LESSON 8

THE STORY OF THESSALONIANS

Introduction:
  • The story behind the Thessalonian epistles is the fact that the Thessalonian church was a new church recently established by Paul in AD 50 while on his second missionary journey (AD 50-53), and the fact that Paul had to leave Thessalonica in haste due to opposition from the Synagogue leaders.
  • Paul had received a missionary call in a vision of a man from Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). We read in Acts 16-18 that Paul had gone to Philippi, established a church there, then moved on to Thessalonia where he had established a church. In short time he had been run out of Thessalonia by the Jews of the Synagogue, he moved on to Beroea where again he established a church and was then run out of town by the Jews.  He then moved on to Athens where he debated with the philosophers (Acts 17:16ff). After this he moved on to Corinth where he established a church and spent some time working with the church in Corinth. While in Corinth he was concerned for the new young church in Thessalonica.  Timothy brought him news of the church in Thessalonica and some faith questions the church in Thessalonica was struggling with.  Paul then wrote 1st Thessalonians to the church encouraging them to continue faithfully. When good news again came from Thessalonica he wrote 2nd Thessalonians.
  • The letters were written from Corinth where Paul spent at least 18 months in AD 50/51).
  • The thing to remember is that the church in Thessalonica was a young church and that Paul had only spent about 6 weeks to 2 months there before having to leave in a hurry.
  • The major problems encountered by the church in Thessalonica hinged around uncertainty regarding the second coming of Christ, and some ethical issues that may have been related to the misunderstanding regarding the second coming.
     
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    1 Thessalonians:
  • The major concerns of 1 Thess are:
  • The defense of Paul and his ministry.
  • Those who have died before the second coming – will they be at a disadvantage when Jesus returns.
  • Concerns and warnings about the second coming of the Lord – he will come suddenly without warning.
  • Some related ethical principles.
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  • Apparently some in Thessalonica had criticized Paul for his hasty flight form the city. They charged that he was not a genuine person, had little interest in the Thessalonians, and that he was only after their money (1 Thess 2:1-12).
  • Paul reminded them that they knew from personal experience that this was not true – he reminded them of his ministry among them (1 Thess 2:13-17).
  • Paul had warned them of opposition and persecution that all Christians had to endure for Christ (1 Thess 2:17-3:5).  He again warned them of this opposition and suffering they would endure for Christ.
  • Timothy had brought good news of the faith of he church in Thessalonica and Paul was responding to some concerns of the Christians in Thessalonica (1 Thess 3:6-13).
  • Paul encouraged the church to live lives of purity and to work hard "with their hands". He instructed the church to withdraw fellowship from those who bring disgrace on the church and the Lord (1 Thess 4:1-12)
  • Those who die before the Lord returns will not be disadvantaged but will come with him to meet those who are alive at the coming of Jesus. Those who are alive will not precede (have an advantage over) those who have died (1 Thess 4:13-18).
  • Finally, Paul warned against trying to predict when Jesus will return, for he will return suddenly without warning. Christians need to stay alert and ready for the Lord’s coming (1 Thess 5:1-11).
     
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    2 Thessalonians:
  • 2 Thess follows up on 1 Thess and continuing questions regarding the second coming of the Lord.
  • Paul praised the church for their faithfulness and encouraged the Christians to endure faithfully (2 Thess 13-12).
  • Regarding the second coming Paul reminded them that he had already taught them what to expect. Before the Lord returns there would be a general "apostasy" in which someone (the man of sin or lawlessness) would set himself up as God. Paul stressed that this "apostasy" had not yet occurred so the Christians should know that Jesus had not yet returned. (2 Thess 2:1-11). [In all probability the apostasy mentioned in this difficult and challenging passage refers to the coming Roman persecution in which the Roman Emperor would set himself up as a god and demand worship and reverence as such.] The main point Paul makes is that this apostasy (whatever it referred to) had not yet occurred, therefore the Lord had not yet returned as some were claiming.
  • Paul encouraged the Christians to continue to work hard, and to withdraw from those who would not work since this would bring disgrace on the church (2 Thess 3:1-15).
     
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    Summary of 1 and 2 Thessalonians:
  • Both of these letters deal with the ethical problem of Christians who apparently because of false teaching and expectation of the Lord’s return, had quit working.
  • The Second Coming, and end of the age associated with it, are difficult doctrines for many to understand, especially for a new church and new Christians!  Paul had taught the Thessalonians about this Second Coming and the role it would play in Christian life, yet these new Christians still had difficulty understanding his teaching.  This was complicated by some who disliked Paul and tried to undermine his teaching.
  • Paul instructs the Christians that those who have died will not be disadvantaged when the Lord returns, and that he had not yet returned because the Roman "apostasy" had not yet occurred.
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