INTRODUCTION TO FIRST THESSALONIANS
September, 1993
  1. Founding of the Church at Thessalonica.
    1. Occurred during the second missionary journey, April 50-Sept. 52AD.
    2. In Troas Paul had a vision to go into Europe, Act.16:9,10.
    3. The missionary team crossed the Aegean Sea from Troas to Neapolis (Act.16:11), a distance of about 125 miles, in two days.
    4. From there the missionaries went immediately to Philippi, a distance of about 10 miles.
    5. There is quite a lengthy description of their ministry in Philippi, Act.16:12-40.
    6. It is reasonable to believe that Paul and his co-workers Silas, Timothy, and Luke stayed at Philippi around three months (the letter sent to them shows they were well grounded in doctrine).
    7. Leaving Philippi they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica (Act.17:1; it would have taken them about 5 days to travel the 70 miles).
    8. The ministry at Thessalonica is described in Act.17:1-10.
    9. Although Act.17:2 mentions the fact that Paul reasoned in the synagogue for three Sabbaths (Act.17:2,3), it is reasonable to assume that their ministry was of much longer duration for the following reasons.
      1. The persecution occurred after the three Sabbaths.
      2. The fact that the Philippians gave monetary assistance to Paul on two occasions (Phil.4:16) would have taken more than a three week duration since it was a hundred miles away.
      3. The doctrinal knowledge apparent in First Thessalonians would indicate a longer time with the church.
    10. Based on all this, it is concluded that Paul's stay at Thessalonica was a period of around three months (from the first of November to the last of January of 51AD).
    11. Paul had to leave the city because of the persecution.


      12. Paul's success aroused the envy and enmity of the Jews, Act.17:5.

      1. They instigated a rabble (rent-a-mob) who attacked the house of Jason where Paul was staying, and hauled both Jason and other believers before the city magistrates on a charge of sedition against Caesar, 17:6,7.
      2. They bound Jason over. He had to give security for the conduct of his guests, and so to avoid further trouble he got them secretly out of town, 17:8-10 (for the legal procedure see A. N. Sherwin-White, Roman Society and Roman Law in the NT, Oxford, 1963, pp. 95-97).
  2. The occasion and date of the writing of First Thessalonians.
    1. When they arrived in Athens (after Berea), Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica (1Thess.3:1,2,5) to encourage the believers there and report back about the condition of the church.
    2. Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth (3:6), from which place the two Thessalonian letters were written.
    3. Paul was concerned about how the church might react to his sudden and unannounced departure and about having to leave the church without experienced leadership.
    4. Timothy's report gave Paul cause for praise for the healthy state of the church.
    5. This is a letter from a relieved and grateful pastor.
    6. Paul wrote this letter in early summer 51AD (his second letter after Galatians).
  3. Purpose of First Thessalonians.
    1. To express his thankfulness for them.
    2. To defend his ministry against slander, 2:9,10.
    3. To encourage believers to stand against persecution, 3:2,3.
    4. To warn them not to revert to pagan sexual practices, 4:1-8.
    5. To exhort them to work for a living and not sponge off of others, 4:11,12.
    6. To inform them of what happens to the Christians, who die before the Rapture, 4:13-18.
    7. To teach about the day of the Lord, 5:1-11.
  4. Structure of First Thessalonians.
    1. Greeting, 1:1.
    2. Thanksgiving, 1:2-12.
    3. Apostolic Defense, 2:1-12.
      1. The Missionaries' Visit, 2:1-4.
      2. The Missionaries' Conduct, 2:5-8.
      3. The Missionaries' Example, 2:9-12.
    4. Further Thanksgiving, 2:13-16.
    5. Plans for a Second Visit, 2:17 - 3:13.
      1. Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind, 2:17-20.
      2. Mission of Timothy, 3:1-5.
      3. Joy and Thanksgiving at Timothy's Report, 3:6-10.
      4. First Prayer Wish for the Thessalonian Christians, 3:11-13.
    6. Exhortation.
      1. On Keeping the Traditions, 4:1,2.
      2. On Sexual Purity, 4:3-8.
      3. On Brotherly Love, 4:9-12.
      4. On the Dead in Christ, 4:13-18.
      5. On the Day of the Lord, 5:1-11.
      6. On the Recognition of Leaders, 5:12,13.
      7. On Various Christian Duties, 5:14-22.
      8. Second Prayer Wish for the Thessalonians, 5:23,24.
    7. Letter Closing, 5:25-28.

© Copyright 1998, Maranatha Church, Inc.