1 THESSALONIANS - OVERVIEW
Paul is the author of this five-chapter book. He wrote this first letter to the Thessalonians during his second missionary journey. Like his other letters, his main goal was to spread the good news about Jesus Christ. He was in Corinth when he wrote the letter. Silas and Timothy also contributed to this book, and their names appear in many of the scriptures.
Timeline of Paul's Travels
--- Paul had to leave Thessalonica and he went to the city of Beroea.
----From there, he went to the city of Athens (Acts 17).
----From Athens, he went to Corinth (Acts 18:1).
----Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia and were with Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:1-5).
--- Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see what was happening with that church (1 Thessalonians 3:5).
--- Paul sent this first letter soon after Timothy had come back to join Paul and Silas in Corinth (1 Thessalonians 3:6).
--- Silas and Timothy were with Paul when they wrote the letter (1 Thessalonians 1:1).
Purposes of 1 Thessalonians
Timothy came back to Corinth with news about the church at Thessalonica. He told Paul and Silas that the church was strong, but that there was much persecution. Some people were saying bad things about Paul and his friends. These people claimed that Paul’s intentions were false. Then the Christians had many questions and were in need of more teaching.
So the purposes of the letter included:
---1. The joy the writers felt to give thanks to God for the good news that Timothy gave Paul about the Thessalonian church.
---2 To tell the Thessalonians how much they were loved and cared about.
---3. Paul wanted to encourage them as they tried to live for the Lord Jesus.
---4. To answer the false things that the Jews and other people had said that Paul had come to make a profit from those who believed his message. They said the message was not from God, but that Paul had made it up. They said that the fact that Paul had not come back showed that he did not really care about the Christians.
---5. Paul answered questions about Christians who had died and what happens to those Christians when Jesus returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11).
---6. To teach that those who trust in God must not be guilty in matters to do with sex (1 Thessalonians 4:4-8).
First Thessalonians is a short book of only five chapters. In many ways, the Church at Thessalonica was a model church. Paul commended the church for its faith, diligent service, patience, and their overflowing joy.
Chapter 1
Greetings from Paul, Silas, and Timothy 1:1
Thanks and prayer to God 1:2-4
How the Thessalonians accepted the good news about Jesus 1:5-10
Chapter 2
How Paul and his friends came to Thessalonica 2:1-4
Their attitude to the people at Thessalonica 2:5-8
How they lived among them 2:9-12
Thanks to God for the response of the people at Thessalonica 2:13-16
Desire to visit them again 2:17-20
Chapter 3
Why Paul and Silas sent Timothy 3:1-5
Joy at the news that Timothy brought 3:6-10
Prayer for the Christians at Thessalonica 3:11-13
Chapter 4
How you ought to live 4:1-8
How you should love each other 4:9-12
About those who have died 4:13-18
Teaching about the Second Coming of Jesus
Chapter 5
When the Lord will come 5:1-11
Respect those who lead you and work for your benefit 5:12-13
Various Christian duties 5:14-22
Prayer for the Christians at Thessalonica 5:23-24
Greeting and blessing 5:25-28
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