Introduction to the Book of 1st Thessalonians

1. THE 4 W’s a. Who wrote the book? – Paul – 1Thess 1:1, “I”… 2:18, 3:5, 4:9,13, 5:1, 23,27…. Maybe with Silvanus and Timothy as co-writers 1Thess 1:1…… ”We, Us, Our”….. 2:1, 3:1, 4:1. b. Who is it written to? I. The church of the Thessalonians – 1:1 II. The Body of Christ – 1Thess 1:10, 2:16, 5:1, 9-10. c. What is he writing about? – Paul wanted them to know he desired to see them and know how they faired – 1Thess 2:17-18, 3:1-2. Writing to comfort the – 4:18, 5:11. Instruction in the will of God and walking righteously – 4:1-5,12. d. When was it written? Man and tradition say 50A.D.or 52A.D. The Bible does not. We can look at Acts to see when in scripture it may have been written – After Acts 17-18:1 cf 3:1….. maybe around Acts 18:5 while Paul is in Corinth. e. Answering the 4 questions above can help to get the context of a book. Paul is writing to comfort and encourage the Thessalonians to see how they faired because they were being persecuted. Acts 17:1-13 2. OVERVIEW a. Popular passages in 1Thessalonians – 2:13, 4:13-18, 5:17-19 b. Important but ignored passages – 2:4-6, 4:11-12, 5:1-11 c. Summary of the book in sections I. Writing to let the Thessalonians know that they cared for them and wanted to see them – 1-3 II. Instruction in their walk – 4:1-12 III. Comfort of what happens to the dead in Christ – 4:13-18 IV. Times and season/end times – 5:1-11 V. Final Exhortation 5:12-28. d. Thessalonica is in Macedonia