Outline

“Introduction to Thessalonians”
(Thess. Chapter 1)

Intro/Set-Up
· Stats, Purpose for writing
· Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)

I. Greeting (v. 1)
· Grace and peace

II. Remembering (vv. 2-6)
· Grateful in prayer
· Faith, Hope and love (v. 3)

III. Conclusion

1st Thessalonians Stats:

- Possibly first letter Paul wrote (scholars debate between 1st Thess. And Galatians)
- Paul wrote the letter as he was on his second missionary journey (Can be found in (Acts 15:36-18:22)
- 1st Thessalonians is 5 chapters; containing 89 verses
- Paul mentions God in 30 verses; Jesus Christ in 28 verses
- And he uses the term “brethren” 16 times throughout the letter− signifying the believers in Thessalonica were very dear to him (Paul pictured himself as their spiritual father, and they, his children)
- A consistent topic of Paul’s letter has to do with the second coming of Christ, in fact, every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with reference to the coming of Jesus Christ
- With the theme of his letter being: The coming of Christ for His Church and this being a source of comfort for the believers
- The key verse of 1st Thess. Is 1 Thess. 5:9-10

Faith, Hope and Love (and what they produce) (From 1st Thess. 1:3):
- The work of faith (work = ergon: “may be pleasant and stimulating”)
“Energy expended in a favorite activity” (1st John 5:3− “his commands are not burdensome”; The race of faith: Php. 3:7-14)
- The labor of love (labor = kopos: “implies toil that is strenuous and sweat-producing.”)
“Progress made by hard work” (The race of Love: 1st Cor. 9:24-27 run; disciplined; strenuous)
- Patience of hope
“Endurance with an eye on the end” (The race of Hope: Hebrews 12:1-2)

Quotes:

“But then came grace. God extended His favor to us. Grace is what saves us (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is the essence of the gospel (Acts 20:24). Grace gives us victory over sin (James 4:6). Grace gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Paul repeatedly identified grace as the basis of his calling as an apostle (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2, 7). Jesus Christ is the embodiment of grace, coupled with truth (John 1:14).” (GotQuestions.org)

“Here for the first time, chronologically, in Paul’s writings we have this famous triad: faith, love, hope. But Paul’s stress is not on these virtues alone, but rather upon what they produce.” –D. Edmond Hiebert

“What is the special blessing in the message of 1 and 2 Thessalonians? It is the message of the return of Jesus Christ and how this vital doctrine can affect our lives and churches and make us more spiritual… Your study of these letters should give you assurance for the future, encouragement in witnessing and walking with the Lord, comfort in the loss of Christian loved ones, and stability in a world that is very unsure of itself.” –Warren Wiersbe

1 Thessalonians Resources:

1 Thessalonians Summary (GotQuestions.org):
https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-1-Thessalonians.htmll

1 Thessalonians Visual Overview (From the Bible Project):
https://youtu.be/No7Nq6IX23c

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (visual map):
https://viz.bible/journeys/

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Summary Report
https://www.gotquestions.org/Paul-second-missionary-journey.html

Recommended Reading:

Prophecy Pro’s books:

The Prophecy Pros' Illustrated Guide to Tough Questions
About the End Times: https://a.co/d/89Y5yeQ

The Non-Prophet's Guide to the End Times: Bible Prophecy for Everyone: https://a.co/d/4mFAfBD

Additional Resources:

"What is the peace of God, and how can I experience it?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/peace-of-God.html

"What does it mean to be saved by grace?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/saved-by-grace.html

"What is the Definition of Grace?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-grace.html