1 THESSALONIANS

Paul, Silas and Timothy plant the a new church in Thessalonica on their second missionary journey in 50 AD. Many Jews as well as many Greeks and some leading women become believers (Acts 17:4). The Jews that didn’t believe, stir up trouble and accuse Paul of subversion and rebellion against Caesar. Paul and Silas hurriedly leave town. They leave behind Timothy, the shy young co-worker of Paul, who in this way gets his first emergency assignment of staying back for some time and looking after the newly founded church.
Paul and Silas move on to Beroea, and after further persecution Paul moves on to Athens and Corinth (Acts 17:13-15), where he is eventually joined by Silas and Timothy. Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica because he is worried about the very quickly founded church that has come under such persecution (1 The 3:1-5). Timothy returns and reports to Paul how the Thessalonian church is doing. In answer Paul writes the letter of 1 Thessalonians.
The letter is very warm and encouraging. Paul assures the Thessalonian believers of their salvation, of God’s love and of his own love. He expresses his regret at having had to depart so quickly and now not being able to visit them because of the volatile situation. He wants to make sure they do not feel abandoned or confused by the fact that they are suffering (1 The 3:5). Paul tells them that suffering is part of normal Christian life. He shares that he himself undergoes persecution continually (1 The 2:1-2) and reminds them that he told them beforehand that suffering will be a continual reality in the believer’s life (1 The 3:4).
Paul also warmly affirms the Thessalonians’ faith, love and hope (1 The 1:6-10). Already they have become a testimony and encouragment to other believers. He encourages them to hold on to exactly these: faith, love and hope.
It seems that Paul, when with the Thessalonians, had taught them about the second coming of Jesus. He picks this topic up again in the letter of 1 Thessalonians, answering a question or confusion that had arisen: Will those who die before Jesus’ second coming miss it? Paul’s answer is an emphatic ‘no’ (1 The 4:13-18). He assures them that whether a person dies before that event or happens to be alive at that event makes no difference: The dead will be raised and together with those alive at that time will be caught up to meet Jesus.
Paul also stresses that though we don’t know when Jesus comes back (the day will come like a “thief in the night”), we do know that it will surely happen – and that we should live as “children of the light” in the meantime. He explains that to live as children of light means to have faith, live out love and to hold on to hope (1 The 5:8).
There also seems to have been a general problem of people not working properly to earn their living. He tells them “to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you. So that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 The 4:11-12). Paul wants them to be hard-working, self-responsible and peaceful persons.
Paul closes the letter with many practical instructions to ensure the believers’ growth (1 The 5:12-24).

The founding of the Thessalonian church
Paul, Silas and Timothy form a team that heads out on the second missionary journey (50-52 AD). Responding to Paul’s vision of a Macedonian man calling, the team sets over from Asia Minor to Macedonia in Greece.
After planting a church in Philippi, they follow the ‘Via Egnatia’, the great Roman highway, West and reach the important port city of Thessalonica, which was also the province capital for the Roman government.
Paul, as usual, preaches the gospel first at the synagogue in town. Many Jews, many devout Greeks and quite a few leading women become believers and form the new Thessalonian church (Acts 17:4).
The Jews that did not believe stir up a riot against Paul and accuse him before the local authorities of “turning the world upside down”, of acting contrary to the law and of disrespecting the emperor (Acts 17:6-7). The believers hurriedly send of Paul and Silas. Timothy, the shy young co-worker of Paul, stays on for a little longer in Thessalonica and in this way receives his first emergency assignment looking after a newly founded church (Acts 17:10).
Some details about the planting of the church can be added from 1 Thessalonians: While Paul and his team’s visit there the Thessalonians experience the power of the Holy Spirit and his conviction (1 The 1:5). Paul and the team worked hard (“day and night”) in order to not burden the young church financially (1 The 2:9, 3:8). This shows integrity, especially in the light of “leading women” becoming believers (Acts 17:4), whom Paul probably could have asked for support.

An interesting detail: In Acts 17:6 Luke calls the city authorities that the church members are dragged before ‘politarchs’ in Greek. Some Bible critics claimed that no office by that name was common in Roman civil administration of that time, discrediting Luke’s account. However, an inscription containing this term has been found in Thessalonica and is now displayed in the British Museum. The inscription, which was attached to a first century arch on the Via Egnatia, reads “In the time of the politarchs” (see pictures below). By now thirty-five inscriptions with the term ‘politarch’ have been discovered, nineteen of them in Thessalonica, and at least three are dated to the 1st century AD. Luke therefore was correct in his wording of Acts 17:6.
Paul and Silas hurriedly move on to Beroea. After persecution occurs there as well, Paul moves on to Athens and Corinth (Acts 17:13-15), where he is eventually joined by Silas and Timothy. Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica because he is worried about the very quickly founded church that faces such persecution (1 The 3:1-5). Timothy returns and reports to Paul how the Thessalonian church is doing. In answer Paul writes the letter of 1 Thessalonians.
The letter is therefore written by Paul, Silas and Timothy in 50 AD from Corinth, probably a short few weeks or months after the founding of the church. It seems that Timothy is the one to deliver it in person to Thessalonica since Paul and Silas are barred from going.

The situation of the Thessalonian church

How would the Thessalonian believers feel after a very quick church founding, a little bit of teaching and then the departure of Paul, Silas and soon Timothy also? Paul’s visit was like a whirl wind, but they are now left as a very young church with very young and inexperienced leadership facing continual pressure and persecution from local Jews and compatriots.
Questions and doubts easily arise: Did this really happen? Were the miracles real? Where is Paul? Why are we alone? Who will help us now? Who will teach us? This sense of abandonment would be heightened by persecution and suffering. It is not surprising then, to see what Paul majors on in his letter:
• An affirmation of their response to the gospel, their faith, salvation and understanding
• An affirmation of Paul’s friendship, love, care and longing for them
• A defense of Paul’s apostleship, gospel and their faith (in the light of ongoing Jewish pressure)
• An exhortation to keep growing, obeying, working and serving, a call to sanctification

Affirmation of their response to the gospel, their faith, their salvation

Paul expresses his thankfulness at their response to the gospel: “we always give thanks to God for all of you” (1 The 1:2) “remembering… your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in Jesus” (1 The 1:2-3) “in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit” (1 The 1:6) “you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith has become known” (1 The 1:7-9). “you accepted it (the word of God) not as human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers” (1 The 2:13). “Timothy has brought us the good news of your faith and love… we have been encouraged about you through your faith… how can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel … because of you?” (1 The 3:6-9).
Paul says nine times in this letter “you know” (1 The 1:5, 2:1-2, 2:5, 2:11, 3:3-4, 4:2, 5:2), one time he says “you remember” (1 The 2:9), one time he says “you have learned” (1 The 4:1) and one time he says “You have been taught by God” (1 The 4:9). In this way Paul warmly affirms their growing knowledge and understanding, reminding them to hold on firmly to what they have learned.

Affirmation of Paul’s love, care and longing for them

In his letter Paul freely expresses his love and care for the Thessalonian believers in order to combat any sense of abandonment they may feel: “so deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us” (2 The 2:8), “we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading” (1 The 2:11) “for we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again – but Satan blocked our way… for what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy” (1 The 2:18-20). “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and we sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you” (1 The 3:1) “how can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?” (1 The 3:11).
Paul also assures the Thessalonian believers of his ongoing care in prayer “night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith” (1 The 3:10, 1:2). He wants to visit them (1 The 2:18) and blesses them (1 The 3:11-12).

Defense of Paul’s Apostleship

Maybe in response to the continued Jewish pressure on the church (which would have included maligning Paul’s character) Paul defends his apostleship. He speaks of his character (1 The 1:5), his courage in spite of persecution (1 The 2:2), his purity of motives (1 The 2:5), his desire to please God (1 The 2:4), the truth of his message (1 The 2:3), his financial selflessness (1 The 2:7), his hard work (1 The 2:9) and his care for them (1 The 2:11).

Paul wants to make sure they are not confused by the fact that they are suffering (1 The 3:5). Paul tells them that this is part of normal Christian life, that he himself undergoes persecution continually (1 The 2:1-2) and that he told them beforehand that suffering would be a continual reality in the believer’s life (1 The 3:4).

Paul also warmly affirms the Thessalonians for their faith, love and hope: “We always give thanks for… your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 The 1:3). Already they have become a testimony and encouragement to others (1 The 1:6-10). He prays for them “most earnestly that we may… restore whatever is lacking in your faith” (1 The 3:10). He encourages them to hold on to exactly these: faith, love and hope and to keep growing. “We ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more” (1 The 4:1).

Rectifying wrong thinking about Jesus’ second coming

It seems Paul taught about Jesus’ second coming during his short time in Thessalonica. Maybe precisely because they were facing persecution, Paul stressed the theme of justice being restored at Jesus’ second coming. Or maybe he was especially stressing the fact of Jesus’ resurrection because of the Jews asserting that Jesus was nothing but a dead want-to-be Messiah.
Paul first assures them that a final judgement will come on all persecutors and wrongdoers (1 The 1:8-9, 2:16). He warmly affirms that at Jesus’ coming they as the church will be his “joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus” (1 The 2:19).
He then answers a concern that had arisen (according to Timothy’s report): Will those who die before Jesus’ second coming miss this momentous event? Paul’s answer is an emphatic ‘no!’ (1 The 4:13-18). He assures them that whether a person dies before that event or happens to be alive at that event makes no difference: The dead will be raised and together with those alive at that time will be caught up to meet Jesus. He says this so that “you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 The 4:13).
While explaining this he mentions that “the Lord himself… will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 The 4:16). This expression ‘to be caught up’ (Strong’s Number G726, ‘harapazo’ in Greek) has given rise to the whole teaching of rapture in the modern church. Actually this specific word occurs thirteen times in the New Testament. The remaining twelve occurrences don’t denote anything near a rapture.
The description “caught up… to meet the Lord in the air… so be with him forever” has created a mental picture of believers being raptured into heaven. But the picture is actually not saying that, it stops at “meeting Jesus in the air” and yes, “being with him”, but where? When the believers have met him in the air, where does he go to? Up or down?
The word “coming” in ‘Jesus’ second coming’ (Greek: ‘parousia’) was typically used for a Roman emperor or high official coming to visit a Roman city. The city leadership would send a high-powered delegation to meet the emperor outside and then invite and lead him into the city with honor. Paul uses that very picture, though not just horizontally, he adds a vertical aspect. Yet the picture is not one of ‘Jesus whisking the believers to heaven’, but of the believers going out to receive Jesus, inviting him to enter the city with honor, for Jesus to come down and rule this world.
Paul ends this passage (as well as another passage on this topic later in the letter) with the very important sentence “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (1 The 4:18, 5:11). End time teaching is always meant to encourage the believers, not to scare them or make them insecure. Jesus’ second coming is a redemption, a restoration, the ending of all evil and injustice. It is an event to be looked forward to by the believers, not feared.
Paul continues in 1 The 5:2-3 to say that this event will come like “a thief in the night” (meaning: you don’t know when it will come!) and “as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman” (meaning: you know it’s coming but you don’t know exactly when it is coming!).
Because we have certainty that Jesus’ return is coming, we need to be “children of light and children of the day… not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober” (1 The 5:4-8). Paul wants them to be in the know, aware, ready, alert, but not scared.
Living as children of light means to have faith, to live out a life of love for others and to hold on to the hope of salvation (1 The 5:8).

Christian work ethic

There also seems to have been a general problem in the Thessalonian church of people not working properly to earn their living. Maybe this was due to an extreme expectancy for Jesus’ coming, thinking that work was no longer needed. Maybe the presence of leading women in the church (who possibly generously gave to needs in the church) had resulted in an over-dependence on their money. Or maybe this was due to the generally low view of work in Greek and Roman culture, where work was ‘what slaves do’. Or possibly this was due to the prevalence of ‘Roman patronage’, where many persons were hanging around a rich Roman patron in the hope of performing an occasional paid service for them.
Paul reminds the believers of his and his team’s hard work in church planting when they were in Thessalonica, but also their regular labor with their hands to earn an income in order to not burden the young church (1 The 2:9-10).
Paul challenges the Thessalonian believers “to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you. So that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one” (1 The 4:11-12). Paul wants them to be hard-working, self-responsible and peaceful persons. This is echoed in 1 The 5:12 where he tells them to “respect those who labor among you” and in 1 The 5:14, where he says: “we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers”.

Continuing in faith, love and hope

Paul encourages the believers to hold on to their faith and the truth they have understood, and to live a life of love and holiness in response to that: “For this is the will of God, you sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sisters in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemly warned you. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness” (1 The 4:3-7). Sexual immorality was a problem rampant in Greek culture. Besides that very the worship of the local deities was often linked with temple prostitution.
Paul urges them to live a very different life style, because sexual immorality is basically an exploitation of somebody else and therefore is not love. He says: “Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters… you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters… But we urge you to do so more and more” (1 The 4:9-12). As the church faces outside pressure and persecution, their love and service to one another internally is even more essential and life-giving.

Paul encourages them to accept their local leadership, unexperienced though it may be: “Respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 The 5:12-13). Again: as a church under pressure and persecution, internal adherence and unity is even more essential.

Paul closes the letter with many practical instructions to ensure the believers’ growth (1 The 5:12-22, 5:25): “Admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil… Pray for us”.

He recaptures the major themes of his letter in his final blessing on them, assuring them of God’s faithfulness and enabling: “May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this” (1 The 5:23-24).

Color coding Suggestions for 1 Thessalonians

• Color for the who, where, when questions
• Color for contrasts, reasons, connectives
• Color for emotion, warmth, encouragement
• Color commands

Repeated Themes

• faith, love, hope
• gospel, proclaim, speak, report, word, message
• blameless, holy, sanctification, godliness

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Who wrote the book?

• 1 The 1:1 “Paul, Silvanus and Timothy”. Paul & Timothy appear together in 6 of Paul’s 13 letters
• 2 The 1:1 exact same triple authorship, same sequence, same spelling > parallelity of these two letters
• though Paul often talks using ‘we’, 1 The 1:2:18, 3:6, 5:27, 2 The 2:5, 3:17 seems to indicate Paul as main author.

Silvanus / Silas

• Silvanus = Silas, 13x in Acts. “Silvanus” (Latinized) 4x in 2 Cor 1:19 (team mentioned), 1 Ti 1:1, 2 Ti 1:1 (addressee), 1 Pet 5:12 (co-writer)
• Acts 15:40 chosen as co-worker by Paul at the beginning of 2nd missionary journey
• Acts 15:22 Silas chosen by Jerusalem council to accompany Paul and Barnabas with letter to Antioch / Gentiles
• Acts 15:22 Silas is described with Judas as ‘leaders among the brothers’
• Acts 13:32 Silas is described with Judas as prophet, encouraging and strengthening believers

Timothy

• Acts 16:3 is from Lystra, Galatia, well spoken of by others, chosen by Paul as co-worker
• 2 Ti 1:5 believing grandmother Lois and mother Eunice
• Ac 16:3 Greek father, circumcised by Paul, travel companion over all he following journeys (as far known),
• 1 Ti 1:2, 2 Ti 1:2 recipient of two of Paul’s letters, recipient of Paul’s last letter (2 Tim)
  Paul, Silvanus, Timothy … the one time they are documented to work together in this formation is Acts 16:3ff, 2nd missionary journey

Church Founding and Historical background

• Acts 15:40 Paul chooses Silas
• Acts 16:1-3 They go on the 2nd missionary journey from Syrian Antioch > Cilicia > Galatia > pick up Timothy
• Acts 16:4-5 forbidden to enter Pontus, Bythinia > Troas >
• Acts 16:6-12 God’s call to Macedonia > Philippi
• Acts 16:13-18 no Jews, conversion of Lydia, exorcism of fortune telling slave girl
• Acts 16:19-40 > persecution by owners of slave girl > jailed > earthquake > released & led out by city’s politarchs
• Acts 17:1 Amphipolis > Apollonia > Thessalonica
• Following the Via Egnatia, the East-West Highway of the Roman empire > evidence for accuracy of NT
• Thessalonica is a seaport on the Via Egnatia, the capital of the Province Macedonia, still today Greece’s 2nd most populated city ‘Saloniki’ (after Athens), center of trade
• Greek city (architecturally advanced), Roman colony (special rights: self-administration, self-justice, right to taxation, own currency), seat of civil authority headquarters, Arch of Galerius from Roman times still visible today
• Acts 17:1-3 Synagogue of the Jews, for 3 sabbaths argued from Scriptures: Messiah must suffer, rise from dead
• after finding virtually no Jews in Philippi, Paul back to his normal pattern of preaching in synagogues first
• Acts 17:4 Some of Jews believe, many devout Greeks believe, not a few of the leading women. This shows that there are proselyte Jews (devout Greeks), likely also Greeks and leading women (would not likely have been Jewish, upper class believers)
• Acts 17:5 Jews become jealous > with ruffians create uproar > look for Paul & Silas > can’t find him > attack Jason’s house, drag him before the city authorities (“politarchs”)
• This is in a sense ‘normal’, already happened in Galatia repeatedly
• Mention of city authorities (Greek word used by Luke here: “politarch”). This was disputed saying that no office by that name was common in Roman civil administration of that time. However, an inscription containing this term has been found in that city and is now displayed in the British Museum. The inscription, which was attached to a first century arch on the Via Egnatia, begins “In the time of the Politarchs…” By now 35 inscriptions with the term discovered, 19 of them from Thessalonica, and at least 3 are dated to the 1st century AD > office of politarch existed in Thessalonica in the time of the New Testament and that the Bible is accurate in its use of the term.
• Acts 17:6 “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also … Jason entertained them … They are acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” Leaders disturbed > take bail of Jason.
• The accusation is one of ‘turning the world upside down’ which sounds a bit grand … reference to this later. The accusation takes the same line as with Jesus before Pilate: he preaches another kingdom, a rival to Rome. In one sense true, but not in the sense of civil disobedience. They are not acting contrary to law. Paul defends himself from this accusation repeatedly. On the positive side it it is an acknowledgment of the impact of the gospel!
• Acts 17:10 Thessalonian believers send off Paul and Silas to Berea by night
• A quick departure after only 3 or 4 weeks is seems > another church ‘quickly planted’, another church under continuing pressure / persecution. Paul does feel responsible, therefore the letters later.
• It seems Timothy, the young, shy, non-intimidating one manages to stay behind unnoticed. The different giftings, callings, personalities at work in favor of the gospel. One does not have to be a ‘leader type’ to make significant contributions, a Paul could not have stayed, a Timothy can. It seems Timothy soon rejoins them in more friendly Berea.
• Acts 17:11 These Jews were more receptive / noble than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing. > these are what Jews were meant to be! (when meeting Jesus and now meeting the gospel) … receptive, inquisitive, testing against OT to find truth, building on what they have, willing to hear God.
• Ac 17:13 When the Jews of Thesslonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds
  • > again the Jews are very active in their opposition and pursuit of Paul, why?
• Ac 17:14-15 Believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind > Athens
• Again a similar pattern, this time Silas and Timothy staying behind. Again the less eye-catching workers can do here what controversial Paul cannot.
• Acts 17:16 Paul waits for Silas & Timothy in Athens
• Acts 18:1 Paul left Athens > Corinth
• Acts 18:2 Aquila, Priscilla … recently come from Italy …because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome.
• Here we find important historical context: Roman Emperor Claudius has expelled the Jews from Rome (and Italy) because of a riot. We will hear more about the reasons for this riot, it was a riot about Jesus, meaning one not unlike the one just had in Thessalonica. Claudius is annoyed and bans all Jews (that’s what they all seem to be). This is important for several reasons:
• It helps us date these events accurately, Claudius edict was issued 49 AD, so we are now quite surely in 50 AD
• It helps us understand just why the Jews are so aggressive: Many had to leave Rome because of this riot, many losing land, possessions, businesses … Where do they go? Many directions, but one surely is back East, by the fastest road: the Via Egnatia for example. Many many Jews must have flooded the Greek cities, finding refuge with Jewish relatives there > the Greek cities are full of Jews, disgruntled Jews, Jews angry at the stir caused by the Christians.
• So far the record from Acts.

1 Thessalonians itself confirms the record of Acts:

• 1 The 2:2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God is spite of great opposition. Matching the Acts account: persecution & quick leaving from Philippi, opposition also in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians gives us a few more hints of how the story continued:

• 1 The 2:17 “As for us .. when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you”
• 1 The 2:18 “For we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again”
• 1 The 3:2 “and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions.”
• 1 The 3:5 “when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid…”
• 1 The 3:6 “But Timothy has just now come to us from you, & has brought us the good news of your faith and love”
• This gives us more context: When Paul was rejoined by Silas and Timothy in Corinth, he seems to be worried about the very young Thessalonian church that still is experiencing pressure or persecution > he sends back Timothy, the least eye-catching, least riot-rousing of the three, a Half-Jew to get news of the church, to encourage and strengthen.
• Most likely it is Timothy who will return to the Thessalonians with this letter in hand.
• Maybe therefore the renewed recommendation in 1 The 3:2 your brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ … Maybe this is Paul saying: ‘I really can’t come myself, but I am sending you a good guy instead’

1 Thessalonians adds a few details about the original church planting time:

• 1 The 1:5 “because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit wand with full conviction” … it seems there were miracles, Holy Spirit’s work in people’s hearts
• 1 The 2:9 “you remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might no burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God”
• 2 The 3:8 “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not dile when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you” … Paul worked hard for his income besides preaching > this will be an important example he quotes in both 1 The & 2 The to show them that laziness is no option

Other records later:

• Acts 19:21 Paul sends Timothy & Erastus to Macedonia before himself (from Ephesus, 3rd journey)
• Ac 20:1, 1 Co 16:5 Paul leaves Ephesus to go to Macedonia via Corinth (3rd missionary journey)
• 2 Co 1:16, 2:13, 7:5 When the conflict in Corinth is happening, Paul goes to Macedonia, Troas, back throguh Macedonia again. 2 Corinthians is written from Macedonia … The Macedonian churches were places of peace and support for Paul
• 2 Cor 8:1, Rom 15:26 Macedonia has generously given towards an offering for the church in Jerusalem
• Php 2:24, Phm 22 It seems after Paul’s light imprisonment in Rome, he travels East through Macedonia one more time at least.
• Having understood more of the Historical context & church founding,the other answers are easily given:

When was 1 Thessalonians written?

• During the 2nd missionary journey (50-52 AD)
• shortly after the expelling of Jews from Rome by Emperor Claudius (49 AD)
• Shortly after the church founding, maybe some 2-3 months later (traveling took time, but Paul is worried) > 50 AD

To whom was the letter written?

• 1 The 1:2 “to the church of the Thessalonians”, 2 The 1:2 exactly same

From where was it written?

• Most likely from Corinth, as this was the next city that Paul went to after Athens (Acts 18:1) and where he stays for 1 ½ years (Acts 18:11)

Who makes up the church?

• Jews, many devote Greeks and many leading women (Acts 17:4).
• devote Greeks could be Greek proselytes, or it could mean Greeks who are of idolatrous backgrounds, but feared God and turned to Christ.
• Paul’s summary description of the church in 1 The 1:9 “how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God” seems to indicate wide idolatry background
• Some believers are known by name:
  
  • Jason, who hosted Paul & team (Acts 17:5), whose house is attacked, he is dragged before the city authorities, then released upon bail
  • Aristarchus, Paul’s co-worker from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4). Aristarchus is further mentioned to be with Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:29), traveling to Rome (Acts 27:2), being with Paul in Rome (Col 4:10, Phm 1:24)
  • Secundus, Paul’s co-worker from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4)

Historical Background – Economic

• Thessalonica sitting on the main trade East-West trade route as well as having a harbor > trade, right to taxation, own currency, own control > relatively wealthy

Historical Background – Spiritual

• Jews present, probably ranks swelled since Claudius’ edict
• Greek philosophy importance on science, art, form, logic, intelligence, eloquence, appearance
• Greek idolatry
  
  • Dionysos was worshiped, the god of wine, drunkenness, wild orgies, sexual immorality
  •  Cabirus was worshiped (possibly, evidence of worship in 100-300 AD), god, killed by brother, will come back to restore justice on earth, a bit a Jesus’ resurrection & 2nd coming parallel, worshiped as protective deity in Macedonia
  • Isis Thessalonica had a Serapeum, a temple dedicted to the Egyptian deities, including Isis, Osiris, Serapis, Anubis from 3rd century BC, with daily worship, sacred meals, festivals, including a ceremony & public procession to open the sailing season. Isis was praised in hymns and inscriptions as eternal, creator, savior, goddess of grain, protectress of sailors and ocean travel, lawgiver, who forgave sin
• Emperor worship started with divinizing Julius Caesar after his death in 44 BC. Starting in Thessalonica in 42 BC, combined witth Augustus worship in 29-28 BC, as an expression of regional relief and thanksgiving for the end of war, Roman benefaction of Thessalonica’s status as free city, and Augustus’s ascent to power. It was not yet oppressive. Acts 17:7 the accusation of Paul preaching another king, Jesus, tries to pick up these sentiments

Strengths

• 1 Th 1:3 They are known for their work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope
• 1 Th 1:7, 4:9, 2 Th 1:4 They are a model church, known to others
• 1 Th 1:9 They made a clean break from their pagan ways turning from idols to serve the living and true God
• 1 Th 3:6 They have persevered in spite of a very short founding, probably little teaching & affliction

Weaknesses

• 1 Th 4:3 They seem to be lacking in sanctification, 1 Th 4:4-5 especially in the areas of sexual matters > exploiting one another, impurity
• 1 The 4:10-12 and in areas of idleness, laziness, dependency on others
• 1 Th 4:13 They were anticipating the 2nd coming but they seem to be ignorant on some matters

Literary Category

• prose > literal interpretation

Structure

• Greek letter

Composition

• Teaching > Application

Main ideas / topics

• warm of friendship & care, encouragement and affirmation by an absentee founder for a quickly founded and persecuted young church
• assurance and corrective teaching concerning Jesus’ 2nd coming
• need and encouragement to grow in holiness & sanctification (sexual morality, work ethics) while waiting for Jesus

Main reasons / goals

• to commend them on standing firm, on growing in faith, love, hope
• to comfort & encourage them 1 The 4:18, 5:11
• to correct their ignorance on 2nd coming (also as it relates to those already dead) and further teach on 2nd coming
• to exhort them in santification: sexual purity, no explotation, hard work, self-reliance

Connection between different themes

• laziness, idleness, dependence, irresponsibility … could be linked with 2nd coming teaching, a paralysis … could also be linked with the presence of rich people in the church (Ac 17:4), over-depending on them … possibly born out of a crisis-situation (persecution) where relief might have been needed.
• Sexual immorality is probably primarily linked to the Greek idolatry background, Isis cult, probably port-city problem of prostitution for sailors, general Greek culture … possibly a link to 2nd coming

Thessalonians Text

First Readers’ situation

• Quick church founding (three weeks only)
• little time for balanced teaching
• very young church, little time for discipleship
• very young and un-experienced leadership
• persecution, suffering, at founding and ongoing
• Paul is gone, they are left behind
• Thessalonica’s Jews would have proactively discredited Paul and his teaching of grace

What questions, worries, doubts, problems would a church like that have?

• Sense of unreality (did this really happen? Were the miracles real? What did I sign up for? Am I on my own? Is this salvation real?)
• Sense of abandonment (where is Paul? Why are we alone? Who will help us now? Who will teach us?)
• Sense of abandonment would be hightened by persecution and suffering (Paul is gone, I’m stuck here? Will this continue forever? Is this worth the suffering? Did I make a mistake in joining this?)
• Sense of insecurity (how will this go on? Where is this going? Who will lead us now?)
• very young church leadership (they are not like Paul? Are they worthy? Are they examples?)
• It is not surprising then, to see what Paul majors on in his letter:

Overview Repeated Themes

• Affirmation of Paul’s friendship, love, care, longing
• Affirmation of their response to the gospel, faith, salvation, understanding
• Defense of Paul’s apostleship, gospel and their faith
• Exhortation to keep growing, obeying, working, serving … sanctification
• Rectifying wrong understanding about Jesus’ 2nd coming, re-teaching
• Key words: faith, love, hope

Repeated Theme Thankfulness – Affirmation of their salvation, their response

• 1 The 1:2 “we always give thanks to God for all of you”
• 1 The 1:3 remembering … “your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in … Jesus”
• 1 The 1:4 “For we know, brothers & sisters beloved by God, that he had chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction”
• 1 The 1:6 “you became imitators of us and of the Lord for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit”
• 1 The 1:7 “so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”
• 1 The 1:8 “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith has become known”
• 1 The 1:9 “for the people … report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God”
• 1 The 2:1 “our coming to you was not in vain”
• 1 The 2:7 “we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children”
• 1 The 2:13 “we constantly give thanks to God for this … you accepted it (word of God) not as human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers”
• 1 The 2:14 “you .. became imitators of the churches … in Judea, for you suffered the same things”
• 1 The 3:3-4 “indeed you yourselves know that this is what we are destined ofr … we told you beforehand … so it turned out, as you know”
• 1 The 3:6 “Timothy has brought us the good news of your faith and love …”
• 1 The 3:7 “we have been encouraged about you through your faith”
• 1 The 3:9 “how can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel … because of you?”

Repeated Theme Affirmation of their understanding, reminding

• 1 The 1:5 “you know what kind of persons we proved to be”
• 1 The 2:1 “you know that our coming to your was not in vain”
• 1 The 2:2 “you know in spite of suffering courage to to declare gospel”
• 1 The 2:5 “you know we never came with flattery, greed, seeking praise”
• 1 The 2:9 “you remember our labor and toil”
• 1 The 2:11 “you know we dealt with teach of your like a father with his children”
• 1 The 3:3 “you know that persecution is what we are destined for”
• 1 The 3:4 “you know so it turned out”
• 1 The 4:1 “as you learned from us how you ought to live”
• 1 The 4:2 “you know what instructions we gave you”
• 1 The 4:9 “you have been taught by God to love one another”
• 1 The 4:11 “as we directed you”
• 1 The 4:13 “we do not want you to be uninformed”
• 1 The 5:1 “you do not need to have anything written to you”
• 1 The 5:2 “you know that the day of the Lord will come like a thief”

Repeated theme Love, care, longing

• 1 The 2:8 “so deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our won selves, because you have become very dear to us”
• 1 The 2:9 “You remember our labor and toil … that we might not burden any of you”
• 1 The 2:11 “as you know we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading …”
• 1 The 2:17 “when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you – in person, not in heart = we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.”
• 1 The 2:18 “for we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again – but Satan blocked our way.”
• 1 The 2:19 “for what is our hope of joy of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?”
• 1 The 2:20 “Yes, you are our glory and joy”
• 1 The 3:1-2 “therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and we sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you”
• 1 The 3:5 “for this reason, when I could bear I no longer, I sent to find out about your faith”
• 1 The 3:6 “you … long to see us – just as we long to see you.”
• 1 The 3:8 “we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord.”
• 1 The 3:9 “how can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?”
• 1 The 3:12 “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all just as we abound in love for you.”
• 1 The 4:1 “as you learned from us how you ought to live to please God (as in fact you are doing)”

Repeated Theme Ongoing care

• 1 The 1:2 “we always .. mention you in our prayers”
• 1 The 2:18 “for we wanted to come to you – certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again – but Satan blocked our way”
• 1 The 3:1-2 “therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and we sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no own would be shaken by these persecutions”
• 1 The 3:5 “for this reason, when I could bear I no longer, I sent to find out about your faith”
• 1 The 3:10 “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see your face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.”
• 1 The 3:11 “may our God …. himself … direct our way to you”
• 1 The 3:12 “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all”
• 1 The 3:13 “and may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God”
• 1 The 4:1 “as you learned from us how you ought to live to please God (as in fact you are doing), you should do so more and more”
• 1 Thessalonians as such: the fact that Paul writes a letter to them, actually two, and sends them Timothy again

Repeated theme Defense of Apostleship

• 1 The 1:5 “what kind of persons we proved to be”
• 1 The 2:2 “courage to proclaim the gospel in spite of persecution”
• 1 The 2:3 “our appeal does no spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery”
• 1 The 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message … even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.”
• 1 The 2:5 “As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed”
• 1 The 2:6 “nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others”
• 1 The 2:7 “though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.”
• 1 The 2:9 “you remember our labor and toil … we worked night and day, so we might not burden any of you”
• 1 The 2:11 “we dealt with each of you like a father with his children … urging … encouraging … pleading”
• 1 The 2:13 “you received the word of God from us … not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word”
• 1 The 2:19 “what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting … is it not you?”

Repeated Theme Rectifying wrong thoughts and further teaching 2nd Coming

• It seems Paul taught about Jesus’ 2nd coming during his three weeks teaching in Thessalonica … we can conclude that he considered this basic, first-level, essential teaching: Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus’ coming back, God’ final judgment / restoration of all righteousness at the end.
• It could be that because of persecution, he stressed these sort of teachings more.
• It could be that because of the Jewish pressure, he stressed resurrection more.
• How does he mention it in 1 Thessalonians?
• 1 The 1:8-9 “how you turned from idols to sere a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming” … Jesus was the first to resurrect, Jesus is coming, Jesus saves the believers from the final judgment
• 1 The 2:16 “Jews … thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God’s wrath has overtaken them at last / completely / forever”… unclear. Could refer to them ‘missing the Messiah’, or to ‘current troubles in Judea (famine in 47AD, deteriorating political situation during the 50s)’. Some say: a future thing like 70 AD or the final judgment, but Paul mentions it as present tense, something visible now. Possibly referring to the Jews crucifying Jesus?
• 1 The 2:19 “for what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” … What to show for our lives? Fruit in terms of people saved, kingdom come. These may well be the riches the kings will bring (Rev 21:24)
• 1 The 4:13 “but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” … a question seems to have arisen (maybe a believer died in the meantime): will those that die be left out of the resurrection?
• This question presumes that Paul must have taught that all believers (possibly all people) will be resurrected at Jesus’ 2nd coming. It also presumes that Paul taught it as something coming soon. But now the case of those dying before Jesus comes back has arisen logically.
• 1 The 4:14-15 “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died”. … Jesus’ resurrection is a reality. God was powerful to raise him from the dead. He will do the same for those who died, and those who may be alive at that moment. No principle difference.
• 1 The 4:16 “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever” … The moment of Jesus’ 2nd coming will be powerful, not possibly missed. It will mean the resurrection of the believers (then dead) and a transformation of the believers (then alive, 1 Cor 15:51).

Word Study

• “Rise”: G450 (anistemi) meaning to ‘get up, stand up, arise, lift up, raise up, rise, stand upright – used both literally & figuratively, both actively & passively’. 112 occurences in the NT, meaning also to get up from sitting position (Mt 9:9), but is also consistently used by Jesus & first church referring to his own resurrection.
• Example: Mt 17:22-23 “As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.'”
• “caught up”: G726 (harapazo), meaning to ‘seize, catch, catch up, catch away, pluck, pull, take by force’. 13 occurrences, none other than 1 The 4:17 refers to rapture, the only used in Revelation refers to Jesus’ resurrection, not rapture.
  
  • Mt 11:12 And from the days of John … until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
  • Mt 13:19 When any one hears … and understands not, then comes the wicked, and catches away that which was sown
  • Joh 6:15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed
  • Joh 10:12 But he that is an hireling …. sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them
  • Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand.
  • Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father’s hand.
  • Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip … the eunuch saw him no more
  • Acts 23:10 the chief captain … commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him (Paul) by force
  • 2 Co 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago … such an one caught up to the third heaven.
  • 2 Co 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
  • 1 Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air
  • Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
  • Re 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations … her child was caught up unto God, and [to] his throne
• Rise … caught up … to meet the Lord in the air … so with him forever. This has created the image of believers raptured into heaven, but the picture just goes till meeting Jesus in the air … then where to, up or down?
• “Parousia”: Used for a Roman Emperor or high official coming to a Roman city … the city leadership would go out to meet the emperor outside and then invite and lead him into the city with honor. The picture is not one of Jesus whisking us to heaven, but of us, inviting Jesus to enter the city, to rule this world.
• 1 The 4:18, 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another with these words” … End time teaching is always meant to encourage the believers, not scare them or make them insecure. Jesus’ 2nd coming is a redemption, a restoration, the ending of all evil and injustice, it is to be looked forward to.
• 1 The 5:1-3 “Now concerning the times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!” … Two similes are used to make the two main points: thief in the night (you don’t know when!) and pregnant woman (you know it’s coming, but you don’t know when!).
• 1 The 5:4-8 “But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober’ for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober” … Four more contrast metaphors are used: day versus night, light versus dark, asleep versus awake, drunk versus alert. Paul wants them knowing, aware, ready, alert, but not scared.

Repeated Theme – Sanctification, practical commands … How to continue? How to live in the meantime?

• 1 The 5:8 continues … “let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation” … Unlike our modern day end time teachings, for Paul end time teaching is never a paralyzing, wait for the rapture sort of limbo state. Like Jesus before him (Mk 13, Mt 25) he draws practical conclusions: alertness, no fear, assurance, hope, good and fruitful living till that moment.
• Paul continues his building up of the church, with practical commands concerning co-living, which will protect them against internal problems like sin, division, false teaching, extremism, so they can better withstand the external pressures of persecution.
• 1 The 4:3-7 “For this is the will of God, you sanctification: that you abstain from fornication; that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sisters in this matter, because the Lord is and avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness …”
• Generally sanctification, self-control, morality, not wronging or exploiting one another, specifically in the area of sexuality. This is probable against the backdrop of Greek idolatry and immorality (Isis cult, temple prostitution), as well as Greek culture in general (women being treated very much as inferior).
• Paul doesn’t lower the standard, sexual purity and otherwise morality are essential to the health, growth and longevity of the church.
• 1 The 4:7 “Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also give his Holy Spirit to you”
• 1 The 5:12-13 “Respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you’ esteem them very highly in love because of their work”
• 1 The 5:20 “do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good”
• 1 The 5:22 “abstain from every form of evil” … Within the practical parts of the letter a call to esteem, respect, love, heed leadership, probably as a prerequisite for future growth, a protection against extremes. This would include the acceptance of this letter of Paul, the ministry of Timothy but is geared primarily towards local leadership. Leadership is needed (even if as inexperienced as here). Respect is essential. But testing also, it is not a ‘throwing to the lions’ or ‘abrogation of responsibility’.
• 1 The 4:9-10 “Command to love as positive after the negative ‘no sexual immorality’. Love is the antidote to lust. Love is also essential for people who converted, possibly are rejected by family. They need an alternative support system, especially to last in persecution”
• 1 The 5:14-15 “encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all”… love spelled out, essential for cohesion in the young church
• 1 The 5:16-25 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets … Pray for us” … commands of attitude, of mind-hygiene, of being lead by the Spirit internally, daily, practically … internal life as prerequisite.
• Assurance of, exhortation to and blessing of sanctification … 1 The 3:11-13, 1 The 5:23-14

Repeated Theme – Work ethics

• 1 The 4:11 “aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one”
• The 5:12 “respect those who labor”
• 1 The 5:14 “we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers”
• 1 The 2:9-10 Paul reminding them of his (their) example of hard work
• Maybe there was a link between persecution and idleness (having to hide, being unable to go to work, losing work because of disfavor …)
• Maybe there was a link between an over-focus on Jesus’ 2nd coming and idleness (wait for the rapture, paralyzed end time theology)
• Maybe there was a link between the presence of ‘leading women’ in the church, maybe they gave generously, but created a wrong indulgence.
• Maybe it was simply Greek & Roman culture that has no positive view of work (only slaves worked), educated Greek city life had little to do with diligence & practical skill.
• Paul wants them to work with their hands, to be doing good, serving, blessing, loving, helping, supporting, fruitful
• Paul wants them minding their own affairs, behaving properly to outsiders, dependent on no one … Paul will have no church of busybodies that are irresponsible and can’t carry their own life, or exploit well-to-do sisters … values of practical work, self-support, responsibility, stewardship, independence, …
• This theme will be stronger and sharper still in 2 Thessalonians

Key words Faith, Love and Hope

• 1 Th 1:3 When Paul affirms the church he mentions: “your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” … faith, love, hope, very parallel to 1 Cor 13:13 … a beautiful triplet
• 1 Th 3:10 At the same moment Paul affirms the church’s need to grow in these: “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith”
• 1 Th 4:1 This theme of ‘you are doing well’ & ‘keep doing and growing this!’, affirmation and exhortation is running throughout the letter: … “we ask and urge you int eh Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.”

Repeated Theme Faith

• 1 Th 1:3 “always give thanks … remembering your work of faith”
• 1 Th 2:10 “toward you believers”
• 1 Th 3:13 “God’s word at work in you believers”
• 1 Th 3:2 “we sent Timothy to strengthen & encourage you for the sake of your faith… that no one would be shaken”
• 1 Th 3:5 “when I could bear it no longer I sent to find out about your faith …afraid that the tempter had tempted you”
• 1 Th 3:6 “Timothy brought us the good news of your faith”
• 1 Th 3:7 “during persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith”
• 1 Th 3:10 “we pray earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith”