The Strand Study Bible

I THESSALONIANS

Author: Paul Theme: The Return of Jesus Christ

About the Author: Paul, whose name means “little,” was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5), and a native of Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (Acts 21:39 & 22:3). Also called Saul, Paul inherited the rights of Roman citizenship (Acts 22:28) because his father was a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). At the age of perhaps thirteen (Acts 26:4-5), Paul was sent to Jerusalem and there became a student of orthodox Judaism under Gamaliel, a teacher of the law (Acts 22:3). Paul is first mentioned in Acts 7:58 where we find him consenting to the death of Stephen. His fanatical devotion to Judaism and his extreme hatred for Christianity made him the acknowledged leader of the Christian persecution. The spread of Christianity forced Paul to travel far and wide for his victims. Armed with authority from the High Priest, Paul journeyed toward Damascus where he had heard there were many Christians. It was while he was approaching that city that his wonderful conversion took place (c. AD 37 - Acts 9:3-6). For the next thirty years (from c. AD 37 to 67), until his death, Paul would go on three missionary journeys and face two Roman imprisonments. He would write thirteen epistles (fourteen, if you count Hebrews) and become known as the preacher to the Gentiles. About the Book: Paul praised the Thessalonians for their example in steadfastness and reminded them to walk circumspectly because Christ could return at any moment (I Thess 1:10 & 2:19 & 3:13 & 4:13-18 & 5:23). I Thessalonians was written from Corinth in AD 52, during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 18:10). Helpful Background: Paul first visited Thessalonica while on his Second Missionary Journey c. AD 52 (Acts 17:1-10). Paul and Silas immediately after being released from a Philippian jail, arrived in Thessalonica. Again, Jewish opposition and persecution met the Apostle, and his stay at Thessalonica was cut short (approximately three weeks - Acts 17:2). Forced to flee, once again, Paul traveled to Berea and then on to Athens. From Athens, Paul sent Timothy and Silas back to Thessalonica to help the newly troubled church (I Thess 3:12). Paul then traveled alone to Corinth (Acts 18:1). When Timothy and Silas returned from Thessalonica (Acts 18:5 and I Thess 3:6-7), their report on the Thessalonican church prompted Paul to write I Thessalonians . Timothy and Erastus appeared to have delivered the epistle (Acts 19:22). Notes of Interest: 1. There are no OT quotations or characters found in I Thessalonians . 2. Prophecies are referred to 20 times in I Thessalonians . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 16 of those 20 times. 4. There is 1 inset map used in the book of I Thessalonians . It is numbered chronologically (#46). Outline of I Thessalonians :

1. The model church (I Thess 1) 2. The model servants (I Thess 2) 3. The model Christians (I Thess 3, 4) 4. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (I Thess 5) I Thessalonians 1 Greetings from Paul to the church at Thessalonica Date Written - c. AD 52

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Thessalonica (The model church) 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our 5 LORD JESUS CHRIST , in the sight of God and our Father; P 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

1. or, “Silas” - Acts 15:22 & II Cor 1:19 & I Pet 5:12 2. Acts 16:1-3 3. Acts 17:1-9 4. Joel 2:13 5. Fulfilled - Rev 4:1 (Rapture)

1 Paul, and 1 Silvanus, and 2 Timotheus, unto the church of the 3 Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: 4 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:1 This word ( church ) is the Greek word HNNOKσLD ( ekklesia ) and is singular in number, denoting one single local church. It used to be that towns had only one local New Testament church. Nowadays, however, because of envy, pride, and selfishness, towns are peppered with church splits and divisions. No wonder the world hasn’t been evangelized yet (Jn 13:34-35). 1:2 This word ( prayers ) is the Greek word SUοσHXFZQ ( proseuchon ) and is always used of prayer to God. It is the same word Jesus used when instructing his disciples “what” to pray in Luke 11. God wants us to learn “what” to pray, not “how” to pray ( Lk 11:1-2 ). The disciples did not ask their Lord to teach them “how” to pray just in case they wanted to pray someday. Nor did they ask Him to teach them “a prayer” (something to recite). Rather, they asked Him to teach them “what” to pray (a pattern or blueprint to follow). They knew, by watching Him that they had to learn “what” to pray if they were to survive. Interestingly enough, the “what” within the prayer was identical to the “what” within the prayer of Jabez ( I Chro 4:10 ). 1:4 The original Greek reads, “ Knowing, brethren beloved of God, the election of you .” While it is true that believers were elected (chosen) to salvation “ before the world began ” (“ before times eternal ”) (II Tim 1:9, Eph 1:4 and II Thes 2:13 ), it is also true that God foreknew who was going to trust Jesus as Savior and who was not before the foundation of the world. That’s why Peter could boldly state that election is based on God’s foreknowledge (God’s prior knowledge of all things), not predestination ( I Peter 1:2 a ). The proper order is foreknowledge, election, and then predestination. 2000