Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul’s first epistle to the Thessalonians.
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Basics
- Author: Paul (with Silas and Timothy)
- Date: c 50-51. Those who say Galatians is mid-50s hold that 1&2 Thessalonians are the earliest Christian literature.
- Background: Acts 17
- Main purpose: Paul wants to encourage a young church facing persecution; answers charges against himself; teach them about moral and godly living and assure them about the future of those who die before Christ returns.
Structure
- 1:1 – Greeting
- 1:2-3:13 – Extended Thanksgiving
- 4:1-5:22 – Moral exhortations
- 5:23-24 – Concluding prayer
- 5:25-28 – Farewell greetings
Background & Outlines
- 1&2 Thessalonians NASB Study Text
- 1&2 Thessalonians ESV Study Text
- Map of NT Churches
- Chronology of Paul
- Paul’s use of the Old Testament
- Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
- Bible Atlas: Thessalonica
- Blue Letter Bible: 1 Thessalonains Outline
- Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
- John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background – 1 Thessalonians
- 1 and 2 Thessalonians Introduction – J Vernon McGee
- 1 Thessalonians – Myer Pearlman
- Hope in the Lord: Introduction to 1-2 Thessalonians – John B Polhill
- 1 Thessalonians – Synthetic Bible Studies – James Gray
- 1 Thessalonians – Keys to the NT – James Orr
- Analysis of 1 Thessalonians – James Van Dine
- First Thessalonians Overview – Charles Swindoll
Maps from Bible-History.com
- Paul’s 1st Journey
- Paul’s 2nd Journey
- Paul’s 3rd Journey
- Israel in NT Times
- Kingdom of Herod the Great
- Herod’s Kingdom Divided
- New Testament Cities
- Apostles’ Journeys
Maps from Studylight.org
- Paul’s First Missionary Journey
- Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
- Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
- Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment
- Paul’s Voyage to Rome
Key Words in 1 Thessalonians
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
- God (37x/31v) – Strong’s G2316 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:2; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:4; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 1:9; 1Th 2:2; 1Th 2:4; 1Th 2:5; 1Th 2:8; 1Th 2:9; 1Th 2:10; 1Th 2:12; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 2:14; 1Th 2:15; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:9; 1Th 3:11; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 4:3; 1Th 4:5; 1Th 4:7; 1Th 4:8; 1Th 4:9; 1Th 4:14; 1Th 4:16; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:18; 1Th 5:23.
- Lord (24x/22v) – Strong’s G2962 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:6; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 2:15; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:8; 1Th 3:11; 1Th 3:12; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 4:2; 1Th 4:6; 1Th 4:15; 1Th 4:16; 1Th 4:17; 1Th 5:2; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:12; 1Th 5:23; 1Th 5:27; 1Th 5:28.
- Jesus (16x/15v) – Strong’s G2424 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:10; 1Th 2:14; 1Th 2:15; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:11; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 4:2; 1Th 4:14; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:18; 1Th 5:23; 1Th 5:28.
- Christ (10x) – Strong’s G5547 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 2:6; 1Th 2:14; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 4:16; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:18; 1Th 5:23; 1Th 5:28.
- faith (8x) – Strong’s G4102 in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:5; 1Th 3:6; 1Th 3:7; 1Th 3:10; 1Th 5:8.
- love (7x/6v) – Strong’s G26 in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 3:6; 1Th 2:12; 1Th 5:8; 1Th 5:13; Strong’s G5360 in 1Th 4:9.
- gospel (6x) – Strong’s G2098 in 1Th 1:5; 1Th 2:2; 1Th 2:4; 1Th 2:8; 1Th 2:9; 1Th 3:2.
- word (7X/5v) – Strong’s G3056 in 1Th 1:5; 1Th 1:6; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 4:15.
- hope (4xs) – Strong’s G1680 in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 4:13; 1Th 5:8.
Commentaries & Study Bibles
- Top 5 Commentaries on 1&2 Thessalonians – Ligonier.org
- Best Commentaries on 1&2 Thessalonians – Tim Challies
- Commentary Reviews: Thessalonians
- Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: 1 Thessalonians
- Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 1 Thessalonians
- Alfords Exegetical Commentary: 1 Thessalonians
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 1 Thessalonians
- Geneva Study Bible: 1 Thessalonians
- Reformation Study Bible Notes: 1 Thessalonians
- Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 1 Thessalonians
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
City of Thessalonica
- Thessalonica – Holman Bible Dictionary
- Thessalonica – Hastings Dictionary of the New Testament
- Thessalonica – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
- Thessalonica – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Thessalonica – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
Letter
- 1 Thessalonians – Holman
- 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
- American Tract Society Thessalonians, Epistle to the 1 and 2
- Easton’s Bible Dictionary Thessalonians, Epistles to the
- Fausset Bible Dictionary Thessalonians, the Epistles to the
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Thessalonians, First Epistle to the
- Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Thessalonians Epistles to the
- Morrish Bible Dictionary Thessalonians, Epistles to the
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the
- McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Thessalonians, First Epistle to The,
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia Thessalonians, Epistle to the
- Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Thessalonians epistles to the
Timothy
- Timothy – Holman Bible Dictionary
- Timothy – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
- Timothy – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Timothy – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
- Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Silas, Silvanus
- Silas – Holman Bible Dictionary
- Silas – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
- Silas – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Silas – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
- Silas in Acts: Acts 15:22-41; Acts 16; Acts 17; Acts 18:5
Paul
- Paul, the Apostle – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
- Paul – Holman Bible Dictionary
- Paul, the Apostle – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
- Paul – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
- Paul, the Apostle – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Paul- Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
Articles
- David Alan Black: The Literary Structure of 1 and 2 Thessalonians
- Robert Bradshaw: The Purposes Behind Paul’s First Epistle to the Thessalonians
- FF Bruce: The First Epistle to the Thessalonians: An Expanded Paraphrase 1; Part 2
- FF Bruce: “Christianity Under Claudius,” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 44 (March 1962): 309-326.
- John Cereghin: 1 Thessalonians Studes – 134 pages
- Robert Dean: The Three Major Rapture Passages
- Tomas Edgar: The meaning of ‘sleep’ in 1 Thessalonians 5:10,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 22.4 (Dec. 1979): 345-349
- R Gregson: A Solution to The Problems of the Thessalonian Epistles,” The Evangelical Quarterly 38.2 (April-June 1966): 76-80
- Gregory Harris: The Word of God or the word of Man? 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13TMSJ 26/2 (Fall 2015) 179–202
- Ed Hindson: The Rapture and Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ
- Ed Hindson: Tribulation After the Rapture
- Howard Marshall: Pauline Theology in the Thessalonian Correspondence,” M.D. Hooker & S.G. Wilson, eds., Paul and Paulinism. Essays In honour C.K. Barrett. London: SPCK, 198
- Richard Mayhue: The Bible’s watchword: day of the lord – The Master’s Seminary Journal 22/1 (Spring 2011) 65-88
- Richard Mayhue: Why a Pretribulational rapture? TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 241-253
- Grant Richardson: Theology of Sex (An Entire Book)
- Jay Smith: 1 Thessalonians 4:4: Breaking the Impasse,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 11.1 (2001): 65-105.
- James Stitzinger: Rapture in 20 Centuries of Biblical Interpretation TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 149-171
- RL Thomas: Imminence in the NT, especially Paul’s Thessalonian epistles TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 191-214
- REH Uprichard: The Person and Work of Christ in 1 Thessalonians,” The Evangelical Quarterly 53.2 (Apr.-June. 1981): 108-114
- REH Uprichard: Exposition of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18,” Irish Biblical Studies 1.3 (July 1979): 150-156.
- REH Uprichard: The Person and Work of Christ in Thessalonians,” Evangel 3:1 (1985): 6-9
- Paul Wilkinson: Left Behind or Led Astray–Exposed
- William Watson: Pretribulational Rapture in 17th and 18th Century England
GotQuestions.org
Treat like any commentary: Read carefully and thoughtfully.
- 1 Thessalonians Book
- Questions about 1 Thessalonians
- Rev 11:15, 1 Cor 15:52, 1 Th 4:16 s the last trumpet of 1 Thessalonians 4 the same as the seventh trumpet of Revelation?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 What does it mean not to give the appearance of evil?
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?
- What is the rapture of the church?
- How can I be ready to be caught up in the rapture?
- How can I be sure I won’t be left behind in the rapture?
- Will there be a partial rapture?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the pretribulational view of the rapture (pretribulationism)?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the posttribulational view of the rapture (posttribulationism)?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the pre-wrath view of the rapture?
- When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?
- Yes, Christians Can Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture
- What is the Tribulation? How do we know the Tribulation will last seven years?
- Who are the dead in Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 What is the day of the Lord?
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Why is giving thanks to God important?
Bible Study Tools
- Bible Study 101
- Interpreting Epistles
- Study Software & websites
- More Maps & Charts
- Greek Word Studies by Precepts Austin
- Books on how to study the Bible
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