Spotlight on 1 Thessal.
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A Look into the Epistle of 1 Thessalonians
It seems like wherever Paul sets foot, a riot occurs and a
church springs to life. It is in this letter to the
Thessalonians – his first of many more to come – that Paul
clearly claims to not only be a preacher for the gospel, but
also an apostle, a church planter.
The church in Thessalonica, like the many churches Paul would
come to plant, was not free of troubles. Workers had quit
because they felt the coming of the Lord was around the corner
while others worried over loved ones dying before Christ’s
second coming. Some members of the church even questioned why
Paul would be interested in helping them out – was there an
ulterior motive?
Paul settles al these issues with love and gentleness, “like a
mother caring for her little children” (2:7). And though he
is separated at a distance from the church, Paul lists reason
why (
2:17
-3:5). Though absent from being with the church, Paul keeps
them in his mind all day. In these five chapters, Paul
exhorts praise, provides an example to help them strengthen
weaknesses, and ends with encouragement.
Next time you’re separated from someone you care about,
remember Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Continue
to deliver messages of praise, help strengthen weaknesses you
see, and always end with a note of encouragement. “Surely one
reason for Paul’s success centers on his churches’ having made
as big an impression on Paul as he made on them.” (Philip
Yancey) What impression will you leave upon others in your
life?
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Excerpt from Scofield’s Reference Notes:
WRITER:
The apostle Paul (1 Thessalonians
1:1)
DATE:
The Epistle was written from
Corinth
, A.D. 54, shortly after Paul's departure from Thessalonica
(Ac16:, 17.), and is the earliest of his letters.
THEME:
The theme of the Epistle is threefold:
-
To confirm young disciples in the foundational truths
already taught them;
-
To exhort them to go on to holiness;
-
To comfort them concerning those who had fallen asleep. The
second coming of Christ is prominent throughout. The Epistle
is incidentally most interesting as showing the richness in
doctrine of the primitive evangelism. During a mission of
about one month the apostle had taught all the great
doctrines of the Christian faith.
The divisions of the Epistle are sufficiently indicated by the
Chapters.
-
The model church, and the three tenses of the Christian life
(1:1-10)
-
The model servant and his reward (2:1-20)
-
The model brother, and the believer's sanctification
(3:1-13)
-
The model walk, and the believer's hope (4:1-18)
-
The model walk, and the day of Jehovah (5:1-28)
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