The style is stereotyped and at times curiously formal heard, p. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. The revelation of the man of lawlessness 2 thessalonians 2. Introduction to niv study bible go to 1 thessalonians.
Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. 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. It still exists under the name of saloniki, and has a population of from 75,000 to.
The book of 1st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. Since paul began his ministry there in the jewish synagogue, it is reasonable to assume that the new church included some jews. Second epistle to the thessalonians read the bible online. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians. Paul goes on to explain that the dead will be resurrected prior to those still living, and both groups will greet the lord in the air. The greek calls it the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ.
In what sense should christians be followers of inspired teachers and of the lord 1. We will be studying it more later on in the book, but the key lesson in this chapter is that they didnt waste the time they had passively waiting for this second coming. 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. Macedonia was the former kingdom of alexander the great he wanted one world domination and enlightenment with the culture of greece. Thanksgiving and prayer we ought always to thank god for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. Obviously, an explanation of some kind was in order, and this situation, more than. This was the beginning of spreading the gospel from the continent of asia to the continent of europe. The apostle blesses god for the growing state of the love and patience of the thessalonians. Youll find david jeremiahs introduction to the book of 2 thessalonians on page 16911692 of the jeremiah study bible. Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought.
Paul then wrote another epistle, 2 thessalonians, to correct certain misunderstandings and further to encourage the church. Summary summary of the book of 1 thessalonians 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. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible survey. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. Pauls second letter to the thessalonians is a follow up to the first.
And you became followers of us and of the lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the holy spirit, a. Constables notes on 2 thessalonians 3 the date of composition in the early a. Paul was still in corinth and unable to leave his work there. 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. It is helpful to trace the locations of paul and his companions that relate to the thessalonian correspondence. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. It was founded by cassander, king of macedon 315 b. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica compare 1. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in. But in calling to mind the work at thessalonica, the apostle continued to express a heart of deep gratitude to the lord for.
Silvanus silas, and timothy, pauls colaborers in founding the church, were present with him when he wrote. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Going to thessalonica transferred the ministry of the gospel to western civilization. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. The thessalonians stopped following other things, but followed after paul and the lord. The apostle paul identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. In answer to a question that disturbed the community, paul explained that. The letter contains many words not found in the other pauline letters. First epistle to thessalonians read the bible online. The thessalonians responded to the gospel by becoming followers. In this letter to the thessalonians, paul says that gods trumpet will be part of the fanfare used to signal the coming of the lord jesus, whose coming will usher. Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a.
The thessalonian church is the only church not censured for anything. But we ought always to thank god for you, brothers and sisters loved by the lord, because god chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the spirit and through belief in the truth. It appears to have been written shortly after 1 thessalonians, in response to certain reports that had come to the apostle regarding the thessalonians progress 3. 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. How did the gospel come to the thessalonians according to 1. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians bible survey. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters 2. Living in light of the lords return 1 thessalonians 5. A few scholars argued that paul wrote 2 thessalonians before 1 thessalonians. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. He also expressed his concern for their faith in god. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. First thessalonians is older than matthew, mark, luke, john, acts, romans, and every other new testament book except galatians and james. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52 however, some scholars believe.
The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several grounds. This means that the church, which is the company of those who believe in christ, belongs to god and to the lord jesus. It was a great commercial center of pauls time, the inhabitants being greeks, romans and jews. In his pastoral epistle paul is cheering them on in order to help them persevere 1. A few months later, while paul was still in corinth, he received word from thessalonica that his teaching on the day of the lord had been misunderstood by some in the thessalonian church. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica. The believers under the old testament waited for the coming of the. The purpose of ii thessalonians was in part is to encourage the church due to persecutions. God started that church by the work of the holy spirit.
Scriptural evidence of the second coming 2 thessalonians 2. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 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 god did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our lord jesus christ. Paul has heard reports of their growth and gives thanks for this 1. Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are.
When he returns, the dead who have believed in christ will rise and will join the living to meet the lord in the air 4. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. For every biblical reference to the first coming of christ, there are eight references to his second coming.
The background of the thessalonian church is found in ac 17. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Can you summarize the book of 1 thessalonians 1thessalonians. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. Paul, as in 1 thessalonians, 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 revelation spells out in considerable detail the seven trumpets that will sound in the last days to announce a number of cataclysmic events revelation 8. First thessalonians provides christians with the clearest biblical passage on the coming rapture of believers, an event that will inaugurate the sevenyear tribulation. 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. But we ought always to give thanks to god for you, brothers beloved by. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. The letters to the thessalonians the pillar new testament. Constables notes on 1 thessalonians 2020 edition could have been his first inspired epistle.
Pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it. In 1 thessalonians chapter 3, paul explained to the church why timothy had been sent to them and why paul remained in athens. Book overview 1 thessalonians first and second thessalonians. While we are most concerned to hear how paul wants the problem solved, it will be helpful to make some suggestions as to how the problem might have arisen in the first place. The pillar new testament commentary series is intended to help pastors with preaching and teaching. The first letter was written after timothy, his coworker, returned from thessalonia to report that the new. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries.
His disagreement with barnabas over mark resulted in the dissolution of their original partnership 15. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. We can be sure about this, and about the date, from the letter and the book of the acts. The dead in christ shall rise first, while those still living will follow close behind. Paul, silas and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god our father and the lord jesus christ. He was afraid that their afflictions may have given the devil a chance to tempt them and render his work in vain. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. The letters to the thessalonians is a volume in the pillar series of commentaries. Paul wrote these letters in response to timothys report that the thessalonians church was prospering despite intense persecution from factions. Introduction to 1 thessalonians bible exposition commentary.
Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica. 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. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. To wait for his son from heaven each chapter in 1 thessalonians ends with an eschatological reference. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. Explain the significance of the gospel coming in the holy spirit and in assurance. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. 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. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. 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.
1148 1536 1143 945 1003 430 1559 1605 654 569 1403 175 37 914 608 816 184 680 185 444 1558 946 28 670 860 1231 137 715 1370 404 1189