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. Constables notes on 1 thessalonians 2020 edition could have been his first inspired epistle. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. 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. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. What is the purpose of the book of 1st thessalonians. See, scholars believe that some guy wrote 2 thessalonians on his own to address whatever problems his community of christians was. The mention of silas silvanus and timothy as cosenders 1. His aim for this letter was to strengthen the christian church in thessalonica by. Soon afterwards he took timothy along with him acts 16. The first letter of paul to the thessalonians is also the first letter the apostle wrote. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a.
Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. Paul then wrote 1 thessalonians and expressed his joy over them and encouraged them to continue in the faith. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians barnes bible charts author. While there he spoke in the synagogue, persuading some jews and even more godfearing gentiles that jesus was the promised messiah. Through your study of this book, you will learn about the second coming and. Of the books in the new testament that are attributed to paul, most modern scholars agree that he wrote the books known as romans, 1 and 2 corinthians, galatians. Commentary on 1st and 2nd thessalonians leon crouch on. Paul, and silvanus, and timotheus, unto the church of the thessalonians in god our father and the lord jesus christ. The first and second epistles to the thessalonians. Paul was now clearly at the head of his own missionary band. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. Far and away the largest theological contribution of both 1 and 2 thessalonians lies in what they say about eschatology. Grace unto you, and peace, from god our father and the lord jesus. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1.
In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord.
Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. Upon leaving thessalonica under duress, paul, silas, and timothy traveled to athens by way of berea. This narrative recounts pauls work in the city of thessalonica during his second missionary journey. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters 2. The book of 1st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. Grace be unto you, and peace, from god our father, and the lord jesus christ. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians to the members of 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. Paul wrote his first epistle in response to their overture. 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. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor.
Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters. The occasion seems to have been the good report of the stedfastness of the church at thessalonica in the faith of the gospel. First thessalonians it is generally supposed that pauls first epistle to the thessalonians is the first book of the new testament that was ever written. The passage from acts is taken from the part of lukes book that. Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by paul. Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are. Clement of alexandria, tertullian, hippolytus, origen, eusebius agreed that paul authored this book. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul from. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. Headings throughout the following book of 1 thessalonians.
First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52 however, some scholars believe the epistle to galatians may.
The book of 1st thessalonians commentary by ron beckham. Although paul was in thessalonica less than a month acts 17. To the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ. This chapter contains the message about christs second coming, final exhortations and greetings. The first epistle to the thessalonians chapter two objectives in studying this chapter 1 to glean from pauls example how preachers should conduct themselves among brethren with whom they labor 2 to appreciate how the thought of seeing each other at the coming of jesus should affect our attitude towards one another summary having reflected. A majority of scholars believe that this was the 2nd of the epistles that paul wrote, however, some believe it was the 1st. Paul writes to the church in thessalonians a church he founded, telling them he thanks god for them and prays for them, remembering how their work is produced by faith, their labor prompted by love, and their endurance inspired by hope in jesus. Peter edmonds sj uses the acts of the apostles and the two letters that paul wrote to the thessalonians to introduce us to these early christians who received the word with joy inspired by the holy spirit. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. While 1 thessalonians is pretty much a traditional letter from paul he says hi and then starts doling out all kinds of advice, 2 thessalonians probably wasnt originally sent as a letter. The historical context of pauls epistles to the thessalonians is found in acts 17. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the thessalonian epistles.
Soon after leaving the area for the southern province of achaia, paul addresses the. 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 apostle paul appears to have been the principal writer, but it is noteworthy that the letter almost always speaks in the voice of multiple authors using pronouns such as we, us, and our. The author paul is the author of the book of 1st thessalonians as. It was very important for the gentile church of thessalonians to follow the gospel that paul preach and wrote. They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a. Choose from 500 different sets of bible quiz 1 thessalonians flashcards on quizlet. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters.
First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Commentary for 1 thessalonians 1 this epistle is generally considered to have been the first of those written by st. Discover practical insights into the book of 1 thessalonians. 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.
The first letter was written after timothy, his coworker, returned from. 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. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in some sense as its theme. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. 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. 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. Learn bible quiz 1 thessalonians with free interactive flashcards. The first is seen as representing pauls earliest epistolary efforts and as providing two successive moments in his long relationship as advisor to that community.
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. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. Posts about summary of 1 thessalonians 1 written by atozmom. Study 1 thessalonians 3 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. Every chapter of 1 thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of christ, with ch. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. Outside of galatians, it was the first of pauls epistles that we have preserved. It is authored by paul the apostle, likely written in corinth in about 5051 ce for the church in thessalonica. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. He also wrote the commentary on the first and second epistles to the thessalonians the gospel according to john in this series. First epistle to thessalonians read the bible online. Again, the main subject of the book is jesus christ, who is mentioned 36 times in 89 verses. The opening words of 1 thessalonians identify the authors as the coworkers paul, silvanus identified as silas in the book of acts, and timothy. The book of 1st thessalonians urges us to continue in the lord, growing in faith and love as we wait for the lords return.