Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

• The official formulation of the decision 15:22-29
  15:22 The Jerusalem leaders chose two witnesses to return to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas to confirm verbally the decision of this council. Judas had a Jewish name so he may have been a Hebraic Jew whereas Silas had a Greek...
• Ministry in Thessalonica 17:1-9
  17:1 Paul, Silas, Timothy, and perhaps others left Philippi and headed southwest on the Egnatian Road. Luke evidently stayed in Philippi since he again described Paul's party as "they"instead of "we"(cf. 20:5-6). Paul and Sil...
• A. Salutation 1:1-2
  This salutation contains the three elements common in all of Paul's epistles and other correspondence of his day: the writer, the addressees, and a greeting."This salutation exhibits undoubted resemblances in form to secular ...
• Commendation 1:15-16
  As was his custom, Paul first commended his readers for what they were doing well. Then he told them what his prayer requests for them were.1:15 In view of their spiritual blessings, Paul felt constrained to pray for his orig...
• Purpose
  Three purposes are evident from the contents of the epistle. Paul wrote to encourage the Thessalonian believers to continue to persevere in the face of continuing persecution (1:3-10). He also wanted to clarify events precedi...
• Message3
  We could contrast 1 and 2 Thessalonians by saying that Paul wrote the first epistle primarily to comfort the Thessalonians whereas he wrote the second epistle primarily to correct them.Paul had said some things in his first e...
• Outline4
  I. Salutation 1:1-2II. Commendation for past progress 1:3-12A. Thanksgiving for growth 1:3-4B. Encouragement to persevere 1:5-10C. Prayer for success 1:11-12III. Correction of present error 2:1-12A. The beginning of the day o...
• I. SALUTATION 1:1-2
  The Apostle Paul opened this epistle by identifying himself and his companions to the recipients. He also wished God's grace and peace for them to introduce himself and to express his continuing good will toward his children ...
• A. Thanksgiving for growth 1:3-4
  1:3 In his earlier epistle to the Thessalonians Paul had urged them to grow in faith (1 Thess. 4:10) and to increase in love (1 Thess. 3:12). He now rejoiced that they were doing both of these things (v. 3).5Paul began each o...
• B. Encouragement to persevere 1:5-10
  These verses explain what God's future righteous judgment is.1:5 Paul explained that suffering for Christ demonstrates the believer's worthiness to participate in God's kingdom. A hot fire under gold ore separates the gold fr...
• C. Prayer for success 1:11-12
  Paul and his companions "always"prayed that the Thessalonians would continue to experience purification through their trials rather than experience apostasy. They also prayed that God would note and approve their worth."God c...
• Bibliography
  Barclay, William. The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. Daily Study Bible series. 2nd ed. and reprint ed. Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 1963.Baxter, J. Sidlow. Explore the Book. 6 vols. London: Marsha...
• B. The Believer's Needs 1:5-9
  Having established the believer's basic adequacy through God's power in him and God's promises to him, Peter next reminded his readers of their responsibility to cultivate their own Christian growth. He did so to correct any ...
• 1. The first commission to write 1:9-11
  1:9 John now addressed the seven churches to which he sent this epistolary prophecy directly. He described himself to his readers as their brother in Christ and a partaker with them in three things. These were, first, the rel...