Tuesday- 9 Thursday \ Bible Studies L
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by Dr. ^ Lloyd T. Andersotv. Pastor, Bethany l Baptist Church, i L West Covina, A
TH ESSALONIANS (General Outline)
A n in t r o d u c t io n to the Thessa- lonian Epistle is very necessary to an understanding of this book. Thessalonica was built on the site of the ancient town of Therma. This name was derived from the warm mineral springs which still exist in that region of the city. A new city seems to have been founded about the year 315 B.C. by the Macedonian King, Cassander. He concentrated the population of sev eral neighboring towns and renamed the place Thessalonica in honor of his wife, a sister of Alexander the Great. Thessalonica had a superb harbor. Therefore, when Macedonia was con quered by the Romans in 166 B.C., the new city was made the capital of one of its four political divisions. Thus, in 146 B.C., when the country was con verted into a Roman province, it be came the residence of the Governor. Cicero could well speak of the Thessa- lonians as “placed in the lap of the Empire.” The existence of a church in this flourishing commercial and political center was due to the missionary efforts of the Apostle Paul—see Acts 17. On the Apostle’s second missionary jour ney, he crossed from Asia to Europe and first undertook to do-his work in Philippi where he was able to organize a rapidly growing church. Leaving this
Roman colony, he followed a hundred miles southwest to the larger and more important city of Thessalonica. There he found a synagogue of the Jews in which he proclaimed the Gospel to them for three successive weeks. The result of this preaching was the conver sion of Jews; of devout Greeks, a great multitude,, and not a few women of high social position. And so Paul turned to the Gentiles, established a new center and continued his mission for a number of months. This was, for Paul and his friends, a time of stren uous work and faithful testimony. This ministry was attended by great success! Believers rapidly increased in numbers. They were endowed with gifts of the Holy Spirit. The very suc cess of their work aroused the envy and hostility of the unbelieving Jewish peo ple. But Paul was able to establish a strong and vigorous church in Thessa lonica. His two Epistles to the Thessa- lonians are monuments to his friend ship and affection, and his labors were not in vain. This city remained a stronghold of Christianity and became known as “the orthodox city.” There were several reasons why Paul wrote these wonderful books. The re port that Silas and Timothy brought to him was favorable in the main and even joyous, concerning this church.
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