They said that all those who remained true to the lord would be with him in his kingdom. Thessalonica was a bustling seaport city at the head of the thermaic gulf see map, p. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. Sssh the book of revelation how can we stay faithful to prophecy about church history and yet, at the same time, be kind and ca. Picture study bible 1 thessalonians bible history online. Headings throughout the following book of 2 thessalonians. External evidence strongly supports pauline authorship geisler, a general introduction to the bible, pp.
Walvoord, one of evangelicalisms most prominent leaders, and mark hitchcock, todays leading bible prophecy expert, guide you through the prophecy and exhort believers on practical matters such as moral purity, disciplined living, church relationships, prayer and church discipline. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. Two thousand years have passed since paul penned 12 thessalonians. 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. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. First thessalonians provides christians with the clearest biblical passage on the coming rapture of believers, an event that will inaugurate the sevenyear tribulation. The roman empire, and the ancient city of thessalonica, have been reduced to rubble.
As a receptionhistory, this commentary investigates the changing religious beliefs and practices that have resulted from these two epistles, as well as their impact on social and political developments across the centuries. Paul was now clearly at the head of his own missionary band. Both lists of canonical books of the nt circulated in rome. Read and study 1 thessalonians, including book summary, with the versebyverse bible commentary. Thessalonica was a free city, capital of the roman province of macedonia northern greece.
Second thessalonians distinguishes itself by the detailed teaching it presents on the end times. After leaving philippi, paul came to thessalonica together with silas and timothy. The letters to the thessalonians the pillar new testament. 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. Book of 1 thessalonians of the king james bible in english. First epistle to the thessalonians simple english wikipedia. The traditional view of the origin of this book, is that shortly after paul wrote i thes. Of course, in the modern world with its electricity, computers. 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. It was the first he wrote to european christians, and in it the fundamental things of the christian life are very clearly set forth.
Irenaeus quoted 1 thessalonians by namehe wrote around a. A commentary on the greek text 2000, and numerous other works including interpreting god and the postmodern self 1995, a concise encyclopedia of the philosophy of religion 2002. Book of in the new international greek testament commentary series. The letters to the thessalonians the pillar new testament commentary pntc kindle edition by green, gene l download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. Morton and his flawed computer based linguistic analysis being an anomaly. 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. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1. The authenticity of 1 thessalonians is affirmed as pauline by almost all nt scholars1 b. The first epistle to the thessalonians is the fiftysecond book in the christian bible, and the thirteenth in the new testament this book is believed to a letter from the apostle paul to a church in thessalonica in modernday greece. Aug 11, 2017 this article is part of the why study the book. Paul praised them for their faith and said that he remembered them for the works they had done in the name of jesus. 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. It also exhorts us not to be idle and to work for what we have.
Every chapter of 1 thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of christ, with ch. Sssh 1 and 2 thessalonians in correcting the thessalonians false theology of lastday events, paul reveals truth about endti. A 5 minute introduction to 1 thessalonians youtube. Paul wrote the letter to the believers in thessalonica. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Everyone would like to have some insight into what their future holds. The letters to the thessalonians pillar new testament. 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. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. It was an important communication and trade center, located at the junction of the great egnatian way and the road leading north to the danube. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a.
Paul established the congregation at thessalonica during his. They may suffer greatly in life during the present time, but they would be rewarded in the afterlife. Still, it is helpful to rehearse the reasons why it is so well accepted. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. Therefore, paul probably wrote 1 thessalonians in a. Far and away the largest theological contribution of both 1 and 2 thessalonians lies in what they say about eschatology. 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. Eugene boring offers a scholarly interpretation of i and ii thessalonians while examining their historical context. Thessalonica, the book of acts lukes narrative is found in acts 17 and the epistle itself.
A commentary on the greek text 2000, and numerous other works including interpreting god and the postmodern self 1995, a concise encyclopedia of the philosophy of. 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. First thessalonians is accepted by virtually all nt scholars. There are also some great prayers in 2 thessalonians that can be an example for us on how to pray for other believers today. This is a delightfully revealing letter, showing the heart of the apostle toward these new christians, and also. The first letter of paul to the thessalonians is also the first letter the apostle wrote. It is probably one of his earliestknown letters, and one of the oldest books in the new testament. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. The book of 2 thessalonians has not always been accepted as pauline and has been attacked on several grounds. He is the author of the first epistle to the corinthians. For since we believe that jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when jesus returns, god will bring back with him the believers who have died.
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. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the letters to the thessalonians. How much more so when it comes to the end of the whole world. Enduring word bible commentary 1 thessalonians chapter 1. I and ii thessalonians are letters written to new christian communities in thessalonica early in pauls ministry. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. Thus, 1 thessalonians is the second canonical book penned by the apostle. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. Timothy rejoined paul at athens and was sent back to thessalonica see 3. 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. Thus, pauls first two letters were written to thessalonica.
Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. In 2 thessalonians chapter 1, paul, timothy, and silas write a letter to the church in a thessalonica. The first epistle to the thessalonians, or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle written by the apostle paul, probably between 5254 a. To assure the thessalonians of pauls love and to instruct them on the importance of living for christ and properly understanding the ramifications of his return.
Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international bible. He first discusses the historical background for paul and thessalonica. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Thessalonians programs by request available episodes home. 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. 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. 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. For three sabbath days in a row paul spoke at the synagogue, proving from the. The first and second letters to the thessalonians the new international commentary on the new testament by gordon d. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the letters to the thessalonians the pillar new testament commentary pntc.
The radical criticism of the tubingen and dutch schools of last century is now considered passe a. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible society. David guzik commentary on 1 thessalonians 1 describes how the gospel caused changes in the tessalonian christians, which caused them to become. The bible book of 2 thessalonians with full chapters, footnotes and bible commentary to aid your bible search, reading, and study. Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the church at thessalonica, it is pauls first letter period. Weekly bible study of the new testament book of 1 thessalonians at harvest. Through the centuries documents the receptionhistory on two of pauls earliest epistles. Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his. The book of 2 thessalonians is filled with information that explains the end times. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians barnes bible charts author.
The book begins with an indepth study of the thessalonians themselves their history, land, socioeconomic conditions, and religious environment. 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. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. 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. Thiselton is professor of christian theology, university of nottingham, and emeritus professor of christian theology at the university of chester. The book is valuable for its historical coverage there are 89 brief. Pdf the eschatology of 1 thessalonians in the light of its spirituality. The letters to the thessalonians pillar new testament commentary by gene l. Blackhawk church eat this book weekly bible guide reading 1 and 2 thessalonians key historical background to 1 thessalonians paul, silas and timothy were the first to share the gospel in thessalonica, where many jews. The account of pauls initial visit to thessalonica is in acts 17. In 2 thessalonians chapter 1, the men stated that they knew the judgment of god was good. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece.