Monthly Archives: June 2022

Review and Bible Study 

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD. 

Class Bible study:

Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

1. Review of Class Topic:

With your table group, discuss today’s presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Answers will vary… 

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 with your group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

2.  In the beginning of chapter two, Paul reminds them of the events that happened in Philippi before coming to Thessalonica for the first time. (Remember the book of Acts is a “blueprint” for most of the Epistles). Cross-reference by going to the book of Acts and reading chapter 16:16-40. What happened to them in Philippi, and what the result of their faithfulness there?

^“It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out at that very moment. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities, and when they had brought them to the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely: and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household. Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.” And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.” The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.”  Acts 16:16-40 (NASB)

• Paul “exorcised” an evil spirit out of a slave girl, healing her (but she had made a profit for her handlers in fortune-telling that was now lost to them), as a result Paul and Silas were arrested, publicly beaten, thrown in prison, and put in stocks.
• Paul and Silas, even in this horrible condition, were singing and praising God in the night.
• When a great earthquake occurred, the jailer assumed they had all escaped and was going to kill himself, but Paul stopped him and assured him they were all there, and not trying to escape.

Note: Historical records have shown that jailers, such as this, often had the jail at their home/lived adjacent to the jail with their families.

• As a result of what happened the jailer, and his whole family, gave their lives over to Christ that night and were baptized.
• Ultimately, Paul and Silas were semi-exonerated by telling the authorities that they were Roman citizens, (in this era it was unlawful to beat and jail Roman citizens without a trial), and thus were begged to leave the city.
• This lead them to Thessalonica, where again, they are eventually chased out, but only after leaving a remnant of believers that ultimately began this early church to which this letter was written.

Note: This scenario plays out again later in Paul’s life, and ultimately leads him to Rome, after he appeals to Caesar as a Roman citizen falsely accused.

3.  What are some of the characteristics we see in Paul and his companions, concerning their witness to the Gospel (2:2-12), and how can we apply those characteristics to our own Christian witness today?

^“but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 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. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”  1 Thessalonians 2:2-12

Paul and his companions displayed the following characteristics:

• Boldness in speaking the Gospel, even in the midst of much opposition
• Their exhortation/preaching was not in error and not by deceit, but based on truth
• They spoke to please God, not man, therefore they did not use flattering speech, nor with a pretext of greed, nor receiving glory from men, nor getting something from them in return
• They did not assert their authority (though they could have), but were gentle and caring, trusting them with the Gospel and their lives
• They worked night and day to not be a burden to them as they proclaimed the Gospel (this assumes they worked for their stay, as we know Paul was a tentmaker)
• They acted in a way that would not be “suspect” so that they could be an example as they implored them to walk in the same way

Application for today:

• In our culture today, we must represent Jesus by setting “higher standards” for ourselves, because we live in a “gotcha” culture that loves to see Christians fall, or act hypocritically, and this is often used to disprove the truths of the Gospel (even though our actions have nothing to do with the truth of the Gospel)
• If we are on God’s Team, we are called to a live a life worthy of Him, and by setting higher standards show we represent the “varsity team” and more importantly the Kingdom of God
• It has been said: “the only Jesus some will ever see, is the one they see in you” and “the only Bible some will ever read, is the one they read in you”

4.  What did Paul praise and give thanks to God for, concerning the Thessalonians and their behavior (2:13-20), and how can their example motivate us today?

^“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 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, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”  1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Paul praised and gave thanks to God for the Thessalonians because…

• They had received the word of God (as truth) and it was evident in their behavior as believers.
• They had followed the example (became imitators) of the believers in other churches in Judea, as evidenced in their suffering at the hand of their own countrymen (as they had from the Jews).
• The Thessalonians had become a source of hope for Paul and his companions, and Paul could say that they were a “glory and joy” for them.
• Note: This “sanctified” behavior of the Thessalonians would have been a great motivation for Paul and his companions to continue on in the fight to spread the Gospel.

Take-away examples for us today could include…

• The importance of our behavior, as evidence of our faith, should be played out in how we live our lives, and not just what we say about faith, so that others can see the truth behind the Gospel.
• The fact that we can motivate those who are teachers, pastors and evangelists by showing gratitude and showing evidence of our changed lives, gives them the encouragement to continue on in their work for the spread of the Gospel.

5.  Memory verses: Recite Acts 17:11 (having Biblical discernment and truth), and add 1 Peter 3:15 (the call to give an answer for our faith – Christian Apologetics).

• “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 (NASB)
• “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”  1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Or, in context of the passage…

^“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”  1 Peter 3:13-17 (NIV)

Please continue to join us as we read and study the Bible as part of our Christian Apologetics’ class each week!

Note: Class presentation, videos, reflections and Bible study questions are posted on the weekend – Bible study answers (like these) are posted mid-week.

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15