*N.B. This is a transcript of my complete chapter on I Thessalonians taken from "Sixty-Six Books - An Overview of the Bible Book by Book"**


1 THESSALONIANS - THE BOOK OF SANCTIFICATION. 

 
First Thessalonians is probably one of the most gentle and affectionate of Paul’s letters. It is characterized by simplicity, gentleness, and affection. 

 Author 

  First Thessalonians itself in 1:1 says the authors were Paul, Silas, and Timothy, but the main author is Paul. We know this because he refers to himself by name (1 Thess. 1:1, 2:18) and uses “I” on several occasions (1 Thess. 3:5, 4:13, 5:27). 

 Recipients 

  First Thessalonians 1:1 states that it was written to the church at Thessalonica. On his second missionary journey, Paul entered Europe for the first time when he crossed from Asia Minor to Macedonia, the northern part of present-day Greece. The first churches that he established in Europe were in the Macedonian cities of Philippi and Thessalonica (Acts 16:1112; Acts 17:1). Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonians only a few months after he established the church. 

 Paul's initial work in Thessalonica brought fruit among the Greeks but violent opposition from the Jews. When the Jews created a public uproar, the city authorities tried to restore peace by getting rid of Paul. They made one of the local Christians deposit an amount of money with them, apparently as a guarantee that Paul would leave the city and not return (Acts 17:2-10; cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:18)

Paul, Silas, and Timothy went to Macedonia and established a church at Philippi. Probably leaving Timothy at Philippi, Paul, and Silas the very likely traveled 100 miles on to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-10). When persecution broke out, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica. Forty miles later they stopped at Berea and Timothy joined them there. Paul left Silas and Timothy and went on to Athens. Later, Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens and he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica. Timothy caught up with Paul in Corinth and gave him a good report concerning the Thessalonians. It was then that Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians from Corinth in 51 AD. Paul earnestly desired to visit Thessalonica again (1 Thess. 2:18, 3:10). The Thessalonians were doing well spiritually (1 Thess. 1:3-8), yet Paul was concerned about their faith (1 Thess. 3:2, 5, 10) and their sanctification, and especially their love (1 Thess. 4:3, 10). There was also a few doctrinal questions Paul wanted to address (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and there were difficulties in some of their meetings (1 Thess. 5:12, 19, 20). 

 Message 

 The subject of 1 Thessalonians is sanctification (1 Thess. 4:13, 5:23). The books purpose is to unpack it meaning to sow that sanctification consists of faith, love, and hope in one’s personal life as well as one’s church life. 

 
Structure 

  First Thessalonians is a letter. It begins with a salutation (1 Thess. 1:1), followed by a thanksgiving (1 Thess. 1:2-12). A prayer would be expected next, but instead Paul defends his ministry. Then, he returns to the thanksgiving, after which he returns to the main discussion of his relationship to them). Finally, he prays (1 Thess. 3:11-13). In Ephesians, he interrupted his prayer. Here, he interrupted his thanksgiving to address some doctrinal issues. The subject of the discussion is sanctification). Paul is concerned about their faith, love, and their hope. Paul tells them that sanctification is growing to maturity in faith, love, and hope. 

 I.              1:1-3:13 Relations with the Thessalonians 

 II.            4:1-12 Teaching about marriage and work 

 III.           4:13-5:11 Concerning Christ's return 

 IV.          5:12-28 Advice on other matters 

Purposes 

 The first purpose of 1 Thessalonians is to encourage believers in their faith. Jewish unbelievers unfairly accused Paul of using flattery to cover his greed and that his motive was personal honor. His failure to return seemed to support to their claim. Paul defends himself but only because he wants to encourage the believers in their faith.  

 The second purpose of 1 Thessalonians is to encourage them to grow in love one for another. Because of moral problems, Paul calls upon them to be sanctified, that is, to grow in love. 

 The third purpose of 1 Thessalonians is to establish them in hope. After his departure, some died. Those remaining wondered what would happen to the departed at the Rapture. 

Paul writes to establish them in hope and comfort. 

 A fourth purpose of 1 Thessalonians is to enlighten them in church matters. There were also minor problems in their assembly. Paul tells them to esteem the elders, minister to one another and handle the meetings properly. 

 Summary: 

 Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to encourage believers to be more and more set apart unto the Lord in their personal and assembly life. Sanctification consists of growing to maturity in faith, love, and hope.