"Finally, brethren...

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I Thessalonians
Resurrection of the Dead
Stan Crowley Church of Christ at Buda/Kyle Buda,
Texas
December 1999-February 2000
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I Thessalonians

• Resurrection of the Dead
• Lesson 1 Introduction Overview
• Lesson 2 Resounding of the Gospel (11-313)
• Lesson 3 Response to the Gospel (41-12)
• Lesson 4 Resurrection of the Dead (413-511)
• Lesson 5 Religious Duties (512-28)

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Lesson 1

• Key Questions for
• Introduction Overview
• Who was the author of I Thessalonians?
• Who was the audience for I Thessalonians?
• What was the occasion for writing I Thess.?
• Where does I Thessalonians fit in Pauls
  writings?
  
• Outline of I Thessalonians.
• What to remember from Lesson 1.

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Who was the author of I Thessalonians?

• Paul wrote I Thessalonians.
• (1 Th 11 NKJV) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To
  the church of the Thessalonians
  
• (1 Th 218 NKJV) Therefore we wanted to come to
  you even I, Paul, time and again
  
• An Apostle
• (1 Th 26 NKJV) when we might have made
  demands as apostles of Christ.
  
• (2 Cor 115 NKJV) For I consider that I am not
  at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
  
• (2 Cor 1211-12 NKJV) ... for in nothing was I
  behind the most eminent apostles, though I am
  nothing. Truly the signs of an apostle were
  accomplished among you

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Who was the author of I Thessalonians?Contd

• A Jew (Pharisee taught by Gamaliel)
• (Acts 223 NKJV) "I am indeed a Jew, ... but
  brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel,
  .
  
• (Phil 35 NKJV) ... concerning the law, a
  Pharisee
  
• A Persecutor of Christians
• (Acts 2610-11 NKJV) many of the saints I
  shut up in prison, ... and when they were put to
  death, I cast my vote against them. And I
  punished them often in every synagogue and
  compelled them to blaspheme
• A Convert to Christianity
• (Acts 915 NKJV) ... he is a chosen vessel ...
  to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the
  children of Israel.
  
• (Acts 2619 NKJV) ... I was not disobedient to
  the heavenly vision,

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Major Milestones in Pauls Life

• 33-36 Persecuted the church
• 36 Converted
• 36-38 In Damascus Arabia
• 38-44 In Tarsus, Syria, Cilicia
• 44-48 In Antioch
• 48-49 On 1st Missionary Journey
• 50 At Jerusalem Conference
• 51-54 On 2nd Missionary Journey
• 54-58 On 3rd Missionary Journey
• 59-63 In prison
• 63-67 Later travels
• 68 In prison
• 68 Death

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Pauls 2nd Missionary Journey (AD 51-54)
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Who was the audience for I Thessalonians?

• The church of the Thessalonians
• (1 Th 11 NKJV) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To
  the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father
  and the Lord Jesus Christ
  
• Thessalonica during the time of Paul
• Was a free city of Greek character.
• Had a large settlement of Jews.
• Was the largest city and capital of Macedonia
  (N. Greece).
  
• Remained a stronghold of Christianity for
  centuries.
  
• Modern Salonika has maintained importance.

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What was the occasion for writingI Thessalonians?

• On his 2nd Missionary Journey, Paul had been
  directed to Macedonia.
  
• He was not allowed to go to Asia or Bithynia.
• (Acts 166 NKJV) they were forbidden by the
  Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
  
• (Acts 167 NKJV) they tried to go into
  Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
  
• He progressed to Troas, where he was called by
  the Lord to go to Macedonia.
  
• (Acts 169 NKJV) And a vision appeared to Paul
  in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and
  pleaded with him, saying, Come over to
  Macedonia and help us.

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What was the occasion for writingI
Thessalonians?Contd

• In Macedonia (N. Greece), Paul visited
• Philippi
• Converted Lydia and a prisonkeeper
• Was shamefully treated (Acts 1622-37)
• Thessalonica
• Converted some Jews and many Greeks
• Was supported by Philippians (Phil. 415-16)
• Was threatened by uproar by envious Jews
• Left abruptly at night (with Silas) for Berea
• Berea
• Converted Jews and Greeks (noble students)
• Was harassed by Jews from Thessalonica
• Went to Athens (Silas and Timothy stayed)

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What was the occasion for writingI
Thessalonians?Contd
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What was the occasion for writingI
Thessalonians?Contd

• In Achaia (S. Greece), Paul visited
• Athens
• Disputed with Jews in synagogue
• Spoke to Areopagus about the unknown God
• Sent Timothy to Thessalonica (when he arrived
  from Berea)
  
• Moved on to Corinth
• Corinth
• Worked as tentmaker (with Aquila and Priscilla)
• Wrote 1 Thessalonians (when Timothy arrived from
  Thessalonica in Macedonia Silas also returned
  from Macedonia)

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What was the occasion for writingI
Thessalonians?Contd

• Timothys report
• Brought good new about the faithfulness of the
  Thessalonians
  
• Implied some were discrediting Paul and his
  ministry
  
• Caused concerns about their emphasis on moral
  purity
  
• Revealed misunderstanding about the resurrection
  of the dead and the return of Christ
  
• Prompted the writing of I Thessalonians from
  Corinth about 52 AD (about the time Gallio was
  proconsul of Achaia, Acts 185)

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Where does I Thessalonians fit in Pauls writings?
Dates are primarily from Life and Epistles of St.
Paul, Conybeare and Howson.
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Outline of I Thessalonians Resurrection of the
Dead

• I. Resounding of the Gospel (11-313)
• A. Receipt of Gospel (11-216)
• B. Report of Timothy (217-313)
• II. Response to the Gospel (41-12)
•  III. Resurrection of the Dead (413-511)
• A. Return of Jesus Christ (413-55)
• B. Remaining Watchful (56-11)
• IV. Religious Duties (512-28)
• A. Respect for Others (512-15)
• B. Remaining Faithful (516-28)

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What to Remember

• From Introduction Overview
• I Thessalonians was likely the first written of
  Pauls letter we have in the Bible (about AD
  52).
  
• Thessalonica was in Macedonia, where Paul was
  directed to go preach the gospel.
  
• I Thessalonians was prompted by Paul receiving a
  report about them from Timothy indicating that
  they
  
• were remaining faithful in spite of opposition,
• could use some instruction about the resurrection
  of the dead and return of Christ,
  
• needed some admonitions to purity.