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I THESSALONIANS
Background: Acts 17 gives the background for
Thessalonians. First canonical
epistle of
Paul following Matthew's Gospel. Paul had trouble here in Thessalonica as
Acts shows. Written around 50-51
A.D. from Corinth during second journey.
CHAPTER 1.
V.
1 - After Silvanus
had joined Paul this was written. Paul does not exert his
apostolic authority. In
good--vital union with, no longer heathen; in
Christ--no longer Jews) but Christians.
5
- Power.
God still performed marvelous works at this time.
6
- Paul
was suffering persecution at this time.
9
- Acts 17:4. No Jew had to turn
from idols so this indicated the majority of
the converts were Gentiles.
10
- The act of deliverance has already
been accomplished, as far as Christ's
part in it. The rest is up to
us.
CHAPTER 2.
V. 2 - Contention
here means conflict from the opposing Jews (Acts 17:5-6).
4-
Paul begins to show
his authority here in a subtle way. He
reminds them of
what
had been told them previously -- verbal authority. Gal. 1:10-13.
Allowed--should be approved
or called by God.
5
Cloak of covetousness
(Phil. 4:16, I Cor. 9:l~).
Paul did not covet their
tithes.
Paul worked night and day in tentmaking (Acts
18:3).
6 - Paul
did not show his authority in taking their tithes.
8 - Souls
here means lives.
They were risking their lives in preaching to these
Thessalonians.
10
- Paul had
his ups and downs. Romans 7 shows how evil he felt toward his own
nature.
Yet here Paul shows he did live holy and just, and unblameably.
12 - I John 3:13, John 17:22. The whole plan of God revolves around the
glory of
the Church, the
body of Christ. This is the reason the creation exists.
Gal. 1:13, I Cor. 15:50.
14 - Rom. 2:28 the spiritual Jews today. Paul showed the Gentiles that
regardless
of
physical race those who oppose the truth fight it.
18 -
Satan hindered us -- Satan does have power over the elements to a
certain
extent.
Rom.l:l3- it is possible Satan could have controlled the weather
in some way; or that Satan
inspired the civil authorities and religious
leaders
against Paul.
CHAPTER 3.
V.
1 - We--Acts 16:l0--could include Luke,
though there is no definite proof.
2 Our
brother -- showed Paul had a great deal of respect for Timothy.
3
- I
Pet. 2:21. We have been appointed to affliction.
10
- Paul prayed even at night, as
Christ had. Paul realized the great honor
of being able to bring members
into the God family.
13
Coming--parousia--Means
in Greek--His actual presence in world affairs.
CHAPTER 4.
V.
1 - Received the Gospel verbally.
2
- Commandments -- living God's
law, growing in grace.
3
- First problem fornication
again.
4
- Possess his
own wife (Heb. 13:4). marriage is honorable -- not for animal
lust.
-2-
6 Defraud
your brother -- commit adultery or fornication (Rom. 12:19--God is
the avenger).
11 Paul
could discern they had the tendency to be busybodies even in the three
week period he was there.
13 Phil.
2:27, Rom. 8:28, I Cor. 15:50, I Cor. 15:52, Rev.
1:7. Sorrowing
over dead ones is not wrong according
to the Bible.
16 A
literal trump -- a literal voice audibly.
17
- Evidently Paul did not have
complete knowledge in chronology. The air is
the earth's atmosphere (Zech. 14:4
Rev. 20:4).
CHAPTER 5.
V. 1
- Daytime is synonymous with
light -- the period when God's truth is available.
2 - Jer. 14:13, 5:12, 6:14, 8:11, 23:29, Isa. 13:6. This is preached by false
ministers.
4 - Spiritual
darkness.
6
- Sober in thoughts as well as
from alcohol.
9 - Wrath of
Satan and of God's wrath.
10
- Rom. 14:9-- speaking of dying.
12
- Heb. 13:7, Phil. 2:29. They look out for our salvation.
14
- Weak -- the spiritual weak,
admonish, exhort, help.
16
- James 2:2, Matt. 5:2.
17
- Luke 18:1.
18
- I Pet. 2:18.
19
- Spirit is likened in many cases as
a flame. I John 4:1-4, I Cor. 12:10,
Isa. 8:19-20.
23
- Rom. 12:1-2. Set apart entirely. I Cor. 6:20. Spirit, mind; soul, life;
body, corpse.
24
- Phil. 2:13.
1. Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians is the
first canonical work of Paul to be
added
to the New Testament, preceded only by Matthew's Gospel. It was written
from Corinth, a Greek city located in Achaia in 50 A.D., or possibly
early in
51 A.D., while Paul was on his
second journey. Paul had only recently estab-
lished the Church in Thessalonica due to Jewish
instigation. The epistle was
written
to inspire the Thessalonians toward better works. After Timothy and
Silas arrived at Corinth (Acts 18:5) and gave Paul the good news of their faith,
Paul wrote them. Paul abode in Corinth eighteen months.
2.
The church was composed of Gentiles primarily. Acts 17 shows that only
some of
the Jews
believed, but a great multitude of Greeks (Acts 17:4). Also Paul says
in I Thes. 1:9, that these converts had turned from idol
worship, a common
repeating for Gentiles and the
Jews were for the greater part always adherents
of Judaism.
3.
"We were approved of God" -- that is chosen by God
specifically to be His ministers.
Parallel scriptures are Heb. 5:4
and II Cor. 3:6.
"We speak not as pleasing men,
but
God". (Gal. 1:10-13.) This shows
Paul was a true minister.
4.
"Cloak of covetousness", here means desiring the tithes of
the people. Paul did
not
flatter them for the sake of tithes.
"Might have been a burden" should more
accurately
be translated "might have made demands" of tithes, RSV. Paul had
the
right to do so, but didn't (Phil. 4:16, I Cor.
9:14).
5.
Not necessarily -- Timothy is called an evangelist in II Tim.
4:5. Silvanus
was
an evangelist or
possibly an elder.
-3-
6.
Silas -- Acts 18:5.
7.
Yes, he did not strongly exert his apostolic authority to begin with
even while
he was
there. But in verse 4, chapter 2, of I
Thessalonians, he begins to bring
it in,
also verse 11. He shows them he did
have verbal authority as an apostle.
See 2:l4. Also Jew/Greek enmity,
etc.
8. Yes, potentially. Those who are in Christ have been
translated into His Kingdom
in the
sense of being heirs. Col. 1:13, Gal.
3:29, I John 3:3, John 17:22, Gal.
4:7, Gen. 13:15, 15:18.
9.
Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived in the first century
A.D. He was taken
prisoner
when the Romans took Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
10.
The actual number of letters Paul wrote is unknown, but the number of
epistles
that
were canonized is fourteen.
11.
Paul on his second journey had established a Church
of God in Thessolonica,
located
in Macedonia, or presently northern Greece. His short stay
of about
three weeks was the result of
violent persecution due to the Jewish faction
located
there. Paul was forced to leave the area and go down to Athens. However,
Timothy and Silas remained in
Thessalonica to establish the Church.
Paul, depart-
ing from Athens, went over to Corinth and located there about a year and a half.
This was in 50-51 A.D. Upon
Timothy and Silas' return to Corinth, Paul was so
impressed by the Thessalonian example of real Christian living that he
wrote his
first epistle to them (by the
way, it was also the first of Paul's epistles to
be
canonized). It was written to instruct
and inspire the Thessalonians to even
greater
works in Christian living.
12.
The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Corinth in the latter
part of
50 A.D. The date is pretty well
established as such, because external
proof in the form of cuneiform
or slate tablets has been found proving Gallio
was the
deputy of Achaia during this time, the proof is almost certain. Paul
had
recently established the Church in Thessalonica. Acts 17:1, but could not
remain
long due to Jewish persecution.
Timothy and Silas abode there still
(Acts l7:l4), whether they
stayed there or went to Athens first is not clearly
revealed,
however, they were in Thessalonica working with the Church for a time.
It appears as though some three
or four months later they came to Corinth where
Paul had set up
headquarters. It was from Corinth then, that Paul wrote the
first
epistle.
13.
I Thes. 2:6. Many false ministers in an
attempt to "butter up" the people in
order to receive larger tithes
resort to flattery and all types of smooth person-
ality deceptions.
But, Paul and his fellow-workers did not! This verse shows
that Paul, though he could have
taken tithes did not, and he did not preach
flatteries
for the purpose of taking tithes.
"When we might have been burden-
some AS THE APOSTLES OF
CHRIST," is rendered in the RSV as "might have made
demands"
or in other words, demanded the rightful acceptance of tithes. I Cor.
9:9-l4. Instead, Paul took tithes from the Philippian Church to meet his needs
at this
time (Phil. 4:l6).
I Thes.
4:3-6. Again we find as in all Paul's epistles fornication mentioned
first.
Apparently these Thessalonians were no different from other Gentiles in
this
respect, as their religion, too, consisted of temple prostitution. But Paul
goes even further, not only
meaning using temple prostitutes but refraining from
fornication
in general.
4-
Verse 4. Each man should possess
his vessel (or wife) (I Cor. 7:2, I Pet. 3:7)
in
honor. That is, not dishonoring her by
committing adultery. She should also
be
possessed in sanctification or set apart for a holy use. Paul wrote the
Hebrews that marriage is
honorable in in ALL (Heb. 13:4) which includes the
sexual
relationship.
Marriage is not for the purpose of satisfying lust, but is for the
edifying
of both the man and wife. No man
therefore must defraud his brother,
or commit adultery or
fornication, in other words, because all concerned in the
past
act or in the future are being cheated out of happiness! God will reward
each according to his works and
Paul clearly says in I Cor. 6:9 that no adulterer
or
fornicator will ever enter God's Kingdom!
I Thes.
4:16-17. This verse is speaking
specifically of the second coming of
Christ. Christ shall descend to
the mount of Olives (Zech. l4:4) at the sound of
the seventh trump (Rev. 11:15)
and those dead in Christ shall be resurrected
(I Cor.
15:52) and we who are alive at this time shall be changed. (I Cor.
15:51-52) and together ascend into the atmosphere or air to be
grouped at Jerusalem
(Matt. 25:31). Every eye shall
see Christ (Rev. 1:7) and all shall know the
truth.
Rev. 20:4 shows this is the resurrection of the just who will rule with
Christ during the
Millennium.
I Thes.
5:22-23. Let
God control you entirely! Be set apart
every whit! Paul
hoped they would remain loyal
and true, that they would be preserved blameless,
that is with the incorruptible
spirit (pneuma) or mind as I Cor.
2:11-12 shows;
with the soul (psuche) or life, immortal life from God; and with the
body (soma)
corpse
or spiritual body God will give us at the resurrection. This is the only
way we can be preserved or kept
blameless unless as has been pointed out, Paul
thought at
the time the second coming of Christ would be during their lifetime.
If so, it can be seen Paul
wanted to see their minds, lives, and physical bodies
preserved
blameless until Christ returned. Or
this particular verse could be
intended
for those of US specifically in this climactic closing end time.
14.
Chapter Outline
Chapter 1: Salutation and Church Condition
1- Paul's example
2- Faith of Thessalonian Church known abroad
3- Turned from idols
4- Coming of Christ
Chapter 2: Paul's Preaching and
example
1- Did not take tithes
2- He worked with own hands --
tentmaker
3- The Philippian Church sent Paul tithes
4- Church persecuted by
countrymen
5- Coming of Christ
Chapter 3: Timothy's Report of Faith Despite Persecution
1- Timothy sent to establish
the Church
2- Church suffering persecution
3- Timothy to determine their
faith
4- Timothy's report
5- Paul's afflictions
6- Christ's return
-5-
Chapter 4: Obedience Deserves a Reward
1- Remember the commands Paul gave
2- Particular danger spots --
fornication, lust
3- Brotherly love
4- State of dead
5- Christ resurrected
6- Dead in Christ to be resurrected
7- Those alive to be caught up at
Christ's return
Chapter 5: Be Prepared!
1- Christ's coming as a thief
2- Darkness
overtakes the complacent
3- Be children of the day
4- Respect and esteem Christ's
servants
5- General exhortation
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