A Thief in the Night:

Paul's Apocalyptic Jesus

I. First Thessalonians in Literary-historical Perspective

A.

 

B. The Situation (See Dr. Mark's Chronology, 51–52 C.E.)

 

C. Structure

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. Parenesis (i.e., exhortations) and Greetings (5:12–28)

II. First Thessalonians in Socio-historical Perspective

A.

 

 

B.

 

 

C.

 

 

D.

 

 

E.

 

 

III. First Thessalonians in Rhetorical and Ethical Perspectives

A. What was Paul's message while in Thessalonica?

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4.

 

 

B. What is the only "major problem" Paul addresses? (4:13–5:11)

    See "A Rapture Sermon and Conversion" from A Thief in the Night.

 

C. What are Paul's Foundations for Ethics? (4:1–12)

1.

 

2.

a. Dominical

(See "instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus" [v. 2] and "word of the Lord" in vv. 15–17)

 

b. Ecclesiastical

 

3. Experience (See esp. 4:1–2 and 8–9.)

a.

 

b.

 

4.