Many gentiles in the church had come out of idolatry, which was not a particular problem among the jews of that time 1 thessalonians 1. Paul addressed the thessalonians but his instructions apply to all christians in the body of christ throughout the ages. The background of the thessalonian church is found in ac 17. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica.
Pauls anxious wait in athens 1 5 timothys comforting report 610 prayer for the thessalonians 11 4. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. Now interestingly enough, those three things also form a little outline, built right into the text, to guide you in understanding the first three chapters. The personal details shared all match what we know of paul from other new testament books. He writes 1 to encourage persecuted believers, 2 to correct a misunderstanding concerning the lords return and 3 to exhort the thessalonians to be steadfast and to work for a living 2. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. There were no extensive historical persecutions of christians by jews in palestine prior to the. Andy is a professor of bible and theology at the college of biblical studies in. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. The apostle paul advises the thessalonian christians to stay spiritually awake, make sure of all things, pray constantly, and encourage one another.
Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Introduction to the book of 1 thessalonians brief summary. Only modern form critics have seriously doubted the pauls authorship and the authenticity of 1 thessalonians, but their conclusions have not convinced many scholars. Greetings 1 thanks for the thessalonians faith 210 2.
This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica compare 1. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul from corinth. This chapter contains the prescript and pauls thanksgiving. He provides with an overview of ancient thessalonica and the founding of the thessalonian. Because we are so seldom heavenlyminded, we are of little earthly good. Jeffrey weima provides an indepth look at two of pauls most intriguing letters.
The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. His aim for this letter was to strengthen the christian church in thessalonica by. The two letters to the thessalonians are of interest from a historical point of view because. Best commentaries and books on 1 thessalonians logos. These 1 and 2 thessalonians are considered by many scholars to be the earliest of pauls epistles. Paul was an amazing man and apostle of god, but he usually did not work all by himself. Thus, the time of the writing of 1 thessalonians must have been the summer or fall of a. Biography of paul both the internal and external evidence points to paul writing this epistle. It is a problem that needs to be explained, not a problem to be set aside by interpolation hypotheses. 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. Paul fled to athens from berean persecution, leaving silas and timothy in berea see ac 17. He thanks them for becoming examples of faithfulness and love for all the followers throughout greece. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter.
He also addresses their concerns regarding those who died in christ, and jesus second coming. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. Therefore, 1 and 2 thessalonians are among the earliest letters we have from pauls hand, the letter to the galatians holding the only reasonable claim to an earlier date see introduction to galatians. 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. Despite persecution, they flourish in their faith and stand strong. Silas and timothy did not author the letter, however.
Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. Paul arrived at corinth before gallio assumed this position, perhaps a year earlier. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Since paul began his ministry there in the jewish synagogue, it is reasonable to assume that the new church included some jews. Grace to you and peace from god our father and the lord jesus christ. Paul wrote his first letter to the thessalonian church from the city of corinth around ad 51, just a few months after having preached in thessalonica on his second missionary journey. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ.
The historical context is acts 1618, especially acts 17. Pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. And there is the expression of the patience, waiting in hope for his son from heaven. Now may the god of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our lord jesus christ comes again. This summary of the book of 2 thessalonians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 thessalonians. Paul needed to address the three troubles the church in thessalonica faced.
The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. Like 1 thessalonians, this letter deals extensively with eschatology see introduction to 1 thessalonians. Stay connected amidst social distancing receive weekly bible studies to share with family and friends. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were. Therefore, paul probably wrote 1 thessalonians in a. The thessalonians were unsettled because they had misunderstood their future hope 1 thess. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. Essentially there are two historical problems, both related to the record in acts 17. Practical instructions and encouragement 1 thessalonians 4. Pauls letters to the thessalonians were written from corinth around 50 ad, just after he was with the church in thessalonica. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts.
Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. Nov 17, 2016 watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. The apostle paul identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of second thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. Silas and timothy are mentioned because the christians in thessalonica knew these coworkers of paul personally, as they knew paul himself. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. The holy bible book 52 1 thessalonians kjv dramatized. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. Paul, silvanus, and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living.
Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible survey. Book of 1 thessalonians 1 thessalonians chapter 1 1 thessalonians chapter 2 1 thessalonians chapter 3 1 thessalonians chapter 4 1 thessalonians chapter 5. 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. Paul praised them for their faith and said that he remembered them for the works they had done in the name of jesus.
Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the. In 1 thessalonians, paul celebrates the churchs holiness, love and future hope as they remain faithful to jesus. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. It is authored by paul the apostle, likely written in corinth in about 5051 ce for the church in thessalonica. In 1 thessalonians, paul directs the persecuted thessalonian christians to. Paul, silvanus the roman name of silas, and timothy are all named in 1 thessalonians 1. Introduction to niv study bible go to 1 thessalonians. An inscription discovered at delphi dated from the summer of a.
However, timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting paul to pen 1 thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers. They were called to work hard so as not to be a burden to anybody and win the respect of outsiders 4. 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. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. Second epistle to the thessalonians read the bible online. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars. 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. Summary of 1 thessalonians 4 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 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. This summary of the book of 2 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 2 thessalonians. Weima begins with the historical background of the letters. Nov 18, 2012 this is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians. Book of 1 thessalonians outline summary online bible nwt.
It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52. Since the specific date and time of the lords return were unknown, they should be ready, alert and selfcontrolled at all times 5. Paul had not spent long enough time with the church in thessalonica, and wrote this letter to further instruct them in their walk with christ and sound doctrine. Grace be unto you, and peace, from god our father, and the lord jesus christ. 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. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. Pauls ministry in thessalonica 1 12 thessalonians accepted gods word 16 paul longs to see the thessalonians 1720 3. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
Paul, silas and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ. Pauls greetings and concerns chapters 12 christian living chapter 3. 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. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians from corinth near the end of his second missionary journey. 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 helpful to trace the locations of paul and his companions that relate to the thessalonian correspondence. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians bible survey. The thessalonians had grown slack in pursuing holiness 1 thess. 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. Paul opens his letter commending the thessalonians for their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope 1 thes 1. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish synagogue on three successive sabbath days.
Best commentaries and books on 1 thessalonians logos bible. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Both themes would recur prominently in 2 thessalonians 1. This is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters 2. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings.
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