Through The Bible

Session #52 – 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians

November 2, 2005

City of Thessalonica

• Modern name: Salonika.
• Thessalonica was the principal and capital city of Macedonia. Original name was Therme after the hot springs in the area…i.e., thermal. 315 BC, Cassander rebuilt the city and named it after his wife, Thessalonica.
• It was a “free city” which meant there was no Roman troops quartered there to keep the people in line.
• The city was located on the Thermaic Gulf; it had an excellent harbor and was used by Xerxes in his invasion of Europe.
• The city was also on the Egnation Highway – Rome’s linking highway between Asia and Europe. The main street of Thessalonica was this highway.
• City was a great trade center.
• Women were believed to enjoy a higher status in Macedonia and Asia Minor than elsewhere so the area seems to be socially progressive.

The Gospel in Thessalonica

• Paul came to Thessalonica on 2^nd missionary journey probably around AD 50 (Acts 17.1-9). There was a synagogue when Paul came so we know there were Jews.
• Paul spent 3 Sabbaths debating with the Jews and some of them joined Paul and Silas.
• The Greeks in Thessalonica were said to be “God-fearers.” They were disillusioned by low moral standards among pagans; drawn to the idea of monotheism; but didn’t like all the regulations of the Jewish faith. When Paul talked about freedom in Christ, this drew them in.
• Jews were upset at Paul’s reception and incited a riot. Jason, Paul’s host, was dragged before authorities and questioned. Paul and his group felt it best to leave Thessalonica. Jews followed Paul to Beroea and so Paul went on to Athens.

The Text of Thessalonian letters

· Considered authentically Pauline by most scholars.

Situation of Church in Thessalonica and Date

· As noted earlier, Paul and his companions left in a hurry (Acts 17:10). There was concern because of their abrupt departure that the Christians there would be discouraged.

· After they left, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to evaluate conditions there. When Timothy caught up with Paul in Corinth, Timothy reported that the Thessalonians were steadfast in their faith. The people were sharing the Gospel and the Church was expanding. Paul immediately wrote 1^st Thessalonians.

· The letter encouraged the believers to persevere amidst persecution and answered some charges made by Jews. Paul also hoped to calm some anxieties about the return of Jesus. Some were afraid if they died, they’d miss out on Jesus.

· The letters also address some areas the Thessalonians needed to work on:

o Sexual relations must be exercised within marriage (1 Thess. 4).

o Some had become lazy because they believed Jesus was coming any day now, so why work? They had become a burden to others (2 Thess. 3).

· 2^nd Thessalonians was written because Paul learned later that the first letter (1^st Thessalonians) didn’t have the desired affect. The second letter deals mostly with problems relative to the Lord’s return.

· What about eschatology? (study of Last Things).

o The Thessalonians were taught to expect Jesus to return and they would be saved much hardship (1 Thess. 1.9-10; 5.9-10).

o Believers would share in Jesus’ kingdom and glory (1 Thess. 2.12).

o Questions not answered because of Paul’s hasty departure:

§ What about believers who die before Jesus comes again? Are they at a disadvantage?

§ Christian eschatology was influenced by Jewish thought. Part of the teaching says there would be a large-scale rejection of God and only a few would remain faithful.

§ A leader of this apostasy (modeled after Antiochus Epiphanes – 175-164 BC; Emperor Gaius – AD 37-41) seeks to receive worship that only God deserves. At the height of power, this ruler will be overthrown by an act of God. This act of God, according to Christian belief, will be the 2^nd Advent of Jesus – when Jesus comes again.

§ Christians are to look forward to this return of Jesus.

§ Paul believed, it turns out wrongly, that this return would happen in his lifetime.

· Paul most likely wrote these letters from Corinth in AD 50 or 51.

· If our dating is close, then these are the earliest New Testament documents we have.