NT 31 Thessalonians

8/4/2019 NT 31 Thessalonians

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Pauls & Thessalonica


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Acts 16-18, Pauls 2nd Journey

From Jerusalem to Philippi


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Major Events of Pauls 2nd Journey

Paul and Barnabas disagree, split ways. Paul takes Silas.

In Lystra, Timothy joins Paul and Silas

Paul has a vision to go preach in Macedonia

In Philippi, Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown inprison. Miraculously saved by an earthquake.

Preach in Thessalonica, chased out.

Preach in Berea, well received.

Paul preaches to philosophers in Athens we are the offspring of God

Paul teaches in Corinth for 1.5 years, meets Aquila andPriscilla


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Acts 17:1-9

1-2

3-4 (substitute Messiah for Christ)

5-6 (Pauls reputation preceded him)

7-8 (accused ofsedition, rebellion against govt) 9-10

Summary: Not a great visit to Thessalonica


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1 Thessalonians

Author: Paul, Timothy &Silvanus

Date: ~ 50 AD

Place: Corinth? Possibly the earliest

surviving Christian text.

Compared to otherepistles, 1 Thess islightweight.

Thessalonica

AthensCorinth


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Major Themes

Encouragement to the saints who are sufferingpersecution.

Their enemies distrusted them and gossiped. Paulencourages them to be good examples.

Paul answers a question about resurrection and the

2nd

Coming

This is early in Pauls career, he believes the 2ndComing is very soon.


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1:1-3: Greeting


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Waiting for the 2nd Coming

1:10 ye turned to God from idols to serve the livingand true God 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven,

whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, whichdelivered us from the wrath to come.

2:19 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown ofrejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our

Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?


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Waiting for the 2nd Coming

3:13 To the end he may stablish your heartsunblameable in holiness before God, even ourFather, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ withall his saints.


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The Core of 1 Thessalonians: The Problem

4:13-18

The Thessalonian saints were eagerly awaitingJesus return.

They believed Jesus would come before theydied.

Some of their members died, and Jesus hadnt

come yet. What would happen to them? Pauls letter is written primarily to address this

question.


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The Solution

Paul clearly expects that he and his Thessalonianfriends will be present for the 2nd coming.

Paul explains that those who die will resurrect first,

and then the living will be caught up in the air tomeet Jesus.


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What do LDS believe?

In a nutshell

(1) There will be a period of tribulation and woes.

(2) Christ will return, and then

D&C 88

96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall bequickened and be caught up to meet him.97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their

graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him inthe midst of the pillar of heaven


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Other Important Passages

2:6-9 Working Missionaries

4:3-5 Chastity

4:11-12 Hard work, Respectability5:8-11 Armor of God, Salvation in

Christ, Encouragement

5:19-22 Prophecy, test all things, avoidevil


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2 Thessalonians

The authorship of this letter is disputed. Mostscholars believe Paul did not write it.

Written in response to 1 Thessalonians, which manyinterpreted as saying that the 2nd Coming wasimminent.

Some people had quit their jobs because theythought the 2nd Coming was so near.


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2 Thessalonians

It is explained that an apostasia (rebellion) wouldneed to take place first, before the 2nd Coming. (2:1-4)

Also written to encourage them through fiercepersecution.


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The End

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NT 31 Thessalonians