Author and Audience:
The book of 1 Thessalonians was written by Paul and addressed to the church at Thessalonica. Many believe it to be his earliest Epistle.
Historical Background:
The Thessalonian church had its beginnings during Paul’s second missionary journey. Soon after leaving Philippi, Paul arrived in Thessalonica, a major port city and trade center on the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea. On three successive Sabbaths he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ in Jewish synagogues with a good measure of success. However, some unbelieving Jews, “moved with envy,” gathered a hostile crowd that sought to assault Paul and his companions and any others who sympathized with them. Paul, concerned for the safety of the new converts, agreed to leave. He continued his missionary journey and at some point sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to strengthen the young church. Later Timothy joined Paul at Corinth to report on the condition of the Thessalonian church. Paul wrote this letter from Corinth around A.D. 50–51 to counsel the Thessalonian Saints regarding the concerns reported by Timothy.
Theme:
Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Thessalonians to live worthy lives in preparation for the coming of the Lord, and to relieve their concerns about relatives who had died without a knowledge of the gospel.
Just as members of the Church today sometimes struggle with false traditions, the Saints in Thessalonica labored with an incomplete understanding of the Resurrection. They worried that faithful members of the Church who died would not receive the same blessings as those who lived until the Second Coming. Paul reassured them that all those “which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him”. As you read, search for counsel as to how we can prepare for the Second Coming, keeping in mind that “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night”.
Chapter 1
What if one of your classmates said to you that if your church teaches people to live the way you do, then it must not be a very good church?
• How would you feel if this happened? & What would you say?
• Why is it important to live your religion if you hope to share it with others?
• How is being a good example at school, at home, or at church like being on a mission?
• What does the phrase “every member a missionary” mean to you?
So … if we rewrite the original scenario …
from:
What if one of your classmates said to you that if your church teaches people to live the way you do, then it must not be a very good church?
to:
What if one of your classmates said to you that if your church teaches people to live the way you do, then there must be something special about that church?
• Why were you able to have such an impact on your classmate?
Returned missionaries often describe the joy of sharing the gospel with others.
You can experience the same joy and satisfaction now by being a positive influence for someone.
Chapters 2-5
Predict the exact day their first child will be born. Give me a date …
• Why is it difficult to determine the exact moment a baby will be born?
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–3
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:4–5
• Who will be surprised at His coming?
A quote by Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve:
“Living the commandments brings us into harmony with Deity; we become one in purpose with the Father and the Son. When we are one with God, we walk with spiritual light. Our diligence in keeping the commandments allows the Holy Ghost to dwell within us. We are given the gift of personal revelation. This is a spiritual light that protects us and serves as a beacon, guiding us in righteous ways. It dispels the darkness of the adversary. So powerful is this light that it can reach us even when we are drawn into a black hole of sin so deep and so dark that we believe no spiritual light could ever penetrate”. (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 51; or Ensign, May 1996, 36)
• Why will some be caught by surprise at the Lord’s coming?
• What will happen to them?
And again, verily I say unto you, the coming of the Lord draweth nigh, and it overtaketh the world as a thief in the night — Therefore, gird up your loins, that you may be the children of light, and that day shall not overtake you as a thief.
Doctrine and Covenants 106:4–5
• What does “gird up your loins” mean? (Prepare, or get ready.)
• How do we do that?
Paul suggested that one way to prepare is to improve our relationship with both God and man. He then gave seven specific ways to do each.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15 we find seven ways Saints can improve their relationship with their fellowmen.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 we find seven ways Saints can improve their relationship with God.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• Can you think of a greater blessing?
• Why is this blessing priceless?
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS
Author and Audience:
The book of 2 Thessalonians was written by Paul and addressed to the church at Thessalonica. Paul wrote this letter around A.D. 50–51.
Historical Background:
The similarities between this letter and 1 Thessalonians are so strong that many believe they were written within six months of each other. Paul wrote it soon after hearing the reports of Silas and Timothy when they returned from delivering his first letter.
Paul had taught the doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ with such power that the Saints in Thessalonica were eagerly preparing for it. Then some false notions crept into the Church from teachers who speculated that the coming of the Lord was already at hand. Many Thessalonians were so caught up in this belief that they discontinued their daily labors to simply wait for the Lord’s coming. In this Epistle
Paul further defines the signs of the Second Coming.
Chapters 1-2
• How did Jesus Christ restored the true Church to the earth?
•“If Christ’s Church has been on the earth since He established it here, why would there need to be a Restoration?”
• How frequently do you think a question like this is asked of our missionaries?
Understanding the doctrines of the Apostasy and of the Restoration will be critical in your missionary experiences.
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition … 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3
• What is “the day of Christ”?
• What will happen before that day?
The falling away is also known as the Great Apostasy.
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, and he it is who now worketh, and Christ suffereth him to work, until the time is fulfilled that he shall be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming. Yea, the Lord, even Jesus, whose coming is not until after there cometh a falling away, by the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders …
JST 2 Thessalonians 2:7–9
• What might Satan’s “signs and lying wonders” have been?
• Besides the Great Apostasy (the falling away of the Church), what other kind of apostasy is there?
• If individuals can fall away also, what kinds of “signs and lying wonders” does Satan use to deceive them?
• Why would Satan be interested in encouraging us to fall away?
To determine what we can do to avoid individual apostasy refer back to 2 Thessalonians 3:1–7.
A statement by President Harold B. Lee:
“Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet. . . . You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself . . . ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you. . . .’”
(in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152; see also D&C 21:4–6)
Chapter 3