"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS" Chapter One OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) To understand how the virtues of faith, hope, and love should express themselves 2) To notice the potential a new congregation has for spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ, and being a positive example to all believers SUMMARY Joined by Silvanus and Timothy who had been with him when the gospel was first preached in Thessalonica, Paul offers his salutation along with a petition for grace and peace. He follows with an expression of thanksgiving for their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope, knowing their election by God (1-4). His assurance of their election is bolstered by the manner in which they received the gospel. It had come to them not only in word, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance. Having imitated Paul and the Lord by receiving the word in much affliction and joy, they in turn had become examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. From them the word had sounded forth in every place, and the news of their own faith toward God had so spread that Paul did not need to tell others about them. Indeed, others were telling Paul of the Thessalonians' conversion from idols to serve the true God, and how they were waiting for the resurrected Jesus to return from heaven who would deliver them from the wrath to come (5-10). OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION (1-4) A. SALUTATION (1) 1. From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy (1a) 2. To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1b) 3. Grace and peace from God and Jesus (1c) B. THANKSGIVING (2-4) 1. Offered to God in their behalf, making mention of them in his prayers (2) 2. Mindful always of their: a. Work of faith b. Labor of love c. Patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ ...in the sight of our God and Father (3) 4. Knowing their election by God (4) II. REFLECTIONS REGARDING THEIR CONDITION (1:5-10) A. THEIR RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL (5-7) 1. The gospel came to them not only in word, but... a. In power b. In the Holy Spirit c. In much assurance ...for they knew what kind of men Paul and his companions had been for their sakes while with them (5) 2. They had become followers of Paul and of the Lord, having received the word... a. In much affliction (6a) b. With joy of the Holy Spirit (6b) 3. They had became examples to the believers in Macedonia and Achaia (7) B. THEIR REPUTATION IN EVERY PLACE (8-10) 1. From them the word of the Lord had sounded forth in Macedonia, Achaia, and beyond (8a) 2. Their faith toward God had gone out, so Paul did not need to say anything (8b) 3. Others were telling Paul... a. What manner of entry Paul had to them (9a) b. How they had turned from idols to serve the living and true God (9b) c. How they were waiting for the resurrected Jesus to return from heaven, who delivers from the wrath to come (10) REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER 1) What are the main points of this chapter? - Introduction (1-4) - Reflections regarding their condition (5-10) 2) Who joined Paul in the salutation of this epistle? (1) - Silvanus and Timothy 3) How did Paul address the church? (1) - The church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 4) What three things was Paul especially thankful for regarding the Thessalonians? (3) - Their work of faith - Their labor of love - The patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ 5) What did Paul know concerning the Thessalonians? (4) - Their election by God 6) How had the gospel come to the Thessalonians? (5) - In Word, in power, in the Holy Spirit, in much assurance 7) How had they become followers of Paul and the Lord? (6) - By receiving the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit 8) For whom had they became examples? (7) - All the believers in Macedonia and Achaia 9) What two things had sounded forth, or gone out, from the Thessalonians? (8) - The word of the Lord - Their faith toward God 10) What two things describe the manner in which they received Paul? (9-10) - Their turning from idols to serve the living and true God - Their waiting for Jesus from heaven