Bible Study 1 Thessalonians C1-V1 скачать в хорошем качестве

Bible Study 1 Thessalonians C1-V1

As we start a new Series of Bible Studies in 1Thessalonians, we reconstruct the background and occasion of this epistle, externally from the Book of Acts and internally from 1Thessalonians. 1Thessalonians 1:1: “Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Apart from Galatians, this is the earliest letter of Paul in Scripture (AD 50). God chose to use apostolic letters to the early Churches as a major form of New Testament revelation - they are personal & practical, usually written in response to the needs & questions arising from the Church. The challenge in understanding letters is that it’s like listening to one side of a telephone conversation. So, understanding their context & background is important to help understand the letter. The letter was from Paul, Silas & Timothy, the main leaders who planted the Church in Thessaloniki. In their 1st Missionary Journey from Antioch in Syria in Acts 13-14, Paul & Barnabus planted Churches in Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra (this is when Timothy was saved) & Derbe in present day Turkey. Then they went to the 1st Church Council in Acts 15. Then the apostles sent Silas (one of their prophets) with Paul & Barnabus back to the Gentile believers in Antioch (Acts 15:22) with a letter summarising the ruling of the Council (v23-31), and Silas decided to remain in Antioch with Paul and Silas (v33-35). When Paul & Barnabus planned a 2nd Missionary Journey they disagreed over whether to bring Mark or not, as he had let them down on the 1st Journey (v36-38). So, Barnabus led his own trip to Cyprus (v39), and Paul chose Silas to go with him instead of Barnabus on his 2nd Missionary Journey (v40). After going through Syria & Cilicia, they revisited the churches they had planted in Asia Minor (Phrygia & Galatia), including Derbe, Lystra & Iconium, where they enlisted Timothy to join them (Acts 16:1-5). Then when they planned to advance into new territory, the Holy Spirit did not permit them to turn left (south) into Asia or right (north) into Bithynia (Acts 16:6-7), so they went straight ahead to Troas (neat ancient Troy) on the west coast of the continent (Acts 16:8). At Troas, Paul received in a vision a call to go to Macedonia (north Greece), thus bring the Gospel into Europe (Acts 16:9-10). Alexander the Great came from Macedonia, conquering the world from west to east, preparing the way for the Gospel to conquer the world east to west, by giving everyone a common language (koine Greek), the language used in the New Testament, facilitating the spread of the Gospel. The main towns in Macedonia were Thessalonica & Philippi. The South of Greece was called Achaia. Its main towns Athens & Corinth. So, after Paul & his team went to Philippi and preached the Gospel there (Acts 16:11-40). Luke joined the team at Troas, for before Troas he (Luke) describes the team as ‘THEY’ (Acts 16:4,6,7,8), but in Troas and after sailing from Troas he describes the team as ‘WE’ & ‘US’ (v10-17). After being released from jail Paul & Silas (‘THEY’) departed (Acts 16:40) for Thessalonica, (Acts 17:1), while Luke & Timothy stayed at Philippi for a bit, before joining the team at Berea. Thessalonica was a most important town, the capital & strategic heart of Macedonia (population 200,000), on the main east-west road from Rome to India (via Egnatia), on the northern tip of the Aegean Sea, with a major harbour (with thriving commerce), making it the main transportation hub for the whole region - everyone went through Thessalonica. This agrees with 1Thess 1:6-8. It is still a major town today. It was named after a sister of Alexander, who married Cassander (one of his generals). The city helped Anthony & Octavian (Augustus) against Brutus, so it was made a free city. It was under Roman authority, but given a free hand to be self-governing, with a Greek culture (idolatry - Mt Olympus is visible from Thessalonica) & democracy. Also, it had a strong Jewish community. The Synagogue drew God-fearing Greeks, who did not like the multiple immoral gods and idols, and were drawn to the worship of one God & His morality, but were separated from being fully part of the Jewish community by the Law (unless they chose to become Jews). These were the most open to the Gospel, which preached the Jewish God, but also salvation for the Gentiles, and full inclusion in the People of God.... See more information at www.revelationtv.com