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. Paul, along with silas and timothy, founded the church at thessalonica on his second missionary journey acts 17. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our lord jesus christ, in the sight of god and our father. Acts tells us that paul visited this city and began his ministry in the jewish synagogue, but broadened his.
The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were quickly brought into the faith and then immediately thrown into the grasp of satan as persecutions broke out upon them acts 17. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul from corinth, greece, about ad 50 and addressed to the christian community he had founded in macedonia. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. Some have suggested that paul penned this letter from ephesus acts 18. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. The history of the city of thessaloniki is a long one, dating back to the ancient greeks macedonians. Timothy rejoined paul at athens and was sent back to thessalonica see 3. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months.
The first epistle was penned at corinth by the apostle paul in response to timothys report on the progress of the church they had recently established there 3. He explains that it is because of persecutions that he was concerned, and he reminds them that he told them beforehand that persecution would happen. It is unusual in that it was written only a short time after the apostle. Papyrus 65, dating to the 3rd or 4th century 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. Biography of paul both the internal and external evidence points to paul writing this epistle. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Living for christs return volume 11 21st century biblical commentary series stallard, mike, hindson, ed, couch, mal on. I have focused on the second letter to the thessalonians, which claims to be written by paul but appears to have been written instead by someone else. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living.
This summary of the book of 1 thessalonians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 thessalonians. The history of the discussion in the previous two posts i began to answer why scholars think that some of the letters that go under pauls name were not actually written by him. Thessalonians definition is either of two letters written by st. The personal details shared all match what we know of paul from other new testament books. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica. Every chapter of 1 thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of christ, with ch. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. There were no extensive historical persecutions of christians by jews in palestine prior to the. Watch our overview video on 1 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The two letters to the thessalonians are of interest from a historical point of. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a.
Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a. The book of 1 thessalonians read by alexander scourby. The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. American bible society has been engaging people with the lifechanging message of gods word for nearly 200 years. Mary fairchild is a fulltime christian minister, writer, and editor of two christian anthologies, including stories of cavalry. Paul to the christians of thessalonica and included as books in the new testament. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter. His aim for this letter was to strengthen the christian church in thessalonica by. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work.
Bible books 2 thessalonians outline of contents english 2 thessalonians outline of contents. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. The thessalonians received his gospel message not as the word of man, but as it really is, the word of god 2. 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 us 2. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars. This is being aired by permission of the holder litchfield associates, all.
Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. Thessalonians definition of thessalonians by merriamwebster. Thessalonian inhabitant of ancient thessalonica, irregular from thessalonica. Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are preserved. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. The author of this book encourages the thessalonians to remain faithful in the midst of suffering. Study the bible online using commentary on 1 thessalonians introduction and. Today with the opening of borders in southeastern europe it is currently experiencing a strong revival, serving as the prime port for the northern greek regions of macedonia and thrace, as well as for the whole of southeastern europe. The first letter was written after timothy, his coworker, returned from thessalonia to report that the new. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. Blackhawk church eat this book weekly bible guide reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1 thessalonians paul, silas and timothy were the first to share the gospel in thessalonica, where many jews. Upon leaving thessalonica under duress, paul, silas, and timothy traveled to athens by way of berea.
Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. Paul wrote his first letter to the thessalonian church from the city of corinth around ad 51, just a few months after having preached in thessalonica on his second missionary journey. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with a reference to his own signature at the end of the epistle. The roman empire, and the ancient city of thessalonica, have been reduced to rubble. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in some sense as its theme. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica. Paul had not spent long enough time with the church in thessalonica, and wrote this letter to further. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the lord, and from the glory of his power. 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. Book of 2 thessalonians outline summary online bible nwt.
Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. A large number of greek proselytes and not a few prominent women also believed the gospel acts 17. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul.
Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the bible. For the history of thessalonica see introduction to 1 thessalonians. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with specific mention of his name again later in the epistle. Living for christs return volume 11 21st century biblical commentary series. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society.
First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. Two thousand years have passed since paul penned 12 thessalonians. He also informs them about christs return, the time when their suffering will cease. The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. The historical context is acts 1618, especially acts 17. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. Summary of 1 thessalonians 3 paul then recalls how he sent timothy to them to encourage them and to get a report as to how they are doing.
The book of 1 thessalonians kjv audio bible full by. This is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. The main themes that run through 1 thessalonians is living holy and sanctified lives and being selfcontrolled and alert. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were.
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