First Thessalonians
Author and Title:
As
declared in 1:1 and 2:18, all evidence (external and internal) supports the
claim of the book that Paul is the author of 1 Thessalonians. Early church
fathers support Paul’s authorship beginning as early as A.D. 140 . Those things
that characterize Paul are evident throughout (cf. 3:1-2, 8-11 with Acts 15:36;
2 Cor. 11:28). In addition, a number of historical allusions in the book fit
Paul’s life as recounted in Acts and in his own letters (cf. 2:14-16; 3:1, 2,
5-6 with Acts 17:1-15). In view of this evidence, few (some radical critics of
the nineteenth century) have ever questioned Paul’s authorship.
As
the first of two canonical epistles to the church at Thessalonica, this book
was called in the Greek text, Pros Thessalonikeis A, “First to the
Thessalonians.”
Date: A.D. 51-52
Both
1 and 2 Thessalonians were written from Corinth during the apostle’s
eighteen-month stay in that city (cf. Acts 18:1-11). The first epistle was
written during the earlier part of that period just after Timothy had returned
from Thessalonica with news of the progress of the church. The second letter
was dispatched just a few weeks (or at the most a few months) later. Any date
assigned will have to be approximate, though probably A.D. 51-52.
Theme and Purpose:
The
purpose and burden of the apostle in writing to the Thessalonians can be
summarized as follows: to express his thankfulness for what God was doing in
the lives of the Thessalonians (1:2-3), to defend himself against a campaign to
slander his ministry (2:1-12), to encourage them to stand fast against
persecution and pressure to revert to their former pagan lifestyles (3:2-3;
4:1-12), to answer a doctrinal question pertaining to the fate of Christians
who had died (4:1-13), to answer questions regarding the “Day of the Lord”
(5:1-11), and to deal with certain problems that had developed in their
corporate life as a church (5:12-13; 19-20).
Key Word(s):
Two
key words and concepts stand out in this short epistle: “sanctification” (4:3,
4, 7), and “the coming of the Lord,” which is referred to in every chapter of
the epistle (1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23). The coming of the Lord should not
only comfort our hearts, but stir us to godly living.
Key Verses:
1. 1:9-10.
For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from
idols to serve the living and true God 1:10 and to wait for his son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming
wrath.
2. 2:13.
And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that
you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is,
God’s message, that is at work among you who believe.
3. 4:1-3.
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as
you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God
(just as you actually do walk), that you may excel still more. 2 For you know
what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is
the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual
immorality; (NASB)
4. 4:13-18.
Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who
are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and arose, so also we believe that God will
bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. 4:15 For we tell you
this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the
coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.
4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in
Christ will arise first. 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be
snatched up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And
so we will be with the Lord always. 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with
these words.
Key Chapters:
Chapters
4 and 5 undoubtedly stand out as key chapters because of their teaching on both
the coming of the Lord for the church, the rapture (4:13-18), and the day of
the Lord (5:1-11), the time in the future when He will intervene in human
events to consummate His redemption and judgment.
Christ As Seen In 1 Thessalonians:
With
the coming of the Lord mentioned in every chapter, Christ is presented as the
believer’s hope of salvation both now and at His coming. When He comes, He will
deliver us from wrath (undoubtedly a reference to the Tribulation) (1:10;
5:4-11), give rewards (2:19), perfect us (3:13), resurrect us (4:13-18), and
sanctify (set apart) all those who have trusted in Him (5:23).
Assignment
Read the above commentary carefully and thoughtfully and engage the following questions:
1. Cite one external evidence in support of Paul's authorship of the epistles to the Thessalonians.
2. It appears Paul's authorship of this letter was not contested. Substantiate your answer.
3. Describe the scenario or situation in which Paul wrote this letter.
4. What are the implications of the burden of this epistle?
5. What euphemism did Paul use for death in the epistle and what effect do you think it would have had on the immediate audience, given the thrust of his message?
6. Chronologically highlight the events that will punctuate the second coming of the Lord as presented in this letter.
7. How is Christ presented in this epistle and how would you communicate this to a Christian audience today?
8. Given your study of 1 Thessalonians, how would you react to those who teach the ' Second Coming of Christ' to instill fear and elicit panic in their audience?
9. What is the relationship between the key concepts that stand out in the epistle?
10. From Paul's report of the Thessalonian church, what is your impression of the church and what lessons should the contemporary church learn from them?
To submit, click on the comment section under this post, indicate your name and paste your answers.
Deadline is Saturday, April 18, latest 5:00pm
