1 Thessalonians
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  1. Acts 17:1-4, Paul came to Thessalonica and preached in the synagogue for 3 Sabbaths.
  2. Acts 17:5-9, Some Thessalonians believed but others started a riot.
  3. Acts 17:10-12, Paul escaped at night to Berea.
  4. Acts 17:15, Paul flees Berea when the Thessalonians follow him there. He then went to Athens. Paul leaves Timothy and Silas in Berea.
  5. 1 Thes. 3:1-3, Timothy meets Paul in Athens but is sent back to the Thessalonians.
  6. Acts 18:1, Paul moves onto Corinth.
  7. Acts 18:5 and 1 Thess. 3:6, Silas and Timothy meet Paul in Corinth. They brought good news of the Thessalonians faith and possibly an offering from the Macedonians that allowed Paul to preach full time.
  8. Paul then writes First Thessalonians from Corinth to encourage the new believers in their trials (3:3-5), to tell them how to live a life pleasing to God (4:1-8), to encourage them to go to work daily (4:11-12), and to answer some misunderstandings about end times and the issue of believers who have died (4:13-5:11)
  9. Timothy and Silas take the letter to Thessalonica.
  10. About six months later in 52 AD Timothy and Silas return to Paul in Corinth and Paul writes and sends them back with Second Thessalonians.

 

Purpose

  1. Support the recent converts
  2. Encourage in midst of persecution.
  3. Instructions on holy living to please God
  4. Encourage work and taking care of daily, natural responsibilities
  5. Explain end time questions

 

The Second Coming and eschatology is the recurring foundation of this letter.

Every chapter ends with a reference to the second coming of Christ.

 

1:10, “and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

2:19,20, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”

3:13, “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

4:17,18, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

5:23, “. . .be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (then 5:24-28)