Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. This would place the writing of the epistle during pauls extended stay at corinth on his second missionary journey cf. The thessalonians had a doctrinal problem as well as a practical problem growing out of it. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of second thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. It also attracted merchants from other parts of the empire, including numerous jews acts 17. Alleged differences between 1 and 2 thessalonians have caused some scholars to reject the pauline authorship of 2 thessalonians. 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. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter.
He explains that it is because of persecutions that he was concerned, and he reminds them that he told them beforehand that persecution would happen. Blackhawk church eat this book weekly bible guide reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1 thessalonians paul, silas and timothy were the first to share the gospel in thessalonica, where many jews. This is a recurring theme throughout the epistles of paul, and in the book of titus, he goes so far as to say their mouths must be stopped. Far and away the largest theological contribution of both 1 and 2 thessalonians lies in what they say about eschatology. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians from corinth near the end of his second missionary journey. The thessalonians understood that jesus was the son of god from all eternity, the third person of the trinity, now ascended up to heaven, the one who one day would return from heaven. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in some sense as its theme.
For three sabbaths, paul preached in the synagogue with impressive success acts 17. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. First thessalonians it is generally supposed that pauls first epistle to the thessalonians is the first book of the new testament that was ever written. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul. From thessalonica, paul and his party went to beroea, then paul continued alone to athens. Two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are preserved in the new testament. Summary of 1 thessalonians 3 paul then recalls how he sent timothy to them to encourage them and to get a report as to how they are doing. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica.
Read 1 thessalonians introduction commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessa. The following steps will help you discover the structure of 1 thessalonians for yourself.
Study the bible online using commentary on 1 thessalonians introduction and more. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of. I thessalonians is probably the earliest writing that we have from the christian era. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were. Of the books in the new testament that are attributed to paul, most modern scholars agree that he wrote the books known as romans, 1 and 2 corinthians, galatians, philippians, 1 thessalonians and philemon for a grand total of 7.
We hope this outline of 1 thessalonians will assist you as you study gods holy word. The book of 2 thessalonians is filled with information that explains the end times. Jan 02, 2020 he warns against those who are rebellious deceivers, especially those who continued to claim circumcision and adherence to the rituals and ceremonies of the mosaic law were still necessary titus 1. Lesson 3 in the series the heart of pauls theology. Two thousand years have passed since paul penned 12 thessalonians. The church was established during pauls second missionary journey after their departure from philippi. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with specific mention of his name again later in the epistle. This is a delightfully revealing letter, showing the heart of the apostle toward these new christians, and also.
Note that jesus said that he would raise himself from the dead. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. You must not look at the foes before and behind, on the right hand and on the left, but to gods faithfulness to his promises, gods zeal for his honor, and gods love for those whom he calls. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. Soon afterwards he took timothy along with him acts 16. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. Enduring word bible commentary 1 thessalonians chapter 5. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. Authorship paul is the stated author of this letter 1. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. Hes writing to a group of christians in thessalonica, and hes just pleased as punch because hes heard a report that they are kicking butt when it comes to having faith. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians.
It was a great commercial center of pauls time, the inhabitants being greeks, romans and jews. Their expectant hope concerning jesus coming should result in watchful confidence. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the lord jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please god just as you actually do walk. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52. Investigates the background to pauls letters to the thessalonians, examines the structure and content of first and second thessalonians, and reveals his eschatology. Nevertheless, there is a theological premise behind the left behind series that is problematic. What is the purpose of the book of 1st thessalonians. Title in the greek nt, 1 thessalonians is listed literally as to the thessalonians. Every chapter of 1 thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of christ, with ch. Landscape the bustling seaport city of thessalonica was the capital of macedonia, located along the egnatian way the most important trade route in the roman empire, running from. The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul.
If it gets people thinking about our lord and about being ready for his coming, that is a very good thing. Further, this letter is noteworthy for pauls toughmindedness in predicting judgment on the ungodly and in rebuking church members who behave and think incorrectly. Christians are destined not for wrath but for salvation when christ returns 1. It was founded by cassander, king of macedon 315 b. Silas and timothy had joined paul at corinth acts 18. However, the pauline authorship of this book has been challenged by some and is more debated than that of 1 thessalonians. These 1 and 2 thessalonians are considered by many scholars to be the earliest of pauls epistles. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. 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. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a.
External evidence strongly supports pauline authorship geisler, a general introduction to the bible, pp. Those who think christians are worse are mistaken, because atheists have created more atrocities, like hitler, stalin, mao zedong. First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international bible. It still exists under the name of saloniki, and has a population of from 75,000 to. Paul used a different word here than for the sleep of death mentioned in 1 thessalonians. In the roman empire, it became the capital of the province of macedonia and. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica. This represents the apostle pauls first canonical correspondence to the church in the city of thessalonica. Jesus death and resurrection are the basis for the christians hope 4. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a.
Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are preserved. It was written to a struggling, yet vigorous church that was only a few months old, made up of christians who had just come to christ under pauls ministry. The letter was explicitly addressed to the church of the thessalonians, 1. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. In the roman empire, it became the capital of the province of macedonia and its largest city with 200,000 people. The first letter of paul to the thessalonians is also the first letter the apostle wrote. Pauls letters to the thessalonians were written from corinth around 50 ad, just after he was with the church in thessalonica. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters. The historical context is acts 1618, especially acts 17. The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book from the new testament of the christian bible. Paul the apostle wrote both letters to the thessalonians. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. The nucleus of the church was formed from this group of jews, although 1 thessalonians 1. For more information on 1 thessalonians and other new testament books.
Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Thessalonica is located on the gulf of alonika, which is on the northwest corner of the aegean sea. Thessalonica was originally an ancient town named thermai, meaning hot springs. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Over a quarter of 1 thessalonians and nearly half of 2 thessalonians deal with problems and issues regarding the parousia or coming of christ from heaven. Outlining 1 thessalonians however, before i discuss the literary organization of 1 thessalonians, i would like to ask you to roll up your shirt sleeves and do a little work of your ownan inductive study of the letter. Paul was now clearly at the head of his own missionary band. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in. First thessalonians provides christians with the clearest biblical passage on the coming rapture of believers, an event that will inaugurate the sevenyear tribulation. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same.
The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. His aim for this letter was to strengthen the christian church in thessalonica by. Paul is the author of the book of 1st thessalonians as he begins paul, silvanus, and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ 1. 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. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible history online. This summary of the book of 1 thessalonians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 thessalonians. A s new left behind movie hits the screens on october 3. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians barnes bible charts author.
Although the thrust of the letter is varied see purpose, the subject of eschatology doctrine of last things seems to be predominant in both thessalonian letters. Spiritually speaking, we need to be active and aware, to watch and be sober. When paul and silas had passed through amphipolis and apollonia. The first epistle was penned at corinth by the apostle paul in response to timothy s report on the progress of the church they had recently established there 3. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars1 b. The background of the thessalonian church is found in ac 17. In time it became an important city because of its strategic location near the aegean sea. The roman empire, and the ancient city of thessalonica, have been reduced to rubble. Paul, silas, and timothy ministered on their second missionary journey in philippi and left after their imprisonment and subsequent release acts 16. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. 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. Thessalonica was, during the time of paul, one of the two most important commercial centers in greece corinth was the other. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament.
The dead in christ shall rise first, while those still living will follow close behind. Background information brief description of the book as a whole. Second thessalonians appears to have been written just a few months, possibly a year, after first thessalonians. Paul was actively anxious to know what had become of the christians there. Because we do not belong to the night nor of darkness 1 thessalonians 5. Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several. The literary structure of 1 and 2 thessalonians david alan. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome.
Thus, the time of the writing of 1 thessalonians must have been the summer or fall of a. Paul had not spent long enough time with the church in thessalonica, and wrote this letter to further. Bible study on 1 thessalonians setting this will be a small group bible study held during the daytime hours, bringing people from many walks of life. Reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the lord, and from the glory of his power. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. Introduction to niv study bible go to 1 thessalonians background of the thessalonian letters it is helpful to trace the locations of paul and his companions that relate to the thessalonian correspondence. The thessalonians also believed that god the father had raised from the dead jesus. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. Paul had not spent long enough time with the church in thessalonica, and wrote this letter to.
1484 668 1457 734 895 250 325 8 3 868 1423 522 1315 318 46 141 1375 1333 1201 908 1156 830 300 551 385 410 357 526 1483 476 1392 994 1387 1241 163 1384 514 282 257 955 546