1 Thessalonians
Paul wrote the believers in Thessaloniki to encourage and teach them. And to defend his apostleship. It is one of his earliest writings in the New Testament.
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
SUMMARY
AUTHOR. Paul as the author of 1 Thessalonians is not questioned by scholars who take the statements of the book at face value.
RECIPIENTS. The believers in Thessaloniki.
PLACE AND DATE. Paul wrote this epistle from Corinth, as evidenced in Acts 17 and 18 as well as in 1 Thessalonians.
Scholars date it between 50 and 54 AD. This would make it one of Paul’s earliest inspired writings.
PURPOSE. During his second missionary journey, when Paul was in Troas, he received a vision of a man of Macedonia calling for help. Responding to this call, Paul and his companions crossed into Europe and preached at Philippi, and then continued to Thessalonica.
Paul visited the Jewish synagogue, and spoke of Jesus Christ. He led several people to Christian faith. And then left.
Later, Paul wrote this Letter for several reasons:
- To encourage the believers in Thessaloniki to persevere despite persecution
- To refute false charges made by the local enemies of the gospel: that the missionaries had preached in order to get rich and gain other personal benefits
- To refute that Paul left Thessaloniki and had not returned because he was a coward and a hypocrite
- To correct some errors that had cropped up in the church: an inclination to moral laxity and laziness, and a tendency not to respect the church’s spiritual leaders
- To give instruction too on the subject of what would happen to Christians who would die before the Lord’s return
OUTLINE
GREETING
1 Thessalonians 1:1. Greetings
PERSONAL COMMENDATIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10. The faith of the believers in Thessaloniki
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16. Paul remembers his visit to Thessaloniki
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20. Paul’s disciples are his greatest joy
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5. Paul longs to see them again
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10. Timothy’s encouraging report
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13. Paul prays for them
PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXPLANATIONS
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. Grow in holiness
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. How the resurrection will take place
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. The End of Days
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. Be holy
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. This is the will of God for you
CONCLUSION
1 Thessalonians 5:19-28. Conclusion
MEMORIZE
1 Thessalonians 2:19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
1 Thessalonians 2:20. For you are our glory and our joy.
1 Thessalonians 3:8. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:1. But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
1 Thessalonians 5:2. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:3. For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape.
1 Thessalonians 5:4. But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:5. You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,
1 Thessalonians 5:6. so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:7. For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:8. But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:9. For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thessalonians 5:10. who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1 Thessalonians 5:11. Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
1 Thessalonians 5:12. But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
1 Thessalonians 5:13. and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:14. We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
1 Thessalonians 5:15. See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.
1 Thessalonians 5:16. Always rejoice.
1 Thessalonians 5:17. Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:18. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
1 Thessalonians 5:19. Don’t quench the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 5:20. Don’t despise prophecies.
1 Thessalonians 5:21. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:22. Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:23. May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:24. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:25. Brothers, pray for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:26. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
1 Thessalonians 5:27. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
1 Thessalonians 5:28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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1 THESSALONIANS
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
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