Answers for a study in the book of 1 Thessalonians: Chapter 3

“Answers for a study in the book of 1 Thessalonians” is a weekly post in addition to the regular “apologetics” posts on the weekend where the original questions can be found at the bottom of the study, and then answers appear here mid-week. This gives you time to do your own research, and then check your answers. Keep in mind these will be basic answers with a little depth, but you can go much deeper for discussion if you’d like.

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 3:1-13 with your group then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

2.  In the first verse of this chapter, Paul alludes to his time in Athens after leaving the Thessalonians and Bereans. During this time in Athens, Paul gives what is considered one of greatest “apologetic” presentations of the Gospel: Read Acts 17:16-34. How did Paul start his conversation with the Athenians in the Areopagus (Acts 17:22-23), and what are some of the points he made in this speech that might help us share our faith and our “worldview” with others today?

^“16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. ¹⁸ A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. ¹⁹ Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? ²⁰ You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” ²¹ (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) ²² Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. ²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’^[b] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ ²⁹ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. ³⁰ In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” ³² When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” ³³ At that, Paul left the Council. ³⁴ Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”  Acts 17:16-34 (NIV)

• Paul noted that they were “very religious” after spending some time looking at what they believe (listening and getting to know them).
• Paul then established some common ground, on which he could build, with something they already had (or believed in).
• Paul then made a connection to their belief in “gods” and specifically the idol they worshipped as “an unknown god.”
• Paul could now take that connection and give them “new information” that would help clarify their previous understanding.
• Once Paul stimulated their interest (in the “unknown”), he set the stage for the presentation of the Gospel.
• Paul’s Gospel presentation included:
  • God as Creator of all things, not needing anything from His Creation
  • God created all humans from one man, and wants man to “seek” Him (as the relationship was lost at the Fall), though He is close and not hard to find (many will not even try)
  • God overlooked man’s ignorance in the past, but is now is requiring all to repent, because He has set a day for judgment by one man (Jesus) that He has appointed, and gave proof of this by raising Him from the dead
• We can use Paul’s model in our own interactions with others, keeping in mind the elements of

1) listening, 2) connecting, 3) giving new (or correct) information, 4) sharing the Gospel

3.  Going back to 1 Thessalonians, there are several reasons Paul gives for sending Timothy back to them (3:2-10). What are some of those reasons?

^“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, ³ so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. ⁴ For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. ⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, ⁷ for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; ⁸ for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, ¹⁰ as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?”  1 Thessalonians 3:2-10

Paul sent Timothy back to the Thessalonians because…

• To strengthen and encourage them in their faith, so they would know how Paul was doing and not be disturbed or swayed from their own faith (as Paul had told them in advance that he would go through difficult times)
• Paul also feared that Satan had gotten to them (tempted them away from their faith, or back to their former ways)
• But, Timothy was able to bring them good news of the Thessalonians faith, love and eagerness to see and know about Paul and his companions
• Because of this, Paul and his companions were comforted in their afflictions (it made it easier to go through knowing that their work was not in vain)
• By letting them know that Paul and his companions were ok helped the Thessalonians be strong (and complete) in their faith, evidenced by the joy and thankfulness Paul and his companions had in knowing that this church had remained strong

Note: It is important not only to strengthen believers, and each other by our faith, but also to let our Pastors, Teachers and Leaders know how grateful we are for all of their hard work. Church Leaders are often the ones receiving so much of the complaints and negatives about the ministry, it is important we stop and give encouragement to them as much as possible.

4.  Paul concludes this chapter with a prayer for the Thessalonians (3:11-13). What are some elements of that prayer that we can use in our own prayers for loved ones, and for our brothers and sisters in Christ?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; ¹² and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; ¹³ so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.  1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Elements of this prayer that we can use include…

• Asking direction from God toward those we are praying for
• That those we are praying for increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people
• That God will establish their hearts without blame and in holiness in preparation for their meeting Jesus (in their final days/end times) – but this can also be for the understanding that Jesus is the one that perfects us, remembering it is Him that we stand behind

5.  Memory verses: Recite Acts 17:11 (having Biblical discernment and truth); 1 Peter 3:15 (the call to give an answer for our faith – Christian Apologetics); and add Acts 17:30-31 (through the work of Jesus, a call to repentance and eternal life vs. judgment).

• “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)

• “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge [u]the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men [w]by raising Him from the dead.”

Acts 17:30-31 (NASB)

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