This summary of the book of 1 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 1 thessalonians. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica cf. A huge collection of thessalonians i and ii trivia quizzes in our religion category. Part of the knowing the bible series, 1 2 thessalonians is a 12week study by matt smethurst that place the books in context of gods larger story. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international. The historical context of pauls epistles to the thessalonians is found in acts 17. While there he spoke in the synagogue, persuading some jews and even more godfearing gentiles that jesus was the promised messiah. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152.
Paul states that judgment will come on those who persecute them. Paul says he boasts about them because of their faith while they have endured persecutions. Paul, silas and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ. Two thousand years have passed since paul penned 12 thessalonians. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. The following steps will help you discover the structure of. The opening words of 1 thessalonians identify the authors as the coworkers paul, silvanus identified as silas in the book of acts, and timothy. Objections are based on internal factors rather than on the adequacy of the statements of the church fathers. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to the fellowship of believers in the city of thessalonica compare 1.
The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. However, such arguments have not convinced current interpreters. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. The first epistle was penned at corinth by the apostle paul in response to timothys report on the progress of the church they had recently established there 3. When king jesus returns, he will deliver his people and bring justice to the earth. It is helpful to trace the locations of paul and his companions that relate to the thessalonian correspondence. Paul introduces himself, along with silvanus and timothy. The apostle paul, joined in his salutation by silvanus and timothy, and with a reference to his own signature at the end of the epistle. Pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it has more support from early christian writers. What is the purpose of the book of 1st thessalonians. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a.
Comment versebyverse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research. The roman empire, and the ancient city of thessalonica, have been reduced to rubble. In the christian bible, the books commonly referred to as 1 chronicles and 2 chronicles, or first chronicles and second chronicles generally follow the two books of kings, and precede ezranehemiah. It is our sincere desire that this outline of 2 thessalonians will assist you in your investigation of gods holy word his personal letter to you. The same three, paul, silvanus, and timothy sent the letter. He is the author of the first epistle to the corinthians. We remember before our god and father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our. Silvanus silas, and timothy, pauls colaborers in founding the church, were present with him when he wrote. 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.
Book of 2 thessalonians explained discover the 66 books. Intro to 2 thessalonians biblica the international bible. Book of 2 thessalonians, explained scripture by scripture. The word biblical commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here. They thought it had come already so they stopped with their work. Thiselton is professor of christian theology, university of nottingham, and emeritus professor of christian theology at the university of chester. Thanksgiving for the thessalonians faith we always thank god for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork.
Landscape the bustling seaport city of thessalonica was the capital of macedonia, located along the egnatian way the most important trade route in the roman empire, running from. Shortly after writing 1 thessalonians, the apostle paul received a report 2 thess. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. The headings and subheadings make up an outline of the book. The apostle paul identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. 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. Bible introductions 2 thessalonians by john macarthur. More than 1 thessalonians, 2 thessalonians has been disputed by some starting with the tubingen school with respect to pauline authorship b. Concluding summary of 2 thessalonians paul again writes to the thessalonian christians, speaking of some of the same subjects that he has spoken of in 1 thessalonians. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. When jesus returns, those who do not obey christ will.
The body of the letter the day of the lord has not yet come 7. On the other hand, scholars say that 2 thessalonians appears to develop some themes differently, perhaps even diametrically opposed to 1 thessalonians. Listen to chuck swindoll s overview of second thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. This narrative recounts pauls work in the city of thessalonica during his second missionary journey. This quiz is based on i thessalonians, which is a book of the bible found in the new testament. Nijay k gupta this book on 1 and 2 thessalonians in the zondervan critical introductions to the new testament series offers a volumelength engagement with subjects that normally only receive short treatments in. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord.
Scholars are simply divided on authorship of these remaining 6 books. Silas and timothy did not author the letter of 2 thessalonians, as they did not write the letter of 1 thessalonians. The literary structure of 1 and 2 thessalonians david alan. Headings throughout the following book of 2 thessalonians. The king james version of the holy bible was used as the reference for this. Paul wrote 1 thessalonians and sent it to the church. Prescript and proem the eschatological retribution 6. In the greek nt, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. Question 20 how can you get the most out of your bible reading. The apostle paul appears to have been the principal writer, but it is noteworthy that the letter almost always speaks in the voice of multiple authors using pronouns such as we, us, and our. Part of the knowing the bible series, 12 thessalonians is a 12week study by matt smethurst that place the books in context of gods larger story. To follow up his previous letter 1 thessalonians by instructing the thessalonians further about the return of christ and the importance of responsible daily living. Book of 1 thessalonians explained discover the 66 books.
They are included in the body of the text so the reader can see them as he reads the book without having to page over to a separate outline. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international. Although 2 thessalonians is a relatively short letter, about onethird. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. The book of 2 thessalonians was written shortly after the book of 1 thessalonians, probably within a few months.
Historical allusions in the book fit pauls life as recounted in acts and in his own. Explanation brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the. Author and date paul, as in 1 thessalonians, identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to paul include. Follow stepbystep instructions for facilitating the group sessions using the member book and dvd video sessions. Paul encourages them as they suffer persecutions, telling them that those who persecute them will be punished by god. The apostle paul with silvanus silas and timothy a. A commentary on the greek text 2000, and numerous other works including interpreting god and the postmodern self 1995, a concise encyclopedia of. That leaves the books of ephesians, colossians, 2 thessalonians, 1 and 2 timothy, and titus. Paul, as in 1 thessalonians, identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. Outlining 1 thessalonians however, before i discuss the literary organization of 1 thessalonians, i would like to ask you to roll up your shirt sleeves and do a little work of your ownan inductive study of the letter.
Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letterperhaps about six months. Just because paul visited a city, preached the gospel for weeks or even months, and founded a church by guiding converts to the faith, this did not protect the new church from scheming heretics. The writer of the second letter to the thessalonians. After the pastoral epistles and ephesians, in fact, 2 thessalonians is the most doubted book in the corpus paulinum. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. It had already been the recipient of an earlier letter first thessalonians. Question 19 what is contained in the various books of the bible. And then in 2 thessalonians, you have an eschatology that seems to be kind of put off.
Who wrote the book of 2 thessalonians in the bible. For example, the eschatology of 1 thessalonians, to some scholars, appears to be very urgent. In the case of 2 thessalonians, it was initially attributed to paul. Learn more about all the authors of the bible here.
It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a co author. Paul is the author of the book of 1st thessalonians as he begins paul, silvanus, and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god the father and the lord jesus christ 1. No one really questioned that until the beginning of the 19th century. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Foreword books of the bible table of the books of the bible. Paul certainly wrote 1 thessalonians, but does not appear to be the author of 2 thessalonians, which was written to deal with the embarrassment resulting from pauls belief that jesus would return in his own lifetime, yet died disa. Timothy and silassilvanus who were the apostles companions on his second missionary journey 51 to 54 ac were with him now also. A commentary on the greek text 2000, and numerous other works including interpreting god and the postmodern self 1995, a concise encyclopedia of the philosophy of religion 2002. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. Nevertheless, many in modern scholarship hold to the authenticity of pauline authorship for 2 thessalonians1 c. The author second thessalonians does not have nearly as widespread acceptance as does 1 thessalonians. The second epistle to the thessalonians begins with almost the same wording as the first epistle. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish synagogue on three successive sabbath days.
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