Summary two letters that paul wrote to the church in thessalonica are preserved. Paul had heard of it and is now writing a second epistle to teach and encourage them. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a jewish synagogue on three successive sabbath days. It was not long after paul had written his first letter to the church in thessalonica that he realized he needed to write another letter to clarify exactly when they should expect the second coming of christ. The first epistle was penned at corinth by the apostle paul in response to timothys report on the progress of the church they had recently established there 3. Whoever wrote second thessalonians was quite adamant that he really was the apostle paul 2 thessalonians 3. Believers at thessalonica, but as with all of the epistles it is also for believers of all times. The epistles of paul to the thessalonians are forceful evidence that paul was no mere armchair theologian. Intro to 1 thessalonians biblica the international bible. Paul wrote 2 thessalonians to commend his children in the faith for their growth and faithfulness, to correct the doctrinal error about the day of the lord, and to warn the idle to get back to work.
The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book from the new testament of the christian. The book of 1 thessalonians was written in approximately a. Apr 01, 2019 the apostle paul wrote this letter with the assistance of his coworkers silas and timothy. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians bible survey. Of the books in the new testament that are attributed to paul, most modern scholars agree that he wrote the books. Since pauls letter to the churches of galatia was probably written in ca. The book of 2 nd thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. It is traditionally attributed to paul the apostle, with timothy as a coauthor.
Paul wrote letters in the bible, romans, 1 corinthians, 2 corinthians, galatians, collisions titus, 1 timothy 2 timothy, 1 philemon philippians, 1 thessalonians, 2 thessalonians and the book. The new testaments two most extended passages dealing with the coming antichrist are 2 thess. Forced out of thessalonica, paul and his team went to berea. That paul wrote this epistle has never been questioned until this century. Summary of the book of 2 thessalonians story of the. This letter is attributed to the apostle paul although some have questioned the authorship based on ten vocabulary words not used elsewhere by paul, its a little more formal in a different tone than paul usually wrote, and the doctrine of man of lawlessness is not in any of pauls other letters. Interesting facts about 1 thessalonians bible charts. The book of 2nd thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. In the greek new testament, 2 thessalonians is listed as to the thessalonians. Modern biblical scholarship is divided on whether the epistle was written by paul. Sep 14, 2019 yet there are obvious reasons why 2 thessalonians would come after the first letter due to paul clearing up some confusing topics in 1 thessalonians that werent covered clearly.
Those who conclude that paul or one of his contemporary associates wrote 2 thessalonians point to verses that express anxiety about letters that falsely claim to be from paul 2. The book of second thessalonians bella vista church of christ. What is the purpose of the book of 2nd thessalonians. Just as when paul wrote 1st thessalonians, timothy and silas are still with him compare. The second epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as second thessalonians or 2 thessalonians is a book from the new testament of the christian bible. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living ministries. Paul commends believers for their positive testimony, exhorts them in behalf of the faith, corrects false doctrine, answers false charges against his ministry. In contrast to pauls first letter to the church in thessalonica, which was warm and affectionate, this letter takes a more formal, authoritative tone. Its his second letter, or epistle, to the church in the city of thessalonica. May 07, 2012 paul wrote 2 thessalonians to commend his children in the faith for their growth and faithfulness, to correct the doctrinal error about the day of the lord, and to warn the idle to get back to work. Second thessalonians appears to have been written just a few months, possibly a year, after first thessalonians. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica.
According to i thessalonians, chapter 3, verse 2, paul had sent timothy to thessalonica from athens. The jews from thessalonica followed paul to berea and caused trouble for him there also. Book of second thessalonians overview insight for living. Paul wrote 2 thessalonians from corinth in ad 51 within months of writing the first letter. Aug 11, 2017 the thessalonians faced intense opposition for their faith 2 thess. In other words, something has to happen first before jesus returns. The books of first and second thessalonians were both written from corinth.
Just because paul visited a city, preached the gospel for weeks or even months, and founded a church by guiding converts to the faith, this did not protect the new church from scheming heretics. The book of second thessalonians bella vista church of. Shortly after writing 1 thessalonians, the apostle paul received a report 2 thess. Thus the thessalonians who were still young in their faith had been confused and wearied in their living hope of the coming of the lord. The first letter of paul to the thessalonians britannica. Obviously paul wrote the book of 2nd thessalonians, probably near ad 52 and almost immediately after 1st thessalonians because. In fact, the immaturity of any new church presented a perfect target for those who meant to mislead and distort the truth. Thus, pauls first two letters were written to thessalonica. Jan 23, 2014 the book of second thessalonians was written by the apostle paul who wrote about half of the new testament. The doctrine, style, and manner of thought are all pauline, and resemble 1st thessalonians. In his second epistle to the thessalonians, paul wrote words of counsel and clarification to members of the church who misunderstood. Biography of paul both the internal and external evidence points to paul writing this epistle.
In all probability i thessalonians is the earliest of pauls letters, particularly because the memory of the events that led to the founding of that congregation are still fresh in the mind of the apostle. It is likely the first of pauls letters, probably written by the end of ad 52. This would place the writing of the epistle during pauls extended stay at corinth on his second missionary journey cf. The book of 1 st thessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. Paul wrote this second letter to the church he founded in the city of.
Far and away the largest theological contribution of both 1 and 2 thessalonians lies in what they say about eschatology. Paul, and silvanus, and timotheus, unto the church of the thessalonians in god our father and the. Book of 2 thessalonians free bible study questions, class book, workbook, assignments, and study material. Because of scholars disagreements about how to relate this book to 1 thessalonians, 2 thessalonians belongs among the disputed letters attributed to paul. This book is the shortest of pauls epistles to local churches. Paul, worried about his friends and their troubles with false teachers, wrote this second letter to the believer. The epistle is attributed to paul the apostle, and is addressed to the church in thessalonica, in modernday greece. To encourage and hearten the believers, paul chose to emphasize the second coming of jesus christ. Watch our overview video on 2 thessalonians, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Bible study questions on the book of 2 thessalonians. The two letters are the th and 14th books of the new testament canon. In the church of thessalonica there were some misunderstandings about the return of christ. This represents the apostle pauls second canonical correspondence to. The thessalonians had grown slack in pursuing holiness 1 thess.
The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, silas, and timothy. First and second thessalonians comprise some of the earliest new testament writings. The first letter 1 thessalonians was written to a community of believers who had been christians for only a short period of time, probably no more than a few months. The church in thessalonica still had some misconceptions about the day of the lord. The main reason it has been questioned is simply because the language of 2nd thessalonians differs from pauls other letters in a few ways. Who wrote the book of 2 thessalonians in the bible. The first epistle to the thessalonians, commonly referred to as first thessalonians or 1 thessalonians, is a pauline epistle of the new testament of the christian bible. Nine of these book are letters to local churches like the one in thessalonica. View chuck swindolls chart of second thessalonians, which divides the book into major sections and highlights themes and key verses. Leaving berea, paul goes to athens, leaving silas and timothy in berea to establish and strengthen this infant church. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic similarities to the first, paul probably had received a second report from the city detailing continuing questions. Paul tells the thessalonian believers they were not to be shaken or alarmed.
Of the books in the new testament that are attributed to paul, most modern scholars agree that he wrote the books known as romans, 1 and 2 corinthians, galatians, philippians, 1 thessalonians and philemon for a grand total of 7. That leaves the books of ephesians, colossians, 2 thessalonians, 1 and 2 timothy, and titus. Not only is 1 thessalonians the first of two letters to the church at thessalonica, it is pauls first letter period. This letter was the shortest of the 9 letters that paul wrote to the churches. Since this epistle was certainly written during pauls long stay at corinth acts 18. Scholars have looked into the possibility of 2 thessalonians being written first because of how the new testament is laid out. For background on the church at thessalonica, see acts 17. The book of 2 thessalonians was likely written in ad 5152. Letters of paul to the thessalonians, either of two new testament letters written by saint paul the apostle from corinth, greece, and addressed to the christian community he had founded in thessalonica. Second thessalonians is the ninth of pauls letters. The second letter was written shortly after the first, but some question pauline authorship because there is notable ambiguity about the proximity. Paul died in the 60s, and some scholars argue that 2 thess. This committed preacher of the gospel was called a god at lystra, raised a dead man. Dec 15, 2020 the standard arguments both for and against 2 thessalonians having been written by paul, are either irrelevant or inconclusive.
Thessalonians, first and second, theology of bakers. It is a problem that needs to be explained, not a problem to be set aside by interpolation hypotheses. Paul needed to address the three troubles the church in thessalonica faced. In 2 thessalonians the personal pronouns we, us, and our, are found, which indicate that silas and timothy agreed with what paul wrote in this second letter to the thessalonians. Paul, and silvanus, and timotheus, unto the church of the thessalonians which is in god the father. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the lord, and from the glory of his power.
Jun 07, 2019 1 thessalonians was almost certainly written by paul basic reason. Before the end, the rebellion will come, including the man of lawlessness who opposes god. To help believers understand that jesus is coming back and to keep faithful in a world of ever increasing apostasy. The salutation of paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle. Since the subject matter of the second letter has a number of thematic similarities to the first, paul probably had received a second report from the city detailing continuing questions or problems regarding the end times. The manner of his second coming was conceived in accordance with the. Survey of 2 thessalonians what is a good summary of the book of 2. The book of first corinthians was his longest to a local assembly.
The key personalities in this book are the apostle paul, timothy, and silas. This servant of jesus christ had experienced harsh treatment at the hands of both misguided gentiles and hostile jews for the sake of jesus 2 corinthians 11. Paul wrote this letter to reemphasize the coming return of jesus christ. Summary of the book of 1 thessalonians bible survey. We learn from the book of acts that during pauls stay in the city of thessalonica, he preached in a. The second section addresses concerns regarding issues of prophecy 2 thessalonians 2. Book of 2 thessalonians explained discover books of the bible. Book of first thessalonians overview insight for living. When you read 1 and 2 thessalonians, it seems pretty obvious that the apostle paul wrote them because his name is at the beginning of both. The book of 2ndthessalonians is a pauline epistle letter from paul. First epistle to thessalonians read bible book online.
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