Epistles to the Thessalonians in Easton's Bible Dictionary
The first epistle to the Thessalonians was the first of all
Paul's epistles. It was in all probability written
from Corinth,
where he abode a "long time" (Acts 18:11, 18), early
in the
period of his residence there, about the end of A.D.
52.
The occasion of its being written was the return of
Timotheus
from Macedonia, bearing tidings from Thessalonica
regarding the
state of the church there (Acts 18:1-5; 1 Thess.
3:6). While, on
the whole, the report of Timothy was encouraging, it
also showed
that divers errors and misunderstandings regarding
the tenor of
Paul's teaching had crept in amongst them. He
addresses them in
this letter with the view of correcting these
errors, and
especially for the purpose of exhorting them to
purity of life,
reminding them that their sanctification was the
great end
desired by God regarding them.
The subscription erroneously states that this
epistle was
written from Athens.
The second epistle to the Thessalonians was probably
also
written from Corinth, and not many months after the
first.
The occasion of the writing of this epistle was the
arrival of
tidings that the tenor of the first epistle had been
misunderstood, especially with reference to the
second advent of
Christ. The Thessalonians had embraced the idea that
Paul had
taught that "the day of Christ was at hand", that
Christ's
coming was just about to happen. This error is
corrected
(2:1-12), and the apostle prophetically announces
what first
must take place. "The apostasy" was first to arise.
Various
explanations of this expression have been given, but
that which
is most satisfactory refers it to the Church of
Rome.
Read More