Moving beyond the historical and technical issues that weighed down and, quite frankly, hindered the field for more than a century, gundry moves into the heart of the text in order to illuminate its meaning. The letters first and second thessalonians are traditionally associated with the pauline foundation of the macedonian church at thessalonica. The apostle paul identified himself twice as the author of this letter 1. This is the holy book of 2 thessalonians, known as the second epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians. Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the church at thessalonica, it is pauls first letter period. Gundry has provided the bible reading world with a rare gem. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. In this brilliant commentary, beverly roberts gaventa discu. Internally, the vocabulary, style, and doctrinal content support the claims in 2 thessalonians 1. Attributed to a great methodist evangelist in the south. Believers at thessalonica, but as with all of the epistles it is also for believers of all times. But to stay below with the saints i knowthats another story.
We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. The second epistle to the thessalonians was written soon after the first. Brothers and sisters, i hope that you can see that the general subject of the new testament epistles is the lifegiving spirit. It was a great commercial center of pauls time, the inhabitants being greeks, romans and jews. Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by paul. The situation in the church seems to have been much the same. Pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians has been questioned more often than that of 1 thessalonians, in spite of the fact that it. Thus, the second coming seems to permeate the letter and may be viewed in some sense as its theme. The letters called epistles from paul to thessalonica, which included i thessalonians and ii thessalonians were probably two of the earliest letters paul had written which was around a. The apostle was told that, from some expressions in his first letter, many expected the second coming of christ was at hand, and that the day of judgment would arrive in their time. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in macedonia and achaia 1 thess. After paul started the church in thessalonica, he wrote this first letter to the believers there within just a few months of leaving. Paul commends believers for their positive testimony, exhorts them in behalf of the faith, corrects false doctrine, answers false charges against his ministry.
A majority still hold to pauls authorship of 2 thessalonians. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The most prominent theme in 1st thessalonians is the second coming of jesus. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. At jesus future coming, the dead in christ will rise and will be caught up along with the living to meet the lord in the air. The first book of thessalonians niv audio holy bible. Second thessalonians was undoubtedly written to deal with the embarrassment resulting from pauls belief that jesus would return in his own lifetime, yet died disappointed. Check out this summary and commentary and the book of i thessalonians. The first book of thessalonians niv audio holy bible high. The first epistle of thessalonians 1 thessalonians from the holy bible new international version niv book 52 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of.
Paul wrote this letter to strengthen and encourage the church in thessalonica. In acts, luke recorded that paul preached for three sabbath days to the jews in the. The first is seen as representing pauls earliest epistolary efforts and as providing two successive moments in his long relationship as advisor to that community. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic. Upon leaving thessalonica under duress, paul, silas, and timothy traveled to athens by way of berea. The spirit in 1 and 2 thessalonians is the spirit of sanctification. Nathan eubank recovers interpretations of these pauline letters from the ancient and medieval church as he explores their historical and theological significance. Paul, silas and timothy wrote this letter soon after the first letter. May 06, 2015 the first epistle of thessalonians 1 thessalonians from the holy bible new international version niv book 52 please note we have increased the volume and the pitch of the audio for a.
First and second thessalonians by nathan eubank, paperback. Over a quarter of 1 thessalonians and nearly half of 2 thessalonians deal with problems and issues regarding the parousia or coming of christ from heaven. He will punish those who do not know god and do not obey the gospel of our lord jesus. It was founded by cassander, king of macedon 315 b. Sometimes teachers state that paul had told the thessalonians there would be a pretribulation rapture, and we are to read this oral tradition into the books of first and second thessalonians. But he wanted to encourage them to go on in their faith, to be strong in persecution, wary of temptation, and watchful for the lords second coming.
The book of 1st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. My abbreviation bcv means book, chapter, and verse. In this one volume nt commentary widely respected nt scholar robert h. A free bible commentary on 2 thessalonians in easyenglish. The epistles of paul to the thessalonians are forceful evidence that paul was no mere armchair theologian. For background on the church at thessalonica, see acts 17. The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book from the new testament of the christian bible. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish synagogue on three successive sabbath days. Date both thessalonian epistles were written during pauls second missionary journey, thus making them among the earliest of the new testament. Grace and peace to you from god the father and the lord jesus christ.
Thanksgiving and prayer we ought always to thank god for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. God will forgive all who accept the gospel and believe in the lord jesus christ. The church in thessalonica, established on pauls second missionary journey, was a model church. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor. No other book of the bible gives a clearer sequence and detail of the events surrounding the glorious return of jesus christ than the two letters paul writes to a young church at thessalonica greece who fear that they will be left behind when that great day comes. This summary of the book of 2 thessalonians provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 2 thessalonians. This servant of jesus christ had experienced harsh treatment at the hands of both misguided gentiles and hostile jews for the sake of jesus 2 cor 11. Second epistle to the thessalonians read the bible online. Bible study questions on the book of 1 thessalonians. Commentary on first and second thessalonians ebook. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible survey.
The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. Every chapter of 1 thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming of christ, with ch. The thessalonian letters present the first literary evidence for the use of parousia. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic similarities to the first, paul probably had received a second report from the city detailing continuing questions or problems regarding the end times. 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. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Watch our overview video on 2 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Paul wrote 2 thessalonians from corinth in ad 51 within months of writing the first letter.
I have lived my entire christian life by trusting in the inerrancy of the generally accepted translations of the. The time of this writing was surely a few months after the first epistle, while paul was still in corinth with silas and timothy 1. Thessalonians, first and second, theology of bakers. To dwell above with the saints in loveoh, that will be glory. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. The doctrine, style, and manner of thought are all pauline, and resemble 1st thessalonians. Paul wrote his first letter to the thessalonian church from the city of corinth around ad 51, just a few months after having preached in thessalonica on his second missionary journey.
People were satisfied with pauls explanation concerning those who died and were ready and willing to suffer persecution if need be in order to remain true to the gospel that paul preached. People were satisfied with pauls explanation concerning those who died and were ready and willing to suffer persecution if need be in. Grace be unto you, and peace, from god our father, and the lord jesus christ 2 we give thanks to god always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our lord. Because of its similarity to 1 thessalonians, it must have been written not long after the first letter perhaps about six months. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not god, and that obey not the gospel of our lord jesus christ. The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book. This final volume in the successful catholic commentary on sacred scripture new testament series interprets first and second thessalonians from within the living tradition of the church. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts.
Biography of paul both the internal and external evidence points to paul writing this epistle. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Pauls second epistle to the thessalonians is in one sense a followup to the first letter. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of god 1 thessalonians 4. First epistle to thessalonians read the bible online. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece.
Paul, silas and timothy, to the church of the thessalonians in god our father and the lord jesus christ. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. A bible commentary for teaching and preaching gaventa, beverly roberts on. It says not to be troubled by a previous letter written as if by paul, whi. The second epistle of paul the apostle to the thessalonians 2 thessalonians 1. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the bible. Listen to chuck swindolls overview of first thessalonians in his audio message from the classic series gods masterwork. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians story of the.