1 Thessalonians I. Introduction A. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians B. Comfort regarding Christians, exhortation to faithful conduct C. Let us consider the book II. 1 Thessalonians: The Details A. Authorship 1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1: Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy 2. Substance definitely from Paul 3. Accepted without much critical dissent throughout time B. Dating 1. As with all New Testament letters, no specific date 2. Acts 17:1-10: Paul in Thessalonica for space of three Sabbaths or so ca. 51 CE 3. When persecution arose, Paul and companions went to Berea 4. Jews from Thessalonica stir up Bereans; Paul heads to Corinth via Athens, Timothy and Silas remain in Macedonia (Acts 17:11-15) 5. From Athens Paul heads to Corinth; Timothy, Silas meet him there (Acts 18:1-5) 6. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10: Timothy sent to Thessalonica while Paul was in Athens, upon Timothy's return, he writes 1 Thessalonians 7. Therefore, 1 Thessalonians written 51 CE, maybe 52 8. Earliest reliably datable book in the New Testament C. Audience 1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1: to the church of the Thessalonians 2. Conversion account in Acts 17:1-10 3. Did not have much time to spend with Paul; persecution stirred up quickly 4. Much for believers to gain from letter D. Purpose 1. To inform the Thessalonians of the encouragement Paul received from Timothy's news of their steadfastness 2. To answer the Thessalonians' concern about Jesus' return 3. To exhort the Thessalonians to continue in faithfulness III. 1 Thessalonians: The Story A. The Thessalonians' Conversion (1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:16) 1. Paul, Silvanus (Silas), Timothy, to church of Thessalonians in God the Father, Lord Jesus Christ; grace and peace (1 Thessalonians 1:1) 2. They give thanks to God for the Thessalonians always, mentioning them in prayers; they remember before God the work of faith of Thessalonians and their labor of love and steadfastness of hope in Jesus; they know that Christ has chosen them, brothers loved of God; Gospel came to them not just in word but also in power, the Holy Spirit, and full conviction (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5a) 3. Thessalonians know what kind of men they were among them; Thessalonians became imitators of them and the Lord, having received word in much affliction, with joy of Holy Spirit, example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia; word of the Lord sounded forth from Thessalonica in Macedonia, Achaia, also their faith in God has gone forth everywhere; thus Paul has no need to say anything; other believers report concerning Thessalonians the kind of reception Paul et al had among them, how they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, waiting for His Son from heaven; God raised Him from the dead; Jesus delivers us from wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:5b-10) 4. Thessalonians know that Paul's coming to them was not in vain; Paul et al had suffered and treated shamefully in Philippi, had boldness in God to declare to Thessalonians the gospel of God in midst of conflict; appeal does not come from error, impurity, deception; as Paul approved by God to be entrusted with gospel, so he speaks, not seeking to please men, but to please God, the tester of hearts; Paul did not come with words of flattery or with pretext for greed-- God is witness; Paul did not seek glory from people, from Thessalonians or others, although he could have made demands as Christ's apostle; Paul et al gentle among them, as nursing mother cares for children; Paul as affectionately desirous of them, ready to share not just the gospel but even their own lives, because the Thessalonians were dear to him (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8; cf. Acts 16:12-40) 5. Thessalonians remember Paul's labor and toil, working night and day so as not to be a burden to them, proclaiming the gospel of God; they and God are witnesses to his holy, righteous, blameless conduct before them; they know how he, as father with children, exhorted and encouraged each of them to walk in a manner worthy of God who calls them into His Kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:9-12) 3. Paul et al thank God constantly that Thessalonians received the word of God not as words of men but as the word of God it truly is, at work in believers; Thessalonians became imitators of churches of God in Judea, suffering same things from their countrymen as they did from Jews; Jews as killing Lord Jesus and prophets, driving Paul et al out, displeasing God, opposing mankind by hindering the speaking of gospel to Gentiles for their salvation, filling up measure of sins; God's wrath has come upon them (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16) B. Paul's Concern for the Thessalonians; Comfort (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13) 1. Since Paul torn away from them for a short time, in person, not in heart, he wanted more eagerly to come see them face to face, but hindered by Satan; what is Paul et al's hope, joy, crown, or boasting before Jesus at His coming but them?; they are his glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20) 2. When it became unbearable, Paul willing to be alone at Athens, sent Timothy, brother, co-worker in gospel, to establish, exhort Thessalonians in their faith so that they would not be disturbed in their afflictions; Thessalonians know that they were destined for affliction; when Paul with them, he told them of affliction coming to them and him, and it has come to pass; such is why Paul sent Timothy to learn of their faith, fearing lest the tempter had tempted them and their labor was in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5) 3. Timothy had returned with good news of the Thessalonians' faith and love, reporting that they remember Paul et al kindly, long to see them, as Paul et al long to see Thessalonians; on account of report, Paul et al comforted about Thessalonians through their faith; Paul lives if they stand fast in the Lord; what thanksgiving can Paul return to God for the joy he feels for their sake before God, as he et al pray earnestly for them night and day, eagerly wanting to see them in person, supply what is lacking in their faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10) 4. May God and Father and Lord Jesus direct Paul et al's way to Thessalonians, may the Lord make the Thessalonians increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as Paul et al do for them, so that Lord may establish their hearts blameless in holiness before God at coming of Lord Jesus with all the saints (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13) C. Exhortations (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) 1. Paul asks and urges Thessalonians in the Lord to walk and to please God as they received from Paul et al, as they are doing, to do so more and more; Thessalonians know what instructions they received from Paul through Lord Jesus; the will of God is their sanctification: abstaining from sexually deviant behavior, each one conducting his or her own body in holiness and honor, not in passion of lusts like Gentiles who do not know God, so that none transgress and wrong his brother in these matters, for the Lord is an avenger in these things as Paul already told them; God has not called us to impurity but holiness; whoever disregards these things not disregarding man but God who gives Holy Spirit to believers (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8) 2. Regarding brotherly love, Thessalonians have no need to have anything written to them, taught by God to love one another; they are doing so for all Christians in Macedonia; Paul et al urges them to love more and more, aspire to live quietly, mind own affairs, work with hands, as previously instructed, so that they may walk properly before those without, dependent on no one (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12) D. Eschatological Concerns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11) 1. Paul et al do not want Thessalonians to be uninformed about those who are asleep (=physically dead), so that they do not grieve as others without hope; since Christians believe that Jesus died and rose again, through Jesus, God will bring with Him all who have fallen asleep; this Paul et al declare from word of Lord, those alive, left at coming of the Lord, will not go before those who sleep (1 Thessalonians 4:12-15) 2. The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with cry of command, voice of archangel, trumpet of God; dead in Christ rise first, followed by those living, caught up in clouds to meet Lord in the air; always with the Lord; Thessalonians to encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18) 3. Thessalonians have no need for anything to be written regarding times and seasons; they know that day of the Lord comes as thief in the night; people will believe there is peace and security, but sudden destruction will fall upon them as labor pains on the expectant mother and they will not escape; Thessalonians not in darkness so as to be surprised by that day; they are children of light, children of day, not of night or of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:1-5) 4. Therefore, believers not to sleep as others do, but keep awake, be sober; those who sleep, get drunk, do so at night; since believers belong to day, to be sober, wearing breastplate of faith and love, helmet of hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:6-7) 5. God has not destined believers to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus; Jesus died for believers, so that whether awake or asleep, they might live with Him; Thessalonians to encourage and edify one another as they have been doing (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11) E. Final Exhortations (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28) 1. Paul et al ask Thessalonians to respect those who labor among them and are over them in the Lord and who admonish them; they are to esteem such ones highly because of their work; they are to be at peace among themselves (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) 2. Thessalonians urged to admonish idle, encourage faint-hearted, help weak, be patient with all, not to repay evil for evil, but seek to do good for one another and for all; rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances, God's will in Christ for believers; do not quench the Spirit, do not despise prophecies, but test everything: hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22) 3. May God of peace sanctify Thessalonians completely, and may their spirit, soul, body be kept blameless at coming of Lord Jesus; He who calls is faithful, and will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) 4. Thessalonians to pray for Paul et al, greet Christians with the holy kiss; Paul adjures the recipient to have letter read to all the Christians; grace of Lord Jesus be with them (1 Thessalonians 5:25-28) IV. 1 Thessalonians: Christology and Theology A. God the Father; Christ the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:1) B. God living and true, raised Jesus from dead; Jesus delivers from wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10) C. God as calling believers into His Kingdom, glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12) D. Jesus returning (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 4:13-5:11) 1. Resurrection of believers 2. They will meet the Lord in the air 3. Dead in Christ rise first; the living then likewise transformed 4. Day of the Lord as a thief in the night-- a sudden return E. Jesus as avenger of sin; God gives Holy Spirit to believers (1 Thessalonians 4:6, 8) F. God destines believers for salvation, not wrath; Jesus died for believers so that they can live with Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) V. 1 Thessalonians: Old Testament References A. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 / 1-2 Kings, Prophets VI. 1 Thessalonians: The Kingdom A. Believers to be strong in faith, hope, accepting Gospel, turning from idols (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10) B. Word of the Lord to be proclaimed through words, lives of believers (1 Thessalonians 1:7-9) C. Believers exhorted, encouraged to walk in a manner worthy of God (1 Thessalonians 2:12) D. God's word at work in believers (1 Thessalonians 2:13) E. Believers suffer affliction; must remain steadfast (1 Thessalonians 3:3-5) F. Believers to walk according to instructions received from Jesus through Apostles (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2) G. Will of God for believers: sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) 1. Emphasis in 1 Thessalonians on avoidance of sexually deviant behavior, maintaining control of the body and its passions 2. Sexually deviant behavior, a lack of self-control marks of the Gentiles, but should not be so among believers 3. God calls believers to holiness, not impurity H. Christians to love one another, within local assembly, all the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10) I. Christians should live quietly, mind own affairs, work with hands, thus walking properly among unbelievers, not dependent on anyone (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12) J. Christians to take comfort in hope of resurrection for the living and dead (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) K. Christians must always be ready for Lord's return, sober-minded, awake, living lives of faith, hope, and love; Christians to encourage, edify one another (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) L. Christians to respect and esteem evangelists, elders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13) M. Christians to admonish idle, encourage fainthearted, help weak, be patient with all-- be at peace among one another, not doing evil for evil, but seeking the good for everyone, Christian or non-Christian, and to rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:13-16) N. Christians to pray without ceasing, also for those who work in the Kingdom and must always give thanks no matter the circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, 25) O. Christians are not to quench the Spirit: they must test everything, hold fast to what is good, abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22) P. May God sanctify believers, keeping their body, soul, and spirit blameless for the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)! VII. 1 Thessalonians: Conclusion A. Thus we have seen Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians B. A message of comfort and exhortation 1. Comfort regarding the conversion, faithfulness of Thessalonians, hope of the resurrection 2. Exhortations regarding sanctification, brotherly love, and faithful living, prepared for the return of the Lord C. May we live sanctified and holy lives as we await for the return of the Lord Jesus! D. Invitation/songbook