Background: Shortly after Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians he heard of some additional problems that had arisen among them that he needed to address. They were still experiencing persecution for their faith, and so he writes in this letter to encourage them to persevere in their afflictions, reminding them that the day of the…
1Th 5:1 “Times” refers to an extended period of time and “epochs” to a fixed time or date. See Luke 20:9-10. Why did the Thessalonians need no one to teach them about times and dates? See verse 2, and Mat 24:36, Acts 1:6-7. 1Th 5:2 In what way will the day of the Lord come…
Having reminded the Thessalonians of his ministry among them and expressed his joy that they were remaining steadfast in their new Christian faith (chapters 1-3), Paul now directs his attention to encouraging them on to a still greater depth of Christian maturity while addressing some minor issues and concerns that Timothy had reported to the…
1Th 3:1 Explain the chronology and locations of Paul’s interaction with the Thessalonians. See Acts 17:1-18:5. Who is the “we” here? What does this verse tell us about the deep concern Paul felt for those children he had begotten in the Lord? Was travel free in those days? How might Paul’s experience with the Galatian…
1Th 2: 1 What does Paul mean that his coming to the Thessalonians was not in vain? 1Th 2:2 What gave Paul such boldness to proclaim the gospel in the midst of such persecution? 1Th 2:3-6 How was Paul different from other religious teachers? 1Th 2:5 In what way have religious teachers throughout history used…
Background: What is the background for this letter? See Acts 16-17, esp. Act 17:1-15, 1Th 3:1-3 and notes below. 1Th 1:1 Who wrote the letter to the Thessalonians? Who was with Paul when he wrote it? 1Th 1:2 How often did Paul pray for the Thessalonians? See Rom 1:8-9, Eph 1:15-16, Phil 1:3-4, Col…
In 1 Timothy 4:2 Paul writes that those lying advocates of false religion have been “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron”. Such is a particularly vivid image likening them to slaves who like unreasoning animals (2 Pet 2:12, Jude 10) have been branded with a spiritual mark of ownership. For the true sons…
The Scriptures admonish us against trusting in the walls we build ourselves for protection, lest the Lord Himself destroy them: The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as the eagle swoops down, a nation whose language you shall not understand, a nation of fierce countenance who…
A word study on water, wash, river, the depths, waves, the deep and the wind. water 4325, 5204, 504wash 628, 633, 637, 907, 909, 1026, 3067, 3068, 3538, 4150river 5103, 5104, 2975, 5158, 6388, 3105, 180, 650, 4215the depths 8415, 6009-12, 4688, 4615,waves 4867, 1116, 1530, 1796,the deep 8415, 4688, 4615, 6013, 6683, 8247, 4950the…
A word study on water, wash, river, the depths, waves, the deep and the wind water 4325, 5204, 504wash 628, 633, 637, 907, 909, 1026, 3067, 3068, 3538, 4150river 5103, 5104, 2975, 5158, 6388, 3105, 180, 650, 4215the depths 8415, 6009-12, 4688, 4615,waves 4867, 1116, 1530, 1796,the deep 8415, 4688, 4615, 6013, 6683, 8247, 4950the…