Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Introduction

!!A.

One of my favorite little sayings or proverbs goes something like this: You know that there is no such thing as a wasted life.

At the very least you can be used as a bad example!

B. This morning, we are embarking on a series in the epistle to the Thessalonians which portrays a church which is quite the opposite of that little maxim.

We are going to study a letter, written to a church which was a good example to others.

In some respects, our church has similarities to this church.

It was a church body that was newly formed.

It was a church body that had believed and embraced the proclamation of the word of God.

It was a church body under persecution by some who tried to stop it.

It was a church body whose primary teacher dearly loved the flock with the affection of a parent for a child.

It wasn’t a perfect church.

It had some issues that it needed to address.

But all in all, it was a church, whose response to the gospel and continued faithfulness to Jesus Christ set itself forth as an example to be emulated.

C. Proposition

This morning I am going to introduce to you Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians.

We are going to study six facets of its background critical to its interpretation, in order to help you better understand the occasion that prompted the letter, and to help you make proper application as we go through this series together.

D. Epistle to the church of Thessalonica [Read v. 1] {159}

1.

Typical of epistle during the period – salutation, body, concluding remarks (greeting)

2. Epistle vs. Narrative

a) Always interested in genre of literature

b) Recipe vs. Robber’s note (interpreted differently)

c) Narrative:

(1) Usually about what God is like, what God has done

(2) Generally not prescriptive for us

(3) Example: Gospels and Acts, much of OT

d) Epistle

(1) Written to a church or individual

(2) Occasional: usually addresses a problem or issue

(3) Also, tractate – has an ongoing value beyond the occasion.

(4) Teaches us how to live as individuals or as a church.

e) As we develop the teaching in this epistle, I particularly want you to pay attention to how the instruction to the Thessalonians can be applied, first to you as an individual, and then collectively to us as a church.

II.

The Authors (v.

1a)

A. Paul

1. Brief Biography:

a) Born into a Jewish family in Tarsus, Cilicia – a Roman citizen.

b) One-time prominent Pharisee, student of Gamaliel (probably a member of the Jewish ruling body in Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin)

c) Well-known persecutor of Christians for several years after Christ’s ascension (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1; Gal 1:14)

d) Converted to Christianity when he met the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus and deemed an apostle with the same gifts and authority as the eleven who walked with Jesus (Acts 9) [Approx.

AD 35].

e) After going away and learning the faith for three years, he became part of the church at Antioch in Syria

f) Known as the “Apostle to the Gentiles,” and being sent out by the church at Antioch, he went on three missionary journeys, the last of which landed him in jail in Rome.

g) Everywhere he went, he established new churches along the way.

h) He was released from jail, eventually went to Spain, and was finally executed by beheading in Rome under Emperor Nero’s reign.

2. Involvement in this letter

a) Really the main author of this letter

b) See 2:18, 3:5, 5:27

B. Silvanus (called Silas by Luke in Acts)

1. Prophet in Jerusalem church, co-authored and distributed the decree of the Council (Acts 15:22-23, 32-34)

2. Chosen to go on 2nd missionary journey with Paul when dispute arose between him and Barnabas over John Mark

3. With Paul as far as Corinth (1 Thess 1:1, 2 Thess 1:1; Acts 18:5)

4. Probably older and more mature than Timothy and more of a peer with Paul

5. Like John Mark, eventually ends up with Peter (1 Pet 5:12)

C. Timothy

1. Young disciple of Paul whom he enlisted on the 2nd missionary journey (Acts 16:1)

2. Traveled extensively with Paul from this point on

3. Called Paul’s “true child in the faith” (1 Tim 1:2) and “beloved son” (2 Tim 1:2)

4. Mentioned in all but 2 of Paul’s epistles

5. Sent to straighten out the church at Ephesus and called to Paul in his last days.

D. Authenticity

1. Externally

a) Found attributed to Paul in two early collections (Marcion and Muratorian Canons)

b) Possibly cited by Irenaeus (AD 180), definitely by Clement of Alexandria and Tertullian (AD 200)

c) Not challenged until 19th century

2. Internally

a) Paul’s name (1:1)

b) Couldn’t be written after Paul died (see 4:17)

So we will follow the millennia of tradition and accept that this is a letter written, or at least dictated, by the Apostle Paul.

III.

The Recipients (v.

1b)

A. The Assembly Indicated

1. Called “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

2. Term “church” (ekklesia) simply means assembly

a) Different assemblies in Thessalonica (Jewish Synagogue, Rotary Club, Kiwanis)

b) In Acts 19:30, same word to describe a riotous assembly

3. Early designation (pre-technical)

a) Initially, term had to be defined by its location (1 Thess 1:1, 2:14; 2 Thess 1:1)

b) Later, became a technical term for a Christian assembly

4. Here, even “the church of the Thessalonians in God” might describe Jewish Synagogue

5.

This assembly is those who are in a relationship with God and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

So the recipients first were residents of the city of Thessalonica who assembled themselves together based on their relationship to God the Father, a relationship entered into because of their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. The City’s Importance

1. Thessalonica

a) Founded near a city formerly known as Therma or Therme (due to warm mineral springs nearby)

b) On the northernmost point of the Gulf of Thermopolis (Thermaic Gulf?) (northern portion of Mediterranean Sea).

c) Mount Olympus visible to the SW

d) Cassander named it in 315 BC for his wife, Alexander the Great’s half-sister.

e) Thessalonike (victory of the Thessalians)

2. Importance

a) Important city in the Roman province of Macedonia

b) On the Egnatian Way, linking Europe and Asia

c) That, and its seaport location made it important city of commerce

d) Cicero spoke of it as “lying in the lap of the Roman Empire”

e) When the Romans conquered Greece in 168 BC, made the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia

f) In 146 BC, it was made the capital of the entire province, becoming the seat of the Roman governor.

g) In the civil war between Caesar and Pompey (49/48), it sided with Pompey, but during the final struggle of the Roman republic, in 42 BC, it stood on the side of Anthony and Octavian.

Because of its loyalty, Caesar Augustus made it a free city permitting it to be self-governing.