2. The City of Thessalonica:

• Thessalonica was the capital and largest city of the Roman province of Macedonia.
• The city served as a centre of trade and commerce.
• Today, it is known as Thessaloniki, or Salonika.

3. The Church at Thessalonica:

Acts 17:1-9 records the establishment of the church at Thessalonica. Paul established the church on his second missionary journey. Apostle Paul and his companions passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia to arrive at Thessalonica. Paul immediately located the synagogue in Thessalonica. Apostle Paul reasoned with the Jews, 3 truths for three Sabbaths:

1. Jesus is the Christ
2. Jesus is the Son of God
3. Jesus died for our sins, He rose again from the dead and He is alive Today.

Some of them were persuaded, including a great number of devout Greeks and leading women. The unbelieving Jews became jealous and created an uproar in the city. Paul and Silas were sent out secretly by night to Berea.

Inspite of these sufferings for the preaching of the Gospel, a strong church was established in Thessalonica(cf.1:2-10). Mostly Gentile (cf.1:9), its members included Jason(Acts 17:9). Aristarchus, and Secundas(Acts 20:4).

4. Time and Place of Writing:

• First Thessalonians is considered one of Paul’s earliest epistles.
• From the letter itself (3:1-6) and the record of Paul’s travels in Acts ( Acts 17:10-18:110, it appears that Paul wrote this letter soon after arriving in Corinth city on his second missionary journey.
• This would put it’s writing somewhere around 52 A.C. in the first century (A.C. means After Christ).

5. Purpose of the Epistle:

Apostle Paul was anxious about the condition of the brethren. Timothy joined Paul at Athens (Acts 17:14-16).Paul’s concern for the church prompted him to send Timothy at once back to Thessalonica to encourage and ground the disciples in the faith, and to learn how they were enduring persecution(cf.3:1-5).

Apostle Paul’s purpose in writing this epistle was:

• To praise the Thessalonians believers for their steadfastness under persecution.
• To instruct them concerning holy living.
• To correct the misunderstanding, especially about the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

6. Theme of the Epistle:

This Book is unique in that every chapter ends with a reference to the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ: 1:10;2:19;3:13;4:13-18;5:23. With Paul’s emphasis on steadfastness and holy living, an appropriate theme might be: ‘HOLINESS IN VIEW OF THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST”.

7. Key Verses: 1 Thessalonians 3:12,13:

“ And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints”.

8. Outline:

• Introduction (1:1-4)
• Personal Reflections( 1:5- 3:13)
• Apostalic instructions (4:1-5:28)
• Concluding Remarks (5:23-28)

Introduction

1. Salutation (1)
2. Thanksgiving for their faith,hope, and love (2-4)

Personal Reflections

A. Regarding their condition(1:5-7)

1. Their reception of the gospel(1:5-7)
2. Their reputation in every place(1:8-10)

B. Regarding His Conduct(2:1-12)

1. The manner of his preaching (2:1-8)
2. The manner of his life( 2:9-12)

C. Regarding His concern (2:13-3:13)

1. For their faithfulness (2:13-3:10)
2. For their continued growth (3:11-13)

Apostalic Instructions

A. Walk in Holiness( 4:1-8)

1. To please God (4:1-2)
2. To obstain from sexual immorality (4:3-8)

B. Walk in love (4:9-10)

1. To love one another (4:9)
2. To increase more and more (4:10)

C. Walk in diligence (4:11-12)

1. To work with their hands (4:11)
2. To walk properly toward those who are outside(4:12)

D. Walk in Hope (4:13-18)

1. With no sorrow concerning those who have died (4:13-14)
2. For we will be rejoined with them When Christ returns (4:15-18)

E. Walk in Light (5:1-11)

1. For the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (5:1-4)
2. For we are sons of Light and sons of the day (5:5-8)
3. For God has appointed us to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (5:9-11).

F. Walk in Obedience ( 5:12-22)

1. With respect toward those over us (5:12-13)
2. With concern for one another (5:14-15)
3. With joy, prayer and thanksgiving(5:16-18)
4. Don’t quench the Spirit or despise prophecies, but don’t be gullible Either (5:13-22).

Concluding Remarks

1. A prayer for their sanctification and preservation (5:23-24).
2. A request for prayer in his behalf (5:25)
3. A charge to greet one another with a holy kiss, and to read the epistle to others (5:26-27)
4. A benediction of grace from the Lord Jesus Christ (5:28).

9. Memory Verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

Review Questions for the Introduction:

1. Who is the Author of 1 Thessalonians Epistle?
2. Write a note on the city of Thessalonica.
3. What are the three truths preached by the Apostle to found the church in Thessalonica?
4. What are the purposes of Apostle Paul in writing First Thessalonians Epistle?
5. Explain the theme of this Epistle.
6. Write 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24 from your memory.
7. Write the key verses: 1 Thessalonians 3:12,13.
8. Write the General outline of this Epistle.
9. From where and when did Paul write the epistle to the first Thessalonians?
10. Write the benediction of Grace (5:28).

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Send your answers to these questions to the following mailing address or through our email address: peterchandran@hotmail.com and get a certificate for 1 and 2 Thessalonians (10 lessons):
Rev. Prof. C.Peter Chandran, #46/61, First Floor, Ravi Electronics, East Jones Road, Saidapet, Chennai – 600 015. Tamilnadu.India.
www.thelivinggodministries.org Email: peterchandran@hotmail.com
Prayer line :+91-944 511 3726