Unlocking The New Testament

1 & 2 Thessalonians 1

David Pawson says that the letters to the Thessalonians were the first part of the New Testament to be written. The early church had only the Old Testament and the Apostles’ teaching. Paul wrote to the same people, yet the 2 letters are different in atmosphere. The first is caring, warm; the second cooler and sharper. Thessalonica was a key town, the port for all the trade routes at the head of the Aegean Sea. Paul had needed to leave this town, but later Silas and Timothy brought good news about how the fledgling church was doing so he wrote. Paul gave them the Gospel in 3 ways – word, deed and sign – the deeds were the human proof, the signs were the divine proof that the words were true. Paul’s evangelism was based on demonstrating the Gospel before declaring it. Thus he fully communicated it. Results were 3 things - faith, hope and love. True Christianity is trinitarian – to repent toward God, to believe in Jesus and to receive the Spirit. 3 dimensions of the Christian life – to turn from idols, to serve the living God and to wait for his Son from heaven. For the sake of his converts, Paul had to defend his character because of false accusations. Among his subjects are women and work – a practical letter.

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1 & 2 Thessalonians 2

In continuing his talk on Paul’s 2 letters to the Thessalonians, David Pawson shows why their hope was shaky instead of being certain. Paul gave them understanding of the 2nd coming. Paul shows that if believers are alert, sober and watching, the 2nd Coming will not come as a surprise. We need to watch for the signs we’ve been given of his coming. He has advice for the church members – 3 things they should not be and 5 things they should. There was democracy in Thessalonica, and it had crept into the church whereas the church should be ruled by the Holy Spirit via Spirit filled leaders. In the 2nd letter, he has similar subjects, but he has obviously heard bad news of them now, and has to be harsher than in his first epistle. They are being persecuted so there is encouragement as well.

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