Summary of Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians
I. Introduction (1:1-10).
A. The object of the letter is to encourage loyalty to Christ
because he will come again to reward the faithful and pure.
B. Paul's thankfulness for the faith of the Thessalonians (1:1).
1. The letter was written by Paul in company with Timothy
and Silvanus (1:1).
a. Paul wishes for them grace and peace (1:1).
b. Spiritual blessings are in God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ (1:1).
C. Paul remembers their past association (1:2-8).
1. Paul gave thanks for the Thessalonian saints and prayed
for them (1:2).
2. Paul calls to mind their service to Christ (1:3).
a. Faith works (1:3).
b. Love labors (1:3).
c. Patience endures (1:3).
3. They were the beloved and chosen of God (1:4-5).
a. God loves the world (John 3:16).
b. The saved are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14;
Rom. 1:16). Those who obey the gospel are the elect
of God.
c. The saved at Thessalonica were cleansed by the
washing of water with the word (1:5). The revealed
word was confirmed by signs and miracles (Mark
16:20).
d. Paul set for them a pattern for Christian conduct (1:5).
4. The Thessalonian saints imitated Paul and the Lord (1:6).
a. They endured affliction (1:6).
b. Tribulation produces patience, which produces proof,
which produces hope, which produces joy (Rom. 5:3-5).
5. They became a worthy example to all who lived in their part
of the world (1:6-7).
a. From, and because of them, the gospel was preached in
Borea, Athens, Corinth and the whole world (1:8).
b. Their manner of life and loyal support of the truth was a
declaration of their deep faith and it therefore was not
necessary for Paul to praise them to others (1:8).
D. The Thessalonian Christians established and confirmed Paul's
apostleship (1:9-10).
1. The preaching of Paul had turned the saved in
Thessalonica around (1:9-10).
a. Turned from idolatry to serving Christ (1:9).
b. Waited for the coming of the Lord and their final
deliverance (1:10).
II. Historical Part of the Letter (2:1 to 3:13).
A. Paul's experience and conduct at Thessalonica (2:1-12).
1. Paul insulted at Philippi (2:1-2).
a. Resistance increased Paul's boldness (2:2).
b. Paul preached in Thessalonica in the midst of
turmoil. The Jews who rejected the apostle's
teaching put the city in an uproar (2:2; Acts 17:5)
B. Paul's attitude while under harsh vexation (2:3-12).
1. He had not used deceit, corruption, or guile (2:3-4).
2. He had not used flattery (2:5).
3. He had not been covetous (2:5).
4. He had not sought the praise of men (2:6).
5. He had not misused his apostolic power (2:6).
6. He had been gentle, kind and loving (2:7-8).
7. He had arranged for his own financial support (2:9).
8. The Christians at Thessalonica were witnesses of Paul's
manner of life among them (2:10-12).
a. He was holy, principled, and blameless (2:10).
b. He taught them with a father's love (2:11).
c. He instructed them to walk in a manner that was
worthy of God, who calls the saved through the
gospel into his kingdom and brightness of triumph
(2:12).
C. The gospel is for all (2:13-16).
1. The gospel Paul preached is not the word of man but the
word of God (2:13).
a. The gospel works in the believer (2:13).
b. The implanted word of God saves the soul (James 1:21).
c. God gives power to the believer by the word that lives
in him.
2. The Thessalonian Christians followed the same course as the
saved among the Jews in Judea (2:14-16).
a. The exciting news of salvation had come to them out of
Jerusalem (2:14).
b. Those Jews who first accepted it were persecuted
by their fellow Jews (2:14).
c. Unbelieving Jews killed the Lord Jesus (2:15).
d. Unbelieving Jews had killed the prophets and drove
Paul out of Jerusalem (2:15).
e. Unbelieving Jews demanded that Paul not preach
the gospel of salvation to the Gentiles (2:15).
f. Sin filled the unbelieving Jews and uttermost wrath
awaited them (2:15).
D. Paul wanted to visit the Thessalonians (2:17-20).
1. Paul was intense in his desire to see them and felt a
sense of emptiness and loss in being away from them (2:18).
2. Paul mentions again the coming of the Lord (2:19-20).
a. Jesus' coming a second time is noticeable in the
teaching of the New Testament.
b. Paul says when he comes the saved will be
gathered and you will be my glory and joy (2:20).
E. Paul's concern for the Thessalonians (3:1-13).
1. Paul sent Timothy to them so he know their faith (3:1-5).
a. Paul stayed in Athens alone (3:1).
b. Timothy was God's servant and a fellow-worker with
God (3:2).
c. Paul foretold his suffering for preaching the gospel
(3:3-4).
d. Paul could not wait to hear of how the saved at
Thessalonica were getting along, so he sent Timothy
to them (3:5)
2. Timothy came with a good report concerning the
Thessalonians (3:6-8).
a. Paul went from Athens to Corinth, where Timothy
found him (3:6).
b. Timothy told Paul about the faith and love of the
believers in Thessalonica, and of how they longed to
see Paul (3:6).
c. Their care and concern was a comfort to the apostle in
his work and suffering (3:7).
d. Their loyalty and interest in Paul's welfare gave the
apostle a new lease on life (3:8).
3. Paul tells again of his great desire to see them (3:9-10).
4. Paul's prayer for them (3:11-13).
a. He prays they might abound in love and that God would
establish their hearts unblamable (3:12-13).
b. Paul again mentions the coming of the Lord (3:13).
III. Practical Part of the Letter (4:1 to 5:28).
A. Practical exhortations (4:1-12).
1. To walk in a way that is pleasing to God (4:1).
2. To live the kind of life fit for those who are
separated to the service of God (4:3-5).
a. They are to abstain from all sexual impurity
(4:3).
b. Each one was to control himself and be honorable
(4:4).
c. They were to avoid Gentile-type passion and lust (4:5).
3. Each one of them was to be careful not to swindle his
brother (4:6).
a. God will take note of and punish evil (4:6).
b. Paul had often reminded them of the vengeance of the
Almighty (4:6).
4. God called us through his gospel, not to wickedness, but
to holiness and purity (4:7-8).
a. Those who reject this teaching and are uncaring of the
coming of the Lord unto judgment reject not man but
God (4:8).
b. They also reject the Holy Spirit by refusing the teaching
of the new covenant revealed by the Spirit (4:8;
Acts 7:51-52).
5. An exhortation to brotherly love (4:9-10).
6. An exhortation to industry and honesty (4:11-12).
B. Comfort for the bereaved (4:13-18).
1. The Thessalonian brethren may have ignorantly mourned
those who died before the coming of Christ, thinking
they either lost or lessened their reward (4:13).
2. Paul reminds them Jesus died and lived again (4:14).
a. Those who die in Jesus have nothing to fear (4:14).
b. When Jesus comes, God will bring them with him
(4:14).
3. When the Lord comes, the living will have no advantage
over the dead in Christ (4:15).
4. Events of the second coming (4:16-17).
a. When Christ comes, the dead shall rise first (4:16).
b. The living saved will join the sainted dead (4:17).
c. Together they will meet the Lord in the air (4:17).
d. So (in this manner--in the air) shall the saved ever
be with the Lord (4:17).
5. Cheer each other with his teaching (4:18).
C. Concerning the second coming of Christ (5:1-11).
1. The coming of the Lord will be sudden (5:1-2).
2. The wicked shall be overwhelmed and ruined (5:3).
3. Salvation is for the righteous (5:4-11).
a. Keep you eyes open (5:4).
b. You are sons of light--not darkness (5:5).
c. Be awake and of sound mind (5:6).
d. The careless and wicked love darkness (5:7).
e. Christians love light and common sense (5:8).
f. God appoints us to receive an eternal reward (5:9).
g. The risen Christ is our savior (5:10).
h. Build each other up with this teaching (5:11).
D. Various exhortations (5:12-22).
1. Know and love your leaders and be at peace (5:12-13).
2. Correct the insubordinate who do not keep ranks, but do not
be harsh (5:14).
3. Do not try to get even, but love and encourage each other
(5:15).
4. Live rejoicing every day (5:16).
5. Do not fail to have God and eternity in mind (5:17).
6. Remember the source of all your good and be thankful (5:18).
7. Suppress not the Spirit (5:19).
a. Have a good, happy attitude as you think of heaven (5:19).
b. The Holy Spirit teaches you through the revealed word to
be quiet and hopeful--do not destroy the Spirit's work
(5:19).
8. Never tire of good preaching (5:20-21).
a. Study the book of God and know what it teaches (5:20).
b. Approve what is right and refuse what is wrong (5:21).
9. Stay away from everything that is wicked (5:22).
E. An earnest prayer for their ultimate salvation (5:23-24).
F. The benediction (5:25-28).
1. Pray for us (5:25).
2. Encourage and hail one another (5:26).
3. Study this letter (5:27).
4. May the good gifts of God ever be with you (5:28).
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