Bible Discussion Thread

INTRODUCTION TO 2 THESSALONIANS (Part 2):

After Silvanus and Timothy returned, Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians based on Timothy's good report. ( Acts 18:5) Paul then wrote the second letter to the Thessalonians after the courier that took the first letter returned and reported to Paul the new problems in Thessalonica.

IV. THE HISTORY OF THE CITY OF THESSALONICA:

Thessalonica was 50 miles west of Philippi and 100 miles north of Athens. It was the chief city of Macedonia and was a Roman Colony. The population of Thessalonica in Paul's day was 200,000 people. The city was first named Therma because of the hot springs in the area. In 316 B.C. Cassander made Therma his home base. He renamed the city Thessalonike in memory of his wife. Today it is called Salonika.

V. DATE OF THE LETTER:

Galatians was Paul's first letter written around 49-50 A.D. I Thessalonians was Paul's second letter written around 51 A.D. from Corinth. II Thessalonians was Paul's third letter written around 51-52 A.D. from Corinth. The date is certain because of historical writings found in archaeological discoveries that state that Gallio served as deputy of Achaia between 51-52 A.D.

( Acts 18:12-17).

VI. THE DOCTRINAL THEMES OF I & II THESSALONIANS:

I Thessalonians is the Instruction of Paul on the Rapture of the Church

II Thessalonians is the Instruction of Paul on the Second Coming of Christ

VII. SECTION OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF II THESSALONIANS:

Chapter 1: The Introduction: Comfort to the Thessalonians

Chapter 2: The Instruction: Concerning the Day of the Lord. That is the biblical term for the tribulation period, right before the second coming of Christ.

Hello Jesse

Some bits of history and corections about the city of Thessalonika, the place I was born and grew up.

Thessalonica is actualy about 150 km west of Philippi and 550 Km north of Athens (1 mile=1.6 km).

Today is called Thessalonike in grk. Previous to its establishment there were some settlements, all of them called Thermai (plural), but they were not exactly where the city is located today. From antiquity there are lot to see, the Roman arch of triumph, ruins of the Roman Forum, the fortresses that still surround the city, ruins of the Roman Palace. Lately when excavating the city's main street for making a metro, a lot has been found. A portion of the Roman main street that connected Asia with Rome, the famous Egnatia str., and surrounding buildings, statues etc, which will be exhibited some time in the future. Its archeological museum is very rich in exhibits. After the Roman era, during the Byzantine era, the city became even more important, since it was one of the most important harbours in the Eastern Mediterannean sea. The city is full of Byzantine Orthodox churches and many are still functioning today. There is a lot also from the period the city was occupied by Turks, the main one is a huge castle at the coast which is actually the symbol of modern Thessalinike. The population today is about 1.2 million people.

Its name derives from Thessalians and N-i-k-e. N-i-k-e means victory, Thessalians were Greeks living south of Macedonia. Philipp named his daughter, Cassander's wife, after his victory in a battle against the Thessalians. Thessalonike was one of the sisters of Alexander the great, Cassander was one of his generals. After the death of Alexander, Cassander ruled in Macedonia and established the city as his capital, giving it his wife's name. It had never been a Roman colony, it was always inhabited by Greeks. As said Thessalonike's most important part in history was not during the Roman era but later during the Byzantine era.