The letters of Paul to the Thessalonian believers not only provide insight into the challenges faced by one of the early Christian churches, but also allow a glimpse into the great pastoral heart of the stalwart evangelist. Yes, he endured beatings, stoning, and imprisonment on his missionary journeys and even rejoiced that he was found worthy to suffer for his Lord. Yet in the midst of his own trials he longed to nurture and encourage those converts who were experiencing persecution as well. Intertwined among such familiar themes as the Second Advent, the resurrection of believers, church discipline, and the man of lawlessness. Paul's recurring emphasis is how to live while waiting for Jesus to return. It may come as a surprise to Christians steeped in a postmodern culture, but holiness separation from the ways of the world and commitment to the ways of God and the requisite dependence upon God's power are commanded. This user-friendly devotional commentary divides the text of these two letters into short passages followed by exegetical explanation and practical application. Though these messages were penned nearly 2,000 years ago, the apostle's words are just as relevant to Christians now as they were to the fledgling church in the first century. Book jacket.

"No one analyzes the biblical text better than John Phillips. I have benefited greatly from his commentaries and recommend them heartedly to pastors, teachers, and Bible students everywhere." --Dr. David Jeremiah, Senior Pastor, Shadow Mountain Community Church

Written by scholars with extensive experience teaching in colleges and universities, the Exploring the Bible series has for decades equipped students to study Scripture for themselves. Filled with classroom-friendly features, this second volume, now it its third edition, provides an accessible introduction for anyone studying the Letters and Revelation.

1 and 2 Thessalonians takes a close look at Paul's advice to an early community of believers, but the message of 1 and 2 Thessalonians can help all of us live out the Christian life today A Guided Discovery of the Bible The Bible invites us to explore God s word and reflect on how we might respond to it. To do this, we need guidance and the right tools for discovery. The Six Weeks with the Bible series of Bible discussion guides offers both in a concise six-week format. Whether focusing on a specific biblical book or exploring a theme that runs throughout the Bible, these practical guides in this series provide meaningful insights that explain Scripture while helping readers make connections to their own lives. Each guide is faithful to Church teaching and is guided by sound biblical scholarship presents the insights of Church fathers and saints includes questions for discussion and reflection delivers information in a reader-friendly format gives suggestions for prayer that help readers respond to God s word appeals to beginners as well as to advanced students of the Bible By reading Scripture, reflecting on its deeper meanings, and incorporating it into our daily life, we can grow not only in our understanding of God s word, but also in our relationship with God."

The Thessalonian church was young yet vibrant in faith. In this volume, Chuck Swindoll explores Paul’s encouragement, exhortation, and correction to the church he had started but had to leave soon after. Paul’s encouragement to remain faithful, full of hope and love in spite of trials—and his correction of distorted teachings about the end times—retains its crucial importance for today. The 15-volume Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary series draws on Gold Medallion Award–winner Chuck Swindoll’s 50 years of experience studying and preaching God’s Word. His deep insight, signature easygoing style, and humor bring a warmth and practical accessibility not often found in commentaries. Each volume combines verse-by-verse commentary, charts, maps, photos, key terms, and background articles with practical application. The newly updated volumes now include parallel presentations of the NLT and NASB before each section. This series is a must-have for pastors, teachers, and anyone else who is seeking a deeply practical resource for exploring God’s Word.

The Knowing the Bible series is a resource designed to help Bible readers better understand and apply God’s Word. These 12-week studies lead participants through books of the Bible and are made up of four basic components: (1) reflection questions that help readers engage the text at a deeper level; (2) “Gospel Glimpses” that highlight the gospel of grace throughout the book; (3) “Whole-Bible Connections” that show how any given passage connects to the Bible’s overarching story of redemption, culminating in Christ; and (4) “Theological Soundings” that identify how historic orthodox doctrines are taught or reinforced throughout Scripture. With contributions from an array of influential pastors and church leaders, these gospel-centered studies will help Christians see and cherish the message of God’s grace on every page of the Bible. Over the course of 12 weeks, this study connects Paul's letters to the Thessalonians to the lives of Christians today. These epistles encourage readers by reminding them of the salvation God will bring to all those whom he has called—strengthening them to pursue lives of holiness and love as they anticipate Jesus's return.

The letters of John and Jude are a wake-up call. False teachers had infiltrated the church and introduced secular reasoning in place of apostolic teachings. John and Jude wrote to their congregations not only to warn the faithful against the impostors, but to emphasize true spirituality in the face of error and apostasy.Its no surprise, then, that these four letters are of the utmost relevance to Christians today. Johns first and second letters deal with issues central to a genuine Christian faith and life, while the third provides a snapshot of the dynamics of at least one congregation in the A.D. 90s. Jude confronts many of the same issues in his letter, including the immorality that results from a denial of Christ.This user-friendly devotional commentary divides the entire text of these four letters into bite-sized passages using a new translation by the author. Each passage is followed by the exegetical meaning as well as the practical application for the lives of twenty-first-century believers. Small study groups and individuals alike will benefit from this format and better understand Gods timely and very personal message.

Paul's two letters to the Thessalonians stand as some of the very earliest Christian documents, yet they appear well into Paul's missionary career, giving them a unique context well worth exploring. In this first full-scale socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Ben Witherington gleans fresh insight from reading Paul's text in the light of rhetorical concerns and patterns, early Jewish theology, and the first-century historical situation in Macedonia. Witherington's distinctive socio-rhetorical approach helps unearth insights that would otherwise remain hidden using only form criticism, epistolary categories, and traditional criticism. Witherington details Thessalonica's place as the "metropolis" of Macedonia, and he carefully unpacks the social situation of Paul and his recipients. Scholars will appreciate the careful analysis and rhetorical insights contained here, while Witherington's clear prose and sensitivity to Paul's ideas make this work ideal for all who desire a useful, readable commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

In this commentary Gordon Fee aims first and foremost to offer a fresh exposition of the text of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. He shows the reader what is in the biblical text, what the text meant in the first century, and what it means now. Fee reveals the logic of each argument or narrative before moving on to the details of each verse, and he concludes each section with a theological-practical reflection on the meaning of the text today. Among other things, Fee explores the occasion for writing for each epistle, restoring 2 Thessalonians to the place it deserves as a full companion to the first letter, rather than merely a tagalong to 1 Thessalonians.