DFD 7-3 - 1 THESSALONIANS: CHAPTER 2

An open mind is necessary for effective Bible study. And you must also have a willingness to change your life. Whenever you hold back an area of your life from God’s purposes, you will be hindered in understanding the Scriptures. So approach your Bible study with an open mind and a willing spirit. As you meditate on the second chapter, ask yourself why the Holy Spirit included this portion in Scripture.

Begin by reading 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 several times, perhaps in different translations. Briefly describe the overall content of . Either rewrite it without including descriptive words and phrases, or make a summary outline. Or you may want to paraphrase the entire chapter.

1 Thessalonians 2:1–19 NIV84

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

:

1 Thessalonians 2:1–19 NASB95

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

Keep track here of the number of times you read through 1 Thessalonians chapter 2:

The third column in your chapter analysis is devoted to cross-references. A cross-reference is a verse or passage found elsewhere in the book or the Bible that expresses a similar thought to the verse you are studying. IN many cases a question you write will stimulate further study in other parts of the Bible that relate closely to the verse you are studying. The Bible is its own best commentary. Scripture interprets Scripture. The content of one passage clarifies the content of another.

Possible cross-references for this chapter include for the second verse, for the fourth verse, for verse 11, and for verse 12.

Good sources of cross-references are your own previous Bible study and verses you may have already memorized. If you cannot find a cross-reference on your own, use a concordance or the marginal notes in your Bible. For this chapter try using several of these methods for finding cross-references. Record them in the chart on the next page.

2:1-16 Defense of Past Ministry in Thessalonica

2:1 - , , ;

2:2 -

2:3 -

2:4 -

2:5 -

2:6 - ; ;

2:7 -

2:8 -

2:9 - ; ; ; ; ;

2:10 -

2:11 -

2:12 - ; ; ; ,

2:13 -

2:14 -

2:15 -

2:16 - , , ;

2:17-3:10 Defense of Present Absence From Thessalonica

Paul also wrote another letter to the Thessalonians approximately six months after writing his first letter. Consider reading 2 Thessalonians to discover what else he had to say to the young believers in Thessalonica about these same topics. What new light does 2 Thessalonians shed on your understanding of 1 Thessalonians? Summarize a few insights here.

SITUATION:

fellow citizens were persecuting the church (; ; )

a false claim about the day of the Lord frightened the readers about their status at that end-time event ()

the problem of idle church members became worse (; 5:14)

PURPOSES:

Commend the church for enduring persecution (1:3-12)

Comfort the church, which was frightened by a false claim about the day of the Lord (2:1-17)

Instruct the church how to deal with its idle members (3:1-15)

1 Thessalonians 2:1–19 NIV84

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

1 Thessalonians 2:1 NIV84

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.

He looked positively at his visit with them.

1 Thessalonians 2:2 NIV84

We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.

We had suffered after being insulted but God honored our time together and the sharing of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 2:3 NIV84

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

The letter that we are writing to you is an appeal because we love and care about you.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NIV84

On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

No, we speak as men sent and approved by God and we are just trying to please God.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 NIV84

You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.

You know we spoke truthfully.

1 Thessalonians 2:6 NIV84

We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you,

1 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV84

but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

They were looking to take care of the believers and lead them as their children.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV84

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

We love you! We want to share the gospel and our lives with you.

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NIV84

Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

We worked and set an example to you.

1 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV84

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

We lived our lives as an example to you.

1 Thessalonians 2:11 NIV84

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,

they dealt gently with them.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 NIV84

encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

their heart was to encourage and teach them

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV84

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

they recieved the Word of God at face value

1 Thessalonians 2:14 NIV84

For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,

the Thessalonians became imitators and suffered along with others.

1 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV84

who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men

1 Thessalonians 2:16 NIV84

in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

They are battling with those that want to quench the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 2:17 NIV84

But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.

There love was so great for them that they longed to see them when they couldn’t

1 Thessalonians 2:18 NIV84

For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.

they were stopped by Satan

1 Thessalonians 2:19 NIV84

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

They mean so much to them, our hope, our joy, their crown.

What do you consider to be the major theme of ?

What other conclusions do you have from your study of this chapter?

What title would you give this chapter?

What is the key or favorite verse from this chapter?

Application begins with our willingness to accept the truth God reveals. A sincere response to God’s living Word is characterized by trust, obedience, praise, and thanksgiving. Your application may include:

remembering an impressive truth,

changing a wrong attitude, or

taking a positive action.

Record your application plan here:

As you continue your journey into the heart and mind of God, journal some key ideas revealed to you.

DFD 7-3 - 1 THESSALONIANS: CHAPTER 2

1 THESSALONIANS: CHAPTER 2

PASSAGE DESCRIPTION

VERSE-BY-VERSE MEDITATION

STUDY SKILL #3: Finding Cross-References

Cross-References

Notes and Comments

Observations

Questions and Answers

Conclusions

APPLICATION

MY JOURNAL