DIDASKALOS MINISTRIES 1 Thessalonians

1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY

The purpose of this study work is to give you the original Greek language words and definitions for all the key words in this selected Bible text. This work does not make any effort to interpret the text in question, though some interpretation may occur naturally as a result of the study. The English translation used is the King James (Authorized) Version, not because it is the best translation available, but because I just plain prefer it for study!

All Scripture text will be presented in normal cased lettering, and all notes within the text will be in TRUE TYPE FONT, as shown. This (I hope) will allow you to avoid confusion between God's Word and my notes. As I update this website, I will continue to embellish the text so that anyone using NETSCAPE or MSIE 3.0 or higher will be able to read the document easier. Greek tenses are abbreviated as follows:

GREEK TENSES:

PR= Present Tense: Shows action in present time. When used with Active Voice, and Indicative Mood, often shows linear or continuing action.
AO= Aorist Tense : Simple, undefined action. The time of the action is undefined, except in the indicative mood.
FUT= Future Tense : Shows action of the verb as defined in the future.
PER= Perfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, but has lasting and continuing results into the future.
IMP= Imperfect Tense: Used only in the indicative mood, and refers to continuous or linear action in past time. As in "I was having".
PLPF= Pluperfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, with continuing results in the past.

GREEK CASES:

GEN= Genitive Case: Usually indicates possession, though it can denote source of the action.
INST = Instrumental Case: Usually denotes action on the object of the verb.
DAT= Dative Case
NOM= Nominative Case
ACC= Accusative

PL= Plural
SG= Singular

GREEK VOICES:

AC= Active Voice: Action was completed by the subject of the verb.
PAS= Passive Voice: The subject receives the action of the verb.
MID= Middle Voice: The subject acts in some way upon itself or to itself.

GREEK MOODS:

IND= Indicative Mood : Makes an assertion of fact, and is used with all Greek tenses. Example: they will go, she saw.
OPT= Optative Mood: Rarely used, it usually expresses a wish or desire.
IMP= Imperative Mood: A command to do something.
SUBJ= Subjective Mood: Makes an assertion about which there is some doubt, uncertainty, or indefiniteness.

OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:

PART= Participle : A verbal adjective, such as "having gone, receiving the gift".
ABL= Ablative of source: When something is out of something. Example, The Spirit out of God.
INF= Infinitive: A verbal noun, examples = to see, to go, to throw.

If you discover obvious errors (as I am human, and do make mistakes), please let me know. Do not contact me to argue about the doctrinal differences that you may have with my teaching. I do not argue Theology with anyone, so all Legalists, cultists, and others with extremist views, please save your (and my) time. If you want to discuss your doctrinal differences, or share a viewpoint, please contact me at Didaskalos Ministries. I am not so arrogant as to think I know it all, or even 1% of what the scripture teaches.

**Overview of 1 Thessalonians**
1. This is the earliest of the Pauline Epistles, written around March - April of AD 49 to the Spring of 50 AD. 2. The historical time frame can be found in Acts 16.12-40; 17.1 3. Thessalonica was a prosperous city with a population of around 300,000. Since it had a natural harbor, many Jewish merchants were attracted to the city. It was a free city administered by 5-6 "politarchs" (Acts 17.6). Paul remained in the city, and supported himself by making goat's hair cloth (Acts 18.3; 1 Thes 2.9). When he left the city he left a thriving Church filled with both Jews and Gentiles. Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica by Paul to encourage these believers who were being attacked by the Jewish Synagogue there. When Timothy returned to Paul and reported on their progress, Paul penned 1 Thessalonians. 4. Reason for the letter: To encourage the besieged believers in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1.2-10), to make a strong case against those who slandered Paul's ministry (1 Thes 2.1-12, 17-20), to correct misinterpretations about the Rapture (1 Thes 4.13-5.11), and encourage the Thessalonians to grow in Grace (1 Thes 4.1-5.24). 5. Outline of the Book: a. Salutation (1.1) b. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1.2-10) c. Pauline defense against slander (2.1-3.13) d. Exhortation and correction (4.1-5.22) aa. Personal needs (4.1-12) bb. Eschatological needs (4.13-5.11) cc. Ecclesiastical needs (5.12-22) 6. Conclusion (5.23-28)

1 Thessalonians 1:1

Paul, (PAULOS = Means "little". Paul stopped using his Jewish name, Saul, and started using Paul after the Damascus Road conversion [Acts 13.9; 22.7, 13; 26.14]. This letter is being written during Paul's second missionary journey)

Translator's Note

This eschatological epistle was written because Timothy reported to Paul that the Church had picked up false doctrine about the Second Advent of Christ (that the dead in Christ were not going to be resurrected).

This epistle is unique in that no Old Testament passages are quoted, a drastic change from Paul's other writings. This leads us to believe that this, though a mixed Jewish-Gentile Church, was primarily a Gentile occupied body.

Thessalonica was a Roman province of Macedonia, a Greek state. The founding of the Church is recorded in Acts 17.1-11

and Silvanus, (SILOUNOS = Silas. Mentioned as an aide to Paul in Acts 15.22, 27, 32, 34, 40; 16.19, 25, 29; 17.4, 10, 14-15; 18.5)

and Timotheus, (Timothy helped in Philippi [Acts 16.1-3], often staying behind to watch over the new Churches and report to Paul)

unto the church of the Thessalonians

Additional Notes - Problems in the Church:

1. Many believers became unruly (1 Thes 5.15; 2 Thes 3.6-8)

2. The Church was under great stress (1 Thes 2.14; 3.2-4)

3. Some of the believers had sold their business, anticipating the "Rapture" of the Church (sound familiar?)

which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: (EN THEO PATRI KAI KYRIO IASOU CHRISTO = God the Father and equally the God Jesus Christ. Joining both structures under one preposition [KAI] equates Jesus to God the Father in essence)

Doctrine of the Deity of Christ

1. Christ is a member of the Trinity (1 Pet 1.2; 2 Cor 13.14; Mat 28.19)

2. Christ is equal in essence to God (Jo 1.1-3; 8.58; Micah 5.2; Ro 9.5; Tit 2.13; Heb 1.8-10; 1 Jo 5.20)

3. Christ existed prior to His incarnation in the flesh (Jo 1.3; Col 1.16; Heb 1.10)

4. Christ voluntarily surrendered the exercise of His deity to go to the Cross for us (Psa 2.7-9; 22.1-6; 40; 110)

5. Christ was often called The Angel of Jehovah in the Old Testament (Gen 16.7-13; 22,11-18; 31.11-14; 48.15-16; Exo 3.1-10; Ac 7.30-35; Exo 13.21), yet was a separate entity from the Father (Gen 24.7; Exo 23.20; 32.34; 1 Chron 21.15-18)

6. Christ is called Jehovah, a name reserved for God alone (Isa 9.6-7; 40.3; Jer 23.5-6; Zech 12.10)

7. Christ possesses the essence of God in every way:

a. Eternal Life (Micah 5.2; Jo 1.1; 8.58; Col 1.16-17)
b. Holiness (Lu 1.35; Jo 6.6-9; He 7.26)
c. Love (Jo 13.1, 34; 1 Jo 3.16)
d. Immutability (Heb 13.8)
e. Omniscient (Mat 4.4; Jo 2.25, 29; 1 Co 4.5; Col 12.3; Rev 2.23)
f. Omnipotent (Mat 24.30; 28.13; 1 Co 15.28; Phil 3.21; Heb 1.3; Rev 1.8; Isa 40.12)
g. Omnipresence (Mat 28.20; Eph 1.23; Col 1.27)

Grace be unto you,

Doctrine of Grace

1. Every believer tastes Grace at Salvation (1 Pet 2.3)

2. The enemy of Grace is Legalism and a backslidden state (Heb 12.15; Gal 5.4)

3. God waits to pour out Grace on every believer (Isa 30.18-19)

4. We receive Grace at the point of Salvation (Eph 2.8-9; Ro 3.23-24; 4.4; 5.20; Psa 103.8-12)

5. We receive Grace in life (Heb 4.16; 2 Cor 12.9-10); in prayer (Heb 4.16); in suffering (2 Cor 12.9); in growth (2 Pet 3.18); in stability and maturity (1 Pet 5.12; Heb 12.28); in Divine acts (2 Cor 6.1)

6. We give of ourselves and our goods based on Grace (2 Cor 8.9)

and peace, (EIRENE = cessation of war, peace. There was no peace between God and man prior to the Cross. At best, there was only a truce)

from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2

We give thanks (EUCHARISTOUMEN, Pres Linear = we keep on giving thanks)

to God always for you all, (PANTON HUMON = everyone of you. All believers in Thessalonica had qualities that Paul thought were worth thanking God for)

making mention of you in our prayers;

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering (Pre Linear MNEMONEUONTES = always remembering)

without ceasing your work of faith, (PISTEOS, Gen of Source = from the source of faith)

Doctrine of Works

1. Works will not save your soul, only Grace (Eph 2.8-9; Rom 3.20-21, 28; 4.4-6)

2. Works are the essential fruit of the believing life (Rom 2.7; 13.3; 14.20; 1 Cor 3.14; Eph 2.10; Tit 3.1)

3. A faith that does not produce fruit/ works is essentially dead (James 2.14-26)

4. Where genuine faith is evident, there are godly works (Gal 5.6)

and labour (KOPOU = unceasing toil. Used also in 1 Cor 4.12; 2 Thes 3.8; 1 Thes 2.9; 1 Co 3.8, et al)

of love, (AGAPE = God's Divine Love)

Doctrine of Love

1. The Bible recognizes Godly Love (AGAPE), love toward your spouse (EROS), love toward your family (STAUROS), and love toward your friends (PHILEOS).

2. True Divine Love, AGAPE, can only be produced in a soul filled with God's Word, for AGAPE comes from God alone (1 Pet 1.8; Eph 3.18-19; Heb 6.10; 2 Tim 1.13-14). Only mature believers reach AGAPE.

3. God's Grace is, in fact, a manifestation of God's AGAPE for us (Psa 119.132; 31.23)

4. God's Blessings come to us because of His AGAPE (1 Cor 2.9; Psa 37.4-5)

5. Our AGAPE toward God produces personal and national blessings (Deu 30.15, 20)

6. AGAPE strengthens us when we are under stress and duress (Josh 23.10-11; Heb 11.27)

7. Believers who never produce AGAPE are cursed (1 Cor 16.22)

8. We are motivated to witness when we have AGAPE (2 Cor 5.14)

9. AGAPE defined (1 John 4.15-19)

and patience (HUPOMONE = endurance, dogged aggressive persistence)

of hope (ELPIS = hope, certain anticipation. As Christians we know our Lord is returning, and eagerly anticipate His return (1 Thes 1.10; 3.13; 4.13-5.11; 2 Thes 1.4, 7, 10; 2.16)

in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

Doctrine of Election

1. Christ was elected, or chosen of God to fulfill the Plan of the Ages (Isa 42.1)

2. Believers are in union with Christ (1 Pet 1.2; Eph 1.4; Col 3.12)

3. Every believer, because of association with Christ, share His election (Ro 8.28)

4. Election, for the believer, takes place at the moment of Salvation (1 Cor 1.9, 24, 26-28)

5. Election is one of the foundations the Church is built on (1 Thes 1.4)

1 Thessalonians 1:5

For our gospel

The Doctrine of the Gospel

1. "Gospel", EUAGGELION, means "Good News", and refers to preaching the true Message of Salvation. This message is that Salvation is by faith in Christ alone (1 Cor 15.1-4)

2. The enemy of the Gospel is Satan (2 Cor 4.3-4)

3. Usage of "Gospel":

a. Gospel of Christ (Rom 1.16-17), emphasizes the person of the Gospel.
b. Gospel from the Glory of God (1 Tim 1.11), emphasizes the source of the Gospel.
c. Our Gospel (2 Tim 2.8; 2 Cor 4.3-4), emphasizes the promise of the Gospel belongs to believers only.
d. Gospel of Peace (Eph 6.15), emphasizes the reconciliation the Gospel brings between God and man.
e. Gospel of the Kingdom (Mat 24.14), emphasizes that God's Covenants are only fulfilled to Israel if they accept the Gospel message.
f. Everlasting Gospel (Rev 14.6), emphasizes that the Gospel is the only way to eternity in God.

4. The Gospel should be preached to the unsaved, not to draw believers from other Churches (Rom 15.20)

5. The Message is preached freely, without cost (2 Cor 11.7-8)

6. Those who preach a false Gospel are cursed by God (Gal 1.8)

7. The Gospel was revealed to Old Testament Saints (Gal 3.8)

8. The Gospel message is always revealed to the heart by the Holy Spirit of God, not by my efforts or techniques (1 Pet 1.12)

came not unto you in word only, but also in power, (DUNAMEI, from where we get "dynamite", = explosive power. The inward power the believer in the Spirit has)

and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; (PLEROPHORA POLLE = with deep conviction. You cannot preach the Gospel if you do not believe in it)

as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:6

And ye (KAI HUMEIS = and you on your part)

became followers of us, (Paul encouraged the believers to follow him in faith, as he had so closely matched his life to that of his Lord's - 1 Cor 4.16; 11.1; Gal 4.12; Eph 5.1; Phil 3.17; 4.9; 1 Thes 3.12; 2 Thes 3.7, 9)

and of the Lord, (We must imitate our Lord in holiness [1 Pet 1.15-16], love [Mat 5.43-48; Lu 6.36; Jo 13.34; 15.12], and suffering [Mat 16.24-25; Mark 10.38-39; Lu 14.27; Jo 15.18-20; 1 Pe 2.18-21])

having received (Ao Mid Part DEZAMENOI = welcoming)

the word in much affliction, (EN THLOEI POLLA = in the sphere of terrible pressure)

with joy (META CHARAS = accompanied by inner happiness)

of the Holy Ghost: (PNEUMA = Spirit)

1 Thessalonians 1:7

So that ye were (GINOMAI = became)

ensamples (TYPON, Sg Noun = blueprints, patterns)

to all that believe in Macedonia (Northern Greece)

and Achaia. (Southern Greece)

1 Thessalonians 1:8

For from (EK, preposition = from the ultimate source)

you sounded out (EKSECHETAI, Perf Pas = you have sounded loudly and clear like a trumpet and continue to do so)

the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God ward is spread abroad; (EKSELELUTHEN, Perf = gone forth in the past with the result that it keeps on going forth)

so that we need not (Pr Ac Infin MA CHREIAN = we have absolutely no need)

to speak any thing. Acts 17.6-

1 Thessalonians 1:9

For they themselves shew of us (Pr Ac Ind APAGGELLOUSIN = keep on reporting)

what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned (EPISTREPSATE = to turn from a wrong path to a correct one. See usage in Acts 14.15; 26.18; 26.20; 2 Cor 3.16)

to God from idols (EIDOLON = false gods)

Doctrine of Idolatry

1. Idolatry is strictly forbidden in all forms (Exo 20.3-5; Deu 6.14-15)

2. Idolatry is spiritual adultery (Jer 3.8-10; Eze 16.23-43)

3. Idolatry begins in the mind (Eze 14.7)

4. Demons function through idols (Zech 10.2)

5. Idolatry is from the devil (1 Cor 10.19-21)

6. Idolatry brings madness (Jer 50.37-38)

7. Idolatry leads to depravity (Eze 23.37-49)

8. God destroys nations that move into idolatry (Isa 21.9; Jer 7.17-20; Eze 6.4-7)

to serve (DOULEUEIN, Pr Ac Infin = keep on serving, be a slave to)

the living (Pr Ac Part ZONTI = always living)

and true God;

1 Thessalonians 1:10

And to wait (ANAMENEIN, Pr Infin = to wait with the sense of keen anticipation)

for his Son from (EK = out from)

heaven, (OURANON = the heavens. See 2 Cor 12.2)

whom he raised

Doctrine of the First Resurrection

1. The first one to be bodily resurrected was Jesus Christ. He is the "First Fruits" of that which is to come (1 Thes 1.10; 1 Cor 15.20-23; Rom 1.3-4)

2. The Church shall share in Christ's resurrection as His Bride (1 Thes 4.13-18)

3. Believing Israel shall also take part in this First Resurrection (Isa 26.19-20; Dan 12.13; Mat 24.31)

from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered (TON RHUOMENON = who rescues)

us from the wrath (ORGES = extreme anger. Refers to the Tribulational Period. See Mat 3.7; 24.21; Lu 21.23; Rev 6.16-17)

to come. (Pr Ac Part ERCHOMENAS = about to come)

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