1 Thessalonians Simplified

This is Definitely One of My Favorite Books in the NT

Author & Audience

Author: The Apostle Paul

Audience: A Largely Gentile Community of Christians in the City of Thessalonica

Thessalonica was Named After the Half Sister of Alexander the Great, Thessalonike

It was the Capital City of Macedonia

It was an Important Communication and Trade Center

Like Philippi, it was Located on Major Road of Macedonia, the Egnatian Way

Paul Traveled this Road From Philippi to Thessalonica

Along with Being the Capital, it was Also the Largest City in Macedonia

They were a Large Port City with a Population Around 200,000

Most of Whom Were Pagan Worshipers of Idols

They Worshiped the Full Pantheon of Greek and Romans Gods

They Were Also Well Known for Their Emperor Worship

Thessalonica was Extremely Loyal to Caesar as Their King

There Were Also Enough Jews in the City to Have a Synagogue

Paul Established the Church on His 2nd Missionary Journey

We Read About it in Acts 17:1-10

Acts 17:1–10 (NASB95)

1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.

2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;

7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.

9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Paul was Only Able to Preach the Gospel of King Jesus for 3 Weeks

Some Jews, Lots of God-Fearing Gentiles, and Several Prominent Women Gave Their Allegiance to King Jesus

But the Rest of the Jews Formed a Mob…

Claiming that Paul and Silas, the Disturbers of the World…

Had Come to Upset the Natural Order of Things in Thessalonica Too

They Were Preaching that There is Another King Besides Caesar, Jesus

One Thing is for Sure:

They Understood the Ministry and Message of the Gospel

It Does Disturb the World

And it Does Proclaim Jesus as King

What You Often Find is that Opponents of the Gospel Understand it Better Than Many Believers

They Reject the Gospel Because They Understand its Extreme Claims and Commands

But Many Believers Accept the Gospel, Expecting it to Make No Real Change to Their Lives

A Gospel that can Be Obeyed Halfheartedly with No Real Change…

Is Not the Gospel of King Jesus

Since Paul was Only Able to Spend 3 Weeks with These Christians…

He was Worried About Them

He Didn’t Have the Opportunity to Help Them Grow to Maturity

He Worried the Persecutions They Would Continue to Face Would Cause Them to Fall Away

So He Sends Timothy Check on Them and Encourage Them

But Timothy Finds a Loving and Faithful Young Church Still Holding Closely to Jesus

That’s When Paul Writes this Letter

1 Thessalonians May Be Paul’s First Letter (Or Galatians)

Purpose

To Praise These New Converts for Their Perseverance

To Encourage Them in Their Sufferings

To Instruct Them on How to Live Godly Lives Amidst Their Pagan Neighbors

To Assure Them of the Return of King Jesus and the Reward that Awaits All the Faithful

Theme

The Return of Jesus

Mentioned in Every Chapter

Both 1st and 2nd Thessalonians are Highly Focused on Eschatology (The Study of Last Things - Jesus’ Return)

Outline

Praise Toward the Thessalonians’ Faithfulness (1)

Paul Praises How They Openly Received the Gospel Message

He Praises Their Work of Faith, Labor of Love, and Steadfastness of Hope

Paul’s Conduct in His Ministry (2)

Paul Didn’t Preach the Gospel to Deceive or Flatter Them

He Didn’t Preach for Money or Praise

But He Preached Through Much Suffering and Hard Work

This All Proves the Genuineness of His Message

Paul’s Concern for the Thessalonians (3)

He was Worried that They Would Fall Away

But He was Overjoyed to Find Out They Were Still Faithful

Paul Encourages Them to Live Holy Lives (4:1-12)

They Needed to Strive for Holiness in Their Sexual Relationships

They Needed to Continue Loving One Another

They Needed to Live Quiet Lives, Working for a Living

This Will Lead Outsiders to Respect God’s People

The Return of King Jesus (4:13-5:11)

Jesus is Going to Return to Rescue All of His People

His Return Will Come Unexpectedly, Like a Thief in the Night

But the Thessalonians Didn’t Need to Worry…

Because God’s Wrath is Not Against the Faithful

Concluding List of Commands (5:12-28)

Key Passage

Since Paul Spent Very Little Time with the Thessalonians…

He had Obviously Told Them About Jesus’ Return to Rescue and Bless His People

But They Were Still Missing Some Important Pieces of Information

For Instance, What About Those Who Die Before Jesus Returns?

Here is Paul’s Response:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NASB95)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Those Who Die Before Jesus Returns Will Also Be Rescued and Rewarded

They Will Be Resurrected and Will Meet Jesus

This Word “Meet” is Very Interesting

It’s Only Found 3 Times in the NT

Each Time it is Referring to People Going Outside to Meet a Person of Honor to Welcome Them

It is Also Very Closely Related to Another Word We Find in John 12:12-13

John 12:12–13 (NASB95)

12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

Just as the Crowd Went Out to Meet Jesus and Welcome Their King into Jerusalem…

We Will Meet Jesus in the Sky at His Return to Welcome Him into the New Jerusalem

What are We to Do Until that Day?

1 Thessalonians 5:11–23 (NASB95)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

16 Rejoice always;17 pray without ceasing;18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit;20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a Wonderful Little List of Kingdom Principle and Commands

If We Seek to Obey and Live Out the Things in this List…

We Will Live a Sanctified Life for Our King…

And Our Spirit, Soul, and Body Will Be Preserved and Blameless at His Return