Epaggelia

1st Corinthians 1:18-31

Tacitus, the Roman historian, senator, orator and Consul lived from 56-120AD. Tacitus mocked Christians and wrote, “Christus…from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus…” . From 300BC to 300AD, crucifixion was used to legally torture criminals to death, it was disgusting and dishonorable to die by crucifixion. No one in the civilized world would have even wanted to wear jewelry in the shape of a cross, it was a horribly heinous way to die. The worldly minds of everyone during the 1st century of the church’s existence, could not conceive of a savior or god as being crucified, the idea denounced worldly reason. The 1st century preachers had a huge task trying to convince the world that God was in The Christ crucified as Jesus, it was either foolishness to any Roman Gentile or Greek who was educated, and an ironic stumbling block for the religious Jew. Yet God uses this message to build the church victorious and maintain it to this day!

The word of the cross is foolishness to who?

What is the word of the cross to those who are being saved?

Where does Paul cite Isaiah 29:14 to show that God nullifies the power of the high brow wisdom of the world and formally educated stoics? 

How do you think Paul expected Christians to answer, when he asked “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe?

What two things were found by those called by Christ, in the message of His crucifixion?

_______________ &  ________________  

What did God choose to confound the wise and powerful of the world?

What kind of application can modern Christians today make of Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about the wisdom & power of God? See 2nd Corinthians 10:5

The church has no physical weapons of power, but we do have formidable strength described in Ephesians 6:13-16 & 1st Thessalonians 5:8. 

Jesus used metaphors from the battlefield to teach spiritual lessons (Luke 14:31-33), he is not powerless and neither are His people. How can Christians fight against evil to overcome it with good? See Ephesians 6:17-19, 1st Thessalonians 5:15-24

THE CORINTHIANS CHRISTIANS ORIGIN & PURPOSE OF WISDOM

2v1-3, Paul didn’t bring Christ to Corinth with lofty speech or enticing words of pithy principles, that would make a great car salesman, but instead his humility was so obvious, that he presented Christ’s message of the cross with great reverence in fear of God, to handle the whole counsel of God responsibly, so much so, that he seemed weak & trembling. However, the message itself was powerful in the Spirit. In times past, God used “weak” speakers to great effect with His message & miracles. Moses & Jeremiah are good examples, Exodus 4:10, Jeremiah 1:6-7. There are many “fair speech” preachers that can deceive innocent children and/or new believers, Romans 16:18. 

2v4, How did Paul demonstrate the power of God? His speech & message were by 

The ___________

2v5, The point & purpose of Paul proclaiming Christ was so that the ___________ of God would be trusted.

How did the gospel come to the Thessalonian Christians via Paul? See 1st Thes. 1:5

2v6-8, Wisdom comes in stages. None of us are taught the whole counsel of God overnight. 

“We speak wisdom among the ______________ “

But in 1st Cor. 3:3, Paul had a different way of handling the truth, Who was he writing to?

2v9-12, Who is it that gives us God’s wisdom?

Should we ask, and then expect to never ask again? See James 1:5

Who is the Spirit from God, referred to in v12? (See Ephesians 1:17)

2v13-14, Paul teaches that explaining spiritual things to unbelievers is very hard, maybe impossible, if they are unable to discern spiritual truths. So how was he so successful in helping unbelievers become believers with the gospel?

2v15, Does the phrase “all things” mean literally everything?

2v16, If we have the mind of Christ, does that mean we can act like spiritual “know-it-alls”?

Did Christ himself know all things? (Matthew 24:36) Yet he was proved to be the Son of God by the resurrection, Romans 1:4-5

THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIANS TRUE IDENTITY

Whether a christian lives in a 1st century pagan Greek society, or the 21st century digital western society, do we as christians have a clear understanding of how our Savior and God identifies us?

Infants, 3:1-4, Have a Father. How does Paul’s critique of the Corinthian church challenge your current level of spiritual maturity?

Servants, 3:5, 4:1-2,  Have a Master. If an Apostle can identify as a servant, how much more ought christians?

 (Galatians 6:1) Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of ____________________. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted

God’s Field, 3:6-8, Co-workers with Christ in planting & watering. How does gardening align with the metaphor of Christians being a field? 

God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have ______________ for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so. (Hebrews 6:10)

God’s Building, 3:9-15, Co-workers with Christ in building. The Greek word “οἰκοδομή” (oikodomē) refers to a structure, emphasizing the church’s collective identity as a spiritual edifice built by God. The Greek word “δοκιμάσει” (dokimasei) means to test (v13) or prove, indicating that a Christian’s’ works will be evaluated for their eternal value.

The Temple, 3:16-17, Has an Owner. The Greek word “ναός” (naos) refers to the inner sanctuary, highlighting the sacredness of the church as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Do you think there is any scientific verification that exists to claim that christians are literally God’s Temple and house the Spirit of God?

God’s Wisdom, 3:18-23 & 2:16 Has a Teacher. Worldly wisdom is foolishness; true wisdom is being “fools” for Christ, recognizing all things belong to God. This causes christians to boast in God, not themselves. Paul warns against boasting in human leaders, stating, “So then, no more boasting about men!” v21, The Greek word “καυχᾶσθαι” (kauchasthai) means to boast or glory, emphasizing that glory should be given to God alone, not to human figures.

THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE

4:1-2 Why does Paul use two different words for his own description in this ministry of apostleship?

Servant

Steward

Later in 4:14-17, Paul uses the picture of fatherhood in his relationship with the 

Corinthian christians as _________________ , Why?

How does viewing Elders, Deacons and/or Evangelists, Preachers and/or any Ministry Leader as “stewards” rather than “owners”  change our view of leadership?

4:5  Why is it a danger to “judge nothing before the time” ?

On The Day of the Lord, when the Lord comes, What might be our greatest motivation to see?

If we really believe God will one day ________________ us, why would we live like we need it from anyone in the world?

4:6 & 4:18 Both of these verses have something in common. What is it?

4:8, In what way were the Corinthian Christians royally rich?  (See Ephesians 1:3-6)

4:15, Can you explain what kind of “Guides” Paul was talking about, which Corinthian Christians had known?

4:20, In describing the Kingdom of God as power, how did Jesus describe it in Luke 17:20-21 ?

Can we personally apply Paul’s contrast between “fools for Christ” and the worldly definition of success to our own lives?

When the Apostle Paul arrived at Corinth, it was a Roman city with Greek origins. The population was teeming with almost every culture in the world as Corinth had two ports and shipping trade was abundant. The city was morally filthy, physically rich and spiritually heathen. Within 4 miles of Corinth was the world famous Temple to Poseidon and Corinth itself had a Pantheon of at least 4 idolatrous temples, yet God said he had children there before Paul arrived (Acts 18:10). 1st Corinthians is not actually the first letter Paul wrote to them,(5:9). But regardless of the details, he was told of the problems that plagued the Corinthian congregation. Those problems can offer us timeless solutions if we will answer his questions. It’s like medicine for a congregation in any century to prevent sin from growing in the body of Christ like a cancerous tumor. Here is a list of God’s questions for the Corinthians Christians. The first thing God did when Adam & Eve fell into sin in the Garden of Eden was to ask them questions. God’s love did not move Him to firstly rebuke, but to get them thinking straight, weigh up the gravity of their spiritual death and face the consequences of His curses upon them for their disobedience.

1st Corinthians 1:12-13 & 1:20

1st Corinthians 2:11

1st Corinthians 3:3-4

1st Corinthians 4:6-8

1st Corinthians 5:4-6 &  5:11-12

1st Corinthians 6:2-4

1st Corinthians 7:16

1st Corinthians 8:10

1st Corinthians 9:4-7

1st Corinthians 10:16-19

1st Corinthians 11:21-22

1st Corinthians 12:14-19

1st Corinthians 14:7-9

1st Corinthians 15:12 &  15:55

1st Corinthians 13 is a long rhetorical question about love, & chapter 16 is a command, a challenge, a blessing & a curse. 

Could you describe the questions in each verse mentioned above?

What two groups of people does Paul address this letter to in the first few verses of chapter 1?

___________________________    _______________________________

Considering the many different problems this congregation had, why would Paul begin his letter with “Thankfulness for Them” ?

In verses 1:5-6, what does Paul say the congregation was “enriched” in?

For who, did Paul say they were eagerly awaiting?

In the context of 1:9-10, Why do we see Unity as a necessity?

Which four names did the congregation use in a divisive way?

_______________  ___________________  _________________  ________________

Is it actually possible to be immersed in Christ’s name and yet divide Christ by the way we live?

In 1:16, why do you think Paul questions himself about who he had baptized?

Does this passage give us any wisdom on whether or not a Christian should tout a favorite preacher/teacher? Yes or No?

Which do you believe apostles had a higher priority in, a. b. or c?

a. The Gospel of Christ

b. The Baptism of Christ

c. The Word of God

During the 1st century, the city of Thessalonika was a major port city of Greece on the edge of the Aegean Sea. The Roman proconsul of the northern region of Greece was seated in Thessalonica (appx pop. 1 million). During Paul’s life, it was likely the second most populated city of Greece being larger than Corinth but not Athens. It was a key hub of the ancient Egnatian Way, a major Roman trade route between eastern & western cultures. It was not a new city, established for over 3 centuries before Paul arrived. Today we have artifacts proving a mint operated there, and from an inscription the word “POLITARCHES” has been found, being the same word Luke uses to describe rulers in Acts 17:6.  What is the first thing Luke observes about Thessalonica?

How many sabbaths was Paul able to preach & teach in Thessalonica?

What word is used to describe Paul’s preaching & teaching in Thessalonica?

What two things did Paul need to convince the Thessalonians about his good news?

1. _____________________________

2. _____________________________

Which two groups of people were receptive to the good news Paul brought?

Whose house did the “mob” assault?

What were the two charges brought against receptive brethren?

What did the brethren do quickly with Paul in the cover of darkness?

What can Christians today learn from the way the Holy Spirit used Paul’s presentation of the gospel in Thessalonians?

1:1-10

Depending on which version you use, there are three words which may need attention, “Silvanus” v1, and Achaia & Macedonia v7-8. Silvanus is another form of the name Silas, mentioned by Luke in Acts 17 where the Thessalonians are introduced to the gospel. Achaia & Macedonia are north and northwestern regions of modern day Greece, culturally these people loved philosophy, foreign trade economics & agriculture. Their recent history had seen the fall of the Alexandrian Empire, they were proud of their culture because it’s language had infiltrated the cultures of other countries, forming the base of communication for the New Testament.

How are the new Christians in Thessalonica described in v1, v4, v6 and v7

__church_______________

_____________brethren_______

_____followers_____________Heb. 6:12, Eph. 5:1.

__examples___________“stamped image, to mint a drachma” 

What three virtues did God commend about them? 

_____________ , _____________________ & _____________________

What had they repented of?

What had they been rescued from?

Paul took no time or words to complain about their culture, politics or society in any way. His priority should be our priority, Christ and his beloved brothers & sisters.

2:1-12

How did Paul describe his message to them? ____________ ____ ______

v2

Does God test our heart before we become a Christian, or while we are a Christian? v4

How may this testing affect our prayers? (see Romans 8:27)

What kind of accusations did Paul criticize in v5?

How was Paul like a mother to them?

How was Paul like a father to them?

In what way were the Thessaloniki Christians “witnesses” of Paul? (see 2nd Corinthians 10:10-11)

How did Paul make sure he did not become a “burden” on the congregation?

(see Acts 18:3)

When do you believe a leader in your congregation could become a burden?

How should our lifestyle be worthy of God’s calling? (see James 2:8)

How could an Elder/Shepherd be torn between being gentle with an erring Christian and the need to deal firmly with unrepentant sin in the church?

2:13 – 3:5

Paul was always thankful for the new Christians in Thessalonika because they received 

his message as the word of ________

Paul mentions their example (1:6-7) again in 2:14. What is the common theme of their example?

The Jews wanted to shut Paul down so he could not speak to the _______________

Paul wanted to return to visit them again but ___________ stopped him.

The phrase, “The wrath has come upon them” is a fulfillment of Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:2, Luke 19:43-44 & John 2:19-20. Can this date the letter to the Thessalonians?

The thought of seeing them together with him when Jesus returns, made Paul _______

Does the thought of us being together when Jesus returns make you ___________ ?

The apostle John said he had no greater _______ than to _________ his children were living by the truth. (3rd John 1:4)

Do you believe whatever made them ________ can make us ________ ?

3:2 has two descriptions of Timothy; 1. Deacon of ________   2. Their ______________

Prior to writing this letter, Paul had told the new Christians that they would suffer, and in reality what came into their life? 

If the devil wants to destroy our faith, in various ways, he will try to ___________ us, but Jude tells us what will build up our faith, see Jude v20, what is it?

3:6 – 4:8

What was at the heart of Timothy’s message to Paul?

What was Paul’s reaction to the good news about the new Christians in Thessalonika?

How often did Paul pray for them?

What was at the heart of Paul’s prayer for them?

Who helps their love for one another to grow, 3:12? (see also 1st Thes. 2:13 & Rom. 15:30)

Whose authority did Paul proclaim to them in his commandments?

How could a Christian take advantage and cheat fellow Christians in the context of sexual immorality? (explain)

What does the word “Vessel” mean, in 4:4

Do you believe sexual sins to be only an individual destructive sin? (see 1st Corinthians 6:18-19)

What did God ‘call’ Christians to, not impurity, but _______________

If anyone rejects Paul’s doctrine, who is he really rejecting?

Who do we need in our presence, so that we can live pure lives?

4:9-18

Why would Paul commend their love for one another yet in the same passage instruct them to “attend to their own business”, while encouraging them to love one another “more and more”? See the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:16.

In what sense does love focus on everyday life today, while faith & hope focus on the future?

For faith, reference 2nd Corinthians 5:7

For hope, reference Romans 8:24

Why did Paul use the word “sleep” to describe Christians that had already passed away?

The return of Christ is equated to ______ coming to bring with Him, those who sleep. In the 1st century, no one yawned or ever got bored when talking about the second coming of Christ, it was a real, vivid and fresh anticipation in their daily life. How do you feel when someone starts talking about His return?

Do “scoffers” affect us more than Scripture? See 2nd Peter 3:4.

What do you believe will be the command that is shouted with the voice of an archangel? (see definition of name “Michael”, Daniel 12:1.)

Who rises first?

According to 1st Corinthians 15:52, what happens to those who are risen from death (sleep)?

Who then will be afterwards caught up together with Christ?

How long will we all be together?

Does this order of events allow for any time for Christ’s followers to be apart in the future? See 2nd Peter 3:10.

5:1-11

Where else in the New Testament is the return of the Lord compared to a thief in the night?

What analogy did Paul use to describe the suddenness of the Lord’s return?

How is the phrase “Day of the Lord” used in the Old Testament? (Isa. 13:6)

What did Paul tell Thessalonians to do because of the certainty of the Lord’s return? (see also 1st Corinthians 15:24-25)

What is both faith & love compared to?

What is hope compared to?

What did Paul say would be the destiny of Christians when the Lord returns?

How did Paul begin and end his discussion of Christ’s return? 4:9,18, 5:11

Why is waiting for the unknown timing of the Lord’s return, never boring or hopeless?

What does our modern world make so confusing about the return of the Lord?

Was Paul referring to literal darkness & light when he urged Christians  to be watchful?

5:12-28

As a Christian, how do you “recognize” your leaders? (see Hebrews 13:7)

Can a congregation be a real healthy church without any Elders/Shepherds/Bishops or Pastors? (see 1st Corinthians 6:1-6)

What kind of warning should an “unruly” Christian be given?

What might be the real circumstance that Christians in Thessalonika would become “fainthearted”? (see Acts 17:5)

Describe what “Do Not Quench The Spirit” means: (see Jude v19-21)

Would the phrase, “sanctify completely” indicate that we grow in holiness, or that we are immediately made holy when we are born anew? (John 3:3-5)

What was the promise which Paul believed God would be faithful to keep?

How did Paul want Christians to greet one another?

In verse 27, do you think Paul intended for Christians in Thessalonika to keep this letter to themselves?

SECOND THESSALONIANS 1:1-4

Every single letter written by Paul, opens in the first few verses with the phrase, from “God the Father & the Lord Jesus Christ”, Rom. 1:7, 1Cor. 1:2, 2Cor. 1:1, Eph. 1:1, Php. 1:2, Col. 1:3, 1Tim. 1:2, 2Tim. 1:2, Tit. 1:4, Phm.v3, except for Hebrews, which is only purported to be written by Paul, and doubtful by the phrase in Heb. 2:3, “by those who heard him”. 

“Lord” in Greek is kurios, in these passages above. See Luke 10:27, “Lord” in Greek is Kurios, and as this passage is quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, in this law, “Lord” is Hebrew as YHWH (Jehovah). 

• What is the significance of calling Jesus “Lord” in the context of God The Father?

Why do you think Paul wanted Christians to know that he did not let a day go by, without thanking God for who they are? ( 1st Thes. 3:10 &  2nd Corinthians 6:18 )

How do we know God has always wanted to be looked upon as a “Father”? See Jeremiah 3:19 & 31:1-9 & Genesis 3:8-14.

According to v3, how do we know the Thessalonians obeyed Paul’s prior request in 1Ths. 4:1?

Have you ever bragged about brothers & sisters in a different congregation?

How do we know the Christians in Thessalonika suffered more than just an attack on Jason’s house? Acts 17:5.

1:5-12

What did Paul say about the result of persecutions and afflictions?

Did God send persecutions upon these Christians to make them worthy, or did God allow persecutions to be used for making them worthy?

When Jesus talked about “not worthy”, what action was it based upon? See Luke 9:62

How did Paul say that Jesus would be revealed from heaven?

When Jesus comes again, who will he deal out vengeance upon?

According to Hebrews 10:29, what does everyone “deserve”?

Revelation 14:9-10, what kind of punishment do unbelievers receive?

For what two things did Paul say that he prayed? 

Make ____________

Fulfill ____________

When we think of “worthiness”, in v5, & v11, do we believe God makes us worthy, or do we believe our own faith makes ourselves worthy?

What is Paul’s purpose in praying for these things, in reference to the name of Jesus Christ, v12

2:1-12

What subject ‘agitated’ or ‘bothered’ Christians in Thessalonika?

What behavior did Paul condemn in 2nd Thes. 3:7-15?

What three phrases are used by Paul to describe an event, which he expects them to remember? See 2ndThes. 2:3 & 5. 

1. _________________________

2. _________________________

3. _________________________

Silas & Timothy were with Paul when he wrote (2nd Thes. 1:1), and they had been to Macedonia before joining Paul in Corinth (Acts 17:15 & 18:5). It is obvious that his first letter is very closely written to his second letter to the Thessalonians. Therefore, both letters have early dates. In 40AD, the Roman Emperor Caligula mounted a statue of himself inside the Temple grounds. Later in 70AD the Roman army destroys the Temple. Could this be the beginning of the “man of sin” (Roman Emperor worship) which would later cause God to destroy the Roman Empire?  

What is one reason for Paul to not clearly write the definition of who exactly is the “man of sin” in such a public letter as 1 & 2 Thessalonians?

Who works to deceive people in 2:9-10 ?

These people found no place in their hearts for ___________ ?

Jesus said what about the nature of truth in John 8:31-34

In what did those listening to the “man of sin” take pleasure or delight in?

2:13 – 3:5

His Prayer for them, and their prayer for him. Learn from this and emulate what the Spirit records about their prayers!

What did Paul say he always offered to God for this congregation?

By what two things have Christians been “Sanctified”?

________________________      ____________________________

What was the purpose of calling the Thessalonian Christians through the gospel?

(2:15) Whose “traditions”are Christians to “teach”?

From whom did Paul say he had been rescued?

What did Paul want these Christians to pray for, on his behalf? (3:1)

When Jesus said to pray for “Workers to enter the harvest”, did he only mean to pray for more people to work, or to pray for their work’s success? (Lk. 10:2)

What did Paul say he had confidence the Thessalonians would continue to do?

Into what two virtues, did Paul pray the Lord would direct their hearts?

____________________________     _____________________________

Both Peter & Paul explained what Christians must “GROW” into, what is it? (See 1st Peter 2:2)

3:6 – 18

What did the apostle Paul command the church in Thessalonica to do?

What was Paul’s example that the Christians should follow?

Before Jesus started his ministry, what did people know him as? 

(see Matthew 13:55)

During his ministry, how did Jesus serve? (see John 8:28-30)

When Paul described some in Thessalonica as “disorderly”, what did they spend their time doing?

Christians are not to grow weary in doing what ? 

If a Christian is admonished as a brother, how would we assure them and insure that we do not treat them as an enemy?

What did the apostle Paul say was the consequence of a Christian refusing to work?

Are there teachings published today and currently broadcast on the subject of the return of Christ that could cause similar problems in a congregation today?

Why would Paul need to use a “sign”, or a mark or token of his own signature on all of his letters?

Isaiah 42:1-2, promises the Messiah (Elect One) will fulfill his work as spiritual, in a very physical world, Matthew 12:17. The declaration would be verbal, not written, which may be one reason, Jesus never made a recorded writing, but His Spirit did! Isaiah’s declaration echoes through the centuries, through you and me, 2nd Corinthians 3:1-3.

42:6, The Singular Servant, Matthew 12:18-21.

42:8, Mark 12:29-30 This Servant brings only One God to humanity.

See Isa. 44:9-12, for any other thing worshipped is an idol from our own ignorance. See 1st Corinthians 8:4.

Both Isaiah and Paul were adamantly clear about how fake idolatry is in our lives.

“Carved images” Isa. 44:17-23, Paul in Colossians 3:5, makes a precise point drawn on idolatry in the sin of covetousness. Today, people can worship carved images in the form of coveted coins. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil,  see 1st Timothy 6:10.  Be warned, a warning for all Christians, from the youth collecting coins to the elderly who act like misers with their retirement investments!

The unique nature of Christ as Immanuel (God with us) is forsaken when we don’t avoid idolatry in our lifestyle. The subtle sin of idolatry can twist our desires into other types of sin. See Romans 1:23-24. This led Isaiah to remind God’s people to RETURN to God, Isa. 44:22-23

The New Testament quotes from the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book, which is no surprise when we consider Psalms is the biggest part of the Jewish Bible, however, what is surprising is that Isaiah is the second most quoted book in the New Testament, yet Isaiah didn’t write as much as Jeremiah. Pure logic would expect the second most often quotable scriptures would come from Jeremiah since he wrote more, but actually Isaiah wrote less and is quoted more often. Why? 

Because Jesus proved he was THE S______________ Messiah.

If we are going to follow Jesus, we must S________ others more and self less. 

God designed us for S__________ ! We should see a red flag in our lives, when we are spending more of our money on creature comforts, rather than in serving our Creator!