Ralph Porter

© 2003

AUTHOR AND DATE

    Pauline authorship is indicated by tradition and internal evidence.

    The letter was written about A.D. 51.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

    The church at Thessalonica was one of the first churches in Macedonia which Paul began on

    the second missionary journey (Acts 16-17). His ministry there was fruitful. There was a

    positive response (1 Thess. 1:3-10). It was founded in the midst of heavy Jewish opposition

    and persecution which continued after Paul's departure and was the source of their major

    problem. The testimony of their changed lives resulted in persecution (1:3).

    Result of their suffering

        They felt alone and discouraged.

        They thought that Paul hadn't come because he didn't really care about them.

    Paul's concern for them

        He tried to visit them but was not able to go   2:17-18

        Satan thwarted him from getting there   2:18

        Finally he sent Timothy to encourage them   3:1-5

    Timothy's report

        The church was growing.

        They were discouraged.

        They were still questioning why Paul had not gone to them.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    1.    Paul wrote to defend himself concerning their doubts about him.

                *    Results desired: That we might trust Paul and his love for us.

                *    Message: He is sincerely interested in them and would like to visit them personally

                        but has not been able to do so. He wants them to keep growing as they have

                        been.

    2.    Paul wrote to stimulate them to be faithful and not be discouraged by their affliction.

                *    Results desired: Faithfulness and joy in the midst of their affliction.

                *    Message: He exhorts them to live a holy and blameless life and to be joyful in the

                        midst of their suffering.

    3.    Paul wrote to answer doctrinal question about those who died before the Lord's return.

                *    Results desired: Knowledge concerning the rapture and the Day of the Lord.

                *    Message: The dead in Christ will be raised together with the living.

                        God will save them all together from the wrath of the day of the Lord.

What difference should the study of this letter make in our lives today?

What difference does it make?                                                                                           Ralph Porter

Ralph Porter

    The "hard" questions of life-Young people ask:

        • What should I major in?

        • What will I do with my life?

        • How can I know God's will for my life?

        • Who will I marry?

        • Where will I live?

        • What kind of car will I drive?

        • Lord, please don't come yet! Give me a chance to live a little first!

         • What are we living for?

        • What is really important in my life?

    While the believers at Thessalonica weren't asking the same questions,

         they were asking similar questions concerning their future.

AUTHOR AND DATE

    Pauline authorship designated by tradition as well as by internal evidence.

    The letter was written about A.D. 51.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

    The church at Thessalonica was one of the first churches in Macedonia which Paul began

        on the second missionary journey. Acts 16-17

              His ministry there was fruitful. There was a positive response.

                   1 Thess. 1:3-10

    It was founded in the midst of heavy Jewish opposition and persecution which

         continued after Paul's departure and was the source of their major problem.

              The testimony of their changed lives resulted in persecution. 1:3

    Result of their suffering

         They felt alone and discouraged.

         They thought that Paul hadn't come because he didn't really care about them.

    Paul's concern for them

         He tried to go visit them but was not able to go 2:17-18

         Satan thwarted him from getting there 2:18

         Finally he did send Timothy to them to encourage them 3:1-5

    Timothy's report

         The church was growing.

         They were discouraged.

         They were still questioning why Paul had not gone to them.

         They thought he hadn't come because he didn't care about them.

PURPOSE AND THEME

    His message corresponds to three main purposes he had in writing the letter:

         1.    Paul wrote to defend himself concerning their doubts about him.

                        Results desired:    That we might trust Paul and his love for us.

                        Message:    He is sincerely interested in them and would like to visit them

                                                 personally but has not been able to do so.

                                              He wants them to keep growing as they have been.

         2.    He wants to stimulate us to be faithful and not become discouraged because of

                    affliction.

                             Results desired:    Faithfulness and joy in the midst of affliction.

                             Message:    He exhorts us to live a holy and blameless life and to be joyful

                                            in the midst of suffering.

         3.    He wants to answer their doctrinal question about those who died before the

                    Lord's return.

                             Results desired:    Knowledge concerning the doctrine of the rapture and

                                                        the Day of the Lord.

                             Message:    He teaches us that the dead in Christ will be raised together

                                            with the living .

                                                   God will save us all together from the wrath of the day of the

                                                      Lord.

ORGANIZATION

    The structure of the letter reveals four main sections:

         1.    Encouragement by assuring them of his interest in them and in the affliction

                    through which they are passing.   1:1-3:13

         2.    Exhortation to live a holy and blameless life.   4:1-12

         3.    Instruction concerning those who have died and concerning the Day of the Lord.

                    4:13-5:11

         4.    Specific commands that we ought to follow in our daily lives.   5:12-28

ARGUMENT

    Paul first responds to the Thessalonians' doubts concerning his interest in them.

GREETING   1:1

THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL   1:2-10

         He begins the argument by reminding them of their initial response when he first

              visited them.

    His thanksgiving   1:2

    Their response to the Gospel   1:3

         He is thankful that when the gospel was preached, they did respond favorably.

    Evidence of their election   1:4-10

              Their changed lives were a clear testimony to the effect of the gospel in them.

                   Everyone was talking about it.

                   They turned around completely from pagan idolatry to worship and serve the

                        one true God and to wait for the return of His Son.

         Power of the Spirit   1:4-5a

         Their conviction   1:5b

         Their imitation of Paul   1:6

         Their model testimony   1:7-10

              Their conversion from idols to God

              Their service to God

              Their expectation of Jesus' return

EVIDENCE OF PAUL'S CONCERN FOR THEM   2:1-12

         To further demonstrate his concern for them he reminds them of the attitude and

              conduct he demonstrated toward them in that initial visit.

    His pure motives   2:1-6

               He showed his pure motives in his concern for them then.

         Faithful in spite of suffering   2:1-2

              When preaching the gospel meant suffering persecution, he did not escape from it.

              If he were afraid of persecution, he would never have begun his ministry among

                   them.

         Desire for divine approval   2:3-4

              From the beginning he demonstrated that his concern was for God's approval, not

                   man's.

         Lack of flattery or self-exaltation   2:5-6

              He was sincere before them, never using flattery nor seeking praise from others.

    His pure methods   2:7-9

              In his methods before them he was also blameless.

         Demonstration of love   2:7

              He showed them a gentle display of love and concern.

         Sacrificial service   2:8-9

              His ministry was characterized by selfless, sacrificial service.

    His pure life   2:10-12

         In their lives before them also, Paul was careful to observe spotless Christian conduct.

         As a mother, he showed gentle love; as a father, he showed concern to guide them in

              a path which would be worthy of God.

RESPONSE BY THEM TO PAUL'S MINISTRY   2:13-16

         They were so convinced at that time by his conduct and attitude that they accepted

              the authority of his message and chose to follow the example of the church in

              Judea, of Christ, the prophets, and of Paul himself, in suffering for the gospel's

              sake.

    Accepted his message   2:13

    Imitated those who suffered   2:14-16

ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION CONCERNING PAUL'S ABSENCE   2:17-20

         After reminding them of the evidence they have already seen demonstrated of his

              concern for them, Paul explains the reason he has not been able to visit them.

         He wanted to come and tried to do so, but he was prevented by Satan from going.

         Although he has not been able to go to them, he does care about them and is glad for

              their progress.

    Desire to go   2:17

    Attempt to go   2:18a

    Prevention by Satan   2:18b

    Continuing concern   2:19-20

TEMPORARY SOLUTION BY TIMOTHY'S VISIT   3:1-10

    While he knows they will not be satisfied with a substitute, Paul sends Timothy in his

         place as a substitute.

    His visit provides at least a temporary solution for their problem.

    Paul has been encouraged by the positive report Timothy brought back.

PRESENT INTEREST DEMONSTRATED BY PRAYER FOR THEM   3:11-13

         He continues to pray for them, day and night.

         He is praying that God will enable him to go to them and that they will continue to

              develop in love and faithfulness.

    That he could go   3:11

    That they would grow   3:12

    That they would be strengthened   3:13

    The second major theme is an exhortation to holy conduct.

    In the light of their suffering, the easiest solution would be to go back to the old life.

         Pagan people imitated their gods: wine, sex, parties.

         God's people were to be different!

         God's people were to look like their God: HOLY!

MORAL CONCERNS   4:1-8

    In spite of the fornication which was so common in their city, God wants our lives to be

         different.

    Therefore Paul exhorts us to maintain moral purity.

    The power God wants to control our desires is available to us through the Holy Spirit.

    Since God Who gave us the Spirit is holy, He wants us to be holy also.

FRATERNAL CONCERNS   4:9-12

    Not only is God concerned about our moral conduct, He is also concerned about our

         relationships with one another.

    God is love and wants His children to love one another also.

    The Thessalonians have shown their love for one another.

    Paul is just concerned that their love continue to grow.

    Specific evidences of our love include helping those who are suffering near us.

    We will not be interfering in the affairs of others.

    Instead, we will keep busy working so that we will have a good testimony before those

         around us.

    Doctrinal problems had developed concerning the last days.

    They were suffering for their faith and needed assurance concerning the things they

         were going through and what they should expect in the future.

              This wasn't just curiosity about the future.

              Not a prophecy conference to find out interesting things about the future.

              They were facing hard times and needed security.

              They were after some answers.

CONCERNING THE DEAD IN CHRIST   4:13-18

         The first problem concerned the Christians who had died before the Lord's return.

    The problem   4:13

         They believed that the Lord's return was imminent.

         Christ was going to come soon, any day now.

         However, before He could come back, some died.

         They would no longer be present when Christ returned.

         What would happen to them?

         They needed an answer from God to know how to deal with the questions they were

              asking and to know how to face the days in which they were living.

    The solution   4:14-17

        Resurrection   4:14

              Paul's response was that if death was not able to stop the Lord's resurrection, it

                   couldn't stop ours either.

        Rapture together   4:15-17

              Those who have died will be resurrected and precede those who remain alive.

                   First God will raise the dead in Christ.

                   Then God will raise the living who have trusted in Him.

                   The command:    Given--shout issued--command with authority

                                                   Carried--voice of the archangel

                                                      The angels are charged with carrying out God's will.

                                                      God's messengers, the archangels, carry the command to the

                                                           other angels.

                                                 Fulfilled--Trumpet of God--military signal to the troops.

              Then there will be a meeting of the two groups in the air.

                   All will be glorified (1 Cor. 15)

                   Both groups will meet the Lord.

                   Both groups will remain with Him forever.

    The result   4:18

              This should serve as an encouragement to those who were suffering for their faith.

              We are to encourage one another with this truth.

        General comments:

              1.    Those affected are the "dead in Christ"--This is a description of New

                        Testament believers, not Old Testament saints (Cf. Dan. 12).

              2.    It doesn't give any indication of when this event takes place here.

                        • Only refers to the relationship between the dead and the living.

                        • The whole argument presupposes the imminence of our Lord's coming.

                        • The Second Coming of Christ can't be imminent (cf. Matt. 24 & 

                            1 Thess. 5).

              3.    The trumpet"--the last trumpet" of 1 Cor. 15:52.

                             Compare Rev. 11the 7th trumpet = Second Coming

                             These are two different programs.

                                  It's possible to have the final trumpet in one program, without having

                                       the final trumpet in a different program.

    Practical implications for our life today:

         1.    When faced with the death of those we love,

                    we can comfort one another.

                             Comfort = parakaleo => encourage

                             1 Thess. 4:18; 4:13; John 14:1-3

        2.    We ought to stand firm and continue growing.

                        1 Cor. 15:58 (51-57)

                        In the light of Rev. 4, the churches in Rev. 2-3 are exhorted to remain

                             faithful.

        3.    We ought to purify ourselves.

                        1 John 3:2-3

         What does the future hold? We don't know.

               There are evidences that the Lord may return soon.

         What will we dedicate our lives to?

              If we dedicate them to serving the Lord, we can't lose!

              If we have another 100 years, we will have the best possible life during that time.

                   We will enjoy privilege and blessing serving Him.

              If we die next week, or if Christ comes today, we will be with Him and achieve

                   our heart's desire: to see Him.

                    "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!"   Phil. 1:21

CONCERNING THE DAY OF THE LORD   5:1-11

         Chapter 5 comes after chapter 4! so also do its events.