1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians

1. Paul's first letter to Thessalonica

   • capital city of Macedonia
     • busy centre for trade
       • situated at the junction of the Via Egnatia
         • there is also a harbor which increased trade
           • In Greece
   • He delivered his euangelion on his visit
     • they received considerable opposistion from the townspeople, to the point of humiliation (1 Thess 2:1-2)
       • established a small group of followers
         • they also suffered from the persecution Paul received
     • through this letter we can also recover what he taught in Thessalonica
   • A reply to a letter that Timothy brought back from Thessalonica
     • It contained a lot of questions.
       • This letter didn't survive, but can figure out the content by Paul's letter

2. His euangelion

   • his Euangelion is that Jesus died to save us and that those who believe in him and are blameless will be risen when he comes again in order to be saved from the wrath of God, which the non-believers will face
     • "God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him." (5:9b-10)

3. main themes of letter

   • to be blameless
     • free of sexual sins
       • "abstain from fornication" (4:3)
         • "know how to control your body" (4:4)
           • "not like Gentiles who do not know God" (4:5)
             • "the Lord is an avenger in all these things" (4:6)
   • To "turn from idols"
     • In their Polis the would have had hellanistic views
       • these other 'gods' are what the believers in Thessalonica have turned against in believing in Jesus
   • Reply to questions
     • when will it happen?
       • 5:1-11
         • "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters" (5:1)
           • "the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (5:2)
             • "But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness." (5:4b-5)
     • those who die before Jesus return
       • 4:13-18
         • For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died (4:15)
           • the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. (4:16b-17)
     • Love one another
       • (4:9-12)
         • 9 Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, 12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.
     • 4:9- 5:11

4. Date?

   • 2:1-2 shows Paul starts missionary efforts in Greece
     • Paul has only just arrived in Archaia
       • earliest letter that Paul wrote
         • before 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians and Romans
           • no actual known date
             • many scholars have accepted a date around 50-52 CE
               • however if not constrained by the Gallio and Acts 18, 1 Thess can be dated closer to 40 CE