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First Thessalonians a Grace Notes publication 1 Thessalonians Dr. Grant C. Richison Grace Notes 1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757 1 Thessalonians Table of Contents Foreword ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 5 1 Thessalonians 1:1 .................................................................................................................................... 6 1 Thessalonians 2:1 .................................................................................................................................. 40 1 Thessalonians 3:1 .................................................................................................................................. 69 1 Thessalonians 4:1 .................................................................................................................................. 86 1 Thessalonians 5:1 ................................................................................................................................ 108 Foreword These lessons in 1 Thessalonians are compiled from the writings of Dr. Grant C. Richison, which were published on the Internet beginning in 1997 in the Campus Crusades (Canada) daily online devotional Today’s Word. Dr. Richison is a highly experienced pastor, lecturer, and Christian servant who is dedicated to a lifetime of studying and teaching God's Word. Almost immediately after his salvation he began to desire to teach the Word, and he set about a lifelong program of preparation and ministry. Dr. Richison has a diploma from Detroit Bible Institute, a bachelor's degree in religious education from William Tyndale College (Detroit), a Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a doctorate in ministries from Luther Rice Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Richison has been pastor and senior pastor of Baptist churches from 1965 to 1992. His most recent pastorate was at Grant Memorial Baptist Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba, where, over a 20 year period, he had oversight of a ministry that expanded from about 350 to more than 2500 communicants. During the period of his pastorates, Dr. Richison was also a lecturer at Detroit Bible College and Winnipeg Theological Seminary. From 1993 to 1995, Dr. Richison was Director of Leadership Ministries for Campus Crusade for Christ (Canada). He currently has a world-wide lecture ministry with Campus Crusade. Dr. Richison is an experienced writer, and he provides materials for three areas on the Internet: Sermon on the Net; Today's Word, and Pastors' Power Points. He has considerable ability to communicate God's Word verse by verse in a relevant, clear, applicable and insightful manner and to communicate vision and establish a philosophy of ministry in the local assembly. Dr. Richison has served on the following boards and conferences: Lower Michigan Baptist General Conference (district of Baptist General Conference, board member) Great Lakes Baptist Conference (district of Baptist General Conference, chairman) Central Canada Baptist Conference (district of Baptist General Conference, chairman) Child Evangelism Fellowship (Manitoba) Evangelical Fellowship of Canada International Ministries to Israel (Canada) Chairman of Greater Manitoba Sunday School Convention Chairman of Marney Patterson Evangelistic Crusade (city-wide in Winnipeg) Chairman of Terry Winter Evangelistic Crusade (city-wide in Winnipeg) Chairman of the "Why Campaign" (city-wide evangelistic trust in Winnipeg) Chairman of the Board of Regents of Canadian Baptist Seminary (part of consortium of seminaries on Trinity Western University) Baptist General Conference of Canada (board member) Briarcrest Bible College and Seminary, Moose Jaw, Sask. Electronic Bible Society, Dallas Texas President's Cabinet, Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada Grace Notes Grace Notes is a Bible study ministry which began in 1994 using the Internet to distribute lessons and articles to people who are interested in God's Word. Thousands of Christians, in more than 110 countries around the world, receive weekly Grace Notes lessons on the Internet, by E-mail and the World Wide Web. All courses and materials are distributed free of charge, and the work is supported by believers who want to see the ministry continue and grow. Grace Notes studies are also distributed on diskette and CD-ROM in order to reach those who do not have Internet access. Verse-by-verse courses are available in more than 30 books of the Bible. Some of the courses include word studies (categorical doctrine) or historical articles (isagogics) that are relevant to the passages being discussed. Other courses offered are Bible character studies, comprehensive studies of the Christian Life and Basics of the Christian Life, an extensive series on the Person and Word of Jesus Christ, and a thorough study of the Attributes of God. You are invited to write to the address below, or write by e-mail, to inquire about Grace Notes materials. Warren Doud, Director 1705 Aggie Lane Austin, Texas 78757 E-Mail: [email protected] 1 Thessalonians 5 D. One hundred miles Southwest of Philippi and Introduction more important than Philippi. While Philippi was a Roman colony, VALUE OF STUDYING 1 THESSALONIANS Thessalonica's culture was distinctly Greek. A. We get a powerful picture of the ministry of the E. Most populous city in Macedonia. great apostle Paul. F. Large share in the commerce of the Aegean. B. We get a picture of the dynamics of an early church. G. Strategic importance: C. We receive the encouragement of our hope in Harbor and the Egnatian Way were crucial to Christ. spreading Christianity to all the world. The Egnatian Way went West to Rome and East to HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO MINISTRY Asia. AT THESSALONICA H. In post-apostolic times the gospel made rapid A. At Troy, Paul received the Macedonian vision progress in Thessalonica. to go to Europe, Acts 16:8-14. I. Thessalonica is the city of Salonica today (or This was the beginning of spreading the gospel Thessaloniki), from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe. J. Population in the first century: about 200,000 people Going to Thessalonica brought the ministry of the gospel to Western civilization. FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH, ACTS 17:1-10 Macedonia was the former kingdom of Alexander Paul founded the Thessalonian church on his the Great (he wanted to dominate the world and second missionary expedition. spread one world domination and enlightenment Paul got an immediate response to the gospel. through the Greek culture. He wanted to marry East and West). When Paul left Thessalonica, he went to Berea, then Athens and finally Corinth where he wrote B. Paul came to minister in Thessalonica for three First Thessalonians. successive and successful weeks. The Jews accused Paul's evangelistic team of OCCASION "turning the world upside down." Paul fled the A. Immediate occasion: report of Timothy to Paul city in the face of much opposition. at Corinth about the state of the Thessalonica C. The principal people in the church at church. His report indicated that they were Thessalonica were Gentiles (1 Thessalonians 1:9; steadfast and making progress in their faith. Acts 17:4). B. On the whole, affairs of the church were in good state, especially in view of the fact that most THE CITY OF THESSALONICA believers were new Christians (1 Thessalonians A. In Paul's day, Thessalonica was a famous city in 1:7; 2:14; 3:4-6; 4:9,10). the zenith of its splendor. C. The problems: B. Famous harbor: Some people were seeking to undermine Paul, Situated on the Thermic Gulf, a natural harbor. accusing him of false teaching, immoral teaching When he invaded Europe, Xerxes the Persian and hypocrisy. established his naval base in this bay. It was one of Some indicated that he was afraid to return (1 the world's greatest dockyards of Roman Thessalonians 2:17-18). C. Free city: They accused Paul of being greedy and using No troops quartered within it. flattery (1 Thessalonians 2:5,6). Autonomy in all internal affairs. There were Cliques in the church (1 Thessalonians 5:13,20, 26-27). 6 1 Thessalonians There was confusion about the end times (1 turned to God from idols to serve the living and Thessalonians 4:11-18; 5:1-6). true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, Some believers despised authority (1 whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who Thessalonians 5:12-14). delivers us from the wrath to come" (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). Some had relapsed into immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). PECULIARITIES OF THE EPISTLE PURPOSES A. One of the earliest epistles that Paul wrote. A. To fortify young believers in basic doctrine. B. Contains no Old Testament quotes. B. To encourage them in holy living. C. Church composed largely of ex-Gentiles (1 Thessalonians 1:9). C. To comfort them with the coming of Christ. D. 5 chapters; 89 verses; 1,857 words in the King D. To correct false doctrine. James Version. E. To urge respect for leadership. E. A friendly, personal letter. F. To remove suspicions which would undermine F. "Lord" applied to Jesus 25 times. their faith. G. Young Christians in the church. G. To encourage them through persecution. H. 1 Thessalonians is older than Matthew, Mark, H. To express thanks to them. Luke, John, Acts, Romans, and every other New I. To instruct them in church life. Testament book except Galatians.
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