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1St Thessalonians

Issues taken up by Paul
1. Why was Paul influenced to write to the Thessalonians?
2. Why was loss of hope important and possible afflictions?
3. Issue of dead friends, neighbors, and family.

Paul’s response
1. Paul writes the letter out of self defense against accusers saying that he only preached the good and not of the afflictions.
a. Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work though deception (1:3). But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please human beings, but rather God, who judges our hearts (1:4). Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed - God is witness- (1:5) nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others, (1:6) although we were ale to impose our weight as apostles of Christ (1:7).
b. For even when we were among you, we used to warn you in advance that we would undergo affliction, just as has happened, as you know (3:4). For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter has put you to the test and our toil might come to nothing (3:5).
c. You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God (2:9). You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.
2. Timothy brought back news of just faith and love, but left out hope. Paul disliked the fact that the Thessalonians might have lost hope because of the afflictions they suffer.
a. But just now Timothy has returned to us from you, bringing us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us and long to see us as we long to see you (3:6). Because of this, we have been reassured about you, brothers, in our every...