1 Thessalonians Bible Study Resources
Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonians.
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1 Thessalonians Basics
- Author: Paul (with Silas and Timothy)
- Who was Paul?
- Date: c 50-51. Those who say Galatians is mid-50s hold that 1&2 Thessalonians are the earliest Christian literature.
- Background: Acts 17
- Main purpose: Paul wants to encourage a young church facing persecution; answers charges against himself; teach them about moral and godly living and assure them about the future of those who die before Christ returns.
1 Thessalonian Structure
- 1:1 - Greeting
- 1:2-3:13 - Extended Thanksgiving
- 4:1-5:22 - Moral exhortations
- 5:23-24 - Concluding prayer
- 5:25-28 - Farewell greetings
My Thessalonian Outline
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
1&2 Thessalonians NASB Study Text
1&2 Thessalonians ESV Study Text
Paul’s use of the Old Testament
Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
Blue Letter Bible: 1 Thessalonains Outline
Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background - 1 Thessalonians
ESV: The Global Message of 1 Thessalonians
J Vernon McGee: 1 and 2 Thessalonians Introduction
Myer Pearlman: 1 Thessalonians
James Gray: 1 Thessalonians - Synthetic Bible Studies
William Orr: 1 Thessalonians - Keys to the NT
James van Dine: Intro to 1 Thessalonians
Charles Swindoll: 1 Thessalonians Overview
Maps
Journeys
Paul's Conversion and Early Ministry- Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 1st Journey - Bible-History.com
1st Missionary Journey of Paul- Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 2nd Journey - Bible-History.com
2nd Missionary Journey of Paul- Holman Bible Atlas
Paul’s 3rd Journey - Bible-History.com
3rd Missionary Journey of Paul- Holman Bible Atlas
Paul's Journeys- Holman Bible Atlas
Paul's Arrest and Imprisonment- Holman Bible Atlas
Paul's Voyage to Rome- Holman Bible Atlas
Pentecost and the Jewish Diaspora- Holman Bible Atlas
Apostles’ Journeys - Bible-History.com
Geography
Israel in New Testament Times - Bible-History.com
New Testament Jerusalem - Bible-History.com
Herod the Great’s Kingdom - Bible-History.com
Herod’s Kingdom Divided - Bible-History.com
The Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I - Holman Bible Atlas
The Kingdom of Agrippa II- Holman Bible Atlas
Expansion of the Early Church in Palestine- Holman Bible Atlas
Key Words in 1 Thessalonians
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. "4x/3v" means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. "3x" means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
God (37x/31v) - Strong's G2316 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:2; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:4; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 1:9; 1Th 2:2; 1Th 2:4; 1Th 2:5; 1Th 2:8; 1Th 2:9; 1Th 2:10; 1Th 2:12; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 2:14; 1Th 2:15; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:9; 1Th 3:11; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 4:3; 1Th 4:5; 1Th 4:7; 1Th 4:8; 1Th 4:9; 1Th 4:14; 1Th 4:16; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:18; 1Th 5:23.
Lord (24x/22v) - Strong's G2962 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:6; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 2:15; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:8; 1Th 3:11; 1Th 3:12; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 4:2; 1Th 4:6; 1Th 4:15; 1Th 4:16; 1Th 4:17; 1Th 5:2; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:12; 1Th 5:23; 1Th 5:27; 1Th 5:28.
Jesus (16x/15v) - Strong's G2424 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:10; 1Th 2:14; 1Th 2:15; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 3:11; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:1; 1Th 4:2; 1Th 4:14; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:18; 1Th 5:23; 1Th 5:28.
Christ (10x) - Strong's G5547 in 1Th 1:1; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 2:6; 1Th 2:14; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 4:16; 1Th 5:9; 1Th 5:18; 1Th 5:23; 1Th 5:28.
faith (8x) - Strong's G4102 in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 3:2; 1Th 3:5; 1Th 3:6; 1Th 3:7; 1Th 3:10; 1Th 5:8.
love (7x/6v) - Strong's G26 in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 3:6; 1Th 2:12; 1Th 5:8; 1Th 5:13; Strong's G5360 in 1Th 4:9.
gospel (6x) - Strong's G2098 in 1Th 1:5; 1Th 2:2; 1Th 2:4; 1Th 2:8; 1Th 2:9; 1Th 3:2.
word (7X/5v) - Strong's G3056 in 1Th 1:5; 1Th 1:6; 1Th 1:8; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 4:15.
hope (4xs) - Strong's G1680 in 1Th 1:3; 1Th 2:19; 1Th 4:13; 1Th 5:8.
Commentaries & Study Bibles
Top 5 Commentaries on 1&2 Thessalonians - Ligonier.org
Best Commentaries on 1&2 Thessalonians - Tim Challies
Commentary Reviews: Thessalonians
Calvin's Commentary on the Bible: 1 Thessalonians
Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 1 Thessalonians
Alfords Exegetical Commentary: 1 Thessalonians
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible: 1 Thessalonians
Geneva Study Bible: 1 Thessalonians
Reformation Study Bible Notes: 1 Thessalonians
Free Bible Commentary - Bob Utley: 1 & 2 Thessalonians
Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 1 Thessalonians
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
City of Thessalonica
Holman Bible Dictionary: Thessalonica
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Thessalonica
McClintock and Strong: Thessalonica
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Thessalonica
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Thessalonica
Letter
Holman Bible Dictionary: 1Thessalonians
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: - 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Theology of
American Tract Society: Thessalonians, Epistle to the 1 and 2
Easton's Bible Dictionary: Thessalonians, Epistles to the
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Thessalonians, the Epistles to the
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible: Thessalonians, 1st
Hastings' Dictionary of the NT: Thessalonians Epistles to the
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Thessalonians, Epistles to the
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Thessalonians, 1st
McClintock and Strong: Thessalonians, 1st Epistle
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Thessalonians, Epistle to the
Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia: Thessalonians, Epistles to the
Paul
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Paul the Apostle
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Paul
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Paul
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Paul
Holman Bible Dictionary: Paul
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Paul the Apostle
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Paul
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Paul
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Paul, the Apostle
McClintock and Strong: Paul
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Paul
The Jewish Encyclopedia:
Timothy
American Tract Society: Timothy
Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary:
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Holman Bible Dictionary: Timothy
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Timothy
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Timothy
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Timotheus, Timothy
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Timothy
McClintock and Strong: Timothy
The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Timothy
Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
Silas, Silvanus
American Tract Society: Silas; Silvanus
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Silas
Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Silas
Fausset Bible Dictionary: Silas
Holman Bible Dictionary: Silas, Silvanus
Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Silvanus
Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Silvanus
Morrish Bible Dictionary: Silas
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Silvanus
McClintock and Strong: Silvanus
Silas in Acts: Acts 15:22-41; Acts 16; Acts 17; Acts 18:5
Articles
David Alan Black: The Literary Structure of 1 and 2 Thessalonians
Robert Bradshaw: The Purposes Behind Paul’s First Epistle to the Thessalonians
FF Bruce: The First Epistle to the Thessalonians: An Expanded Paraphrase 1; Part 2
FF Bruce: “Christianity Under Claudius,” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 44 (March 1962): 309-326.
John Cereghin: 1 Thessalonians Studes - 134 pages
Robert Dean: The Three Major Rapture Passages
Gregory Harris: The Word of God or the word of Man? 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13TMSJ 26/2 (Fall 2015) 179–202
Ed Hindson: The Rapture and Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ
Ed Hindson: Tribulation After the Rapture
Richard Mayhue: The Bible's watchword: day of the lord - The Master's Seminary Journal 22/1 (Spring 2011) 65-88
Richard Mayhue: Why a Pretribulational rapture? TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 241-253
Grant Richardson: Theology of Sex (An Entire Book)
Jay Smith: 1 Thessalonians 4:4: Breaking the Impasse," Bulletin for Biblical Research 11.1 (2001): 65-105.
James Stitzinger: Rapture in 20 Centuries of Biblical Interpretation TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 149-171
RL Thomas: Imminence in the NT, especially Paul's Thessalonian epistles TMSJ 13/2 (Fall 2002) 191-214
REH Uprichard: The Person and Work of Christ in 1 Thessalonians," The Evangelical Quarterly 53.2 (Apr.-June. 1981): 108-114
REH Uprichard: Exposition of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18," Irish Biblical Studies 1.3 (July 1979): 150-156.
REH Uprichard: The Person and Work of Christ in Thessalonians," Evangel 3:1 (1985): 6-9
Paul Wilkinson: Left Behind or Led Astray–Exposed
William Watson: Pretribulational Rapture in 17th and 18th Century England
GotQuestions.org
Treat like any commentary: Read carefully and thoughtfully.
Questions about 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5:22 What does it mean not to give the appearance of evil?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 What is the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming?
What is the rapture of the church?
How can I be ready to be caught up in the rapture?
How can I be sure I won’t be left behind in the rapture?
Will there be a partial rapture?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the pre-wrath view of the rapture?
When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation?
Yes, Christians Can Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture
What is the Tribulation? How do we know the Tribulation will last seven years?
Who are the dead in Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16?
1 Thessalonians 5:2 What is the day of the Lord?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Why is giving thanks to God important?
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