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1 and 2 Thessalonians

  1. Lesson One
    Overview of 1 and 2 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1–3)
    20 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    Christ's Return (1 Thessalonians 4–5)
    22 Activities
  3. Lesson Three
    The Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 1–2)
    19 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    Work (2 Thessalonians 3)
    17 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience (Review 1 and 2 Thessalonians)
    17 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 20

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1 and 2 Thessalonians Christ’s Return (1 Thessalonians 4–5) In | Workbook: The Hope of Resurrection, Part 2
Lesson 2, Activity 6

In | Workbook: The Hope of Resurrection, Part 2

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The table below outlines the questions that Paul asks and answers to address the issue of believers who die before Christ’s return. 

Questions1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 NIV
What did Jesus do? Jesus died and rose again . . .[Jesus] died for us . . .
As a result, what happens to believers who are dead, or “sleeping”?. . . so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him . . . and the dead in Christ will rise first. . . . so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
How should we respond to this as believers today?Therefore encourage one another with these words.Therefore encourage one another and build each other up . . . 

Table adapted from: G. K. Beale, 1–2 Thessalonians, 2003, p. 155.

Paul views resurrection as a binding hope of Christian community. He wants believers to take personal comfort in the promise of resurrection, but also to encourage this comfort in others. We see in passages like this not only Paul’s account of Christian hope, but also his vision for the church as a body of believers who promote each other’s faith and support each other in difficult times.