In 1 thessalonians, paul celebrates the churchs holiness, love and future hope as they remain faithful to jesus. Some have suggested that paul penned this letter from ephesus acts 18. How paul of tarsus impacted the history of christianity. Paul, silas and timothy were the first to share the gospel in thessalonica, where many jews and gentiles. For the history of thessalonica see introduction to 1 thessalonians. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. Despite persecution, they flourish in their faith and stand strong. The letters called epistles from paul to thessalonica, which included i thessalonians and ii thessalonians were probably two of the earliest letters paul had written which was around a. Thessalonians definition is either of two letters written by st.
Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians barnes bible charts author. All believers will meet jesus in the air to begin an eternity spent with the lord 1 thessalonians 4. I have focused on the second letter to the thessalonians, which claims to be written by paul but appears to have been written instead by someone else. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving.
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from. Thessalonian inhabitant of ancient thessalonica, irregular from thessalonica. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. Paul reminds his audience of the teachings they were given, saying, you learned from us how you ought to live and to please god as, in fact, you are doing 1 thessalonians 4. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. There were no extensive historical persecutions of christians by jews in palestine prior to the first jewish war. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece.
Udo schnelle argues the history and theology of the new testament writings, p. Paul thanks god for the thessalonians faith, love for others and hope in jesus despite persecution. For three sabbaths, paul preached in the synagogue with impressive success acts 17. Among its 27 books are selected recollections of the life and acts and sayings of jesus in the four gospels. This fascinating discussion gives the necessary context for fully appreciating the circumstances surrounding the founding of the citys first church and the subsequent struggles of the thessalonian.
Picture study bible 2 thessalonians bible history online. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic similarities to the first, paul probably had received a second report from the city detailing continuing questions or problems regarding the end times. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. The book begins with an indepth study of the thessalonians themselves their history, land, socioeconomic conditions, and religious environment. All the books in the bible giving thanks to the lord paul, timothy, and silas offered their thanks to god for the people in thessalonica and. The main themes that run through 1 thessalonians is living holy and sanctified lives and being selfcontrolled and alert. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. Paul fled to athens from berean persecution, leaving silas and timothy in berea see ac 17. Paul and his companions had established the church in thessalonica but were forced to leave by opponents of the gospel. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were.
Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his. The two letters to the thessalonians are of interest from a historical point of. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. The historical context is acts 16 18, especially acts 17.
First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are preserved. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. The church was established during pauls second missionary journey after their departure from philippi. This is the holy book of 1 thessalonians, known as the first epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians.
Reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1. Two thousand years have passed since paul penned 12 thessalonians. The historical context is acts 1618, especially acts 17. In 2 thessalonians chapter 1, paul, timothy, and silas write a letter to the church in a thessalonica. Paul to the christians of thessalonica and included as books in the new testament. In this first letter to the thessalonians, paul commends them for their faith and reminds them of his motives and concerns on their behalf. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. He encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another and to rejoice, pray and.
The first letter was written after timothy, his coworker, returned from thessalonia to report that the new. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. Paul, silas, and timothy ministered on their second missionary journey in philippi and left after their imprisonment and subsequent release acts 16. There are also some great prayers in 2 thessalonians that can be an example for us on how to pray for other believers today. Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a. The book of 2 thessalonians is filled with information that explains the end times. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living.
The book of 1 thessalonians is a personal and affectionate letter to the church, pauls own words confirm this, 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 2. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book from the new testament of the christian bible. The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, the book of thessalonians, were two new testament letters written by paul from corinth, greece, about 5054 ad and addressed to the christian community he had founded in macedonia.
The letters to the thessalonians pillar new testament. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul from corinth, greece, about ad 50 and addressed to the christian community he had founded in macedonia. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. Thessalonians definition of thessalonians by merriamwebster. It is helpful to trace the locations of paul and his companions that relate to the thessalonian correspondence. Weima begins with the historical background of the letters.
Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. That there are seventeen expressions in 2 thessalonians that occur nowhere else in the new testament is very revealing. Later, paul sent timothy back to thessalonica to check on the church there, and timothys report led paul to write this letter. Paul wrote 2 thessalonians from corinth in ad 51 within months of writing the first letter. The letter was explicitly addressed to the church of the thessalonians, 1. It also exhorts us not to be idle and to work for what we have. Although the author of the second letter made use of 1 thessalonians, there are still peculiarities in language and style. He provides with an overview of ancient thessalonica and the founding of the thessalonian. The history of the discussion in the previous two posts i began to answer why scholars think that some of the letters that go under pauls name were not actually written by him. First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. History of the book of first thessalonians holiness in light of christs return. Jeffrey weima provides an indepth look at two of pauls most intriguing letters. Impressed by the faithfulness of the thessalonians in the face of persecution, paul wrote to encourage the christians in that community with the goal that they would continue to grow in godliness. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a.
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