The epistles to the Thessalonians

PAUL'S EPISTLES TO THE THESSALONIANS:
ANTICIPATING THE PAROUSIA
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2017

Outline:

Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians

I. Paul addresses the Thessalonian church (1 Thess 1:1-10).

A. He extends a greeting (v. 1).
B. He expresses his thanksgiving (vv. 2-10).

Application: God places into your life those who are more mature in the faith as models for you to imitate, and it is important for you to emulate them (Phil 3:17).

II. Paul recounts the initial visit (1 Thess 2:1-20)

A. He touts their success (vv. 1-12).
B. He expresses his thanks.. .again (2:13-20).

Application: You may face more serious threats than from secular authorities, so it is important that you recognize them and that you resist them (Jms 4:7).

III. Paul reviews his protégée's visit (1 Thess 3:1-13).

A. He recalls Timothy's ministry (vv. 1-5).
B. He recounts Timothy's return (vv. 6-10).
C. He petitions God's blessing (vv. 11-13).

Application: There are too many unforeseen and unforeseeable variables to plot the course of your life with certainty (Jer 29:11).

IV. Paul offers his readers instruction (1 Thess 4:1-12).

A. He teaches about satisfying God (vv. 1-8).
B. He teaches about loving others (vv. 9-12).

Application: Your responsibility to care for others is not the same for everyone but is greatest for those closest to you (Gal 6:10).

V. Paul explains about Jesus' return (1 Thess 4:13-5:11).

A. He tells how some expect it (vv. 13-18).
B. He tells how most ignore it (vv. 1-1 1).

Application: Do not lose your hope in him, and do not lapse in your devotion to him (Matt 24:13).

VI. Paul gives some closing remarks (1 Thess 5:12-28).

A. He instructs about church life.. .again (vv. 12-22).
B. He appends a benediction (vv. 23-24)
C. He solicits their prayers (vv. 25-28).

Application: You should be careful to acknowledge and not ignore other believers. (2 John 7a, 10-11).

Paul's Second Epistle to the Thessalonians

I. Paul addresses the Thessalonian church...again (2 Thess 1:1-4).

A. He extends a greeting (vv. 1-2).
B. He expresses his thanksgiving (vv. 3-4).

Application: Proper pride is not conceitedness you have in yourself but confidence someone else has in you or you have in God (Prov 27:2; Jer 9:23-24).


II. Paul describes the coming judgment (2 Thess 1:5-2:12).

A. He tells how it will be unavoidable (vv. 5-12).
B. He tells how it will be unmistakable (vv. 1-4).
C. He tells how it will be unstoppable (vv. 5-12).

Application: When you align yourself with God, you have assurance that you have chosen the winning side (1 Cor 15:25).

III. Paul gives some closing remarks (2 Thess 2:13-3:17).

A. He exhorts their steadfastness (vv. 13-17).
B. He solicits their prayers (vv. 1-5).

Application: To understand what God reveals you must undertake what He requires (Jms 1:23-24).

IV. Paul warns against wrong conduct (2 Thess 3:6-15).

A. He cautions them against improper actions (vv. 6-10).
B. He cautions them against improper associations (vv. 11-15).

Application: It is imperative not only that you be different from others but that you be devoted to God (Jms 1:4).

V. Paul appends a closing benediction (2 Thess 3:16-18).

Application: Take the opportunity to express your appreciation to someone by sending a letter that includes some expression of God's blessing (1 Thess 5:23).

Addendum: Anticipating the Parousia

On his second missionary journey through Asia Minor, Paul took the gospel to Thessalonica where he won several converts to the new faith within the synagogue congregation of Jews and gentile God-fearers:

When [Paul and Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. (Acts 17:1-3)

From there he went to Corinth, where he wrote these, his earliest New Testament letters, in 52.¹

I. Paul addresses the Thessalonian church (1 Thess 1:1-10).

A. He extends a greeting (v. 1).

1 Thess 1:1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

The additional attribution of "Silas and Timothy" marks these men as companions of Paul on this his second missionary journey.²

B. He expresses his thanksgiving (vv. 2-10).

1 Thess 1:2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

The Thessalonians' faith becomes a model for others to emulate,³ just as Paul presents himself as a model for others to follow.⁴ From the beginning of this letter the apostle shows his eschatological perspective as he mentions "the coming wrath" (v. 10), an event he mentions again later.⁵

Application: God places into your life those who are more mature in the faith as models for you to imitate, and it is important for you to recognize them and to emulate them. As the apostle Paul said, "Take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you" (Phil 3:17a).

II. Paul recounts his Thessalonian visit (1 Thess 2:1-20).

A. He touts their success (vv. 1-12).

1 Thess 2:1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.⁶ 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 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. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

At first, Paul did not have a good experience in Philippi but had an encounter with the Roman legal system:

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (Acts 16:22-24)

Despite his incarceration (or rather because of it) Paul managed to extend his ministry beyond what he had initially planned:

Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. (Acts 16:32-34)

Even after his time in prison Paul met with believers in Philippi before moving on:

They came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. (Acts 17:1-4)

With these new converts Paul established the Thessalonian church to which he later sends this letter. ....

For the rest of the paper and its Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf (32 pages) here.