Post date: Apr 6, 2021 7:46:43 PM
As we head into the Spring and early Summer we will be engaging with a new sermon series on Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. The Thessalonian church was one who went through many ups and downs yet continued to move ahead and strive in their faith, hope, and love. It is our prayer that God will speak to us through these letters as we take a deeper look at them.
Sneak Peak: Did you know…
- 1 Thessalonians was likely either the first or second letter written by St. Paul? Scholars debate about whether 1 Thessalonians or Galatians was written first by St. Paul.
- 1 Thessalonians may have been the first book written in the entire New Testament? It is likely that the Gospel writers didn’t write down the events of Jesus’ life until 20-30 years after Jesus’ ascension (Matthew, Mark, Luke were likely written between 53-65AD). Scholars suggest St. Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians around 51AD, a year or two after he founded the church there.
- 1 and 2 Thessalonians foreshadow St. Paul’s later letters? The letters to the Thessalonians were written by a relatively young Paul compared to the more mature Paul who wrote letters like Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians. 1 and 2 Thessalonians contain the same theology and teachings as the later letters but in a more simple form.
- 1 and 2 Thessalonians talk a lot about Eschatology? “Eschatology” is the study of the end times. 1 and 2 Thessalonians contain more about the end times than any of St. Paul’s other writings.