1 Thessalonians

Question 1

1 Thessalonians Summary

Answer 1

This book was written in the form of a letter to other believers. The first few chapters are meant to encourage and praise the recipient. The tone of the letter changes in chapter four when guidance is given. There is another strange shift in tone half way through chapter five. The sentences are structured in a different way and there are many sayings mentioned that are similar to verses found elsewhere in the Bible.

Question 2

Methodology of reconstructing Paul’s life

Answer 2

Goal to reconstruct life based on what is told in letters
Have account of Paul’s life in Acts, but differs from letters
- Acts- ancient novel, so could take certain liberties that Paul could not divulge in personal letters
- Use Acts to fill in gaps as needed from Paul’s letters

Question 3

Paul’s Jewish ministry (Philippians and Galatians)

Answer 3

Jewish and Jewish parents
1. From tribe of Benjamin
2. Circumcised on eighth day of birth (law)
Strict Pharisee
1. Very well learned
2. Climbing up hierarchy faster than others own age
3. Such zeal for Judaism that he violently persecuted Christian church

Question 4

Paul’s vision

Answer 4

28 years old
Nature of vision unknown to him
Describes as revelation of Jesus Christ (the content)
Rearranges and reorganized his loyalties and cause him to bring significant mental faculty to support the early Christian movement

Question 5

Paul’s Christian ministry

Answer 5

• After vision, traveled to Arabia then Damascus
• Only visit Jerusalem after 3+ years. There he confers with Peter and James, who judge Paul’s message to be in line with their message
  1. After, preach with Barnabas for 14 years
• Paul again goes to Jerusalem; preaches no circumcision; leadership of churches ask for relief of poor
  1. Very imp. to Paul
  
  • Relieve poverty in Jerusalem
  • Show solidarity between gentile and Jewish believers and in turn equality among them
• Summit held at Antioch, both Paul and Peter attend
  1. Good, until Peter stops eating with Gentiles (when delegates of James show up)
  2. Paul is pissed at Peter
• Throughout ministry Paul is
  1. Imprisoned
  2. Flogged countless times and almost dies
  3. Lashes, 195 times (Jewish tradition)
  4. Beaten with rod three times
  5. Stoned once
  6. Shipwrecked three times
  7. Martyred in Rome (according to Hellenistic tradition)