Timothy was a trusted companion and associate of paul, and he accompanied paul on many of his missionary journeys. A few scholars argued that paul wrote 2 thessalonians before 1 thessalonians. The book of 2 thessalonians was written shortly after the book of 1 thessalonians, probably within a few months. Pauls greetings and concerns chapters 12 christian living chapter 3 the coming day of jesus chapter 45. The thessalonian letters present the first literary evidence for the use of parousia. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. First epistle to thessalonians read the bible online. Timothy and silassilvanus who were the apostles companions on his second missionary journey 51 to 54 ac were with him now also. Pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it. Paul needed to address the three troubles the church in thessalonica faced. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, silas, and timothy.
Now may the god of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our lord jesus christ comes again. Enduring word bible commentary 1 thessalonians chapter 1. Assignments on 1 thessalonians 2 please read the whole book of 1 thessalonians again as we study chapter 2. The book of 2 nd thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. The recording is dramatized, from the king james bible. People were satisfied with pauls explanation concerning those who died and were ready and willing to suffer persecution if need be in order to remain true to the gospel that paul preached. Paul has heard reports of their growth and gives thanks for this 1. Paul opens his letter commending the thessalonians for their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope 1 thes 1.
Paul himself founded the church in thessalonica on his second missionary journey acts 17. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. The letter is more focused on problems in the church and may reflect the receipt of later news from the thessalonians. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. Grace be unto you, and peace, from god our father, and the lord jesus christ 2 we give thanks to god always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our lord. The church in thessalonica, established on pauls second missionary journey, was a model church. It still exists under the name of saloniki, and has a population of from 75,000 to. The second epistle to the thessalonians was written soon after the first. Pauls gratitude to god for the faith and love of the thessalonians 2 thes 1. Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica.
It was a great commercial center of pauls time, the inhabitants being greeks, romans and jews. The blessed hope of christ should be a hope which purifies us because we are living our life with that expectancy of his return. Summary of 1 thessalonians 4 paul reminds his audience of the teachings they were given, saying, you learned from us how you ought to live and to please god as, in fact, you are doing 1 thessalonians 4. We will be studying it more later on in the book, but the key lesson in this chapter is that they didnt waste the time they had passively waiting for this second coming. Pauls letters to the thessalonians were written from corinth around 50 ad, just after he was with the church in thessalonica. Review and defense of pauls ministry among them, 2. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our lord jesus christ and our gathering together to him, paul, the author of the book of 2nd thessalonians is speaking in this verse about the rapture of the church, the time of our gathering together to him. Second epistle to the thessalonians read the bible online. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in macedonia and achaia 1 thess. To wait for his son from heaven each chapter in 1 thessalonians ends with an eschatological reference.
Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible survey. The second epistle to the thessalonians begins with almost the same wording as the first epistle. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. These 1 and 2 thessalonians are considered by many scholars to be the earliest of pauls epistles. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in some sense as its theme. The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. Not long after receiving i thessalonians from paul, some of the thessalonian believers fell prey to false teaching, thinking the final day of the lord had already begun. Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by paul. Paul and friends are writing to a group of christians in thessalonica. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. The purpose of ii thessalonians was in part is to encourage the church due to persecutions. Hes writing to a group of christians in thessalonica, and hes just pleased as punch because hes heard a report that they are kicking butt when it comes to having faith.
The book of 2 thessalonians read by alexander scourby. Pauls second epistle to the thessalonians is in one sense a followup to the first letter. This is being aired by permission of the holder litchfield associates, all. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. Describe the spiteful treatment they had received at philippi. David guzik commentary on 2 thessalonians 1 talks about the persecuted. Grace be unto you, and peace, from god our father, and the lord jesus christ. This summary of the book of 2 thessalonians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 thessalonians. The name jesus in ancient hebrew text yeshua in first century hebrew text. The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book from the new testament of the christian bible. The apostle was told that, from some expressions in his first letter, many expected the second coming of christ was at hand, and that the day of judgment would arrive in their time. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic similarities to the first, paul probably had received a second report from the city detailing continuing questions or problems regarding the end times. The second epistle followed shortly after the first epistle in a.
The most prominent theme in 1st thessalonians is the second coming of jesus. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. It was founded by cassander, king of macedon 315 b. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the. The first epistle was penned at corinth by the apostle paul in response to timothy s report on the progress of the church they had recently established there 3. Yet the church of the thessalonians continued alive and active. One of the apostle pauls earliest ministries was in the city of thessalonica.
Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians. Paul and silvanus and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god our father and the lord jesus christ. Paul wrote 2 thessalonians from corinth in ad 51 within months of writing the first letter. His coming however will be as a thief in the night but we should be watchful and sober 1 thessalonians 5.
Every chapter of 1 thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of christ, with ch. The letters called epistles from paul to thessalonica, which included i thessalonians and ii thessalonians were probably two of the earliest letters paul had written which was around a. The present chapter division was apparently due to the desire to have each chapter close with a direct reference to the second coming of christ. Date both thessalonian epistles were written during pauls second missionary journey, thus making them among the earliest of the new testament. Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the church at thessalonica, it is pauls first letter period. At jesus future coming, the dead in christ will rise and will be caught up along with the living to meet the lord in the air. The christians in thessalonica were still baby christians when paul wrote 2 thessalonians.
The book of 1st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not god, and that obey not the gospel of our lord jesus christ. Ii thessalonians 1, new king james version nkjv the bible app. Internally, the vocabulary, style, and doctrinal content support the claims in 2 thessalonians 1. He will punish those who do not know god and do not obey the gospel of our lord jesus. His first letter to them had given rise to further questions, and paul is attempting to answer them in his second letter. The letter starts with a little introgreetings from paul and his cowriters silvanus and timothy. Aug 04, 20 nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Chapter one of second thessalonians begins with a warning of the righteous judgement of god. Paul wrote this letter to reemphasize the coming return of jesus christ.
Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Paul sent timothy to the thessalonians on a previous occasion 1 thessalonians 3. The same three, paul, silvanus, and timothy sent the letter. Grace and peace to you from god the father and the lord jesus christ. Constables notes on 2 thessalonians 3 the date of composition in the early a. Book summary this book portrays jesus christ as the coming one, it anticipates his return for his church and teaches us to be ready for him at any moment, waiting for that blessed hope when we will meet him in the clouds. In his pastoral epistle paul is cheering them on in order to help them persevere 1. The literary structure of 1 and 2 thessalonians david alan. Practical instructions and encouragement 1 thessalonians 4. Enduring word bible commentary 2 thessalonians chapter 1. Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our lord jesus christ and our gathering together to him. When he returns, the dead who have believed in christ will rise and will join the living to meet the lord in the air 4. He was only in the city a short time because he was forced out by enemies of the gospel. Over a quarter of 1 thessalonians and nearly half of 2 thessalonians deal with problems and issues regarding the parousia or coming of christ from heaven.
Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. There was circulating in the thessalonian church a. Andgood newshes just tickled pink with how things are going there. I have lived my entire christian life by trusting in the inerrancy of the generally accepted translations of the old and new testaments. Sometimes teachers state that paul had told the thessalonians there would be a pretribulation rapture, and we are to read this oral tradition into the books of first and second thessalonians. Second thessalonians is the theological sequel to first thessalonians. Though paul had to suddenly leave this young church, his deep. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. Thanksgiving and prayer we ought always to thank god for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Pauls greetings and concerns chapters 1 2 christian living chapter 3. Nov 18, 2012 this is the holy book of 2 thessalonians, known as the second epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians. Paul wrote this letter to the church in thessalonica.
The son of perdition or the lawless one, is revealed, also referenced in the gospel of john 17. This church was a testimony to the whole area that we would call greece today. The first book of thessalonians niv audio holy bible high. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the bible. How did paul describe their coming to the thessalonians in 2. For this reason, when i could stand it no longer, i sent to find out about your faith.