1

The Gospel According to Paul

First Thessalonians

Lesson 1Introduction to First Thessalonians

Pages 1-3

2

Introduction to Philippians

The History:

Philippi

Paul first visited the city on his second journeyHe converted Lydia and her household (Acts 16:14,15)Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prisonThen, converted the jailor and his household

3

4

The History

The church was established on Paul’s second missionary journey with Silas

Paul and Silas had just left Philippi– Encountered Lydia (her and her household were

baptized)– Cast out a demon from a slave girl (suffered the

wrath of her owners)– Imprisoned on false charges– Converted the jailor and his household– When they revealed their Roman citizenship, they

were released from prison and departed the city

5

The History (from Acts 17:1-10)

(1) Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.(2) Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,(3) explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."(4) And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

6

(5) But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.(6) But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.(7) Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus."

The History (from Acts 17:1-10)

7

(8) And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things.(9) So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.(10) Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

The History (from Acts 17:1-10)

8

The History

As Paul’s custom was, he reasoned with the Jews in their synagogue

“Synagogue”– A place or gathering of the Jews away from the

temple in Jerusalem– The purpose was the read and meditate on the

Mosaic law– Not mentioned directly in the O.T.– There was a ruler of the local synagogues– Jesus taught in them (Matt. 4:23)– Paul used the synagogues to a good advantage

9

The History

Paul preached the gospel:– Christ suffered,– Arose from the dead, and– Jesus is Christ

Some of Jews believed– The unbelieving Jews were moved with envy– Paul was not endorsing the law of Moses. If he had,

there would not have been the conflict Paul then turned to the Gentiles

– Many believed including some of the chief women Jason befriended Paul and Silas

10

The History

A mob set the city in an uproar They cried out, “these have turned the world

upside down…” They claimed that Paul was proclaiming that

“there is another king – Jesus” The “brethren” sent Paul and Silas away by

night In spite of the mob, the envy, the hatred and all

of the confusion, a good church is left

11

The City

Thessalonica – An important seaport city of Macedonia – Populated by as many as 200,000 Greeks, Jews,

and Romans when Paul preached there– The nation had been a Roman province since about

148 B.C.– The city worshiped many pagan gods, but Jupiter

was its favorite– Politically, Thessalonica enjoyed the position of a

free city [42 B.C.]

12

The Letter

Paul wrote this letter from Corinth Timothy was sent by Paul to determine the

status of the new Thessalonian Christians– He wrote this first letter in response to the

encouraging report he received This letter reflects –

– His joy over their significant accomplishments and– His anxiety about several issues with which they

were struggling

13

The Problems

But first, many good things were observable among the Thessalonians:– They were characterized by “work of faith, labor of

love, and patience of hope” (1:3);– They had sent the word of the gospel into “every

place” as a demon stration of their faith toward God (1:8);

– They had shown courage and prudence as they turned from idols to serve the true God and to wait for the return of Christ to bring them eternal salvation and glory (1:9,10).

14

The Problems

Several obstacles challenged the spiritual success of these mostly Gentile (1:9; 2:14-16) Christians in a hostile environment:– They were disturbed about the second coming

(4:13-18);– They faced persecutions and were troubled by the

persecutions raised against Paul and his companions, all of which could dis courage their commitment to Christ (2:14; 3:2-5);

– A relapse into their former sensuality and uncleanness could jeopardize their prospect of eternal salvation (4:1-8);

15

The Problems

– Some members seemingly had either elevated or diminished their respect for church leaders according to who did or did not possess gifts of the Spirit (5:12, 13, 19,20);

– Attention to the basic responsibilities of the Christian life must be kept as a priority by each saint (5:14-22);

– Certain disciples may have been influenced by tactics employed by opponents of the gospel which were very unlike those utilized by Paul and his fellow teachers (1:3-12).

16

The Time and Place

The best scholarship identifies Corinth as the place from which this epistle was written in A.D. 51 or 52.

It was delivered to the Thessalonians only a “short time” after Paul had departed from their city (2:17,18).

This letter therefore has the distinction of being the first written by the apostle to a local church [with the possible exception of Paul’s involvement, if any, in the writing of the letter to Antioch in Acts 15:22-29]

17

Questions on the Introduction

1. On which journey did Paul visit Thessalonica?

2. Where in the N.T. is it recorded?

3. What was Paul’s custom when he entered a city?

4. What is a synagogue?

5. What purpose did the synagogue serve?

18

6. Was Paul endorsing the Sabbath day and the law of Moses by meeting with them on that day?

7. What did Paul preach among them?

8. What classes of people believed Paul?

9. What two charges were made against Paul?

Questions on the Introduction

19

10. What did the unbelievers do to Jason and some of the brethren?

11. Where was Paul when he wrote the letter to the Thessalonians?

12. Who was with him when he wrote the letter?

Questions on the Introduction