Coachlight Bible Study – I Thessalonians (True Evangelism)

Chapter One – Receiving the Word – Endure Expecting The Day

 

The group at Thessa­lonica was converted on Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9). Being released from prison at Philippi, Paul then heard the “Macedonian call”.  Paul and his companions, Silas and Timothy, went south and then west to the Macedonian capital and commercial center, Thes­salonica. With much tribulation caused by Jews (Acts 17:10-15), Paul reasoned with the people from the Word of God and had to flee to Athens.  While at Athens, Paul taught the philosophers he saw about the Creator, and then the concern for the group at Thessalonica caused him to send Timothy to help the church against persecution (I Thessalonians. 3:1-3). Timothy rejoined Paul at Corinth with the report that the people had taken hold of the Word of God. Paul then wrote I Thessalonians: first to commend  his faithful brethren for continuing to walk with Christ (While explaining what true evangelism is) and then to exhort them in their walk of holiness expecting Christ’s return.

The book of Acts helps us to pinpoint the date of this Epistle exactly. The reference to Gallio in the trip to Corinth (Acts 18:12) has been illuminated by the discovery at Delphi of an inscription which dates Gallio's pro-consulship during the reign of the emperor Claudius. Gallio took office in the summer of A.D. 51. Paul arrived in Corinth from Athens in A.D. 50. Soon after this, Silas and Timothy re­turned with the report that caused Paul to write I Thessalonians (Acts 18:5; I Thessalonians 3:1-6) probably about the middle of A.D. 50. A few months later, the Epistle of II Thessalonians was written by Paul to take care of problems that came up.

Paul’s plan is seen in Paul recalling the warm reception the converts gave the Gospel and then he reminds them of the circumstances in which he brought the Word of God to them. His concern was evidenced by his willingness to part with Timothy, a key person in his team, in order to encourage the people of Thessalonica.

Timothy's report lifted the Apostle's burden and caused him to write practical exhortations. Aware of the temptations in a pagan culture, Paul warns them about reverting back to fornication, and to pursue a life of holiness expecting the return of Christ which will please God.  Chapter one demonstrates how the group at Thessalonica received the Word, chapter two shows how they were evangelized.  Chapter three shows why Paul wrote the Epistle, and chapters four and five are encouragements to walk and please God expecting all the time the immanent coming of Christ in the clouds to “catch up” His people.

The group needed more teaching on the Rapture, and was seen by two problems in the group: (1) The people being lazy and not taking care of everyday chores in view of Christ's imminent return, and a fear that dead in Christ would not be able to be part of the Rapture. Paul meets these problems directly with exhortations to comfort one another with the teaching of the Rapture, and of the roles of living and dead saints in Christ's coming.

I believe the Holy Spirit had Paul write these two Epistles for us today.  Because Paul had to flee Thessalonica, we can see clearly the proper method of evangelism.  Paul couldn’t teach and encourage personally, so we have demonstrated in Acts and I Thessalonians the proper way to evangelize, many times different from our pre-conceived notions of True Evangelism.

 

 

I Thessalonians – True Evangelism

Focus

Evangelism

Exhortation

Reference

1:1---------2:1-------------3:1----------4:1----------4:13--------5:1----------5:12-------

Division

Receiving The Word

Characteristics

Of True

Evangelism

Reason For Writing

Pleasing God

Dead In Christ

Day of the Lord

Holy Living

Topic

Commendation

Exhortation

Location

Written In Corinth

Time

51 A.D.

 

I. The Salutation

 

I Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

I Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience<5281> of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

I Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. {beloved…: or, beloved of God, your election}

 

A. The letter was from Paul, Silas, and Timothy

B. The letter was to the group of people at Thessalonica

C. Paul had been praying for his “flock” without ceasing

D. Paul remembered Three Things Concerning The Thessalonians

1. Their work because of their faith

2. Their labor because they loved their brothers

3. Their perseverance because they had expectant hope – See Hebrews 12:1-12

 

5281. upomonh hupomone hoop-om-on-ay’; from 5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:— enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

E. These fruits demonstrated they being chosen by God

 

II. The Evangelism

 

I Thessalonians 1:5  For our gospel<2098> came not unto you in word only, but also in power<1411>, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance<4136>; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

 

A. The Definition of the word Gospel

 

2098. euaggelion euaggelion yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on; from the same as 2097; a good message, 2097. euaggelizw euaggelizo yoo-ang-ghel-id’-zo; from 2095 and 32; to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel:— declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).


 

B. We see what Paul’s Gospel was in the book of Acts:

 

Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

 

C. The definition of the word power – Where we get our word dynamite

 

1411. dunamiv dunamis doo’-nam-is; from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):— ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.

 

D. The definition of the word assurance: - conviction

 

4136. plhroforia plerophoria play-rof-or-ee’-ah; from 4135; entire confidence:— (full) assurance.

 

III. The Reception Of The Word

 

I Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

I Thessalonians 1:7 So that ye were ensamples<5179> to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

I Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

IThessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned<1994> to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

I Thessalonians 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

 

A. The meaning of the word ensamples: “sign of future events” – Our word Type

 

5179. tupov tupos too’-pos; from 5180; a die (as struck), i.e. (by implication) a stamp or scar; by analogy, a shape, i.e. a statue, (figuratively) style or resemblance; specifically, a sampler ("type"), i.e. a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning):— en-(ex-)ample, fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern, print.

 

B. The meaning of the word “sounded out – We get our word ‘echo’

 

1837. exhceomai execheomai ex-ay-kheh’-om-ahee; middle voice from 1537 and 2278; to "echo" forth, i.e. resound (be generally reported):— sound forth.

 

1. Notice that no word needed to be spoken

2. Notice what was sounded out – The Word of God

3. Notice it wasn’t by great numbers of people

4. Notice it was from a pattern of living

5. Notice it was from receiving the Word of God

 

C. The meaning of the word “turned” – means converted

 

1994. epistrefw epistrepho ep-ee-stref’-o; from 1909 and 4762; to revert (literally, figuratively or morally):— come (go) again, convert, (re-)turn (about, again).

 

D. The meaning of the word “wait” – expectant endurance

 

362 anamenw anemeno an-am-en’-o - from 303 and 3306; ; v

AV-wait for 1; 1 - 1) to wait for one (with the added notion of patience and trust)