{"id":13215,"date":"2013-04-14T20:47:49","date_gmt":"2013-04-15T01:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/christianrep.com\/blog\/?p=13215"},"modified":"2013-08-04T19:52:21","modified_gmt":"2013-08-05T00:52:21","slug":"first-thessalonians-the-abcs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianrep.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/14\/first-thessalonians-the-abcs\/","title":{"rendered":"First Thessalonians: The ABCs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Authorship, Background, and Contents<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Authorship<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The letter begins with \u201cPaul<\/i><\/b>, Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you\u201d <\/b>(1:1).<\/i> Paul occasionally associates others\u2019 names with his own in addressing his letters (2 Thessalonians, Philippians), but the true author is Paul.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/b>First Thessalonians has been universally accepted as Pauline from the beginning. It is cited by Ignatius between A. D. 109-114. It was included in the earliest canonical lists (lists of inspired New Testament Scriptures), and was quoted and mentioned by name by prominent 2nd<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> century Christian writers, such as Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Clement of Alexandria. Other than the radical German critics of the 19th<\/sup> century, its authenticity has been assumed by all.<\/p>\n

First Thessalonians stands out also among New Testament writings in that it can be precisely dated. There are two extra-biblical historical markers that provide brackets for located it. Paul write from Corinth shortly after arriving there (see Background), giving us the first date. We are told in Acts 18:1-2:<\/p>\n

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After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.<\/b><\/p>\n

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This same event was recorded by the Roman historian Suetonius in his lives of the 12 Caesars (about A.D. 121):<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Because the Jews at Rome caused continuous disturbances at the instigations of Chrestus, he expelled them from the city.<\/p>\n

This event has been reliably dated around the year A.D. 49. Most historians accept that the comment on some agitator named \u201cChrestus\u201d actually refers to Christ, which Suetonius had misunderstood. The \u201cdisturbances\u201d were really probably disputes between Jewish Christians and non-Christian Jews in Rome about Jesus that were heated enough to draw the attention of the emperor. At any rate, that gives us A.D. 49 as the first bracket to locate the date of this letter.<\/p>\n

The second date marker occurs also in Acts 18:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. \u201cThis man,\u201d they charged, \u201cis persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.\u201d<\/b> (Acts 18:11-13)<\/i><\/p>\n

A stone inscription found by archaeologists confirms that Gallio was appointed proconsul of Achaia in the summer of A.D. 51. That gives us the outer marker. Since Paul probably wrote 1 Thessalonians early in his ministry at Corinth, the time of writing was probably the Spring of A.D. 50, though a year plus or minus is possible.<\/p>\n

First Thessalonians is therefore at least the second-earliest letter of Paul in the New Testament; the earliest, if Galatians is dated in the 50s as some scholars believe. This letter gives us convincing historical evidence of what Paul taught and Christians believed only two decades after Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection (usually dated either A.D. 30 or 33). Contrary to skeptical theories about \u201cthe long, gradual development of Christian beliefs,\u201d this short letter shows the presence of every significant New Testament doctrine, demonstrating that the gospel has been preached in its fullness from the very beginning.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Background\"Thessalonians<\/a> <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There is remarkable harmony between 1 Thessalonians and the description of Paul\u2019s ministry and movements in Acts 17-18. The founding of the church in Thessalonica is described in Acts 17:1-4:<\/p>\n

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When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. \u201cThis Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,\u201d he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some Bible students have take the statement \u201con three Sabbath days\u201d to indicate that Paul had stayed in Thessalonica only three to four weeks. This is probably a misunderstanding, however. It is more likely that he then left his attempts in the synagogue and moved out to do work significantly with the Gentiles for many more weeks. More time would probably have been needed to win \u201ca large number of God-fearing Greeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

First Thessalonians contains indications that Paul did indeed stay longer than 3-4 weeks. For example, in 2:9 he speaks of his personal example, demonstrating his willingness to work for his own support rather than receiving from them \u2014 an example that would have taken longer to demonstrate. Second, in Philippians 4:15-16 Paul reminds the Philippians that they had sent financial support to help him in Thessalonica at least twice, if not more, indicating a longer stay to allow for several 100 mile journeys between the cities. Paul\u2019s stay in Thessalonica was a relatively short, but probably a few months rather than weeks.<\/p>\n

Acts 17:5-9 describes the events that precipitated Paul\u2019s departure:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason\u2019s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: \u201cThese men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar\u2019s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.\u201d When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Knowing that Roman authorities had no interest in intervening in what they saw as internal Jewish divisions (see Acts 18:12-16 for a failed attempt by Jewish leaders to do so), Paul\u2019s opponents aimed their attack where Rome was sensitive. The basic \u201cloyalty oath\u201d of the Roman Empire was contained in the assertion, \u201cCaesar is lord.\u201d Christians were seen as insurrectionists because of their counter-assertion, \u201cJesus is Lord.\u201d There was a great deal of religious tolerance in the Roman Empire, but there was absolutely no tolerance regarding who was lord. The charge that Christians were proclaiming \u201canother king\u201d was certain to get the authorities\u2019 attention. In this case, they demanded a sort of \u201cpeace bond\u201d from Jason, to be forfeited if there were more trouble. This led Paul to leave town.<\/p>\n

The circumstances of his departure naturally caused Paul to have anxious concerns about the church he left behind. Acts says he sent Timothy back to check on the condition of the church while he continued to Athens and Corinth.<\/p>\n

Acts 18:5 then picks up the story:<\/p>\n

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When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

These same movements are mentioned in 1 Thes. 3:1-7<\/p>\n

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So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God\u2019s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith \u2026 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.<\/b> (3:1-2, 6-7)<\/i><\/p>\n

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So, having heard good news about the persevering faith of the Thessalonians, Paul rejoices. But Timothy has also brought news that they need answers to questions and confusion, so Paul addresses them in this letter of encouragement.<\/p>\n

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Contents<\/span>\"1-thessalonians-59_2159_1600x1200\"<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Though brief, 1 Thessalonians is full of profound teaching from the apostle. As said above, every major New Testament doctrine is mentioned in this letter. Along with doctrinal teaching, there are also strong exhortations for believers to live according to God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Watch for some of the following themes:<\/p>\n

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