First Epistle To The Thessalonians
Jump to: Smith'sSubtopics
Smith's Bible Dictionary
First Epistle To The Thessalonians

was written by the apostle Paul at Corinth, a few months after he had founded the church at Thessalonica, at the close of the year A.D. 62 or the beginning of 53. The Epistles to the Thessalonians, then (for the second followed the first after no long interval), are the earliest of St. Paul's writings --perhaps the earliest written records of Christianity. It is interesting, therefore, to compare the Thessalonian epistles with the later letters, and to note the points of These differences are mainly

  1. In the general style of these earlier letters there is greater simplicity and less exuberance of language.
  2. The antagonism to St. Paul is not the same. Here the opposition comes from Jews. A period of five years changes the aspect of the controversy. The opponents of St. Paul are then no longer Jews so much as Judaizing Christians .
  3. Many of the distinctive doctrines of Christianity were yet not evolved and distinctly enunciated till the needs of the Church drew them out into prominence at a later date. It has often been observed, for instance, that there is in the Epistles to the Thessalonians no mention of the characteristic contrast of "faith and works;" that the word "justification" does not once occur; that the idea of dying with Christ and living with Christ, so frequent in St. Paul's later writings, is absent in these. In the Epistles to the Thessalonians, the gospel preached is that of the coming of Christ, rather than of the cross of Christ. The occasion of this epistle was as follows: St. Paul had twice attempted to re-visit Thessalonica, and both times had been disappointed. Thus prevented from seeing them in person, he had sent Timothy to inquire and report to him as to their condition. (1 Thessalonians 3:1-6) Timothy returned with more favorable tidings, reporting not only their progress in Christian faith and practice, but also their strong attachment to their old teacher. (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10) The First Epistle to the Thessalonians is the outpouring of the apostle's gratitude on receiving this welcome news. At the same time there report of Timothy was not unmixed with alloy. There were certain features in the condition of the Thessalonian church which called for St. Paul's interference and to which he addresses himself in his letter.
  4. The very intensity of their Christian faith, dwelling too exclusively on the day of the Lord's coming, had been attended with evil consequences. On the other hand, a theoretical difficulty had been felt. Certain members of the church had died, and there was great anxiety lest they should be excluded from any share in the glories of the Lord's advent. ch. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
  5. The Thessalonians needed consolation and encouragement under persecution. ch. (1 Thessalonians 2:14; 3:2-4)
  6. An unhealthy state of feeling with regard to spiritual gifts was manifesting itself. ch. (1 Thessalonians 6:19,20)
  7. There was the danger of relapsing into their old heathen profligacy. ch. (1 Thessalonians 4:4-8) Yet notwithstanding all these drawbacks, the condition of the Thessalonian church was highly satisfactory, and the most cordial relations existed between St. Paul and his converts there. This honorable distinction it shares with the other great church of Macedonia, that of Philippi. The epistle is rather practical than doctrinal. The external evidence in favor of the genuineness of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians is chiefly negative, but this is important enough. There is no trace that it was ever disputed at any age or in any section of the Church, or even by any individual till the present century. Toward the close of the second century from Irenaeus downward. we find this epistle directly quoted and ascribed to Paul. The evidence derived from the character of the epistle itself is so strong that it may fairly be called irresistible.
Subtopics

First

First and Second Books Of Chronicles

First and Second Books Of Kings

First Epistle Of Peter

First Epistle To The Corinthians

First Epistle To The Thessalonians

First Fruits: As a Heave offering

First Fruits: Belonged to the Priests

First Fruits: Figurative

First Fruits: First Ripe of Fruits, Grain, Oil, Wine, and First of Fleece, Required As an offering

First Fruits: Freewill offerings of, Given to the Prophets

First Fruits: Offerings of, Must be Free from Blemish

First Fruits: Presented at the Tabernacle

First Fruits: To be offered As a Thank-Offering Upon Entrance Into the Land of Promise

First Fruits: Wave offering of

First Heaven

First Lady of the Church

First Love

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Antiquity of offering

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Could not be a Free-Will offering

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Flesh of, the Priest's Portion

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Law of Redemption For

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Not Shorn

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Not Taken from the Dam for Seven Days

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Not to Labour

The First Born of Clean Beasts: Offered in Sacrifice

The First Born of Clean Beasts: To be Redeemed

The First Born of Israel: Price of Redemption For

The First Born of Israel: Price of, Given to the Priests

The First Born of Israel: To be Redeemed

The First Born of Israel: Tribe of Levi Taken For

The First Born of Man and Beast Dedicated to God

The First Born of the Donkey to be Redeemed With Lamb or Its Neck Broken

The First Born: Dedicated to Commemorate the Sparing of the First Born of

The First Born: Laws Respecting, Observed at Christ's Birth

The First Born: Laws Respecting, Restored After the Captivity

The First Born: Objects of Special Love

The First Born: Precious and Valuable

The First Born: Privileges of a Double Portion of Inheritance

The First Born: Privileges of Authority Over the Younger Children

The First Born: Privileges of Could be Forfeited by Misconduct

The First Born: Privileges of Could be Sold

The First Born: Privileges of in Case of Death the Next Brother to Raise up Seed To

The First Born: Privileges of not to be Alienated by Parents Through Caprice

The First Born: Privileges of Precedence in the Family

The First Born: Privileges of Special Blessing by the Father

The First Born: Privileges of The Father's Title and Power

The First Born: Superseded: Aaron

The First Born: Superseded: Adonijah

The First Born: Superseded: Cain

The First Born: Superseded: David's Brothers

The First Born: Superseded: Esau

The First Born: Superseded: Ishmael

The First Born: Superseded: Japheth

The First Born: Superseded: Manasseh

The First Born: Superseded: Reuben

The First Born: The Beginning of Strength and Excellency of Power

The First Born: The Dignity of Christ

The First Born: The Dignity of the Church

The First Fruits: Allotted to the Priests

The First Fruits: Church of Christ

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of all Agricultural Produce

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Barley Harvest

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Fruit of New Trees in Fourth Year

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Honey

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Wheat Harvest

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Wine and Oil

The First Fruits: Different Kinds of Wool

The First Fruits: First Converts in Any Place

The First Fruits: God Honored by the offering of

The First Fruits: Holy to the Lord

The First Fruits: Law of, Restored After the Captivity

The First Fruits: Offering of, Consecrated the Whole

The First Fruits: Resurrection of Christ

The First Fruits: The Jewish Church

The First Fruits: To be Brought to God's House

The First Fruits: To be offered in a Basket

The First Fruits: To be offered with Thanksgiving

The First Fruits: To be offered without Delay

The First Fruits: To be the Very Best of Their Kind

Firs
Top of Page
Top of Page




Bible Apps.com