Second Missionary JourneySecond Missionary Journey

SyrianAntioch

GalatiaPisidia

Asia

TimothyTimothy

Was half-Jewish and half-Greek

TitusTitus

Was Greek

Was not circumcised

Was circumcised

The issue was over the clarity of

the gospel

The issue to avoid that which would distract attention from the gospel

SyrianAntioch

GalatiaPisidia

Asia

Mysia

Bythinia

Troas

Acts 16:9-10Acts 16:9-109 And a vision appeared to Paul

in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

10 And when he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

An Encouraging An Encouraging ExpectancyExpectancy

What are your basic What are your basic impressions of the impressions of the Two Epistles to the Two Epistles to the

Thessalonians?Thessalonians?

Purposes for the EpistlePurposes for the Epistle• The Problem of Persecution: For you, brethren,

became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews (2:14).

• Encouragement in Holy Living: For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God (3:3-5).

Purposes for the EpistlePurposes for the Epistle• Establishing a Christian work ethic: Make it your

ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; 12 so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need (4:11-12).

• Comfort for the Death of Loved Ones: But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope (4:13).

• God’s choice of you (1:2-5).• Your imitation of Christ (1:6-8)• Your turning to God (1:9-10)

A shared salvation history

Chapter 1

A shared salvation history

Chapter 1

Paul’s ministry in

Thessalonica

Chapters 2-3

1 Thessalonians 2:9. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

A shared salvation history

Chapter 1

Paul’s ministry in

Thessalonica

Chapters 2-3

1 Thessalonians 3:1-2. Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

• The principle stated (4:1)

• Sexual purity (4:3-8)• Responsible work (4:9-

12).• A Promise of Comfort in

the face of Death (4:13-18).

A shared salvation history

Chapter 1

Paul’s ministry in

Thessalonica

Chapters 2-3

Exhortation to walk in a

worthy manner

Chapter 4

A shared salvation history

• Living in light of the Day of the Lord (5:1-11).• Attitudes toward Christians workers (5:12-13).• Closing instructions (5:14-28).

Chapter 1

Paul’s ministry in

Thessalonica

Chapters 2-3

Exhortation to walk in a

worthy manner

Chapter 4

Living in light of Christ’s return

Chapter 5

What God has done in our lives

How we are to live as a result of what God has

done

Troas

Thessalonica

Philippi

Berea

Athens

Corinth

Facing the Facing the FlameFlame

A Promise of Relief to those under present Persecution

• The persevering faith and love of the Thessalonian church (1:2-4).

• A promise of affliction to those who are afflicting (1:5-8)

• Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians (1:9-10)

Chapter 1

A Promise of Relief to those under present Persecution

• A Dangerous Deception (2:1-2).• The Man of Sin (2:3-12)

Chapter 1

A Warning of troubles that must precede the day

of the Lord

Chapter 2

First…• The apostasy• The Man of sin

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

Day of the Lord

Day of the Lord

First…• The apostasy• The Man of sin

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7

6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed.

7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.

Day of the Lord

Day of the Lord

8 And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

First…• The apostasy• The Man of sin

2 Thessalonians 2:8-10

Day of the Lord

Day of the Lord

11 And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

First…• The apostasy• The Man of sin

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Day of the Lord

Day of the Lord

Identity of the “Man of Sin”Identity of the “Man of Sin”• Roman Emperor CaligulaRoman Emperor Caligula

– Ordered a statue of himself placed in the Ordered a statue of himself placed in the temple in Jerusalemtemple in Jerusalem

• Roman General TitusRoman General Titus– Destroyed the temple in JerusalemDestroyed the temple in Jerusalem

• Roman Emperor TrajanRoman Emperor Trajan– Built a pagan temple on the site of the templeBuilt a pagan temple on the site of the temple

• Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Church– Pope is said to be the Vicar of ChristPope is said to be the Vicar of Christ

• Future fulfillment?Future fulfillment?

A Promise of Relief to those under present Persecution

• A Dangerous Deception (2:1-2).• The Man of Sin (2:3-12)

Chapter 1

A Warning of troubles that must precede the day

of the Lord

Chapter 2

• Thanksgiving for God’s gracious choice (2:13-17)

A Promise of Relief to those under present Persecution

• A Call to Prayer (3:1-5).• A Call to Separation from

Unruliness (3:6-15)• Closing Benedictions

(3:16-18)

Chapter 1

A Warning of troubles that must precede the day

of the Lord

Chapter 2

A Call to Staying

Steadfast in Christ

Chapter 3

What we are to believe regarding the future

How we are to live in the present