New Testament Study Guides - ElectronicGospel

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THEMES Persecution is on the apostle’s mind as he writes these letters to the young church in Thessalonica. He applauds them for standing fast in their faith despite the fact they he had to leave so suddenly and his opponents remained behind in the city to trouble the saints from a base in the synagogue. He uses his own integrity and perseverance in the midst of ongoing persecution as an example they can follow. Throughout the epistles, Paul takes a fatherly tone in consoling God’s children and encouraging them to grow spiritually. Because of the gross immorality throughout the Greek and Roman worlds, Paul finds it necessary to discuss with them the matter of personal holiness, especially as it touched on sexual morality. Every age of men has been charged with sexual perversion and although it seems the twenty-first century is the nadir of human behavior, thus it has always been. And so the fact that sexual purity is a vital sign of sanctification must never be overlooked or diminished. Beyond sexual morality, Paul adds the virtue of minding one’s own business and avoiding the sin of gossip. Because some of the Christians had taken to idly awaiting Jesus, they had plenty of time for being busybodies and few things are as destructive to communities. The fifth chapter of the first letter contains a series of rapid fire exhortations about other matters of personal behavior. The doctrinal source of their discomfort was the return of Christ. Perhaps they had been so excited about the coming glory that they assumed it was imminent, but obviously it was not, because we are also waiting nearly 2000 years later. Paul reasons that a great, widespread apostasy must first occur, accompanying some son of perdition who would oppose God and elevate himself to a position of worship. The second coming, though, was to be a comfort since both the living and the dead would be reunited with Christ for eternity. A stark picture of the sad realities of Judgment Day for the wicked is found in the first chapter of the second letter, making it awfully hard to remain complacent or ignorant of God’s will. Paul also touches on the seriousness of becoming idle and falling into gossip because one is doing nothing but waiting on the Lord to return. The apostle urges the church to warn such brethren, stop supporting them, and even withdraw from them if they refused to repent. For a group so apparently bent on having fellowship with Christ, such action would surely get their attention. One wonders how much better each nation today would be if it were true that the able-bodied would either work or not eat. Churches must continue also to be careful not to support sinful habits by treating addicts and lazy people like victims and objects of ongoing charity.
OUTLINE OF PASSAGES FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION 1. Salutation ....................................................... First Thessalonians 1:1-10 2. Paul’s Integrity .............................................. First Thessalonians 2:1-20 3. Good <strong>New</strong>s From Thessalonica .................... First Thessalonians 3:1-13 4. A Pleasing Life .............................................. First Thessalonians 4:1-12 5. The Coming of the Lord ........................... First Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 6. Daily Christian Living ................................. First Thessalonians 5:12-28 7. Christ’s Coming ........................................ Second Thessalonians 1:1-12 8. Rebellion First .......................................... Second Thessalonians 2:1-12 9. The Present ............................................ Second Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 10. Living Responsibly ................................... Second Thessalonians 3:6-18
Page 1 and 2: New Testament Study Guide: Gospel A
Page 3 and 4: OUTLINE OF PASSAGES FOR STUDY AND D
Page 17 and 18: New Testament Study Guide: Acts of
Page 21 and 22: New Testament Study Guide: Romans N
Page 25 and 26: New Testament Study Guide: First Co
Page 29 and 30: New Testament Study Guide: Second C
Page 33 and 34: New Testament Study Guide: Galatian
Page 37 and 38: New Testament Study Guide: Paul’s
Page 41: New Testament Study Guide: Letters
Page 45 and 46: New Testament Study Guide: Letters
Page 49 and 50: New Testament Study Guide: Letter t
Page 53 and 54: New Testament Study Guide: Letter o
Page 65 and 66: New Testament Study Guide: Revelati

New Testament Study Guides - ElectronicGospel

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