially acts 17. It is helpful to trace the locations of paul and his companions that relate to the thessalonian correspondence. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Paul, silvanus, and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ. That would be long before paul was in prison awaiting execution. He also expressed his concern for their faith in god. The letters called epistles from paul to thessalonica, which included i thessalonians and ii thessalonians were probably two of the earliest letters paul had written which was around a. He also addresses their concerns regarding those who died in christ, and jesus second coming. There were no extensive historical persecutions of christians by jews in palestine prior to the first jewish war. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international.
Much has been written and said regarding the rapture and much of american christianity holds to a view of a secret rapture that is nonexistent in church history up until 1830. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a. It was after timothy and silvanus rejoined paul in corinth acts 18. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. Sep 28, 20 the book of 1 thessalonians is a personal and affectionate letter to the church, pauls own words confirm this, we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of god but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to.
Paul opens his letter with a customary salutation 1. How paul of tarsus impacted the history of christianity. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. He directs christians to have respect for church leaders since many of them devote their own time and energies into serving the church as well as working in secular occupations. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. Thanksgiving for the thessalonians faith we always thank god for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the church at thessalonica, it is pauls first letter period. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. Paul wanted to check on the state of the thessalonians faith, for fear that false teachers might have infiltrated their number.
He then spends the next three chapters setting forth his relation to the thessalonians 1. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. These 1 and 2 thessalonians are considered by many scholars to be the earliest of pauls epistles. Paul undoubtedly had multiple reasons for writing, all coming out of this supreme concern for the flock from which he had been separated.
He also informs them about christs return, the time when their suffering will cease. Paul wanted to greet the thessalonians and thank them for their faithfulness. American bible society has been engaging people with the lifechanging message of gods word for nearly 200 years. Use highlighting, underlining, and take notes while you study the bible. The theme of 1 thessalonians can be summed up as the resurrection of the saints and the rapture of the church. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians from corinth near the end of his second missionary journey. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians barnes bible charts author. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. The apostle paul advises the thessalonian christians to stay spiritually awake, make sure of all things, pray constantly, and encourage one another. Despite persecution, they flourish in their faith and stand strong. Heres a quick breakdown of 1 thessalonians in infographic form. In 1 thessalonians, paul directs the persecuted thessalonian christians to. The holy bible book 52 1 thessalonians kjv dramatized. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living.
No other biblical book, regardless of its size, gives as much space to the rapture as does 1 thessalonians. The letter was explicitly addressed to the church of the thessalonians, 1. External evidence strongly supports pauline authorship geisler, a general introduction to the bible, pp. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars1 b. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians. Just because paul visited a city, preached the gospel for weeks or even months, and founded a church by guiding converts to the faith, this did not protect the new church from scheming heretics. In 1 thessalonians, paul celebrates the churchs holiness, love and future hope as they remain faithful to jesus.
This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. It is authored by paul the apostle, likely written in corinth in about 5051 ce for the church in thessalonica. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. The main teachings that paul covers in 1 thessalonians are. Reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1. Except for the possibility of an early date for galatians 4849.
Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. Paul, silas, and timothy ministered on their second missionary journey in philippi and left after their imprisonment and subsequent release acts 16. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters 2. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52.
The book of 1 thessalonians is a personal and affectionate letter to the church, pauls own words confirm this, we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of god but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our lord jesus christ, in the sight of god and our father. Such sins were common in the city in which they lived. Paul had not spent long enough time with the church in thessalonica, and wrote this letter to further. Paul fled to athens from berean persecution, leaving silas and timothy in berea see ac 17. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. This is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians. Paul reminds his audience of the teachings they were given, saying, you learned from us how you ought to live and to please god as, in fact, you are doing 1 thessalonians 4. The author of this book encourages the thessalonians to remain faithful in the midst of suffering. He was afraid that their afflictions may have given the devil a. Paul, along with silas and timothy, founded the church at thessalonica on his second missionary journey acts 17. May 01, 2009 i want to briefly focus in on a couple of sections as i think they will show the quality of the commentary.
The first of pauls two letters written from corinth to the. This makes it clear that paul is writing to people who are already followers of jesus christ. Paul praised them for their faith and said that he remembered them for the works they had done in the name of jesus. First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. Nov 18, 2012 this is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians.
The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. The first section i want to look at is 1 thessalonians 4. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. Introduction to niv study bible go to 1 thessalonians. The church was established during pauls second missionary journey after their departure from philippi.
The two letters to the thessalonians are of interest from a historical point of view because. I can think of no person better qualified to write a receptionhistory commentary than anthony thiselton, because he knows what reception history means and how it plays out in interpretation. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish. The first letter was written after timothy, his coworker, returned from thessalonia to report that the new. Paul addressed the thessalonians but his instructions apply to all christians in the body of christ throughout the ages. The first epistle to the thessalonians introduction author. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica compare 1. The characteristics of the church there, and the circumstances existing, which gave occasion for the two epistles to the thessalonians, appear to have been, so far as can he gathered from the history 1 thessalonians 2. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. Picture study bible 1 thessalonians bible history online.
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