BACKGROUND NOTES ON PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

Author
     The apostle Paul, assisted by Silas and Timothy, who were also his assistants when he first preached in and established the church in Thessalonica.
 
Why was it written?
     Paul wrote to the young church to correct misunderstandings about the second coming of Christ. It seems that his initial ministry in Thessalonica (about AD 50) emphasized the coming of Christ, and the church understood that it would happen almost immediately — so when some of their members dies, it caused some consternation. Paul wrote to explain and expand his teaching on the second coming of Christ.
 
How and when was it written?
     Paul wrote the letter from Corinth in AD 50, probably only a few months after founding the church. Silas and Timothy brought a report on the church, and apparently Paul thought it important to correct them as quickly as possible.
 
First audience and destination:
     Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia, with approximately 200,000 citizens. It was a commercial city and seaport at the intersection on the Roman Egnatian way and the road going north to the Danube River. Like other Roman cities it was religious, with a number of religions present, but also immoral.
     Paul came to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey after preaching in Philippi. His preaching was effective, with some Jews and a large number of God-fearing Greeks as well as some prominent women accepting his message — but it quickly led to persecution initiated by jealous Jews charging that he was advocating another king in opposition to Caesar. Paul probably stayed their only three weeks, but he left behind an enthusiastic congregation made up of both Jews and Gentiles, who did not receive a lot of teaching before Paul had to flee. (See Acts 17:1-9 and further)
Paul moved on to Berea, but when the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul was preaching in Berea they went there and again stirred up the crowds against Paul. The believers there sent Paul away, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea for a while. Paul went to Athens and then Corinth, where Silas and Timothy caught up with him and reported on the church in Thessalonica.
 
Literary style:
A typical first century epistle, containing all four standard elements, written in Koine (common) Greek. It follows Paul's typical careful use of the language.
 
Special themes:
· The return of Christ: The church's misunderstandings aroung this theme was the main cause for its writing, so this is naturally one of the main themes. First and Second Thessalonians contains the bulk of New Testament teaching on the second coming:
  ·· Jesus will return bodily and visibly,
  ·· believers who have already died will be raised to life on that day,
  ·· those still alive will be changed without dying, and
  ·· "so we will be with the Lord forever" (4:17).
· Holiness: Paul balance his doctrinal teaching with practical advise on daily living. People expecting Christ's return should live in such a way that they will be ready when it happens.
· The day of the Lord: Paul develops the theme of "the day of the Lord", which was established by the Old Testament prophets (see Joel and Zephaniah), and applies it to the return of Christ.
· Paul teaches (twice, 4:18 and 5:11) that we should use the teaching about the second coming to "encourage one another".
 
Special features
· Unlike his other letters, First Thessalonians is not split into doctrinal material followed by practical guidelines — He moves back and forth between the two, although only practical advice follows after the word "therefore" ("So then," in the NIV) in chapter 5:6.
· When he speaks about the return of Christ Paul employs the same vocabulary used in general writings to describe the arrival of a great king at a city.
· Unlike most of Paul's letter, First Thessalonians offer calm advice, rather thatn rebuke, and is written in a warm, enthusiastic style.
 
General structure:
¤ Salutation - Chapter 1:1
¤ Thanksgiving - Chapter 1:2-3)
¤ Main body - Chapter 1:4-5:24
· Personal reflection - Chapter 1:4-3:13
  ·· Regarding the church - Chapter 1:5-10
  ·· Regarding his ministry and conduct - Chapter 2:1-12
  ·· Regarding his concern about the church - Chapter 2:13-3:13
· Specific teaching - Chapter 4:1-5:24
  ·· Living to please God - Chapter 4:1-12
  ·· Those who have already dies - Chapter 4:13-18
  ·· The day of the Lord - Chapter 5:1-11
  ·· Final instructions - Chapter 5:12-24
¤ Farewell - Chapter 3:16-18
 
 

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