Paul established the congregation at thessalonica during his. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. When he returns, the dead who have believed in christ will rise and will join the living to. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a separate outline. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. Beale 12 thessalonians ivp new testament commentary, 2003.
Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of 2 thessalonians in the bible king james version. Of all the surviving letters written by the apostle paul, 1 thessalonians is very likely the first to have been written. His aim for this letter was to strengthen the christian church in thessalonica by. Paul wrote the second letter to the thessalonians approximately a year or so after the first letter. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica. In my previous post i started to talk about why scholars recognize that 2 thessalonians is or appears to be by a different author than 1 thessalonians. The thessalonians had many of the same challenges that i have today, so it is worth really looking at the epistle and figuring out how i. The two are close enough together to be related, but in 2 thessalonians the christology represents a later thinking and piety. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52 however, some scholars believe. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. The thessalonians faced intense opposition for their faith 2 thess. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52 however, some scholars believe the epistle to galatians may. Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a.
Paul wrote the epistles to the thessalonians from corinth during his second missionary journey. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. The thessalonians had many of the same challenges that i have today, so it is worth really looking at the epistle and figuring out how i can develop from it. Though only three chapters in length, almost of the book repeats what is said in 1 thessalonians. They reveal the apostle pauls heart and passion as he seeks to guide this congregation towards health and balance. External evidence strongly supports pauline authorship geisler, a general introduction to the bible, pp. Paul wrote his first letter to the thessalonian church from the city of corinth around ad 51, just a few months after having preached in thessalonica on his second missionary journey. In 1 and 2 thessalonians youll learn important truths about christs coming specifically regarding the rapture and the antichrist. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. There are actually lots of reasons, as i will show in subsequent posts, but for now im simply giving my discussion as found in my trade book forged, written for a nonscholarly audience. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152.
Upon leaving thessalonica under duress, paul, silas, and timothy traveled to athens by way of berea. The book of first thessalonians for the lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in christ will rise first. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. The account of pauls initial visit to thessalonica is in acts 17.
The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. Where were first and second thessalonians written answers. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several grounds. Thessalonians study guide blackham, paul, thomas, richard on.
Interesting facts about 2 thessalonians bible charts. Headings throughout the following book of 2 thessalonians. Everything in 2 thessalonians contributes to these twin themes of endurance through suffering and the eternal scope of divine grace. This epistle was written a short time after the former. This letter was also written from corinth and during the same year. A new church was founded there of mixed population and included various prominent macedonian women. The best understanding of 2 thessalonians, therefore, is to see it as a deliberate imitation of 1 thessalonians, updating the apostles thought. The first letter of paul to the thessalonians is also the first letter the apostle wrote. The traditional view of the origin of this book, is that shortly after paul wrote i thes. First thessalonians it is generally supposed that pauls first epistle to the thessalonians is the first book of the new testament that was ever written. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. Whether one agrees or disagrees with all of his conclusions, beale always has interesting food for.
While 1 thessalonians is pretty much a traditional letter from paul he says hi and then starts doling out all kinds of advice, 2 thessalonians probably wasnt originally sent as a letter. He saw the need to do a follow up letter to correct false doctrines about the day of the lord as some had thought it had already occurred. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. This also makes 1 thessalonians the oldest book in the new testament. To follow up his previous letter 1 thessalonians by instructing the thessalonians further about the return of christ and the importance of responsible daily living. Through their study of this book, students will learn about the second coming and receive encouragement to. What is the purpose of the book of 2 thessalonians. How much more so when it comes to the end of the whole world. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52 however, some scholars believe the epistle to galatians may have been written at an earlier date. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. It adds rich context that adds to the understanding of what the book is about, who the letter was being written to, and how it applies to my life. Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by paul.
A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a. Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. It was written to a struggling, yet vigorous church that was only a few months old, made up of christians who had just come to christ under pauls ministry. The first letter of paul to the thessalonians is likely the first writing of the new. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international bible. First thessalonians provides christians with the clearest biblical passage on the coming rapture of believers, an event that will inaugurate the sevenyear tribulation. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. The book of 2 thessalonians was written shortly after the book of 1 thessalonians, probably within a few months. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. When timothy returned to paul with the good news that the members of the church. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars1 b.
The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Philemon is shorter, but it is addressed to an individual. He also informs them about christs return, the time when their suffering will. Everyone would like to have some insight into what their future holds. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, two new testament letters written by paul. If paul were the author, the books would have had to be written just a few months apart. Yet despite a twomillennia gap, these letters ring with relevance for today. Introduction to the first epistle of paul to the thessalonians. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. Paul then tells them to continue to be faithful and to keep the teachings he gave them. Thus, pauls first two letters were written to thessalonica. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international.
The first book of thessalonians was written approximately in a. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. When paul and silas arrived in thessalonica they proclaimed jesus as. 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. Learn bible quiz 1 thessalonians with free interactive flashcards. Over a quarter of 1 thessalonians and nearly half of 2 thessalonians deal with problems and issues regarding the parousia or coming of christ from heaven. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. Aug 11, 2017 only james and galatians were written earlier. First thessalonians is the eighth of pauls letters. Letters of paul to the thessalonians bible britannica.
Second thessalonians distinguishes itself by the detailed teaching it presents on the end times. This summary of the book of 1 thessalonians provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 thessalonians. False teachers had been presenting fake letters as if from paul and telling the thessalonian believers that the day of the lord had already come. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there. These are all of the chapters of the book of 2 thessalonians. See, scholars believe that some guy wrote 2 thessalonians on his own to address whatever problems his community of christians was. The bible book of 2 thessalonians with full chapters, footnotes and bible commentary to aid your bible search, reading, and study. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work.
Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. The global message of pauls second letter to the thessalonians is that amid suffering, believers must remember the sovereign grace that has rescued them in jesus christ. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own letters 2. The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. Paul refers to the lawless one and says that jesus return will annihilate him by the manifestation of his coming. It is our sincere desire that this outline of 2 thessalonians will assist you in your investigation of gods holy word his personal letter to you. 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. Paul uses two words in 2 thessalonians that are not to be found anywhere else in the new testament. Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the church at thessalonica, it is pauls first letter period. Mary fairchild is a fulltime christian minister, writer, and editor of two christian anthologies, including stories of cavalry. The author of this book encourages the thessalonians to remain faithful in the midst of suffering. Far and away the largest theological contribution of both 1 and 2 thessalonians lies in what they say about eschatology. Choose from 500 different sets of bible quiz 1 thessalonians flashcards on quizlet.
Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. Beale has written what many consider to be a definitive commentary on the book of revelation, and now we have the results of his research into the thessalonian epistles. The same three, paul, silvanus, and timothy sent the letter. The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. The book is clearly written to a group of very new believers who were. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. D 51 or 52, paul addresses some misconceptions from his letter in i thessalonians. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living ministries.
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