1 and 2 Thessalonians
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Lesson OneOverview of 1 and 2 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1–3)20 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 Thessalonians 1–3
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In | Workbook: 1 Thessalonians 1
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In | Workbook: Thessalonians and the Old Testament
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In | Idols, Immorality and Holy Living
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In | Blameless Consistency and Critics
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In | Workbook: Hope in the Face of Uncertainty
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In | Relational Language in Paul
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In | Relational Ministry: Cost and Context
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In | 1 Thessalonians and Romans
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Behind | Paul's Visits
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Behind | Missionary Journeys by Paul and His Companions
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Behind | Thessalonica
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Behind | Onsite: Thessalonica - Another King Named Jesus
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In Front | Stewarding Our Righteousness
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In Front | Stewarding Our Reputation
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In Front | Representing Something Bigger
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In Front | Workbook: Representing Something Bigger than Ourselves
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In Front | Workbook: Being a Representative and Being “Authentic”
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoChrist's Return (1 Thessalonians 4–5)22 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 Thessalonians 4–5
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In | Workbook: Tasting Death
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In | Question 1: What About Those Who Are Asleep?
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In | Workbook: The Hope of Resurrection, Part 1
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In | Workbook: The Hope of Resurrection, Part 2
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In | Christ Will Come Again and Reign
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In | Encouragement, Hope and Readiness
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In | Question 2: When Will These Things Take Place?
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In | Workbook: Why Does Paul Use “Thief in the Night”?
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In | Sons of the Light
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Behind | Second Coming: Terms and Concepts
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Behind | Terms and Concepts of the Second Coming
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Behind | Onsite: Preparing for the True King's Arrival
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Behind | A Letter of Consolation
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Behind | Paul’s Response to Roman Wisdom
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Behind | Jewish and Christian Views
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In Front | Obsessive Predictions of the End
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In Front | The Apocalyptic Bandwagon
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In Front | The Facts and Focus of Our Faith
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In Front | Workbook: Caught Ready or Unready?
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeThe Man of Lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 1–2)19 Activities|1 Assessment
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 2 Thessalonians 1–2
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In | Workbook: Man of Lawlessness
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In | Daniel and Thessalonians, Part 1
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In | Confronting Bad Eschatology
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In | The Man of Lawlessness
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In | The Secret Power of Lawlessness
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In | 1 and 2 Thessalonians and the Teachings of Jesus
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In | The Singular, Ultimate Evil Ruler
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Behind | The Antichrist and the Devil
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Behind | Onsite: Paul and Lawlessness - View from Corinth's "Bema"
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Behind | The Man of Beliar
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In Front | Antichrist as a Force and Person
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In Front | Antichrist: Prototype and Epitome
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In Front | Antichrist in Culture
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In Front | Recognizing the Signs
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In Front | Attempts to Identify Antichrist
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In Front | Workbook: Readiness
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourWork (2 Thessalonians 3)17 Activities|2 Assessments
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 2 Thessalonians 3
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In | Workbook: Work as a Vocation
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In | Work as a Vocation
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In | Work and Reputation
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In | The Already and Not Yet, Part 1
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In | The Already and Not Yet, Part 3
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In | The Already and Not Yet, Part 5
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In | Workbook: Diversity and Layers in Paul’s Letters, Part 1
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In | Workbook: Diversity and Layers in Paul’s Letters, Part 2
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Behind | Various Views of Work
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Behind | Onsite: Paul's Work Ethic - View from Corinth's Marketplace
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In Front | Biblical Work
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In Front | We're All Servants
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In Front | Workbook: New Heavens and Earth
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In Front | New Heavens and Earth
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveAuthor and Audience (Review 1 and 2 Thessalonians)17 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: 1 and 2 Thessalonians Review
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In | Workbook: Why We Work
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In | Reputation and Idleness
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In | Workbook: Busy People and Busybodies
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Behind | Missionaries in Paul's Day
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In Front | Balance in Ministry
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In Front | Onsite: "Tent-making Missions" - Following Paul's Example Today
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In Front | Learning About Ministry from Paul
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In Front | Strategizing with the Spirit
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In Front | Workbook: The Spread of Early Christianity
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In Front | The Spread of Early Christianity
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In Front | Workbook: Post-Apostolic Christian Evangelism
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In Front | Post-Apostolic Christian Evangelism
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In Front | Workbook: False Prophets in the Early Church
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - 1 and 2 Thessalonians
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 5
In | Workbook: Diversity and Layers in Paul’s Letters, Part 1
Grab your Workbook Journal!
[Record your answers in the workbook provided at the beginning of this course.]
Paul can frustrate us with his seeming inability to be definitive with some of his subjects. He’ll make seemingly incompatible statements, sometimes in the same letter. Because of this we need to be thoughtful in processing each verse within the spirit of his message as a whole.
The direction of Paul’s thought, and even his terminology, varies according to the situation and needs of his audience. Paul was obviously a serious theologian, but his ministry was practical and shaped by specific concerns for the believers in his care.
Consider these passages:
According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NIV
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10 NIV
- In no more than two or three sentences, describe any tensions you observe between the two passages (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Philippians 3:10).