Thessalonians Thessalonians I & III & II

By:By:Tiffany Temas, Ashley Foreman, Tiffany Temas, Ashley Foreman,

Barbara Stolarski, Meggan Decker, Barbara Stolarski, Meggan Decker, and Kari Stahland Kari Stahl

ThessaloniansThessaloniansEschatological EpistlesEschatological Epistles

Theme: Theme: – Apologetic theme with historical Apologetic theme with historical

correlation between Acts and I correlation between Acts and I ThessaloniansThessalonians

– To exhort them to a life of personal To exhort them to a life of personal holiness, pleasing to the Lordholiness, pleasing to the Lord

– To comfort them, concerning those who To comfort them, concerning those who dieddied

– Instruct them, concerning their own Instruct them, concerning their own hope, of the lord’s returnhope, of the lord’s return

BackgroundBackground

Important cityImportant city– Capital of Macedonia Capital of Macedonia

Free cityFree city– Ruled by it’s own citizens Ruled by it’s own citizens

First VisitFirst Visit– 50 AD (from Acts 17:1-9)50 AD (from Acts 17:1-9)

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Written to the church of ThessaloniansWritten to the church of Thessalonians Embraced the gospels not only the words Embraced the gospels not only the words

but the power with the Holy Spirit and with but the power with the Holy Spirit and with deep convictiondeep conviction

Model to believers in Macedonia and Model to believers in Macedonia and AchaiaAchaia

Turned away from idols to God and to his Turned away from idols to God and to his Son (1:9)Son (1:9)

Chapter 2Chapter 2 Visit was not a failure after visiting Philippi and Visit was not a failure after visiting Philippi and

getting insultedgetting insulted Happy that they can share the Gospel of God and Happy that they can share the Gospel of God and

their lives as well because they loved them so their lives as well because they loved them so muchmuch

Not to be a burdenNot to be a burden Encouraging, Comforting, and Urging you to live Encouraging, Comforting, and Urging you to live

lives worthy of God who calls you into his lives worthy of God who calls you into his kingdom and glorykingdom and glory

Visit was short but have been prevented to visit Visit was short but have been prevented to visit again because Satan has stopped them they want again because Satan has stopped them they want to go back because they were their glory and joyto go back because they were their glory and joy

Chapters 3 & 4Chapters 3 & 4

Concerning of churchConcerning of church Tempting of satin Tempting of satin Brotherly loveBrotherly love

Chapter 5Chapter 5 Guides to live byGuides to live by Encourage each otherEncourage each other

– Build each other upBuild each other up– Respect those who work against youRespect those who work against you– Encourage the timidEncourage the timid– No revengeNo revenge– Kind to everyone Kind to everyone – Be joyfulBe joyful– Pray continuallyPray continually– Avoid evilAvoid evil– GRACE WILL BE WITH YOUGRACE WILL BE WITH YOU

II ThessaloniansII Thessalonians

*Key Verse: “And the Lord direct your *Key Verse: “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ…” (3:5) patient waiting for Christ…” (3:5)

*Purpose: The purpose of the Second *Purpose: The purpose of the Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians, is to Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians, is to clear up the confusion of the 2nd coming clear up the confusion of the 2nd coming of Christ, and to counteract the influence of Christ, and to counteract the influence of non-believers on those who do believe.of non-believers on those who do believe.

Purpose Cont…Purpose Cont… The confusion began with Paul’s first The confusion began with Paul’s first

letter. The people were confused about letter. The people were confused about the timing of Christ’s return. Because of the timing of Christ’s return. Because of mounting persecution, they thought the mounting persecution, they thought the day of the Lord must be immanent, and day of the Lord must be immanent, and they interpreted Paul’s first letter to say they interpreted Paul’s first letter to say that the 2nd coming would be at any that the 2nd coming would be at any moment.moment.

Because of this misinterpretation, many of Because of this misinterpretation, many of the people persisted on being lazy and the people persisted on being lazy and disorderly with the excuse that they were disorderly with the excuse that they were awaiting Christ’s return.awaiting Christ’s return.

Introduction: SalutationIntroduction: Salutation The Epistle begins with a Greeting and a The Epistle begins with a Greeting and a

Thanksgiving to the Thessalonians. (1:1-4)Thanksgiving to the Thessalonians. (1:1-4) - In 1:5-12, Paul is encouraging the people to find - In 1:5-12, Paul is encouraging the people to find

comfort in persecution. Paul assures them that comfort in persecution. Paul assures them that they are worthy of the Kingdom of God because they are worthy of the Kingdom of God because of their sufferings, and that God will repay them of their sufferings, and that God will repay them for their sufferings as long as they continue their for their sufferings as long as they continue their faith in Him.faith in Him.

- Paul proceeds further on by telling them that - Paul proceeds further on by telling them that those who do not believe shall be subjected to those who do not believe shall be subjected to consequences.consequences.

-Paul then ends with a prayer for the church in -Paul then ends with a prayer for the church in the Light of Christ’s Coming.the Light of Christ’s Coming.

Chapter 2: The Day of the Lord Chapter 2: The Day of the Lord and the Man of Sin ;(2:1-12):and the Man of Sin ;(2:1-12):

Paul warns the people to not be deceived Paul warns the people to not be deceived or misled by those saying that Christ shall or misled by those saying that Christ shall not come until the “lawless” one is not come until the “lawless” one is revealed.revealed.

Paul then assures them that the lawless Paul then assures them that the lawless one sent by Satan shall be revealed and one sent by Satan shall be revealed and God is already at work with it. God is already at work with it.

Paul confirms that the Lord will deal with Paul confirms that the Lord will deal with the “lawless” one and those who believed the “lawless” one and those who believed in the pleasure of his unrighteousness in the pleasure of his unrighteousness rather than the truth.rather than the truth.

Exhortations and Instructions Exhortations and Instructions and Prayer Requested (2:13-and Prayer Requested (2:13-

3:15):3:15): Once again Paul states his thanksgiving to the Once again Paul states his thanksgiving to the

people; Awarding them for their faith in Christ.people; Awarding them for their faith in Christ. He says to them to hold the traditions (work) that He says to them to hold the traditions (work) that

they had already been taught- no more laziness, they had already been taught- no more laziness, disorderly behavior, etc.disorderly behavior, etc.

Paul asks for prayer from the people; he wants Paul asks for prayer from the people; he wants the word of God to continue on and be glorified.the word of God to continue on and be glorified.

He asks of those who do continue on with He asks of those who do continue on with tradition to withdrawal with those who do not for tradition to withdrawal with those who do not for they shall be shamed and disciplined (Not treated they shall be shamed and disciplined (Not treated like enemies)like enemies)

Conclusion (3:16-18):Conclusion (3:16-18):

Paul says that after his words have Paul says that after his words have been fulfilled, working, no disorderly been fulfilled, working, no disorderly behavior the Lord of Peace will grant behavior the Lord of Peace will grant peace and be with them. peace and be with them.

ThessaloniansThessalonians

Paul’s writing of the two epistles Paul’s writing of the two epistles confirm that hard times are part of confirm that hard times are part of God’s plan for his people. God’s plan for his people.

Paul explains to the people of the Paul explains to the people of the church of Thessalonians that there church of Thessalonians that there will be hard times approaching, will be hard times approaching, similar to Jesus’ warning his Disciples similar to Jesus’ warning his Disciples of the troubles the night he was of the troubles the night he was betrayed betrayed

Paul takes heart in what Timothy has Paul takes heart in what Timothy has told him about their faith and love.told him about their faith and love.

Paul encourages his readers. Paul encourages his readers.

2 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians

Paul writes 2 Thessalonians only a Paul writes 2 Thessalonians only a few months after 1 Thessalonians. few months after 1 Thessalonians.

He writes to clear up confusion about He writes to clear up confusion about Jesus’ second coming.Jesus’ second coming.

He also wants to assure believers of He also wants to assure believers of eventual victory, reward, and justice. eventual victory, reward, and justice.

The End!The End!