LETTERS OF APOSTLES
to First-Century Churches

Lesson Three:  I Thessalonians
Theme:  Trials
AD 50
Background of People He Wrote
           Paul had just been run out of Philippi (1 Thess. 2:2) where he'd converted Lydia and household, the jailor and household, and many others.� The owners of a so-called prophetess  convinced the officials he was causing trouble in the city, so Paul was beaten and imprisoned.� An earthquake and escape followed.� When the officials found out Paul was a Roman citizen, they officially apologized, then urged them to leave the city (Acts 16:36-39).
           Paul went immediately to Thessalonica.� This city was named after the sister of Alexander the Great, Thessalonica.� In the war between the Greeks and Romans around 160 BC, it was the headquarters of the navy.� Twenty years later the Romans made it the capital of the upper province of Macedonia in Greece.�
           Paul preached there perhaps six months with great success among Jews and Gentile proselytes, but most were Greeks who had turned from idols (1 Thess. 1:9; 2:14).� Among his converts were prominent women (Acts 17:4), and men who would become close friends and companions:� Jason who may have been his first convert and with whom he lived (17:5-7), Aristarchus and Secundus (Acts 20:4) and possibly Gaius (Acts 19:29).� Aristarchus was with him in Ephesus, Asia (Acts 19:29), and Rome (Acts 27:2), and was a prisoner with him there (Col. 4:10; Philem. 24).
           Although Paul supported himself while there (1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:8), the church over at Philippi sent him assistance while here twice (Phil. 4:16).� But the jealous Jews formed a mob and started a riot, rushing Jason and other Christians before the city officials saying Paul was causing trouble all over the world by declaring there's another king besides Caesar.� The city officials "were thrown into turmoil," but Jason and the others posted bond and were let go.�� There is a possibility that some were killed, however, because of their grief over some deaths (1 Thess. 4:13).� That night they urged Paul to slip out of town, which he did.� Paul said he was "torn away" from them (1 Thess. 2:17).
           He went on to Berea and was received well there, converting a few Jews and many "prominent Greek women and many Greek men" (Acts 17:11-12).� But the Jews from Thessalonica followed them there, stirred up another mob, and forced Paul to escape.� Some of the Christians at Berea escorted Paul until he arrived safely at Athens where he seems to have gone into hiding awhile.� "So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens" (1 Thess. 3:1).
           Paul sent Timothy out to preach while he remained in hiding awhile, and "when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith" because of their much temptation.� Timothy returned with news of their steadfastness during their faith (1 Thess. 3:5-6.� At this time Paul wrote his 1st epistle to the Thessalonians.
Verses Depicting Theme
1:3��������� ...your endurance inspired by hope
1:6��������� In spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message
2:2��������� We had previously suffered and been insulted...but...we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
2:14������� You suffered from your own countrymen
2:17������� We were torn away from you
3:3��������� ...no one would be unsettled by these trials
3:4��������� ...we would be persecuted
3:7��������� ...in all our distress and persecution
4:13������� ...about those who fall asleep...grieve
1:3��������� Their faith produced what?� _____________________________� Their love prompted what?� _________________________� Their hope inspired what?� ________________________________
��������������� 5:8� faith and love are like a protective _________________________, and hope is like a protective ___________________.
��������������� 1 Corinthians 13, the "love chapter" of the Bible says in verse 13 that what three things endure:� ______________________ ____________________ and __________________________
1:6��������� They had become imitators of the Lord in spite of _____________________________________________________________
1:7-8����� By withstanding, they became a ____________________ to all future believers in northern and southern Greece and beyond that - "everywhere."
1:9-10��� They're telling everyone the Thessalonians turned to God from __________ and are waiting� for God's _________________ from heaven.
2:5, 9����� Paul never used ______________________ to make a hidden _____________________.� He __________________________ night and day so he wouldn't be a financial _____________________ to anyone while preaching to them.
2:14a����� The Thessalonian Christians suffered from their own ____________________________.
2:14b-16� The Jewish Christians in Jerusalem suffered from their own countrymen too who slandered them to keep from from speaking to the ______________________________ so they may be ______________________.
2:17-18� Paul said he was _____________________ away from them and had since wanted to come to them again and ___________
2:19������� Paul planned to brag on the church in Thessalonia to the Lord Jesus when he __________________________.
3:2-3����� Paul sent Timothy back to them to strengthen and encourage, so that no one would be unsettled by their _______________.
3:4��������� Paul had even foreseen while still with them that he would be ___________________________, and it turned out that way.
3:6-8����� Timothy had just returned with good _______________ about their faith, so now "we really ________________."
4:1; 10�� Paul taught them how to live and urged them to do this _______________________ and ________________________.� He taught them to love each other, and to do so __________________________ and ________________________.
4:3-6����� They should avoid sexual ______________________________, and not wrong his brother or take ____________________ of him.
4:13������� They were grieving over some who had died, perhaps as a result of persecution.
4:16-17� But Paul said that when Jesus came down from heaven, the _________________________ in Christ will rise first.� Then live Christians will be caught up _________________________ with ______________________.� Then they will all meet the Lord in the ____________________________________________ where they will be with the Lord ________________.
5:1��������� But the time and date of Jesus' return will come as a __________________ in the night.
5:6��������� All Christians should be ___________________________ and self-controlled.
5:12f����� It seems as though they already had elders.
5:15������� Don't repay ________________________________ for wrong.
5:16-18� Despite trials, be ______________________ always, ___________________________ continually, give ________________ in all circumstances.
5:21������� ______________________________ everything.
Events After Writing the Letter
1 Thess. 3:2-6�� Timothy had just returned with news the Thessalonians were doing well
����������������������������������� Must endure persecution; Jesus will return soon, but not so soon they should quit their jobs.
����������������������������������� Sent letter by Timothy
WROTE 2 THESSALONIANS HERE
THEME:� TENACITY
II Thessalonians
Theme:  Tenacity
AD 46
1:4��������� The Christians at Thessalonica were still enduring ____________________________________ and __________________.
1:6-7����� But God will pay back _______________________ to their troublers when Jesus is revealed from ____________________.
2:1-2����� They had become easily __________________________ and _________________________ by so-called prophets who said the "day of the Lord" has ________________________________ come.
2:3-4����� That day will not come until the "man of lawlessness" proclaims ________________________ to be _______________.
2:9��������� The coming of the "lawless one" will be in accordance with the work of _____________________ displayed in all kinds of ____________________________________________________ miracles, signs and wonders.
2:10f����� People perish because they _________________________________________ to love the truth and so be _________________.� God sends them something else to believe in which is only a powerful ________________________, that which they prefer to believe in and delight in.
2:13������� God chooses us to be saved through the sanctifying work of the _____________________ and belief in the _______________.� In other words, we qualify, so therefore we are chosen.
3:6��������� Keep away from every ____________________________ who is __________________.� Some had apparently quit their jobs, awaiting Jesus' return.
3:7f�������� After all, Paul was not idle, nor did he eat anyone's _____________________ without _________________________ for it.
3:10������� If a man will not ________________________, he shall not ____________________.
3:11f����� When someone becomes idle and is no longer busy, he is a __________________________________.� They need to __________________________________ down and earn their necessities.
3:16������� The Lord of peace gives us what? _________________________________
3:17������� Paul's seal of authenticity to his dictated letters was his finally greeting in his own handwriting.
EVENTS AFTER WRITING THE LETTER
AD 51��
*Corinth
����������� 1 Cor. 3:6,10���� Planted the church here
����������� 1 Cor. 1:16;������ Stephanas' household first converts (before Paul
����������� 16:15��������������� arrived)
����������� Acts 18:1-11����� Met Aquilla and Priscilla after the Jews exiled from Rome, possibly converted them here; lived with them, was tentmaker with them
����������������������������������� Preached in synagogue
����������������������������������� Joined by Silas and Timothy
����������������������������������� Quit preaching to Jews
����������������������������������� Ruler of synagogue converted next door
����������������������������������� Stayed 1-1/2 years
����������� Acts 18:12-17��� Jews brought charges to new proconsul to no avail
����������������������������������� Beat the second ruler of the synagogue who Paul had just converted - Sosthenes.
����������� 2 Cor. 8:10������� The Christians here decided to send financial help to the poor Christians in Judea who'd lost jobs and property, and were being imprisoned (Hebrews 10:32-34).� They'd sold all they had and now needed outside help (Acts 4:32-37).� Too late to collect.� They'll send the money to Paul later.
����������� Acts 18:18a������ Paul fled, taking Priscilla and Aquila with him.�
����������� 1 Cor. 1:1�������� Probably also took Sosthenes with him.� �������������������������������������������
����������������������������������� (Will write them about 4 years later regarding their worldly congregation)
AD 53�� Acts 20:1-2������� Probably visited them briefly.�
Cenchrea
����������� Acts 18:18b������ Had hair cut off because of vow
����������������������������������� Set sail
ILLLYRICUM, S. EUROPE:
����������� Rom. 15:19-20 It was apparently at this time that Paul went up and preached in ILLYRICUM which at that time was a large area containing the provinces of Thrace (Bulgaria), Moesia (Rumania) and Dalmatia (Yugoslavia/Albania).� May not have accomplished much here as no congregations were written here later.
LYDIA, ASIA:
* Ephesus
����������� Acts 18:19-21��� Left Priscilla and Aquilla there
����������������������������������� Preached in synagogue
����������������������������������� Promised to return "if God's will"
����������������������������������� Set sail
JUDEA:
Caesarea �������
����������� Acts 18:22�������� Greeted church
����������������������������������� Saw poverty of Judean Christians for himself.
SYRIA:
Antioch�����������
����������� Acts 18:22f������� Home congregation.� Reported in and stayed awhile
AD 54
THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY
Paul Age 59
GALATIA, TURKEY
����������� Acts 18:23�������� Traveled and preached
����������� 1 Cor. 16:1������� Told churches here about poverty of Judean Christians
ASIA, TURKEY:
����������� 1 Cor. 16:1������� Told churches here about poverty of Judean Christians
Phrygia
����������� Acts 18:23�������� Traveled and preached
Lydia:
* Ephesus ��������
����������� Acts 18:20�������� Returned as he had promised
����������� Acts 18:24-28 �� Apollos preached John's baptism here
����������� 1 Cor. 16:19����� Apollos converted to Jesus here by Priscilla and Aquila
����������������������������������� Apollos went on to Corinth to preach
����������� Acts 19:1-12����� Paul arrived and rebaptized Apollos' converts into name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
����������������������������������� Paul preached in synagogue 3 months
����������� 1 Cor. 16:19����� Church met in Priscilla and Aquila's house
����������� 1 Cor. 16:1������� Told Christians here of poverty of Christians in Judea
AD 55�������������������������� Set up school for two years
����������������������������������� Performed miracles
����������� 1 Cor. 1:14������� Peter seems to have preached there too.
AD 57�� Acts 20:31�������� Near end of three-year stay����������������
����������� Acts 19:13-20��� Sorcerers converted and burned books
����������� Acts 19:21-22��� Sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia near Corinth
����������� Acts 19:23-41��� Silversmiths of goddess Diana stirred up riot
����������������������������������� Converts thrown into amphitheater
����������� 1 Cor. 15:32����� Paul possibly arrested and put in arena with "wild animals"
����������� Acts 20:1��������� Released and in hiding, sent for Christians, and encouraged them before slipping out of town.
����������������������������������� (He will write them 6 yrs later from prison in Rome.)
����������� 1 Cor. 16:8;
����������� 7:1; 16:15-19 ��� WROTE 1 CORINTHIANS HERE
�������������������     ���������������� THEME:� CHILDISHNESS
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