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"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"
Introduction
AUTHOR: The apostle Paul, joined in his salutation by Silvanus and
Timothy (1:1), and with specific mention of his name again later in the
epistle (2:18). Early sources in church history that attribute this
letter to Paul include: Clement of Alexandria (200 A.D.), Tertullian
(200 A.D.), and Irenaeus (200 A.D.).
THE CITY OF THESSALONICA: It was the capital and largest city of the
Roman province of Macedonia. Located on the Egnatian Way, a major road
from Rome to the eastern provinces, the city served as center of trade
and commerce. Today, it is known as Thessaloniki, or Salonica.
THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA: The establishment of the church is
recorded in Ac 17:1-9. On his second missionary journey, Paul and his
companions (Silas and Timothy) had just left Philippi and passed
through Amphipolis and Apollonia to arrive at Thessalonica. As was his
custom, Paul immediately located the synagogue and reasoned with the
Jews for three Sabbaths concerning Jesus Christ. While some of them
were persuaded, including a great number of devout Greeks and leading
women, the unbelieving Jews became jealous and created an uproar in the
city. Therefore it became necessary to send Paul and Silas away
secretly by night to Berea.
Despite such ominous beginnings, a strong church was established in
Thessalonica (cf. 1:2-10). Mostly Gentile (cf. 1:9), its members
included Jason (Ac 17:9), Aristarchus, and Secundus (Ac 20:4).
TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING: First Thessalonians is considered one of
Paul's earliest epistles, if not the first. From the letter itself
(3:1-6), and the record of Paul's travels in Acts (Ac 17:10-18:11), it
appears that Paul wrote this letter soon after arriving in Corinth on
his second journey. This would put it somewhere around 52 A.D.
PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: The abrupt departure from Thessalonica so soon
after the beginning of the church naturally left Paul anxious about the
condition of the brethren. When Timothy joined Paul at Athens (cf. Ac
17:14-16), his concern prompted Paul to send Timothy at once back to
Thessalonica to encourage and ground the new disciples in the faith,
and to learn how they were enduring persecution (cf. 3:1-5).
When Timothy returned to Paul in Corinth (cf. Ac 18:5), the news was
mostly encouraging (cf. 3:6-7). Despite persecution they had remained
strong (2:13-16), and even proved themselves to be an example to others
(1:6-8). Yet, as with any young church, they needed further
instruction concerning holy living (cf. 4:1-12). They also needed to
be reassured that their loved ones who died in Christ would not miss
out on the blessings involving the coming of our Lord (cf. 4:13-18).
Therefore we can summarize by saying that Paul's purpose in writing
was:
* To praise them for their steadfastness under persecution
* To instruct them concerning holy living
* To correct any misunderstanding, especially about the second
coming of Christ
THEME OF THE EPISTLE: This book is unique in that every chapter ends
with a reference to the second coming of Christ (1:10; 2:19; 3:13;
4:13-18; 5:23). With his emphasis on steadfastness and holy living, an
appropriate theme might be:
"HOLINESS IN VIEW OF THE COMING OF CHRIST"
KEY VERSES: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
"And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one
another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish
your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION (1:1-4)
1. Salutation (1)
2. Thanksgiving for their faith, hope, and love (2-4)
I. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS (1:5-3:13)
A. REGARDING THEIR CONDITION (1:5-10)
1. Their reception of the gospel (1:5-7)
2. Their reputation in every place (1:8-10)
B. REGARDING HIS CONDUCT (2:1-12)
1. The manner of his preaching (2:1-8)
2. The manner of his life (2:9-12)
C. REGARDING HIS CONCERN (2:13-3:13)
1. For their faithfulness (2:13-3:10)
2. For their continued growth (3:11-13)
II. APOSTOLIC INSTRUCTIONS (4:1-5:28)
A. WALK IN HOLINESS (4:1-8)
1. To please God (4:1-2)
2. To abstain from sexual immorality (4:3-8)
B. WALK IN LOVE (4:9-10)
1. As they are taught by God to love one another (4:9)
2. To increase more and more (4:10)
C. WALK IN DILIGENCE (4:11-12)
1. To work with their hands (4:11)
2. To walk properly toward those who are outside (4:12)
D. WALK IN HOPE (4:13-18)
1. With no sorrow concerning those who have died (4:13-14)
2. For we will be rejoined with them when Christ returns (4:
15-18)
E. WALK IN LIGHT (5:1-11)
1. For the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (5:
1-4)
2. For we are sons of light and sons of the day (5:5-8)
3. For God has appointed us to salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ (5:9-11)
F. WALK IN OBEDIENCE (5:12-22)
1. With respect toward those over us (5:12-13)
2. With concern for one another (5:14-15)
3. With joy, prayer and thanksgiving (5:16-18)
4. Don't quench the Spirit or despise prophecies, but don't be
gullible either (5:19-22)
CONCLUDING REMARKS (5:23-28)
1. A prayer for their sanctification and preservation (5:23-24)
2. A request for prayer in his behalf (5:25)
3. A charge to greet one another with a holy kiss, and to read the
epistle to others (5:26-27)
4. A benediction of grace from the Lord Jesus Christ (5:28)
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE INTRODUCTION
1) On which missionary journey was the church at Thessalonica
established?
- Paul's second missionary journey
2) Where can we read about the establishment of the church at
Thessalonica?
- Ac 17:1-9
3) How long did Paul preach in the Jewish synagogue before trouble
arose? (Ac 17:2)
- Three Sabbaths
4) Where did Paul go after leaving Thessalonica? (Ac 17:10)
- Berea
5) Why did Paul have to leave so soon again and go on to Athens? (Ac
17:13-15)
- The Jews from Thessalonica followed him there and stirred up more
trouble
6) While at Athens, whom did Paul send back to Thessalonica? (1 Th 3:
1-2)
- Timothy
7) When Paul left Athens, where did he go? Who arrived later? (Ac 18:
1,5)
- Corinth
- Silas and Timothy
8) From where and when did Paul write 1st Thessalonians?
- From Corinth, sometime around 52 A.D.
9) Why did Paul write this letter (see Purpose Of The Epistle)?
- To praise them for their steadfastness under persecution
- To correct any misunderstanding, especially about the second
coming of Christ
10) What has been suggested as the theme of this epistle?
- Holiness in view of the coming of Christ
11) What are the key verses of this epistle?
- 1 Th 3:12-13
12) According to the outline above, what are the two main sections of
this epistle?
- Personal reflections
- Apostolic instructions
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© Mark A. Copeland, 2001
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