A Study of the Letters to the Church at Thessalonica Fall Session 13 – Introduction to 1st & 2nd Thessalonians

1. Who is the key writer of the letters to the Church at Thessalonica? Who else does he include in his greeting to the church? What do we know about the primary author?

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) apostle of Christ, missionary, church planter, and gifted teacher. He includes Timothy, his trusted assistant, who may have been the one who actually transcribed the words. Also, Silas, who assisted Paul in founding the Thessalonian church. He probably offered some suggestions on what to say.

Paul was converted on the road to Damascus. In that blinding vision, Jesus called Paul to be a missionary evangelist. After that life changing moment, he focused on spreading the truth, the good news, about Jesus. During the next couple of decades, Paul traveled most of the Roman world, preaching to whomever would listen and establishing churches in the cities he visited.

Paul’s missionary journeys began in Antioch in about A.D. 49 when the believers there commissioned him and Barnabas to take the gospel to distant cities. A year later (A.D. 50), Paul set out on his second missionary journey. He went without Barnabas because of a disagreement over Mark. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus. Paul and Silas went to the churches in Asia Minor. While in Troas, God gave Paul a vision in which a man begged him to come to Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). Paul, Silas and Timothy went across the Aegean Sea to the prosperous towns of Macedonia – including the seaport Thessalonica. Read Acts 17. Paul’s time in Thessalonica was limited because of jealous Jewish leaders. He had not been able to teach the young believers the details of Christian doctrine and to adequately model the Christian faith. When Timothy returned from Thessalonica with believer’s questions, Paul wrote letters to encourage them.

2. When were the letters written? Where were they written? (Read Acts, Chapters 17 and 18)

Paul probably wrote 1st Thessalonians at the beginning of his stay in Corinth in A.D. 50. He probably wrote 2nd Thessalonians shortly after the first letter from the same place, A.D. 51.

3. What was the purpose of the first letter?

To strengthen the Thessalonian Christian in their faith and assure them of Christ’s return. First Thessalonians is primarily a letter of praise and thanksgiving. In this letter Paul rejoiced over their progress in the Christian faith. To encourage the church to stand fast against persecution.

4. What was the purpose of the second letter?

Paul had two purposes for writing Second Thessalonians. a) To clear up confusion about the second coming of Christ. Paul did not want any false teaching to distract his new converts from the Christian faith. They had already suffered too much for Christ to be sidetracked by idle gossip. b) To assure believers that God uses persecution to refine believers, to prove that a believer is genuine and to seal the doom of persecutors. 5. What do we know about the City of Thessalonica?

The great city was the capital and largest city of Macedonia. It had been founded by Cassandra, the top military officer of Alexander the Great, after Alexander had died. Under the Romans the city had been made free because of its loyalty to Rome. As a free city it was allowed its own government and local laws, and at its height, the city reached a population of 200,000. Trade and commerce bristled with all the accompanying vice that follows such a metropolitan center. The great Roman road – Egnatian ran through the city. This road stretch from the Adriatic Sea to the Middle East. Because of its strategic location and commercial importance, the gospel was bound to spread beyond the city to the rest of the world rather fast.

6. What do we know about the Church of Thessalonica?

The converts were mainly Gentiles, including a large number of devout Greeks and prestigious women. Many, especially women, were sick of the immoral society of that day. They had turned to Judaism because of its moral teachings, yet they sensed the bondage of its legalistic focus and rejection of its national prejudices. This means their hearts were ripe for the message of liberty and love preached by the gospel. The church at Thessalonica: • Was founded on Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 17:1) • Was revisited by Paul (1 Corinthians 16:5) • Included some Jews and a large number of Greeks and influential women • Did not support Paul. He worked at a secular job while there. However, he did receive financial help from the church at Philippi (Philippians 4:16) • Suffered persecution • Was well organized • Had several prominent believers

7. Who are the Key People in these Letters to the Church at Thessalonica?

Paul, Timothy, Silas

8. What are the main themes of First Thessalonians?

Persecution Paul’s Ministry Hope Preparation for the Second Coming

9. What are the main themes of Second Thessalonians?

Persecution Christ’s Return Great Rebellion Persistence

10. What is a key verse from each letter?

First Thessalonians – “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.” (4:14 NLT)

Second Thessalonians – “May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” (3:5 NLT)