Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. Paul the traveller and roman citizen, 236 4 see discussion in our introduction to philippians 5 although this is not the view we adopt, it is quite plausible. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. Enduring word bible commentary 1 thessalonians chapter 1. Going to thessalonica transferred the ministry of the gospel to western civilization. The church at thessalonica was founded by paul on his 2nd missionary journey in which the gospel was taken to. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. The questions contain minimal human commentary, but instead. He initially visited thessalonica to establish a congregation after a difficult trip to philippi, where he was mistreated. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. Introduction to 1 thessalonians bible exposition commentary. Introduction to 1 thessalonians church of jesus christ. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians from corinth near the end of his second missionary journey.
For it was written not long after the conversion of the thessalonians 1 thessalonians 1. Thessalonica, today known as salonica, is still a thriving city with almost 300,000 inhabitants. This workbook was designed for bible class study, family study, or personal study. Here is a brief chart and introduction notes on the book. Be ready introduction to 1 thessalonians 1 of 20 air date. Christians should live godhonoring lives now because jesus could return at any moment. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. Well see how this short book can bring excitement to our churches, encouragement to our ministers and enlightenment for us as individual christians.
The history given in the book of acts shows paul crossing into europe, as he delivers the decree of the jerusalem council to the churches of asia minor acts 16. Pauls first letter written to the believers in thessalonica, called 1 thessalonians, is a rich and encouraging letter. Soon afterwards he took timothy along with him acts 16. The letters called epistles from paul to thessalonica, which included i thessalonians and ii thessalonians were probably two of the earliest letters paul had written which was around a. Discover the basics of the book of 1 thessalonians with the esv study bible from crossway. This is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians.
The authenticity of this epistle is attested by iren. Criswell sermon library introduction to thessalonians. External evidence strongly supports pauline authorship geisler, a general introduction to the bible, pp. Youre sharing with us the services of the first baptist church in dallas. Landscape the bustling seaport city of thessalonica was the capital of macedonia, located along the egnatian way the most important trade route in the roman empire, running from. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in some sense as its theme. Thessalonians 1,2, study of camp hill church of christ. Pauls cathedral in london named for our favorite biblical author. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians. Macedonia was the former kingdom of alexander the great he wanted one world domination and enlightenment with the culture of greece. It was the first he wrote to european christians, and in it the fundamental things of the christian life are very clearly set forth.
Read 1 thessalonians introduction commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. The principal people in the church at thessalonica were gentiles 1. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all. Introduction to the first epistle to the thessalonians israel my glory. D, when paul planted the church in thessalonica, on his second tour of missions.
The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with specific mention of his name again later in the epistle. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were. Acts, romans, and every other new testament book except galatians and james. Paul was now clearly at the head of his own missionary band. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters 2. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians introduction. Paul had not spent long enough time with the church in thessalonica, and wrote this letter to. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. For since we believe that jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when jesus returns, god will bring back with him the believers who have died.
The first epistle to the thessalonians is believed to be the earliest of the apostle. Only modern form critics have seriously doubted the pauls authorship and the authenticity of 1 thessalonians, but their conclusions have not convinced many scholars. Thessalonica was formerly the metropolis of macedonia. In 1 thessalonians, paul directs the persecuted thessalonian christians to hope in the future of king jesus return who will make all things right. Welcome to week 1 of your 1 thessalonians bible study. The book of 1 thessalonians is a personal and affectionate letter to the church, pauls own words confirm this, we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of god but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to. Discover the basics of the book of 1 thessalonians. The apostle paul advises the thessalonian christians to stay spiritually awake, make sure of all things, pray constantly, and encourage one another.
Hopefully, youve had a chance to complete the suggested assignments in our bible study orientation for this book in this first week, you will learn some basic historical, cultural and exegetical background for the study of 1 thessalonians. It is unusual in that it was written only a short time after the apostle. It was at the head of the bay thermaicus, or the gulf of thessalonica, and was, therefore, favorably situated for commerce. To assure the thessalonians of pauls love and to instruct them on the importance of living for christ and properly understanding the ramifications of his return. An introduction to 1 thessalonians december 8, 2019 pauls first letter written to the believers in thessalonica, called 1 thessalonians, is a rich and encouraging letter. First thessalonians is a key book for every christian, whether a new believer or seasoned saint. Introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. Journey to thessalonica heres the official tourism site for modern day thessaloniki, which is located in greece. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include.
However, timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting paul to pen 1 thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers. This was the beginning of spreading the gospel from the continent of asia to the continent of europe. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. The first epistle to the thessalonians is believed to be the earliest of the apostle pauls existing epistles. Discover practical insights into the book of 1 thessalonians. Introduction to the book of 1 thessalonians stories of. Introduction to 1 thessalonians why study this book. That said, most scholars agree paul wrote 1 thessalonians.
During this time, timothy visits thessalonica and reports back to paul good news about the church as well as its problems. Paul was probably in corinth a short time after he left thessalonica. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Book your tickets now, because this place looks amazing.