The First Epistle to the Thessalonians

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The First Epistle to the Thessalonians

• An Encouraging Expectancy

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Pastoral Epistles
Prophetic Epistles
Prison Epistles
Foundational Epistles
1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus
1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians
Ephesians Philippians Colossians Philemon
Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians
Christ the congregation
Christ second coming
Christ the church
Christ the cross
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Thessalonica ?
ASIA MINOR
GREECE
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Purposes for the Epistle

• The Problem of Persecution For you, brethren,
  became imitators of the churches of God in Christ
  Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the
  same sufferings at the hands of your own
  countrymen, even as they did from the Jews
  (214).
• Encouragement in Holy Living For this is the
  will of God, your sanctification that is, that
  you abstain from sexual immorality 4 that each
  of you know how to possess his own vessel in
  sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful
  passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God
  (33-5).

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Purposes for the Epistle

• Establishing a Christian work ethic Make it
  your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to
  your own business and work with your hands, just
  as we commanded you 12 so that you may behave
  properly toward outsiders and not be in any need
  (411-12).
• Comfort for the Death of Loved Ones But we do
  not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about
  those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as
  do the rest who have no hope (413).

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1 Thessalonians 11

• Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of
  the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord
  Jesus Christ Grace to you and peace.

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A shared salvation history
Chapter 1

• Gods choice of you (12-5).
• Your imitation of Christ (16-8)
• Your turning to God (19-10)

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A shared salvation history
Chapter 1

• The manner of his ministry (21-12)
• The result of his ministry (213-16)
• The joy of his ministry (217-20).
• The reconnection of his ministry (31-8)
• The prayer of his ministry (39-13)

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A shared salvation history
Chapter 1
Chapters 2-3
Pauls ministry in Thessalonica

• The principle stated (41)
• Sexual purity (43-8)
• Responsible work (49-12).
• A Promise of Comfort in the face of Death
  (413-18).

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A shared salvation history
Chapter 1
Chapters 2-3
Chapter 4
Pauls ministry in Thessalonica
Exhortation to walk in a worthy manner
What God has done in our lives
How we are to live as a result of what God has
done

• Living in light of the Day of the Lord (51-11).
• Attitudes toward Christians workers (512-13).
• Closing instructions (514-28).

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