I Thessalonians

Introduction to I Thessalonians

Scofield Reference Notes:

WRITER: The apostle Paul ( 1 Thessalonians 1:1 )

DATE: The Epistle was written from Corinth, A.D. 54, shortly after Paul's departure from Thessalonica (Ac16:, 17.), and is the earliest of his letters.

THEME: The theme of the Epistle is threefold:

1. To confirm young disciples in the foundational truths already taught them;
2. To exhort them to go on to holiness;
3. To comfort them concerning those who had fallen asleep. The second coming of Christ is prominent throughout. The Epistle is incidentally most interesting as showing the richness in doctrine of the primitive evangelism. During a mission of about one month the apostle had taught all the great doctrines of the Christian faith.

The divisions of the Epistle are sufficiently indicated by the Chapters.

1. The model church, and the three tenses of the Christian life1:1-10
2. The model servant and his reward 2:1-20
3. The model brother, and the believer's sanctification 3:1-13
4. The model walk, and the believer's hope, 4:1-18
5. The model walk, and the day of Jehovah, 5:1-28

Before moving into end-times prophecies, we’d be well served to study what the early Church was taught regarding Church doctrine, including the doctrines of the rapture of the Church and the second advent. Apparently Paul started right out teaching the early converts all he knew about Jesus and His plan for the Church. Of course, Paul had a wealth of knowledge about these things, having spent those silent three years in the wilderness, learning from Jesus and storing up this knowledge to teach to the Church as he was able (Galatians 1:16-19). It is interesting to me that Paul, as an apostle “born out of due time” was given just as much time and attention as the Twelve had been given, when they walked with Jesus in His incarnation. 

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. I Thessalonians 1:1-5

There's that Godly sequence again: first grace, then peace. 

“We” Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were protective and proud of these new Christians and their local Church. Pastors, like fathers, pray for their flocks and thank God for the opportunity to bring them into the Body of Christ and to then teach them the wonderful doctrines of the Church age. These Thessalonians had “lapped it up” and were thriving as a Church. They demonstrated “steadfastness of hope,” meaning they could not be shaken from the confidence they had regarding Jesus Christ. Jesus had obviously called these converts into the Family of God, because they so readily received the gospel as it was preached to them. This was an indication of the Holy Spirit’s power in the presentation and the absolute assurance of the Thessalonians that they were receiving truth.

When God is calling an individual, the  person knows. Sometimes he will resist because of fear or confusion or embarrassment, but someone who is under conviction about the gospel knows Who is calling him. I did. Then, when he surrenders his will to the Lord, the gospel comes through so clearly and beautifully it is truly a homecoming of the soul, into the Body of Christ.  I believe a lot of those early converts experienced that same sense of calling and sense of comfort when they finally understood and received the atonement of Jesus Christ.

We start out as baby Christians just like we started out as baby humans. No teeth, no self-control, helplessly ignorant of the truths we must know to grow up in grace. We must be taught and nurtured in the faith. That was a job Paul and the other apostles took seriously, and they wasted no time bringing these believers up to speed on the doctrines they needed to know about their new position IN CHRIST. The Thessalonian believers were quick studies, apparently, because Paul had great enthusiasm about their faithfulness, love and steadfastness. What a testimony! What an exciting time it must have been for these pastors and for these young believers.

   

I’m going to enjoy learning along with them.