1Thessalonians 1:1-2
What It Takes to Build A Church
This evening, we will begin a study in the book of 1Thessalonians. As is
common when we study a book together on Wednesday night, let me begin by
giving you some background information.
Introduction to the book
A. AUTHORSHIP: Paul is the primary author of the 1Thessalonians.
1. \\#1:1\\ lists three authors, Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timotheus
(Timothy).
2. Paul is listed first in that order because he was the primary writer.
1Thess 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again;
but Satan hindered us.
B. MAIN THEME: The return of Jesus Christ
1. It is obvious that some in the church had lost family members to
death.
2. Paul writes to explain what the Lord’s plan was for those who had
died in Christ.
C. SIDE NOTE: Overall, 1 Thessalonians is not a heavy doctrinal book.
1. In fact, those who want to question Paul’s authorship site that as
the reason, although that didn’t happen until the 19th century.
2. The primary doctrine of the book is the return of Christ.
3. Because it is not an overly deep book in doctrine, I will not have
something to say about every single verse.
4. Instead, we will glean from all the verses and center on specific
passages.
D. HISTORY: We have a record of this church being founded in Acts 17.
1. \\#Acts 17:1-10\\ Paul founded the church on his second missionary
journey. \\#Acts 15:36-18:22\\
a. \\#Acts 17:2\\ The Bible mentions that Paul reasoned with the
Jews for three Sabbaths.
b. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Paul was only there for three
weeks. He might not have spoke every Sabbath that he was there.
c. That verse does give the impression that Paul wasn’t there very
long.
(1) \\#Acts 17:5\\ Some of the Jews of that area attempted to
find and seize Paul.
(2) After that, the believers there considered it was too
dangerous for Paul to stay.
d. Let’s follow Paul’s ministry a little while longer.
2. \\#Acts 17:10-15\\ Paul then went to Berea.
a. \\#Acts 17:11\\ The Bible says that these people were more
noble in that they received and studied the Word.
b. \\#Acts 17:12\\ But that was ended by the Jews of Thessalonica.
They came to Berea and stirred the people against Paul.
c. \\#Acts 17:13-14\\ At this time, Paul goes on to Athens and
Timothy and Silas stay at Berea.
(1) While Paul leaves them at Berea, it appears from Paul’s
statements in \\#1Thess 3:2\\ that he instructed Timothy
to go back to Thessalonica to check on the Christians there.
(2) Paul states in \\#1Thess 3:5\\ that he was very anxious to
know the welfare of those young Christians.
d. \\#Acts 17:15\\ Paul sends for Silas and Timothy to come join him.
3. \\#Acts 17:16-34\\ Paul’s ministry at Athens.
4. \\#Acts 18:1\\ Paul leaves for Corinth, alone.
a. \\#Acts 18:5\\ That is where he is when Silas and Timothy
catch up to him.
b. This is important in helping us to understand where Paul was
when he wrote the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
c. \\#Acts 18:11\\ Paul stays, or at least focuses, his ministry
in Corinth for the next 18 months.
E. LOCATION: Where was Paul when he wrote the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians?
1. \\#1Thess 1:1\\ Notice that Silas and Timothy are with Paul.
2. This is also stated in the letter.
1Thess 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good
tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always,
desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and
distress by your faith:
3. Since Silas and Paul did not re-connect with Paul until he got to
Corinth, and since Paul stayed in or around Corinth for the next
18 months, it is supposed that Paul wrote these letters from Corinth.
4. However, at the end of both 1Thessalonians and 2Thessalonians are
some footnotes which state these books were written from Athens.
a. «The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.»
b. «The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.»
c. These little footnotes are at the end of a lot of New Testament
epistles. So let’s learn a thought about them.
5. The Scripture makes it clear that Timothy and Silas were not with Paul
at Athens. What gives?
a. One possibility is that once the three were back together, they
made a quick journey back to Athens to write to the Thessalonians.
(That is not very likely.)
b. The other is that these footnotes were added later by a scribe or
someone who thought they were doing a good deed, but were never
a part of the actual text.
(1) Of course, we all know that we do not have the original
letters.
(a) If we did, we could look.
(b) What we have are copies of copies.
(2) But you will notice that these footnotes are normally set
in a different typeset than the regular text.
(a) The translators and producers of our King James Bible
did that so that we would know that there is some
question about this line.
(b) I like to remind people from time to time that even
our King James Bible has had some things added to it
that were not in the original writings.
(c) The most notable addition are the chapter and verse
divisions are man-made.
(d) You will also find some notes at the beginning of some of
the Psalms which are also questionable.
Outline:
I. \\#1Thess 1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#1Thess 1:3-10\\ Paul’s Knowledge of the Thessalonians
A. \\#1:3\\ Paul knew the Thessalonians’ devotion.
B \\#1:4-5\\ Paul knew of the Thessalonians’ salvation.
C. \\#1:6-10\\ Paul knew of the Thessalonians’ character.
I. \\#1Thess 1:1-10\\ Paul’s Introduction
A. \\#1\\ It tells us who wrote the book and to whom it was addressed.
B. "Grace… and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ."
1. This is Paul’s customary salutation.
2. It is given in all thirteen of the epistles that Paul is known
to have written.
3. As we have noted before, Paul always mentions grace before peace.
4. Why?
a. Because you must accept God’s gift of grace before you
can have God’s gift of peace.
(1) God’s gift of grace is first and foremost Jesus Christ.
(2) Grace is God working in and through your life to
accomplish God’s will.
(3) There is nothing that God desires more for your life
than that you accept Jesus as your Savior and enjoy
a life of fellowship with Him.
b. Because once you have accepted God’s gift of grace, you
should have God’s peace.
(1) This is a package deal.
(2) If you get grace from God, you also get peace with God.
Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us;
(3) If you get enough grace from God, He will show you how
to have peace with others and peace with yourself.
C. \\#2\\ Paul prayed for those whose life path had crossed with his.
1. We know it was Paul’s custom to pray for those he had
influenced for Christ.
2. I believe we should pray for all of those whose paths have
crossed our lives.
a. We should pray for those we have ministered to or attempted
to minister to.
(1) We don’t want our work to be in vain.
(2) Whether we planted, watered, or harvest seed, we
want God to bring forth fruit and make it last.
b. And we should certainly pray for those who have ministered
to us.
(1) We are the product of those who have invested in our
lives.
(2) God laid this on my heart some years ago.
(3) One of the things that I have been impressed with
since taking up this kind of praying is how many of
those who invested in my life God updates me on.
(4) Without much effort, God brings news of them to me.
(5) That let’s me pray better for them.
I had hopes of getting further into this message than I have, but this is a good
place to break at. Paul is just getting started in this letter, but God can deal
with our hearts even from these first words.
1. Do you have peace with God? While you were getting God’s grace, did you
get enough to have peace with yourself and others?
2. Do you pray for those that God has allowed to cross your life’s path?
If not, let’s ask God for more of that grace tonight.
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