Keith Essex
The Thessalonian Epistles

Keith Essex's correlating video lecture(s) from The Master's Seminary:

• Lecture 25: The Thessalonian Epistles.

13. The Thessalonian Epistles [DPL, 932-39]
    1. Introduction [CCC, 506-13, 516-21; CMINT, 532-33, 534-44, 546-48; BNTH, 307-11]
       1. The History of Interpretation [DTIB, 794, 796-97; ACCSNT, vol. IX]
       2. The Beginning of the Church (Acts 17:1-9)
       3. The Place of Writing: Corinth (1Th 3:1-2 w/Acts 17:10-18:18 [*Act 18:5]) [AD 50/51]
          1. Timothy Sent from Athens (1Th 3:1-2)
          2. Timothy Returned to Corinth (1Th 3:6; Acts 18:5)
          3. Silas and Timothy with Paul (1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1; Acts 18:5)
       4. The Recipients: Gentile Christians at Thessalonica; Believers Less than Two Years
    2. Major Themes [CMINT, 549-51]
       1. The Return of Christ [DPL, 253-69]
          1. The Parousia (1Th 2:19; 3:13; 4:15; 5:23; 2Th 2:1, 8)
          2. The Day of the Lord (1Th 5:2; 2Th 2:2)
          3. The Coming Wrath (1Th 1:10; 2:16; 5:9; see also 2Th 1:6-8)
       2. Prayer (1Th 1:2; 3:11-13; 5:23-24; 2Th 1:11-12; 3:1-2, 5, 16) [DPL, 725-34]
       3. Sanctified, Blameless Life (1Th 2:10-11; 3:13; 4:3; 5:23-24; 2Th 2:13-14; 3:13)
       4. Paul's Model for New Believers (1Th 1:6-7; 2:5-12; 2Th 3:7-9)
    3. 1 Thessalonians [MSB, 1810-11; ESVSB, 2301-4; NIVSB, 2436-38; RSB, 2129-33; RFW, 165-7; BTINT, 321-35]
       1. Purpose: Paul exhorted the Thessalonian believers to grown in holiness so that they might be blameless when Christ returns [see CCC, 521; GNTI, 586-7; CMINT, 544-46]
       2. The Literary Structure: see outline [CCC, 521-27; CMINT, 533-34; VOCNT, 52]
          1 THESSALONIANS

          1. The Prologue (1Th 1:1-10)
             1. The Salutation (1Th 1:1)
             2. Paul's Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (1Th 1:2-10)
          2. The Body: Paul's Reminder of His Relationship with and His Exhortations to the Thessalonians (1Th 2:1-1Th 5:22)
             1. Paul's Vindication before the Thessalonians (1Th 2:1-1Th 3:13)
                1. Paul's Vindication through His Methods (1Th 2:1-12)
                2. Paul's Vindication through the Thessalonians' Thanksgiving (1Th 2:13-16)
                3. Paul's Vindication through Their Separation (1Th 2:17-1Th 3:13)
             2. Paul's Exhortation to the Thessalonians (1Th 4:1-1Th 5:22)
                1. Paul's Exhortation regarding Personal Needs (1Th 4:1-12)
                2. Paul's Exhortation regarding Eschatological Needs (1Th 4:13-1Th 5:11)
                   1. The Dead in Christ (1Th 4:13-18)
                   2. The Day of the Lord (1Th 5:1-11)
                3. Paul's Exhortation regarding Ecclesiastical Needs (1Th 5:12-22)
          3. The Epilogue (1Th 5:23-28)
    4. 2 Thessalonians [MSB, 1820-21; ESVSB, 2313-15; NIVSB, 2247-49; RSB, 2140-43; RFW, 167-8; BTINT, 337-47]
       1. Purpose: Paul called the Thessalonian believers to steadfastness and Christian growth in light of the return of Christ [see CCC, 521; GNTI, 602-3; CMINT, 546]
       2. The Literary Structure: see outline [CCC, 525, 528-29; CMINT, 534; VOCNT, 53]
          2 THESSALONIANS

          1. The Prologue (2Th 1:1-12)
             1. The Salutation (2Th 1:1-2)
             2. Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Thessalonians (2Th 1:3-12)
          2. The Body: Paul's Assurance to and Encouragement of the Thessalonians (2Th 2:1-2Th 3:15)
             1. Paul's Assurance of Non-involvement in the Day of the Lord (2Th 2:1-17)
                1. The False Claim (2Th 2:1-2)
                2. The True Condition (2Th 2:3-12)
                3. The Truth's Continuance (2Th 2:13-17)
             2. Paul's Encouragement to Gainful Employment in the Present (2Th 3:1-15)
                1. Prayerful Preparation for Encounter (2Th 3:1-5)
                2. Proper Solution for Idleness (2Th 3:6-15)
          3. The Epilogue (2Th 3:16-18)
    5. Bibliography
       1. Exegetical:
          • Bruce, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (WBC).
          • Shogren, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (ZECNT).
          • Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians (NIGTC).
       2. English Interpretation:
          • *Hiebert, The Thessalonian Epistles.
          • Fee, The First & Second Letters to the Thessalonians (NICNT).
       3. Expositional:
          • MacArthur, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (MacNTC).
          • Stott, The Message of Thessalonians (BST).
    6. Selected Interpretive Issues: see Greek Exegetical Digest
       1. The Authenticity of 1 Thessalonians [GNTI, 588-92]
       2. The Authenticity of 2 Thessalonians [GNTI, 592-94]
       3. The Order of the Epistles [CCC, 514-16; GNTI, 599-602]
    7. Preaching 1 & 2 Thessalonians

Used with permission by Dr. Keith Essex. Redistribution without express permission from Dr. Keith Essex is prohibited.