Scripture
Questions
Greeting
1 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.
Why peace? What is the opposite of peace in the Hebraic/biblical worldview of Paul? Why are the Thessalonians unsettled [1 Thessalonians 5]? What eschatological questions are disturbing the modern church?
Thanksgiving for the Thessalonian believers
2 We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention constantly in our prayers, 3 because we remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father…
What actions is Paul, and his team, using of the Thessalonian Christians, that had nurtured peace in their lives?
4 knowing, brothers dearly loved by God, that he has chosen you,
In the Hebrew bible/Jewish worldview who are the chosen or elect people? To understand how Paul can rework election to include gentiles read on…
5 because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of people we became among you for your sake.
Torah keeping, especially the boundary markers [circumcision, kosher, clothing etc.] that distinguished Jews from gentiles were the signs of election. What were the new boundary markers for Paul [Isaiah 42:1-4; Joel 2:28-29 [Acts 2:16-18]; Acts 10:44-48]?
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia,
The Thessalonian Christians imitated Paul. Who did Paul imitate [1 Corinthians 11:1]? How does this inform our discipling of others?
8 for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us, what sort of welcome we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Achaia and Macedonia would be most of modern Greek and beyond. What characterizes their faith? Link your answer with your response to question 4.
10 and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, the one who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Where is our “forerunner” Jesus now [Hebrews 6:19-20, 12:2]? Where are we? How does Paul’s cosmology inform his eschatology [Thessalonians 4:16-17]?