Shortly after writing 1 thessalonians, the apostle paul received a report 2 thess. In 1 thessalonians, paul directs the persecuted thessalonian christians to. Among its 27 books are selected recollections of the life and acts and sayings of. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with specific mention of his name again later in the epistle. 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. Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. He also addresses their concerns regarding those who died in christ, and jesus second coming. Paul weaves faith in and out of his thessalonian letters, but. The book of romans, the great epistle on grace, also begins with a vivid picture of judgment and the need to prepare for it, later adding detailed instructions on christian living.
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. Authorship paul is the stated author of this letter 1. The background of the thessalonian church is found in ac 17. 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. This enrapturement of such a heavenly perspective is a gift of god and it is a gift that i pray for. In time it became an important city because of its strategic location near the aegean sea. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. Thessalonica was originally an ancient town named thermai, meaning hot springs. 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, silas and timothy were the first to share the gospel in thessalonica, where many jews and gentiles. A few scholars argued that paul wrote 2 thessalonians before 1 thessalonians. 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. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter. How historical background provides a grid for interpretation of ancient documents. There are also some great prayers in 2 thessalonians that can be an example for us on how to pray for other believers today. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. Reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1. It also exhorts us not to be idle and to work for what we have. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. Alleged differences between 1 and 2 thessalonians have caused some scholars to reject the pauline authorship of 2 thessalonians. However, the pauline authorship of this book has been challenged by some and is more debated than that of 1 thessalonians.
His coming however will be as a thief in the night but we should be watchful and sober 1 thessalonians 5. From richard lloyd anderson, understanding paul, rev. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians from corinth near the end of his second missionary journey. The book of 1 thessalonians christian powerpoint templates. It is situated in the midst of the pauline corpus, the collection of letters attributed to the apostle paul the books of romans through philemon. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in. For three sabbaths, paul preached in the synagogue with impressive success acts 17. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months.
This represents the apostle pauls first canonical correspondence to the church in the city of thessalonica. 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. Download book of 1 thessalonians powerpoint templates for worship presentations etc. 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. Study the bible online using commentary on 1 thessalonians introduction and.
Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of. The book of 2 thessalonians is filled with information that explains the end times. New testament papyrus 46, one of the oldest new testament papyri, showing 2 cor 11. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. 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. What is the purpose of the book of 1st thessalonians. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. 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. Pauls first letter to the thessalonians is the thirteenth book in the new testament. Paul fled to athens from berean persecution, leaving silas and timothy in berea see ac 17. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. Walvoord, one of evangelicalisms most prominent leaders, and mark hitchcock, todays leading bible prophecy expert, guide you through the prophecy and exhort believers on practical matters such as moral purity, disciplined living, church relationships, prayer and church discipline. First thessalonians is older than matthew, mark, luke, john, acts, romans, and every other new testament book except galatians and james.
The church was established during pauls second missionary journey after their departure from philippi. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul. Historical background for epistle to thessalonians. The blessed hope of christ should be a hope which purifies us because we are living our life with that expectancy of his return.
Andy is a professor of bible and theology at the college of biblical studies in. 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. Title in the greek nt, 1 thessalonians is listed literally as to the thessalonians. The historical context is acts 1618, especially acts 17. The roman empire, and the ancient city of thessalonica, have been reduced to rubble. First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several grounds. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost.
Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica compare 1. The letter was explicitly addressed to the church of the thessalonians, 1. 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. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. The book of 1 thessalonians or the first epistle to the thessalonians, usually referred as first thessalonians is the thirteenth book of the new testament, its one of the twelve letters written by apostle paul. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. Paul, silas, and timothy ministered on their second missionary journey in philippi and left after their imprisonment and subsequent release acts 16. Constables notes on 2 thessalonians 3 the date of composition in the early a. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters.
The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with a reference to his own signature at the end of the epistle. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were quickly. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the lord, and from the. Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of second thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork.
The epistle itself provides the best evidence for constructing the background of this communication. The historical context is acts 16 18, especially acts 17. In the roman empire, it became the capital of the province of macedonia and its largest city with 200,000 people. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. Far and away the largest theological contribution of both 1 and 2 thessalonians lies in what they say about eschatology. 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. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. Thessalonica modern salonica, lies near the ancient site of therma on the thermaic gulf at the northern reaches of the aegean sea. 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. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by. Two thousand years have passed since paul penned 12 thessalonians.
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