1 Thessalonians Images and
NotesThe Book of 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 - We give thanks to God always for you
all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without
ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our
Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 - For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so
shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another
with these words.
1 Thessalonians in The New Testament - A Brief Overview
Painting of Paul the Apostle by Rembrandt - 1657
Introduction to The
Book of 1 Thessalonians
Brief Summary. Paul had not spent long enough time
with the church in Thessalonica, and wrote this letter to
further instruct them in their walk with Christ and sound
doctrine. He also addresses their concerns regarding those who
died in Christ, and Jesus' second coming.
Summary of The Book of 1 Thessalonians
Purpose. Paul had founded the church in
Thessalonica during his second missionary journey (Acts 17) and
he and his companions often desired to return to Thessalonica
but were unable (1 Thess. 2:18). Later he sent Timothy to
encourage the believers there with sound doctrine, and to report
back to Paul regarding their spiritual condition (1 Thess.
3:1-2, 5). Timothy brought back to Paul a very encouraging
report (1 Thess. 3:6-10).
Content. Paul sends a letter of thanksgiving for the
good report that he received from Timothy regarding their
commitment to Christ. Yet there were some issues from Paul's
earlier visit that he wished to set straight. He encouraged the
church at Thessalonica that he was no burden while he was with
them, and he covered his own expenses. He had also cared for
them as a nurse to a child. He also felt the need to instruct
them more properly concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Church at Thessalonica were very concerned about the
believers in Christ who had died, and whether or not they would
share in the glory of the second coming of Jesus Christ. This
confusion led to idleness, and Paul desired to address this. He
encourages them "by the word of the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
that the dead in Christ are at no disadvantage but shall fully
share in the blessings of Jesus' second coming. Paul also
exhorts them regarding worldliness, and encourages them to be
strong in their faith that their "whole spirit and soul and body
be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ"
(1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Thessalonica. The city of Thessalonica was the greatest
harbor of Macedonia, and it was sitting on top of large hill
overlooking the Thermaic Gulf as well as a beautiful fertile
plain. The name Thessalonica was taken from Alexander the
Great's stepsister
Thessaloniki.
Thessalonica was a very important city of the Roman Empire
mainly because of its great harbor, and the great Via Egnatia
highway which ran through it.
The Church in Thessalonica. Paul the apostle established
the church in Thessalonica along with Silas and Timothy during
his second missionary journey, around 50 AD (Acts 17:1-9). both
Silas and Timothy are mentioned at the beginning of both of
Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. Paul spent much time with
the Thessalonians because he mentioned his mutual love for them.
The church in Thessalonica consisted mainly of Gentile believers
who "turned from idols to serve the living and true God" (1
Thessalonians 1:9).
Authorship. Paul the apostle wrote both letters to the
Thessalonians.
Date. Paul's letters to the Thessalonians were written
from Corinth around 50 AD, just after he was with the church in
Thessalonica. These 1 and 2 Thessalonians are considered by many
scholars to be the earliest of Paul's epistles.
Outline of the Book of 1 Thessalonians
Paul's Greetings and Concerns - Chapters 1-2
Christian Living - Chapter 3
The Coming Day of Jesus - Chapter 4-5
The Name Jesus In Ancient Hebrew Text
"Yeshua" in First Century Hebrew Text. This is how the name "Jesus"
would have been written in ancient Hebrew documents. The four letters or
consonants from right to left are Yod, Shin, Vav, Ayin (Y, SH, OO, A).
Jesus is the Greek name for the Hebrew name Joshua or Y'shua which means
"The LORD or Yahweh is Salvation".
1 Thessalonians Maps and Resources
Map of the Roman Empire (14 A.D.) - This map reveals the
Roman Empire during the time shortly after the birth of Jesus,
in 14 AD at the time of the death of Augustus. The order which
prevailed in this extensive empire, the good military roads, and
the use of Koine Greek as the general language of culture
throughout the area were among the factors which multiplied the
rapid spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's First Missionary Journey (48 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia Minor where Paul visited in his first
missionary journey. Around 48 AD, in the springtime, Paul and
his companions Barnabas and Mark were sent on a mission from the
church in Antioch. This would be the first of Paul's Missionary
Journey's. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Second Missionary Journey (51 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his
second missionary journey. Paul re-visits a couple cities in
Asia, one of which was Lystra where he was stoned and left for
dead a few years earlier. He later has a vision that leads him
over to Greece and Paul and his companions travel and minister
in various cities in Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea,
Athens and Corinth. Later Paul returns to Ephesus and finally to
Caesarea and Antioch. (Color Map)
Map of Paul's Third Missionary Journey (54 A.D.) - This map
reveals the areas in Asia and Greece where Paul visited in his
third missionary journey. On Paul's third missionary journey he
returned to the cities he had first visited on his first
missionary journey. During this time he decided to remain in
Ephesus for about 3 years, and this city was the main focus of
his activities and an important Christian community (Acts 19).
(Color Map)
Map of the New Testament World - This map reveals the
"Nations" within the ancient world during the first century
A.D., the time of the New Testament. The map includes the areas
of Israel, Asia, Greece, and Italy. (Color Map)
Map of New Testament Greece This map reveals the cities
within Greece in the ancient world during the first century
A.D.,The map includes the principal cities of Greece like:
Athens, Corinth, and Thessalonica, and provinces like Macedonia
and Achaia. (Color Map)
