1 & 2 Thessalonians: Living in the End Times

By John Stott, Dale Larsen and Sandy Larsen

Study Scripture with John Stott
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. For centuries Christians have proclaimed these central truths. The gospel that began in space and time will ultimately be fulfilled at Christ's return. And as we wait and long for Christ's return, this gospel gives us encouragement and a reason for hope. These ten studies on Paul's letters to the Thessalonians open our minds to the truth, lift our hearts to hope, and cause us to worship our faithful, victorious God.
John Stott was one of the world's leading and most-loved Bible teachers and preachers. In this Bible study guide you can explore Scripture under his guidance, enhancing your own in-depth study with insights gained from his years of immersion in God's Word.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IVP Bible Studies
• Release date: Jun 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9780830855940

John Stott

The Revd Dr John Stott, CBE, was for many years Rector of All Souls Church, Langham Place, London, and chaplain to the Queen. Stott's global influence is well established, mainly through his work with Billy Graham and the Lausanne conferences - he was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974. In 2005, Time magazine ranked Stott among the 100 most influential people in the world. He passed away on July 27, 2011.

Book preview

Couverture : John Stott, Dale Larsen, Sandy Larsen, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Living in the End Times)

1 & 2

Thessalonians

Living in

the End Times

10 Studies with Commentary

for Individuals or Groups

John Stott Bible Studies

John Stott

WITH DALE LARSEN AND

SANDY LARSEN

Illustration

Contents

INTRODUCING 1 & 2 THESSALONIANS

1 PASSING IT ON

1 Thessalonians 1

2 PLEASING GOD

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

3 DOUBLE COMMITMENT

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13

4 LIVING THE GOSPEL

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

5 HOPE IN THE FACE OF DEATH

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

6 WAITING FOR CHRIST

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

7 CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

8 DYNAMIC FAITH

2 Thessalonians 1

9 STANDING FIRM

2 Thessalonians 2

10 THE WORD OF PEACE

2 Thessalonians 3

GUIDELINES FOR LEADERS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MORE TITLES FROM INTERVARSITY PRESS

Introducing

1 & 2 Thessalonians

There is a kind of unmingled sweetness in this epistle," wrote Johann Albrecht Bengel about 1 Thessalonians in the eighteenth century (Gnomon of the New Testament). Indeed I have found much sweetness in both letters as, for many years now, I have reflected on their meaning and message.

These letters reveal the authentic Paul. Not that he is ever inauthentic, but sometimes the human Paul is obscured by his apostolic office and authority. To be sure, in the Thessalonian letters he issues commands and demands obedience. More often, however, he writes like the pastor he is, indeed like the Thessalonians’ mother and father, which is what he claims to be (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11). He loves them, gives himself for them, is anxiously concerned for their welfare, teaches and admonishes them, begs them to stand firm, and prays for them constantly, urgently, and personally.

About the Thessalonians

When Paul and his companions visited Thessalonica in AD 49 or 50, it was already a well-established city with a long history. It occupied a strategic position, for it boasted a good natural harbor at the head of the Thermaic Gulf.

Acts 17 tells the story of how Thessalonica was evangelized on Paul’s second missionary journey. Due to opposition, Paul and Silas had to be smuggled out of town. It was in Corinth that Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian church.

The apostle responded in this letter to the information he had received from Timothy. Timothy brought good news of the Thessalonians’ faith and love (1 Thessalonians 3:6-8). On the other hand, he had reported that Paul was being criticized (2:2-6; 2:17–3:5). In addition the Thessalonians needed correction and instruction in the areas of sexual morality, earning their own living, preparing for the second coming of Jesus, and tensions in the fellowship.

It seems certain that Paul, Silas, and Timothy were still in Corinth when the Thessalonians’ response to Paul’s first letter arrived. The news they received was mixed, as is clear from the second letter it prompted.

A Message for Us

Like all of Paul’s other letters, 1 and 2 Thessalonians are ad hoc documents, called forth by special, local circumstances to which he was responding. At the same time they contain some of the most important New Testament passages about eschatology, the culmination of all things. They set forth the Christian view of history, showing that history is linear rather than circular or cyclical and that history will come to a planned end, a grand finale, consisting of the parousia or second coming of Christ, the resurrection, the judgment, and the kingdom. We, too, are part

Reviews for 1 & 2 Thessalonians

[david.alfred.sarkies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

John Stott is a very good, and level headed, expositor of the Bible, and that is one of the reasons that I was attracted to this commentary, not to mention that the two letters to the Thessalonians deal with the difficult issues of the end times and the Anti-christ, which is why it is good to see what somebody like John Stott has to say about the topic.As a bit of a background, the two letters to the Thessalonians were written by the Apostle Paul around 57 AD after he left the city where he was hounded out by the judaizers. At the time Nero was emperor and the church was still quite young. As Paul was forced to leave the city, there were a lot of things that he wanted to teach them, and a lot of these things the Thessalonians wanted to know, therefore he wrote to them regarding these topics which have been preserved for us to this day.First thing I wish to discuss is the end-times and the Anti-christ. Stott deals with these topics in a way that is understandable and comforting. In regards to the end-times, they will happen and Jesus will return. Obviously this is something that we rely on faith, however these events will happen and we need to be prepared. 'What about those who have died?' the Thessalonians asked. Paul explained that they have not been left behind, but rather are sleeping, awaiting that day when Jesus returns in his glory to be brought up to be with him, and those of us still alive will be caught up with him as well. However, one of the problems that the Thessalonians faced was that a number of them stopped working in anticipation for the second coming. Obviously this isn't something that we face today because, 2000 years after, we are still waiting, and to many of us the urgency of the second coming is no longer around. Time has ceased to be immediate and has become: it will happen sometime, but not yet. Obviously this is something we need to move away from in the same way that the Thessalonians needed to return to work and continue to work in anticipation. This is another of the many passages which emphasis the importance of work and that those who will not work (as opposed to cannot work) should not participate in the bounties that are produced by other people's hard work. As Paul says - if they do not work they do not eat.Now for the Anti-christ. There have been many Anti-christs throughout history, and there are many floating around today. What Paul is talking about here is not the small 'a' anti-christ, but the Anti-christ - the man of lawlessness who will lead the great rebellion against God. This anti-christ has not yet been revealed, and it is dangerous to speculate who this person might be. One key indicator is that he will be universally loved, another indicator is that he will perform miracles, but most importantly, he will lead people away from God. Personally, I find it disrespectful to refer to world leaders whom we do no like (such as Obama or George Bush) as the Anti-christ. It is clear that they are not, and throughout history people have pointed at a suitably powerful, and corrupt, individual and said 'he is the Anti-christ'. They said that about the Popes and about Martin Luther.What we can know is that this individual will arise sometime. It is important to note that it does not seem to be a reference to Nero (who ruled at the time) despite the fact that Nero was a cruel and vicious ruler. One needs to consider that when the Christians underwent the Neronian persecution, the one thought on their mind was likely to be - it's only going to get worse.Looking at the internet and the references to the coming one world government and the era of global enslavement does not worry me in the sense that these things must happen, and when they do, it is only an indication that the end is coming and that Christ will reveal himself to us soon.