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1 Thessalonians
Introduction
Possibly the first letter written by Paul, Thessalonians was written in the early 50’s A.D.
Thessalonica was an ancient city, named after the daughter of King Philip, father of Alexander the Great. The former name of the city was Thermae, which was defeated by Philip in his victory over the Thessalians.
Thessalonica was located on the coast, a seaport in today’s western Turkey and remained so until conquered in the 1400’s by the Turks
The story of the Thessalonians picks up in the early 50’s A.D., when Paul and Silas visited the city and introduced the gospel to the people there, Acts 17.
The Jews there were set into an uproar when Paul taught that the gentiles could possess the same salvation benefits but without the requirements of the Levitical laws. Thus Paul was run out of town, escaping to Athens and from there, on to Corinth.
Hearing good news from Timothy and Silas, regarding the success of their conversions of gentiles (not so much in the Jewish folks), it was then that Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians and that was followed shortly thereafter by the second letter.
These letters were written to comfort and encourage the Thessalonians, and to give them instructions in the spiritual life, and to clarify some of the mistaken beliefs that they had of the day of judgment. The subject of 1 Thessalonians is ‘waiting.’ And the subject of the second letter is ‘sin.’
1 Thessalonians Outline (New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
I. Salutation (1:1)
II. The exemplary church (1)
A. Gratitude for the Thessalonians (1:2-4)
B. Operation of the gospel among them (1:5-10)
III. The exemplary minister (2)
A. Paul's ministry at Thessalonica (2:1-12)
B. The Thessalonians' response (2:13-16)
C. The apostle's subsequent relations with the Thessalonians (2:17-20)
IV. The exemplary brother (3)
A. Apostolic concern and their welfare (3:1-8)
B. The apostolic intercession (3:9-13)
V. Exemplary walk (4)
A. The walk described (4:1-12)
B. The coming of Christ, the dynamic of a holy walk (4:13-18)
VI. Exemplary watchfulness and the Day of the Lord (5:1-24)
A. The Day of the Lord and the need for watchfulness (5:1-11)
B. Duties of church and private life (5:12-22)
C. Prayer for sanctification (5:23-24)
VII. Conclusion (5:25-28)
