1 Thessalonian
1 THESSALONIANS
A. BACKGROUND
1 Thessalonians is the first and the earliest NT writing (AD 50-51). It even precedes the gospel and reflects the situation of this early church, founded during the 2nd Missionary Journey. Unable to visit them, Paul, in the name of Silas, Timothy and himself, writes this letter from Corinth after receiving a report from Timothy regarding the circumstances of the church. In the letter, he encourages them in their faith and corrects their misunderstanding of the parousia, the coming of the Lord.
B. CONTENT
This letter of 5 chapters and 89 verses shows us a lot of things that make for very practical Christianity. We will now look into these section by section.
1. Practical response to the gospel (1:1-10)
The apostle describes how the gospel came to these early Christians and how they responded to that gospel.
| How the gospel came to them | How the Thessalonians responded |
| a) In wordb) In powerc) In the Holy Spiritd) With full conviction | a) They became imitators of “us” and the Lord.b) They received the word in affliction and with joy.c) They became an example to all believers.d) Their faith has gone forth everywhere.e) Their conversion: turning away from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son. |
2. Missionary behavior and attitude towards the Thessalonian church (2:1-20)
a) He saw that the work was not in vain even though it was opposed (2:1-2).
b) The motives of the apostles were clear: Paul ruled out error, impurity, deceit, flattery, greed or desire for glory as motives for their work (2:3-6). Instead they cared for them like a mother nursing her children, sharing with them not only the gospel but their lives as well. They worked tirelessly to support themselves so they could preach the gospel to them. They cared for them as a father cared for his children so they would lead holy lives before the Lord (2:7-12).
c) The apostle considered these Thessalonians his joy and glory (2:20).
3. Personal Christian Ethics (4:1-12)
a) Because they came from a Greek culture of moral laxity, they should sanctify themselves by getting rid of their casual sex practices and confine sexual relations within marriage. At the time, the man is allowed to have a mistress (etaipa), a concubine (pallakh), and casual sex with a harlot (pornh), a prostitute.
b) They should love one another, lead quiet lives, mind their own business, behave properly with unbelievers, and not be in need (they should try to be self-sufficient).
4. Hope in Parousia (parousia) – the coming of the Lord (4:13-18)
The Thessalonians believed that the promised coming would be fulfilled in their lifetime. When some of them began dying, for one reason or another, they began to be discouraged because they thought that those who died would no longer be able to participate in the promised reunion with the Lord. This is the context of the doctrinal correction Paul is making about this belief which we modernly call “rapture”. The dead and the still living at the time of the parousia will all go together to be with the Lord forever. It is worth noting that even Paul, at the time of the writing of this epistle believed that the Lord was coming during his lifetime. This seemingly changed already in 2 Corinthians 4:14.
| 1 Thes. 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. | 2 Cor. 4:14 “….knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. “ |
5. Warning against complacency (5:1-11)
Because they do not know the timing of the parousia, they should always be on the alert and sober, for God has not destined them to wrath but unto salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. They must not live like the sons of darkness.
6. Church Ethics (5:12-22)
Paul then encouraged regarding their behavior towards one another. How should they live out their church life?
a) Respect and appreciate their leaders.
b) Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient to all.
c) Do not repay evil for evil but seek after what is good for the church as well as for those outside the church.
d) Rejoice always.
e) Pray without ceasing.
f) In everything give thanks.
g) Do not quench the Spirit.
h) Do not despise prophetic utterances.
i) Test everything holding fast to what is good.
j) Abstain from evil.
C. CONCLUSION
The first of Paul’s many letters to the churches is an attempt to clearly layout to these new Christians how to live their new life in Christ appropriately. The words of the apostle can be grouped into three main things and these should be the focus of every ministry that we do:
1. Help them believe in the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Practice love in everything they do.
3. Live in the hope of the parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Having said all these, the apostle prays that God may sanctify them completely: spirit, soul and body and then asks for their prayers.