Off the Shelf Sunday School--1 Thessalonians
Warren Mueller
Christian Author & Lake Ecosystem Scientist. Manager Environmental Assessments at Ameren (Retired).
Background
1.????This epistle was written by Paul around 51AD while he was in Corinth. He had previously visited Thessalonica during his second missionary journey. (Acts 17:1-15) While he was there, Paul went to the synagogue and preached the gospel. Some of the Jews and “a large number of Greeks” became Christians. This caused a reaction among some jealous Jews who stirred up trouble for Paul accusing him of “defying Caesar’s decrees and promoting a king named Jesus." Due to this opposition, Paul left Thessalonica.
2.????Thessalonica is an ancient town that was previously called Therma which means hot springs. The Macedonian king Cassander founded Thessalonica in 315BC naming it after his wife who was a half-sister of Alexander the Great. Thessalonica was a prominent city in the Roman Empire. It was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and it was on the Roman highway to the eastern regions of the empire.
3.????Paul wrote this epistle to further instruct the Thessalonian Christians. There were various problems with the beliefs and practices of believers that Paul wished to correct. ?
A.???Some had ceased to work and had become disorderly because they believed that Jesus was going to return very soon. (1 Th 4:11; 5:14)
B.???There were concerns about those who died before the Lord’s return. (1 Th 4:13-18).
C.???Paul was concerned that persecution was changing their beliefs. (1 Th 3:1-7)
D.???There was sexual immorality and the misuse of spiritual gifts (1 Th 4:1-8; 5:19-21)