Pauls & Thessalonica

Acts 16-18, Pauls 2nd Journey

From Jerusalem to Philippi

Major Events of Pauls 2nd Journey

Paul and Barnabas disagree, split ways. Paul takes Silas.

In Lystra, Timothy joins Paul and Silas

Paul has a vision to go preach in Macedonia In Philippi, Paul and Silas are beaten and thrown in

prison. Miraculously saved by an earthquake. Preach in Thessalonica, chased out. Preach in Berea, well received. Paul preaches to philosophers in Athens

we are the offspring of God

Paul teaches in Corinth for 1.5 years, meets Aquila and

Priscilla

Acts 17:1-9
1-2

3-4 (substitute Messiah for Christ)

5-6 (Pauls reputation preceded him) 7-8 (accused of sedition, rebellion against govt)

9-10
Summary: Not a great visit to Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians
Author: Paul, Timothy &

Silvanus Date: ~ 50 AD Place: Corinth? Possibly the earliest surviving Christian text. Compared to other epistles, 1 Thess is lightweight.

Thessalonica

Corinth

Athens

Major Themes
Encouragement to the saints who are suffering

persecution.

Their enemies distrusted them and gossiped. Paul

encourages them to be good examples.

Paul answers a question about resurrection and the

2nd Coming

This is early in Pauls career, he believes the 2nd

Coming is very soon.

1:1-3: Greeting

Waiting for the 2nd Coming

1:10 ye turned to God from idols to serve the living

and true God 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
2:19 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of

rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Waiting for the 2nd Coming

3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts

unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

The Core of 1 Thessalonians: The Problem

4:13-18

The Thessalonian saints were eagerly awaiting

Jesus return. They believed Jesus would come before they died. Some of their members died, and Jesus hadnt come yet. What would happen to them? Pauls letter is written primarily to address this question.

The Solution
Paul clearly expects that he and his Thessalonian

friends will be present for the 2nd coming. Paul explains that those who die will resurrect first, and then the living will be caught up in the air to meet Jesus.

What do LDS believe?

In a nutshell
(1) There will be a period of tribulation and woes.

(2) Christ will return, and then

D&C 88 96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him. 97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven

Other Important Passages

2:6-9 Working Missionaries

4:3-5 Chastity
4:11-12 Hard work, Respectability

5:8-11 Armor of God, Salvation in

Christ, Encouragement 5:19-22 Prophecy, test all things, avoid evil

2 Thessalonians
The authorship of this letter is disputed. Most

scholars believe Paul did not write it.

Written in response to 1 Thessalonians, which many

interpreted as saying that the 2nd Coming was imminent.

Some people had quit their jobs because they

thought the 2nd Coming was so near.

2 Thessalonians
It is explained that an apostasia (rebellion) would

need to take place first, before the 2nd Coming. (2:14)

Also written to encourage them through fierce

persecution.

The End