1 Thessalonians1 Thessalonians: : Christ is ComingChrist is Coming SoonSoon

2 Thessalonians: …But not2 Thessalonians: …But not ThatThat SoonSoon

1 and 2 1 and 2 ThessaloniansThessalonians

I. AUTHORSHIP:I. AUTHORSHIP:

PaulPaul, , SilasSilas and and TimothyTimothy 1 Thess. 1:1, 2:181 Thess. 1:1, 2:18 2 Thess. 1:1, 3:17 2 Thess. 1:1, 3:17

II. DateII. Date

From whereFrom where?? WhenWhen?? 1 Thess:1 Thess: CorinthCorinth 5151 AD DuringAD During 22ndnd MJMJ During During Gallio’sGallio’s

proconsulship proconsulship at Corinth at Corinth (Acts 18:12)(Acts 18:12)

Soon after Soon after plantingplanting church church

2 Thess:2 Thess: CorinthCorinth 66 months later months later

III. Paul’s Previous Contact with the III. Paul’s Previous Contact with the ChurchChurch

1. Founded church1. Founded church onon 22ndnd MJ MJ Acts 17:10Acts 17:10

2. Persecution prompted 2. Persecution prompted departuredeparture Acts Acts 17:1-1017:1-10

3. Jews 3. Jews pursuedpursued to Berea to Berea Acts 17:13Acts 17:13

4. Paul goes to 4. Paul goes to AthensAthens leaving leaving TimothyTimothy andand SilasSilas in Macedonia in Macedonia Acts 17:14 Acts 17:14

5. Timothy and Silas join Paul at Athens with 5. Timothy and Silas join Paul at Athens with

news of news of continued continued persecutionpersecution 1 Thess. 3:1-31 Thess. 3:1-3

6. Timothy & Silas return to6. Timothy & Silas return to MacedoniaMacedonia 1 Thess. 1 Thess. 3:1-53:1-5

7. Paul moves to 7. Paul moves to CorinthCorinth Acts 18:1, 1 Cor 2:3Acts 18:1, 1 Cor 2:3

8. Timothy & Silas 8. Timothy & Silas rejoinrejoin Paul in Corinth with Paul in Corinth with news news Acts Acts 18:5, 1 Thess. 3:6 18:5, 1 Thess. 3:6

9.9. Letter sentLetter sent

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Paul’s Second Missionary Journey MapMap

IV. Purposes for I Thessalonians:IV. Purposes for I Thessalonians: Growing out ofGrowing out of reportreport byby Timothy & Timothy & SilasSilas

1. To 1. To commendcommend faith Ch 1 faith Ch 1

2. To 2. To defenddefend ministry Ch 2 ministry Ch 2

3. To encourage in facing 3. To encourage in facing persecutionpersecution Ch 3 Ch 3

4. To warn against 4. To warn against immoralityimmorality Ch 4 Ch 4

5. To insist they 5. To insist they workwork Ch 4:11 Ch 4:11

6. To instruct on status of 6. To instruct on status of deaddead at Second Coming at Second Coming Ch 4:13-18; 5 Ch 4:13-18; 5

7. To correct church problems on 7. To correct church problems on leadershipleadership and gift and gift ofof prophecyprophecy

V. Purposes for 2 Thessalonians: V. Purposes for 2 Thessalonians:

Responding toResponding to possiblepossible forgedforged letterletter

1. To encourage in 1. To encourage in sufferingsuffering Ch 1 Ch 1

2. To ensure that “Day of the Lord” is not2. To ensure that “Day of the Lord” is not herehere yet yet

Ch 2Ch 2 Three things that must come first:Three things that must come first: ApostasyApostasy 2:3 2:3 Man of sinMan of sin 2:3 2:3 Removal of restrainerRemoval of restrainer 2:6-7 2:6-7

3. To instruct them to 3. To instruct them to disciplinediscipline those still not those still not workingworking 3:10 3:10

4. To indicate significance of his 4. To indicate significance of his signaturesignature at end of Letters 3:17 at end of Letters 3:17

“ “I, Paul, write this greeting in my own I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark hand, which is the distinguishing mark

in all my letters. This is how I write.” in all my letters. This is how I write.”