The Legacy of Paul1 Thessalonians

Agenda• Background• Audience• Map• Political Climate• Why Write the Letter?• Major Topics• Legacy • Resources• For Further Study

Background• First New Testament book written: • Some scholars believe Galatians was first• Earliest surviving Christian writing• Between 49-52CE• Written from Corinth

Audience• Church in Thessalonica:• Port city on northern shore of Aegean Sea• Prosperous due to trade

• Capital of Roman province of Macedonia• Culturally Greek, governed by Greek law• Strong Jewish population; audience was

NOT Jewish• Paul does not quote Old Testament

Ancient Marketplace in Thessalonica

Political Climate 49CE• Claudius Caesar expelled all Jews from Rome:

• Jews & Christians indistinguishable to Romans• Jews were often rioting

• Massacre in Temple courts during Passover:• Governor of Judea (Felix) put armed cohort (480

armed soldiers) in Temple court• One soldier made offensive gesture toward Temple• Riot ensued• 10,000-20,000 Jews suffocated or trampled to

death

Why Write the Letter?• Paul, Timothy & Silvanus (Silas) went to

Thessalonica• Forced to leave by Jewish community• Went to Beroea; Silvanus & Timothy stayed

there• Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica when

Paul arrived in Athens• Paul went on to Corinth• Timothy gave a good report on the Church• Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians reinforcing his

teachings

Major Themes• Return of Christ: • Parousia: Second Coming of Christ

• Life after death:• Some in their group had died; Christ had

not returned• Paul said the dead in Christ would rise

before Christ comes – they will not miss what they had been awaiting (4:13-5:11)

• Resurrection was of the body – like Christ’s resurrection body

Major Themes - Cont“The main point of prophecy is not prediction – but hope. We have a hope which the world does not have…”Hayford, Jr. & Hayford, III; Lesson 10.• Blessed Hope (4:13):• NOT wishful thinking• NOT hope in the world• Refers to the return of Christ & promises of

God

Major Themes - ContLove (3:12-4:12):• “Love requires one’s entire being. It is spiritual,

and intellectual, and emotional, and physical. Love is enduring and longsuffering; it continues even when faced with rejection.” Hayford & Hayford, Lesson 9

• Recurring theme of Paul’s writings• Agapao: unconditional love; love by choice/will• Agapao is only used when referring to

Christian community

Major Themes - Cont• Love (4:9-12):• God is Source of Love• Balance: Live quietly, mind your own

business & have a business to mind (4:11)• Refers to them as “brothers and sisters” 12

times establishing community & family• Holy Kiss (5:26): family members at the

time exchanged kisses in greeting; Christ Followers were to be a family

Major Themes - Cont• Freedom:

• Freedom of today ‘do whatever I want’ is a perversion

• Freedom in Paul’s time was the “…ability to make responsible choices.” Hayford, Jr. & Hayford, III; Lesson 8

• Sexual purity (4:1-8):• Gentiles needed instruction on sexual morality• “We Christians hold everything in common

except our wives. You Romans hold nothing in common except your wives.” Tertullian, 2nd century, CE

Legacy• Approximate Population of Thessaloniki today:• 790,900• 1,000 Jews

• Official Church in Greece: Greek Orthodox• 97% of population in Greece: Christian

Modern Day Thessalonica

Resources• The Harper Collins Study Bible, Harold W.

Attridge, General Editor 1989• Paul: Messenger of Grace, Kenneth Schenck• History of the Jews: Internet Archive https://

archive.org/stream/cu31924016930681#page/n259/mode/2up accessed 5-28-14

• Christianity Under Claudius, F.F. Bruce, http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/bjrl/claudius_bruce.pdf accessed 5-28-14

Resources• Introducing the New Testament, Mark Allan

Powell• Fearless Faith: Standing Firm in Freedom and

Hope, a Study of Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Jack W. Hayford, Jr. with Jack W. Hayford, III

For Further Study• The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in

the Book of Revelation, Barbara R. Rossing

PowerPoint By Stacey Atkins

This Presentation is the Intellectual Property of Stacey Atkins

www.SomethingDifferentMinistries.orgCopyright 2014