FIRST THIS ON FIRST THESS An Introduction To First Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Acts 17:1-9

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1 FIRST THIS ON FIRST THESS An Introduction To First Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Acts 17:1-9 I. The Author Of The Epistle Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, A. Paul The Author B. The Date: A.D II. The Church In Thessalonica To the church of the Thessalonians A. Their Location B. Their Origin (Acts 17:1-9) 1. The Method: Reason, Explain And Prove (1-3a) 2. The Message: The Gospel (3b) 3. The Response: Some Will Respond But It Might Not Be Who You Expected (4) 4. The Persecution: When We Seek To Turn The World, The World Turns On Us (5-9) C. The Purpose For 1 Thessalonians To commend the church s faithfulness (1:2-10) To confront attacks by people challenging Paul s authority (2:1-10) To communicate that he sent Timothy to encourage them (3:1-13) To call believers to holy living, brotherly love and diligent work in view of Christ s Coming (4:1-12) To clarify confusion concerning the dead in Christ and the resurrection (4:13-17) To comfort the persecuted church with the hope of Christ s coming (4:18) To characterize the Day of the Lord (5:1-11) III. The Hope Of The Church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. A. God Protects The Church As Our Father B. Christ Leads The Church As Our Lord C. Grace Covers The Church With God s Goodness D. Peace Protects The Church From Destruction

2 FIRST THIS ON FIRST THESS An Introduction To First Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Acts 17:1-9 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. I. The Author Of The Epistle Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, A. Paul The Author Paul cited his authorship (1 Thess 1:1; 2:18) Paul cited his companions: Silvanus (1 Th 1:1; 2 Th 1:1) and Timothy (1 Th 1:1; 3:2,6; 2 Th 1:1) Paul communicates as a spiritual father to the church (1 Th 2:11) Paul s writing style is consistent with his other letters salutation, doctrinal, encouraging Early manuscripts contain Paul s name as the author in verse 1 Church Fathers attest to Paul s authorship: Ignatius, Polycarp, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Didache, Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, Cyril of Jerusalem, Eusebius, Jerome. Augustine Even many liberal critics credit Paul with the authorship B. The Date: A.D Thessalonians was written during 2 nd Missionary Journey (Act 17:1-9; 18:1; 19:1) Silvanus & Timothy were with Paul at the writing of the 2 Thessalonian letters They were both written in Corinth (Acts 18:11) during Paul s 18 month stay They are among the earliest New Testament books written Book Place Of Writing Date Of Writing Galatians Antioch 48 (or 55) 1 Thessalonians Corinth Thessalonians Corinth Corinthians Ephesus Galatians Ephesus 55 (or 48) 2 Corinthians Macedonia Romans Corinth 57 Ephesians Rome 60 Colossians Rome 60 Philemon Rome 60 Philippians Rome Timothy Macedonia? Titus Macedonia? Timothy Macedonia? 67 (adapted from Norman Geisler, A Popular Survey of the New Testament, p. 142)

3 Archaeology demonstrates Gallio was in office at A.D. 52, according to an inscription found in Delphi, Greece Paul was previously at Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:1-11) Paul appeared before Gallo (Acts 18:12) after his time in Corinth Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians after Timothy came back from Corinth after visiting Thessalonica before those 18 months (1 Th 1:1; Acts 18:5) II. The Church In Thessalonica To the church of the Thessalonians A. Their Location 1. Generally Thessalonica was the largest city in Macedonia The population was between 65,000 to 200,000 during Paul s time It was an important city of commerce being located on popular sea routes and highways. The Egnatian Way (Via Egnatia) was the main highway that ran through the town connecting Rome to Asia through the walls of Thessalonica The geography naturally made Thessalonica s harbor the best in the region Wealthy Romans and merchants lived there. But there was great poverty in the city as well. Today, Thessaloniki (or Salonika) is the second largest city in Greece with a population of 322,240 (according to the 2011 census) D. Edmond Hiebert: It is one of few important New Testament centers that have maintained an unbroken continuity from the first century to the present. (The Thessalonian Epistles, p. 13) 2. Politically In 315 B.C., Alexander the Great s General Cassander would succeed Alexander as the king of Macedonia. Cassander renamed the capital city Therme as Thessalonica, named after his wife (who was Alexander s half-sister). Macedonia revolted against Rome in the 2 nd century B.C. only to be defeated by Rome at the Battle of Pydna (168 B.C.). Conquering Roman general Aemiius Paullus divided Macedonia into 4 administrative districts. Thessalonica was the capital of the second district. In 146 B.C., Rome made Macedonia a senatorial province. Thessalonica was the capital. The city supported Julius Caesar, Octavian and Mark Antony during the Republican War. Thessalonica was rewarded for their support by being declared a free city (free to operate their internal affairs; no Roman garrison stationed) in 42 B.C. (also reconfirmed by Octavian in 31 B.C.)

4 But Macedonia repelled against Rome s heavy provincial taxes. Octavian (now called Augustus removed the status of senatorial province and would rule the region directly (imperial provincial status). o A senatorial province was represented by senators. An imperial province was under the direct dictatorship of the emperor. The Emperor Claudius returned the senatorial province status in A.D Religiously Thessalonica hosted a temple where Julius Caesar was worshipped There also was a cult that worshipped the goddess Roma during Paul s time B. Their Origin (Acts 17:1-9) During Paul s 2 nd Missionary Journey, Paul went from Antioch Syria (Acts 15:35) west over several hundred miles across Asia Minor. After leaving Philippi (Acts 16:12), he went through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica a hundred miles away. Paul started the church in Thessalonica after only 3 weeks (Acts 17:2) Paul reasoned the Gospel at the Jewish synagogue Jewish converts, Gentiles and several prominent women comprised the charter membership (Acts 17:4) Acts 17:1-9 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ. 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 1. The Method: Reason, Explain And Prove 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3a explaining and proving that 2. The Message: The Gospel 3b it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ. 3. The Response: Some Will Respond But It Might Not Be Who You Expected

5 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 4. The Persecution: When We Seek To Turn The World, The World Turns On Us 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus. 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. C. The Purpose For 1 Thessalonians To commend the church s faithfulness (1:2-10) To confront attacks by people challenging Paul s authority (2:1-10) To communicate that he sent Timothy to encourage them (3:1-13) To call believers to holy living, brotherly love and diligent work in view of Christ s Coming (4:1-12) To clarify confusion concerning the dead in Christ and the resurrection (4:13-17) To comfort the persecuted church with the hope of Christ s coming (4:18) To characterize the Day of the Lord (5:1-11) III. The Hope Of The Church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. A. God Protects The Church As Our Father B. Christ Leads The Church As Our Lord C. Grace Covers The Church With God s Goodness D. Peace Protects The Church From Destruction