The letter was written from Corinth after his coworker St. Timothy returned from Thessalonica to report that the new converts had stood fast in the Lord despite persecution. Despite persecution and suffering, the community of Jesus followers have stood strong in their commitment to Jesus. Paul encourages them further, pointing toward the return of King Jesus, who will set everything right.
#1 - AUTHORSHIP
The author doubtless was Paul. He called himself by that name twice (1:1; 2:18). His associates at the time of composition were Silas and Timothy, the very men who assisted Paul in the evangelization of Thessalonica.
The geographical movements of the author from Philippi to Thessalonica to Athens to Corinth (2:2; 3:1, 6; cf. Acts 16-18) corresponds to Paul‟s recorded journey.
The typical Pauline style of an opening salutation, blessing, prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a major section on doctrine and practice and ending with a personal greeting and benediction can be traced in the book.
Several church fathers recognized these features and acknowledged this Epistle to be from Paul. Among them were Irenaeus, Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria.
#2 - TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING
Paul visited Thessalonica a bustling commercial city in Macedonia of around 100,000
people, on his so-called second missionary journey, probably in AD 48 or 49 (Acts
17:1-9).
Paul‟s short visit caused such a disturbance in that city that Paul has to be sent away. Paul then moved alone to Corinth (Acts 18:1). Silas was sent to Macedonia, probably to Philippi or Berea. Soon afterwards Silas and Timothy joined him there (Acts 18:5).
Timothy brought back a glorious report that the Thessalonian believers loved Paul exceedingly that they wanted to see him again, and that they were standing firm in their faith in spite of persecution (3: 6-9).
Full of joy Paul wrote down this letter to commend them for their faith and to explain his absence and deportment. Timothy however, did report that there were some moral, practical and doctrinal deficiencies in the church.
The apostle thus wrote this letter from Corinth during his second missionary journey probably AD 51.
#3 - ESTABLISHMENT OF THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH
The establishment of the church is recorded in Ac 17:1-9. On his second missionary journey, Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) had just left Philippi and passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia to arrive at Thessalonica. As was his custom, Paul immediately located the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews for three
Sabbaths concerning Jesus Christ. While some of them were persuaded, including a great number of devout Greeks and leading women, the unbelieving Jews became jealous and created uproar in the city. Therefore it became necessary to send Paul and Silas away secretly by night to Berea.
#4 - PURPOSE OF THE LETTER
Paul wrote
to comment them for their exemplary living under persecution (1:1-10)
to defend his conduct at Thessalonica against criticism that had developed in
his absence (2:1-16)
to explain his absence from them (2:17-30)
to explain why he has send Timothy to them (3:1-13)
to give instructions on sexual purity (4:1-8)
to admonish them to proper manifestations of brotherly love (4:9-12)
to correct misconceptions about the relationships of the Christian dead to
living believers at the return of Christ (4:13-18)
to define the character of the Day of the Lord and to show the believers
relationship to it (5:1-11).
to outline their obligations to the spiritual leaders (5:12-13)
to command them about their various duties (5:14-28)
#5 - DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE EPISTLE
The major theme of the Epistle is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Every chapter contains at least one reference to that great truth (1:3, 10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23).
The classic passage on the rapture of the church is found here: “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord forever.”
This passage (4:13-18) and the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25), the defense of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15), and the book of Revelation contain the great prophetic sections of the New Testament.
The dominance of this theme demonstrates the fact that eschatological truths were among the basic fundamental doctrines taught to new converts.
The exaltation of the deity and lordship of Jesus Christ is clearly seen in the book. These titles were ascribed to Him: Lord Jesus Christ; Lord Jesus, Lord, Christ Jesus, Christ, Jesus and His son.
OUTLINE
1 Thess. 1:1 – salutation
1 Thess. 1:2-10 – the nature of the church
1 Thess. 2:1-3:13 – Paul’s relationship to the church
1 Thess. 4:1-5:22 – the problem of the church
1 Thess. 5:23-28 – conclusion
II THESSALONIANS
#1 - AUTHORSHIP
In spite of the close relationship between the two Thessalonian letters, some liberals they questioned the authorship of Paul. But tradition ascribes to Paul an apostle.
He did call himself “Paul” twice (1:1; 3:17). He again associated himself with Silas and Timothy. The opening salutations and prayers of thanksgiving found in both Epistles are almost identical. Paul‟s familiar trio of faith, love and hope is again seen.
Some problems introduced in the first letter, are developed further in the second: lack of work, and the Day of the Lord.
The authorship of Paul was recognized by Irenaeus, Tertullian and Clement of Alexandria
#2 - DATE & PLACE OF WRITING
Very little time, perhaps a month or two elapsed between the writings of the two Epistles. Paul heard (3:11) that the disorderly had not followed his exhortation to return to work (1 Thess. 4:10-12).
Either the messenger who took the first Epistle to Thessalonica or else a recent visitor to that city brought back this report. Paul was told that there was doctrinal discrepancy that was disrupting the church.
In the first Epistle Paul has charged” “quench not the spirit. Despise not prophesying” (5:19-20). Apparently some teachers, either from within or without the church, had preached that the persecutions which the Thessalonians were receiving proved that they were in the Day of the Lord.
Also there was a forged letter, purported to be from Paul that declared that believers would go into the Day of the Lord or the tribulation. Since Paul had preached and written differently that church membership was confused.
Since these problems were very real and personal, Paul deemed it necessary to write another Epistle to them to clarify their misunderstandings. Thus the Second Epistle was written also from Corinth probably in AD 51, one to three months after sending the first letter.
#3 - PURPOSE OF THE LETTER
First, Paul wanted them to know that he continued to thank God for their increasing faith, love and patience (1:1-4).
Second, he wanted them that Christ‟s Second Advent would not only deliver them from their persecutions but that it would also cause the destruction of the unsaved (1:5-12).
Third, he attempted to calm their anxiety caused by the false teaching that they were actually in the Day of the Lord (2:1-12).
Fourth, he exhorted them to obey his commands, whether oral or in the two Epistles (2:13 3:5).
Fifth, he wanted to give further instruction about the discipline of the disorderly (3:6-15).
#4 - DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THE LETTER
The dominant theme of the first Epistle, the return of Christ, was carried over into the second letter. Each chapter has at least one reference to it (1:7-10; 2:1, 8; 3:5).
In his discussion of the Day of the Lord, Paul revealed more truth about the person and work of the coming antichrist. He entitled him as the man of sin, the son of perdition, and that wicked one.
The use of “traditions” is unique. The verbal equivalent of this noun is found elsewhere, translated as “delivered.” Paul delivered or communicated in two forms that truth which he himself received from Christ: his oral teaching and his written Epistles. He did not regard them as a man made traditions, but as authoritative pronouncements from God.
Paul‟s exaltation of the person of Christ, as seen in the first letter, is also emphasised in the second. He identified Him mainly as the Lord Jesus Christ, as the Lord Jesus and as the Lord, once he named as Lord of peace.
OUTLINE
2 Thess. 1:1-2 – Salutation
2 Thess. 1:3-12 – the Thessalonians and persecution
2 Thess. 2:1-3:5 – the Thessalonians and the Parousia
2 Thess. 3:6-15 – the Thessalonians and discipline
2 Thess. 3:16-18 – conclusion