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LAB: 1 Thessalonians 1-2 Notes

 The Setting of 1 Thessalonians/ 1 Thessalonians 1:1/ Pt 1.

  • 3 people, all present in the founding of the Church.
  • All preached the gospel to them. But Paul bears maximum responsibility for them. 
  • Paul most likely wrote this letter in Athens (1 Thess. 3:1-6) in the early '50s.
  • Paul taught truth from/by/for Christ. 
What Does It Mean To Be In God?/ Pt 2.
  • "church" called out one, assembly of believers, can also be universal. 
  • "God" being with 2 other beings within His being. 
  • "Lord" is a divine word in reference to Christ. 
  • "In" in eternal favor, protection, in His company/family forever. 

Hope Will Put You To Work/1 Thess. 1:2-7/ Pt 1.
  • Thanks to God for your work of faith. 
  • God is the decisive cause of our good work. 
  • "work of faith and labor of love" same work. 
  • "steadfastness" is continuing in them for others.
  • Faith awakens love, and hope is faith in the future tense, all of which gives us over to works. All of which we thank God for because He is the first cause of it all. 
Do Not Diminish God's Love For You/ Pt 2.  
  • Our life in God is rooted/grounded in His chosen love toward us, 1:4.
  • Chosen for salvation. 
  • General-world. Special=saving/church love of God. His covenant affection for you. 
  • Your work of faith and faith is found in God. Therefore He is thanked/praised for you. 
Invincible Joy Confirms Our Election/ Pt 3. 
  • Paul speaks of the power, and Holy Spirit in him/his preaching, and therefore it is used as evidence of their election. 
  • God was on Paul and the imitators of him when they received the word with joy IN affliction. They endured pain Mark 4:16-17.
  • Their joy in Jesus in pain is the evidence of election and we thank God for that joyful, painful, election that He caused.
Joy In Affliction Validates Election/ Pt 4.
  • Accept the word in affliction with joy in the Spirit. 
  • The Spirit causes those effects; this is the power of God and His word in the new birth. 
  • The word is powerful; changing the heart by the Spirit. 
  • Suffering should not kill joy. Keep your joy in God in suffering. 
What kind of Conduct Validates the Gospel?/ Pt 5. 
  • Paul proved what kind of man he was by preaching to them and in his persecution. 
  • Live godly always and have others reflect that. 
  • Present Christ to others in your life, doctrine, and duty. 

Don't Underestimate the Power of Human Example/ 1 Thess. 1:7-10/ Pt 1. 
  • Affliction and joy in Spirit serve as a human example to believers. 
  • Their affliction and joy may have been harder than other churches. Or their single devotion to God in pain may have been the example. 
  • God uses His work in others to do His work in us. 
  • "Word of the Lord" and "your faith toward God" both spread to every place to encourage believers. 
Dead Idols Don't Give Living Joy/ Pt 2. 
  • Paul's ministry was not in vain. 
  • It was by the Spirit and turning from idols to God-living and true Acts 17:4-8.
  • Turn from idols, and dead lies, to God (live and true) for joy in Him.
Christian Life as Waiting and Serving/ Pt 3. 
  • Thess turned from idols to God by faith and now wait for The Son. 
  • "from heaven" His current place post-ascension.
  • "Son" John 1:1-18. The expression of God Himself. 
  • Serving and waiting for Him. Obeying and waiting for Him in faithful might. 
Jesus Delivers us from the Wrath to Come/ Pt 4. 
  • Relief in Christ, wrath out of Christ. 
  • His wrath is righteous towards sinners. 
  • We are justified, reconciled to Him, and thus saved from His wrath.  
  • Therefore, we love His appearance and eagerly wait for Him.

Boldness In Conflict Comes from God/ 1 Thess. 2:1-4/ Pt 1. 
  • No vain, empty suffering in God.
  • Fullness in suffering and shame in Philippi. For boldness of the Gospel in many conflicts with God. 
  • God gives boldness for Gospel in/in spite of suffering. See 1:6 for parallel. 
Gospel Authenticity, Proven and Pure/ Pt 2. 
  • Paul's boldness is from God by the truth for the truth. 
  • He encouraged and appealed to them Isaiah 40:1-2. 
  • Gospel appeal=embrace/trust God in Christ as your comfort, and encouragement. "Come and rest in Him".
  • Not in error, impurity, or deceit nor as pleasing man 2:3-4. 

Sex, Money, Praise, Power-No!/ 1 Thess. 2:5-8/ Pt 1
  • NOT to do ministry: Not in error, impurity, deceit, not by pleasing men, not by flattery, not for greed, not seeking human glory, not making demands as Apostles could have. Not indifferent to truth, sex, worldly methods, money or praise, or power. 
A Christ-Exalting Renunciation of Power/ Pt 2. 
  • Paul renunciates worldly means to preach the Gospel. Nor did he throw his weight around as an Apostle; though he could have done this (Luke 22:24-27) but followed the model of Christ (Phil. 2:5-8, Phile 8-9). 
  • Paul in his own weakness as the power of Christ resting on him (2 Cor. 12:9-10). His work, His way.
Are Silvanus and Timothy Apostles?/ Pt 3. 
  • They are included as writers 1:1. 
  • Apostles were chosen from disciples to follow Christ and also witnessed the resurrection. 
  • Apostle: messenger, one who is sent. 
  • Silvanus and Timothy have sub-apostle authority from Paul's chief apostleship.
Don't Make Ministry a Pretext for Greed/ Pt 4. 
  • Be free from the love of money. 
  • 1 Tim. 6:5-10, they used godliness as a means of gain. 
  • Mark 10:24-25, riches oppose righteousness. 
  • Luke 8:7-14, riches choke out righteous joy. 
  • Your received free grace therefore live free and give freely. 
Loving Praise vs. Lifting Burdens/ Pt 5. 
  • Seeking glory from man is a consistent temptation and dangerous (Matt. 6:1-2); don't preach to be seen. 
  • Hard truth OR comforting falsehood. 
  • Glory from people chokes out/kills faith in God. 
  • Live truthfully for the truth. 
  • Matt. 23:4-7, lift other's burdens. Don't add to them because you're wrapped up in yourself. 
Ministry like a Nursing Mother/ Pt 6. 
  • "gentle" or childlike. 
  • Mothers spend themselves on their kids, not on glory/greed, in meeting their needs. 
  • Paul ministered as Christ; Matt. 11:28-30.
  • Paul also ministered as a father (2:11-12), and strong, balanced, disciples. 
  • Minister godly, lovingly, firmly to people. 
The Miracle of Mutual Soul-Sharing/ Pt 7. 
  • Paul desired Thess and was pleased to share his soul with them because he loved the.
  • Thess. were generous in God because of their devotion to God 2 Cor. 8:1-5.
  • Christ moved in Paul so much so that Paul loved/desired them as Christ did. 
Paul Used His Live to Lift Burdens/ 1 Thess. 2:9-12/ Pt 1.
  • Paul brought the Gospel to them but didn't burden them; he worked as a tentmaker Acts 18:1-3.
  • Thus not being a burden to the church. He paid for food and worked/wasn't ideal 2 Thess. 3:6-10.
  • He did this to set an example to the church and to not put an obstacle/stumbling block in the way of the Gospel.
Whether Present or Absent, the Same Man/ Pt 2. 
  • "Witness" God, Paul and Thess. know what kind of man Paul was-holy, righteous, blameless.
  • Paul was absent from them bodily but with them in spirit/thoughts always 1:5; 2:1-2,5; 3:3-4.
  • Holy: devout. Righteous: wronged no one. Blameless: no reproach. 
  • Be holy, righteous, and blameless like Paul was in his missionary work. 

The Fatherly Way of Paul's Exhortation/ Pt 3. 
  • Fatherly: exhorting, encouraging, testifying. All aimed to have the Thess. church walk worthy. 
  • Exhorting: walking with them in brotherly love.
  • Encourage: speaking wisely, energizing words to them. 
  • Testifying: Recalling from your own walk with God to build up in the present. 
  • Walk properly in the gracious call of God your Father. 
The Ongoing Miracle of God's Calling/ Pt 4.
  • "Called" conversion by the Spirit 1 Peter 2:9. It is the power/wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1:22-25.
  • It is effectual in us because it is of Him. It creates faith in us. 
  • "Calls" He calls thus continues to keep you/draw you out of darkness into light. 
  • Called into faith, fellowship with Christ, faithfulness, and finality (eternal life). 
How the Word of God Brings About Faith/ Pt 5.
  • The word produces faith in believers.
  • The Gospel comes with power in the Spirit 1 Thess. 1:5-6.
  • Word - hearing - faith.
  • Word is at work in you. Praise God!
How Does the Word Produce New Preferences?/ Pt 6.
  • It creates faith in believers and holiness when applied to life.
  • Word working in you - willing/able to suffer for it. Joyful endurance in God is through the word.
  • Faith - trust - power/promises.
  • Promise and faith in action Cc: Hebrews: 13:5-6.
Was the Apostle Paul Anti-Semitic?/ Pt 7.
  • No, for he was a Jew; Romans 9:2-3,10:1.
  • "They" Acts 17:1-5,13.
  • Jews taught false doctrine and kept others from the faith.
Who Kill Jesus?/ Pt 8. 
  • Matt. 26:3-4, John 19:14-16, Acts 4:10, 5:29-30, 13:27-28.
  • The Jews in accord with the OT killed their own awaited Messiah. 
  • God sent Christ to us for sacrifice Romans 3:24-26, 5:8. 
  • Jesus' death is God's love Acts 4:27-28.
God Hates When the Gospel Is Hindered/ Pt 8. 
  • "Lord...killed" main statement. "Prophets" and "us" main messages. 
  • Prophets killed in OT and NT lead to God's displeasure which is shown to us in His wrath.  
  • Gospel is good for man. And should not be resisted. 
How Does Israel 'Fill Up Their Sins'?/ Pt 9. 
  • Parallel: Matt. 23:29-32, Genesis 15:13-16.
  • All those sins are happening through the Jews to complete their iniquity. 
  • All are under sin, wrath, and law Romans 3:9-19.
Has Wrath Come Upon Israel Forever?/ Pt 10.
  • Matt. 21:33-43. God gave His saving grace to the nations after Israel's rejection. 
  • Romans 11;25-31; Fullness of the Gentiles and then the Jews. 
  • "end" testing, trail, timed. There is a goal in the hardening of the Jews and it will end/be finished one day. 
  • Paul shows how/why the Gospel is successful in the Gentiles but not the Jews. 

Paul's Extraordinary Affection for Belivers/ 1 Thess. 2:17-20/ Pt 1. 
  •  "Orphaned" a child whose parents just died. That love is Paul's to the Thess. church. 
  • "Brothers" close family.
  • "not in heart" bodily away but always close in heart. 
  • "endeavored...eagerly...see your face' desire to be with them.
  • "again" always wanting them
  • "Satan" 2 Cor. 11:13-15. His affection is blocked by Satan somehow from being shown physically. 
  • Love desires the people of God! 
Who Is Paul Joy-Jesus or the Church?/ Pt 2.
  • "You are...hope, joy, glory" Who? Romans 5:1-2- God.
  • Christ endured the cross for His people Hebrews 2:2, Eph. 5:25-27, for the joy in them.
  • The church is the image of Christ therefore have joy, hope, and glory in them. 
Is Boasting Bad or Good?/ Pt 3.
  • "Crown" IE when winning a race; not a king. 
  • Boast of others in Christ. 
  • Prideful, selfish, man-centered boasting vs. Humble, holy, joyous, Christian boasting. 
  • Boast in the cross, Gal. 6:14. And its effects in your/around you 2 Cor. 1:12, 11:30, 12:9.

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