1Thessalonians,Paul's Epistle To The

Thessaloniki (Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη, IPA: /θesaloˈnici/), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Macedonia. Its honorific title is Συμпρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally "co-capital", a reference to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or "co-reigning" city of the Byzantine Empire, alongside Constantinople. According to the 2001 census, the municipality of Thessaloniki had a population of 363,987, its Urban Area 800,764 and the Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) of Thessaloniki has an estimated 995,766 residents (2004).^[2]

Courtesy of James Earl Jones(Bible Audio)1Thessalonians

Background:Paul founded this church on his second missionary tour(Ac17:1-9)amid a lot of opposition from Jews. This and 2Th are among the earliest letters.No doubt because the Jews had continued to undermine his reputation Paul begins by insisting that he is a true apostle(1,2).From ch3 we learn that Timothy had been sent to the church and had returned to Paul with an encouraging report.In ch4,5 Paul deals with 2 questions:what happens to Christians when they die?and when will Jesus return?

Author:Paul(1:1;2:18),see Romans

Date and Location:c.AD51,shortly after Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth,making it the second earliest of Paul's letter(after Galatians)

Recipients:Christians of Thessalonica,mainly Gentiles,Ac17:4,5

Purpose:

-Commend the for their steadfastness amid persecution

-Defend himself against criticism of his conduct during his stay at Thessalonica,2:1-16

-Explain his absence,2:17-20

-Explain Timothy's visit to them,3

-To give instruction on personal and corporate Christian living,4:1-12;5:12-28

-Explain event to Christ's coming,4:13-5:11

Unique Feature:

-Tells more about Christ's coming than any other of Paul's letters

-No quotations and few allusions to,the OT

-One of the most easily understood of Paul's letters

Comparison:

*1Cor.-explains the involvement of living believers of the caught up to the Lord;1Th.-explain how deceased believers will be involved

*Php and Philem. and 1Th. -most non-argumentative of Paul's letter

*1Th.-explains why deceased believers will not miss out on the caught up;2Th.-explains why believers will not be involved in the tribulation

Abbreviations:1Thes./ 1Th.

MV: Pro 15:8

Bib1Yr:1Th5Children of Light