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?
- _____________________________
- _____________________________
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.
- _________________________
- _________________________
- _________________________
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?
Epaggelia 