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The legacy of paul fourth presentation

This document provides background information on Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. It discusses the letter's origin in the 50s CE from Corinth to the church in Thessalonica. It outlines the political climate of persecution against Jews and early tensions between Paul and the Jewish community that caused him to leave Thessalonica. The major themes Paul discusses are the return of Christ, life after death, love within the Christian community, and freedom from sin through responsible living. The legacy of Paul's letter is that Thessaloniki remains a populated city in Greece with a majority Christian population today.

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The Legacy of Paul 1 Thessalonians
Agenda • Background • Audience • Map • Political Climate • Why Write the Letter? • Major Topics • Legacy • Resources • For Further Study
Background • First New Testament book written: • Some scholars believe Galatians was first • Earliest surviving Christian writing • Between 49-52CE • Written from Corinth
Audience • Church in Thessalonica: • Port city on northern shore of Aegean Sea • Prosperous due to trade • Capital of Roman province of Macedonia • Culturally Greek, governed by Greek law • Strong Jewish population; audience was NOT Jewish • Paul does not quote Old Testament
Ancient Marketplace in Thessalonica
Political Climate 49CE • Claudius Caesar expelled all Jews from Rome: • Jews & Christians indistinguishable to Romans • Jews were often rioting • Massacre in Temple courts during Passover: • Governor of Judea (Felix) put armed cohort (480 armed soldiers) in Temple court • One soldier made offensive gesture toward Temple • Riot ensued • 10,000-20,000 Jews suffocated or trampled to death
Why Write the Letter? • Paul, Timothy & Silvanus (Silas) went to Thessalonica • Forced to leave by Jewish community • Went to Beroea; Silvanus & Timothy stayed there • Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica when Paul arrived in Athens • Paul went on to Corinth • Timothy gave a good report on the Church • Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians reinforcing his teachings
Major Themes • Return of Christ: • Parousia: Second Coming of Christ • Life after death: • Some in their group had died; Christ had not returned • Paul said the dead in Christ would rise before Christ comes – they will not miss what they had been awaiting (4:13-5:11) • Resurrection was of the body – like Christ’s resurrection body
Major Themes - Cont “The main point of prophecy is not prediction – but hope. We have a hope which the world does not have…” Hayford, Jr. & Hayford, III; Lesson 10. • Blessed Hope (4:13): • NOT wishful thinking • NOT hope in the world • Refers to the return of Christ & promises of God
Major Themes - Cont Love (3:12-4:12): • “Love requires one’s entire being. It is spiritual, and intellectual, and emotional, and physical. Love is enduring and longsuffering; it continues even when faced with rejection.” Hayford & Hayford, Lesson 9 • Recurring theme of Paul’s writings • Agapao: unconditional love; love by choice/will • Agapao is only used when referring to Christian community
Major Themes - Cont • Love (4:9-12): • God is Source of Love • Balance: Live quietly, mind your own business & have a business to mind (4:11) • Refers to them as “brothers and sisters” 12 times establishing community & family • Holy Kiss (5:26): family members at the time exchanged kisses in greeting; Christ Followers were to be a family
Major Themes - Cont • Freedom: • Freedom of today ‘do whatever I want’ is a perversion • Freedom in Paul’s time was the “…ability to make responsible choices.” Hayford, Jr. & Hayford, III; Lesson 8 • Sexual purity (4:1-8): • Gentiles needed instruction on sexual morality • “We Christians hold everything in common except our wives. You Romans hold nothing in common except your wives.” Tertullian, 2nd century, CE
Legacy • Approximate Population of Thessaloniki today: • 790,900 • 1,000 Jews • Official Church in Greece: Greek Orthodox • 97% of population in Greece: Christian
Modern Day Thessalonica
Resources • The Harper Collins Study Bible, Harold W. Attridge, General Editor 1989 • Paul: Messenger of Grace, Kenneth Schenck • History of the Jews: Internet Archive https://archive.org/stream/cu31924016930681 #page/n259/mode/2up accessed 5-28-14 • Christianity Under Claudius, F.F. Bruce, http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/bjrl/clau dius_bruce.pdf accessed 5-28-14
Resources • Introducing the New Testament, Mark Allan Powell • Fearless Faith: Standing Firm in Freedom and Hope, a Study of Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Jack W. Hayford, Jr. with Jack W. Hayford, III
For Further Study • The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation, Barbara R. Rossing
PowerPoint By Stacey Atkins This Presentation is the Intellectual Property of Stacey Atkins www.SomethingDifferentMinistries.org Copyright 2014