Christ is Coming Back!

• This is the theme of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians• Truth Presented

– Inspiration– Encouragement– Incentive to Love– Comfort to the grieving– Warning to live Holy– Christ 1st appearance surprised philosophers– The 2nd appearance will be just as sudden

1 Thessalonians - Overview

• Who – Paul, Timothy, Silus• What – Remind them about Christ 2nd coming• When – AD 53 or 54• Where – written from Corinth to the church in

Thessalonica• Why – Encourage the church in Thessalonica to

stand firm and help them endure the persecution.

• Key Verse: Ch 3:12-13, Ch 4:3 and 4:16

11stst Thessalonians - Who Thessalonians - Who

• Founded church during 2nd Missionary Journey Paul, Silas, Timothy

• Spent three weeks preaching – founded a church

• Created a “stir” – Enemies accused Paul of turning world upside

down (Acts 17:6)– Believers sent Paul away to Berea

1st Thessalonians - What

• Church founded in three week of preaching• 1 Thessalonians written from Corinth, sent by

Timothy• Church composed mostly of gentiles• A very intimate letter

– Heart to heart– Word “brothers” used 14 times– Paul constantly prayed for them.

This church was held up as a model for others

1 Thessalonians

Metropolis of MacedoniaMetropolis of Macedonia

Background in Paul's timeBackground in Paul's time

• Thessalonica was a very large, populous, Thessalonica was a very large, populous, and flourishing city, it was "liberae and flourishing city, it was "liberae conditionis", as Pliny says (a), a free city, conditionis", as Pliny says (a), a free city, and the metropolis of Macedonia; it was and the metropolis of Macedonia; it was formerly called Halis (b), and had the formerly called Halis (b), and had the name of Thessalonica given it by Philip name of Thessalonica given it by Philip king of Macedon, on account of his king of Macedon, on account of his conquest of Thessalia, conquest of Thessalia,

The People

• The city was inhabited by Greeks, The city was inhabited by Greeks, Romans, and Jews. It adored many gods, Romans, and Jews. It adored many gods, but particularly Jupiter, as the father of but particularly Jupiter, as the father of Hercules, the alleged founder of its ancient Hercules, the alleged founder of its ancient royal family. It had a celebrated royal family. It had a celebrated amphitheater, where gladiatorial shows amphitheater, where gladiatorial shows were exhibited for the amusement of the were exhibited for the amusement of the citizens, and a circus for public games. citizens, and a circus for public games.

1st Thessalonians - Time

• TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING:TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING: First First Thessalonians is considered one of Paul's Thessalonians is considered one of Paul's earliest epistles, if not the first. From the earliest epistles, if not the first. From the letter itself (letter itself (3:1-63:1-6), and the record of Paul's ), and the record of Paul's travels in Acts (travels in Acts (Ac 17:10-18:11Ac 17:10-18:11), it ), it appears that Paul wrote this letter soon appears that Paul wrote this letter soon after arriving in Corinth on his second after arriving in Corinth on his second journey. This would put it somewhere journey. This would put it somewhere around around 52 A.D.52 A.D.

1st Thessalonians - Purpose

• 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

• 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 an emphasis on steadfastness and holy living.

1st Thessalonians INTRODUCTION (1:1-4)

• Salutation (1) Thanksgiving for their faith, hope, and love (2-4)

• Paul’s Personal Reflections (1:5-3:13) – . THEIR CONDITION (1:5-10)

• 1. Their reception of the gospel (1:5-7) • 2. Their reputation in every place (1:8-10)

– . HIS CONDUCT (2:1-12) • 1. The manner of his preaching (2:1-8) • 2. The manner of his life (2:9-12)

– . HIS CONCERN (2:13-3:13) • 1. For their faithfulness (2:13-3:10) • 2. For their continued growth (2. For their continued growth (3:11-133:11-13))

II. APOSTOLIC INSTRUCTIONS (4:1-5:28)

• . HOLINESS (4:1-8) – 1. To please God (4:1-2) – 2. To abstain from sexual immorality (4:3-8)

• . 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)

• . DILIGENCE (4:11-12) – 1. To work with their hands (4:11) – 2. To walk properly toward those who are outside (4:12)

• . 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)

• . 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)

• . 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)

1st Thessalonians CONCLUDING REMARKS (5:23-28)

• . A prayer for their sanctification and preservation (5:23-24)

• . A request for prayer in his behalf (5:25)

• . A charge to greet one another with a holy kiss, and to read the epistle to others (5:26-27)

• . A benediction of grace from the Lord Jesus Christ (5:28)

Significant Words – Alive = zao

• ζαω

• zao

• dzah'-o

• A primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively): - life (-time), (a-) live (-ly), quick.

Significant Words – Caught Up = harpazo

• αρπαζω

• harpazo

• har-pad'-zo

• From a derivative of G138; to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force).