1st and 2nd thessalonians| - first presbyterian church · one of paul’s first letters (50-51ad),...

1st and 2nd Thessalonians| April 14, 2019

1. To combat false teachers and false apostles

2. Because there was another letter coming with a special visitor

Bonus: Paul is also introducinghimself to them.

TO RECONSTRUCT THE SITUATION

What do you learn about the recipient?

What is the occasion?

Who is Onesimus?

What is Paul’s tone?

CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONEXT…

1. Literary

2. Historical

3. Cultural

Jerusalem

Ephesus

Antioch

PhilippiRome

Corinth

Thessalonica

Malta

Cyprus

Galatia

Colossae

Alexandria

▪Founded in 316 BC by Cassander, one of Alexander’s generals. Named after his wife, Alexander’s half sister –Thessalonikeia

▪Absorbed around 35 pre-existing towns

▪ In 146 BC it became a Roman Province and was made the capital and thus the center for Roman administration

▪Extensive coinage shows that it was a prosperous city – it was a “free city” like Philippi and it was located on the Egnatian Way

Background:

Acts 17

Connect with:

1 Th. 3:3-2:6

▪One of Paul’s first letters (50-51AD), probably second behind Galatians.

▪Written very soon after his first visit to the church. It was a group of very recent Gentile converts.

▪Put yourself in Paul’s shoes → Paul’s quick exit from Thessalonica was like giving birth and then having to leave your baby with someone else.

▪Paul’s anxiety for the young church and his relief to find out that they’re thriving

▪Encouragement to them in the midst of suffering

▪Notice his teaching time was incomplete with them because of the brevity of his stay.

▪The importance of hard work – 4:11-12; 5:12-14

▪What is the tone?

▪Notice differences between his letter to Philippians and Thessalonians

I. Narrative (1:1-3:13)

Their conversion, evangelism, and the conduct of the Paul and the other missionaries

II. Exhortation (4:1-5:28)

Sexual self control, brotherly love and daily work, and steadfast in the midst of grief

▪Sent shortly after the first letter from Corinth as well

▪The tone is less warm than the first letter.

▪One may wonder what would cause the need for a second letter so soon after the first???

360

miles

1. Persecution

2. False Teaching

3. Lazy People!!!

“…among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring…”

“…not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.” (2:1-4)

1. The Second Coming is going to happen so why invest in this world!

2. The Second Coming already happened and we missed it. Darn it!

3. …Because who likes to work anyways????

▪This is a new church with no OT background.

▪They are encountering persecution and opposition.

▪How would they deal with that?

▪Their founder was run out of town violently.

▪There is no email, texting, phones etc.

Monday: Read 1 & 2 Thess

Tuesday: Read 1 Thess

Wednesday: Read 2 Thess

Thursday: Read 1 Thess

Friday: Read 2 Thess

This is the point of

the class!