Outline of 1 Thessalonians

Michael J. Penfold

Author: Paul (1 Thess 1:1)

Background: Paul visited Thessalonica on his second missionary journey and after seeing an assembly established was run out of the town by fierce Jewish opposition. Unable to pay a return visit in the short term he had sent Timothy to find out how they were. Now at Corinth with Timothy and Silas he writes his first letter to them.

 

Date of Composition: Paul's first New Testament Letter, around AD 51

 

Reasons for the Epistle:

1. To commend them on their progress

2. To vindicate his service among them

3. To admonish them in relation to purity, charity and industry

4. To share the truth of the rapture of the church with them.

Chapter Headings:

Chapter 1 - Paul's Entrance

Chapter 2 - Paul's Example

Chapter 3 - Paul's Encouragement

Chapter 4 - Paul's Exhortation

Chapter 5 - Paul's Entreaties

Outline: Chapters 1, 2 and 3 are Personal and Historical and deal with Paul's past preaching. Chapters 4 and 5 are primarily practical and doctrinal and deal with present problems. Paul's style is affectionate and endearing, referring to the Thessalonians as brethren 24x in both epistles (only exceeded by the longer Corinthian epistles).

In looking back over the past Paul recalls:

1:1-10     Their salvation
2:1-12     His service
2:13-19   Their Suffering
3:1-13     Their Steadfastness

In looking to the future Paul exhorts regarding:

4:1-12     Their Sanctification
4:13-18   Their Sorrow
5:1-11     The Seasons
5:12-28   Their Spirituality

Flow of Thought:

 

Chapter 1 - Paul's Entrance

After the usual greetings, Paul launches into a look back at the time when the gospel came in power to Thessalonica. He outlines 10 characteristics of the Thessalonian believers which proved a real work had been done in their hearts:

1. Work of faith (v3)
2. Labour of love (v3)
3. Patience of hope (v3)
4. Imitators of Paul (v6)
5. Imitators of Christ (v6)
6. Examples of the believers (v7)
7. Marked by Gospel zeal (v8)
8. Turned permanently from idols (v9)
9. Had a servant attitude (v9)
10. Were waiting for God's son from heaven (v10).

Chapter 2 - Paul's Example

Despite opposition at the time and slanderous attacks later on, Paul defends the methods and manner of his visit to Thessalonica. He explains that:

v1-2 His visit was not futile
v3-4 His preaching was not false
v5-6 His interest in them was not fraudulent

Paul defends his integrity by reminding them that he worked to pay his own expenses and behaved blamelessly among them. Perhaps he was being accused of running away and of not loving them. After a further reminder of the reality of their conversion he outlines the reasons why he has not been able to visit them again yet.

In each chapter Paul mentions the second coming of Christ and gives a particular emphasis each time. He outlines Christ's coming in relation to:

Salvation (1:10)
Service (2:19)
Sanctification (3:13)
Solace (4:13-18)
Sobriety (5:1-5, 9-10, 23)

Chapter 3 - Paul's Encouragement

Timothy's report had filled Paul with joy and he now expresses his great desire to see the Thessalonians again that he might be a further blessing to them as they prepare for the return of the Lord Jesus.

Chapter 4 - Paul's Exhortation

The tone changes in chapter 4. Paul begins with the word 'Finally' or 'As to the rest'. In light of their conversion and the coming of Christ Paul exhorts them to:

Purity (v1-8)
Charity (v9-10)
Industry and honesty (v11-12)

He proceeds to deal with their grief over the death of their loved ones. He had taught them during his first visit that they were to expect the possibility of the Lord returning in their lifetime. During Paul's absence from them some of their number have died. Had they missed out on the second coming and its glorious events? No. Paul explains that God will being them with Christ at the rapture of the church and raise their bodies just before changing the living.

Chapter 5 - Paul's Entreaties

Paul's words in Chapter 4 had been prompted by their ignorance (4:13). Now he writes in light of their knowledge. They were aware of the coming of the day of the Lord and its terrible effects. Paul explains their relation to that day. In the next epistle he will explain events that must take place before that day comes (which proves the Thessalonians are not in that day as some had insinuated). Here he explains that the day of the Lord is for children of the night, whereas the Thessalonians, who are children of the day, are not appointed to tribulation wrath that occurs during the day of the Lord (v9) but will be raptured before that time comes.

Paul finishes the epistle with various entreaties. He entreats the flock to respect their elders. He entreats the elders to:

Warn the unruly (those who would not work)
Comfort the feeble in mind (those who had lost loved ones)
Support the weak (those who were morally weak)

Then follows his concluding entreaties and a final mention of the coming of the Lord.

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