I Thessalonians 2

Can you remember the contents of I Thessalonians 1? Review your paraphrase and notice that the beginning of I Thessalonians 2 continues the trends of thought started in chapter one—Paul's ministry among them and its results. (The original New Testament manuscripts had no chapter or verse divisions—these were added later for convenience.)

Read the second chapter 2 to 4 times, including once or twice in another translation.

Vs. 1 — Entrance in — Our visit to you.
Vs. 2 — Entreated — Treated.
Vs. 3 — Guile — Impure motives or trickery.
Vs. 5 — Covetousness — Greed.
Vs. 14 — Judea — See map on page 5.

While you are learning to paraphrase verse by verse it will be helpful to notice possible paragraph divisions in the chapter. Studying paragraphs is a step in learning to summarize or outline a chapter (you will learn to summarize in Book 8).

For this study, I Thessalonians 2 has already been divided into paragraphs and the first verses of each paragraph have been paraphrased. Complete the paraphrasing.

Vs. 1 Brothers, you know personally that our visit among you was not fruitless.

Vs. 2 As you well know, we were badly mistreated in Philippi before coming to you. Nevertheless, in God's strength we fearlessly proclaimed His good news to you in spite of great opposition.

Vs. 9 You will recall how hard we labored. We worked day and night, so that we wouldn't be a financial burden to you as we proclaimed God's good news.

Vs. 13 We also thank God continually for the way you responded to our preaching. You accepted it not as human teaching, but as it really is, the message of God Himself—words that continue to produce results in the lives of you believers.

Vs. 14 For you began to follow the example of the Judean groups of believers in Christ. You were persecuted by your fellow citizens as the Judean Christians were by their fellow Jews.

Vs. 17 Although we have been absent from you for a little while, dear brothers, our hearts have been with you and we have eagerly wanted to see you again.

Reread your paraphrase and compare it with the chapter in the Bible. Check to see if you have covered the thoughts in your own words.

Another important theme in I Thessalonians is follow-up. Review chapter two and list verses that refer to helping Christians grow.

Also be on the lookout for references to follow-up principles and examples in the following chapters.

Prayerfully review I Thessalonians 2 and express in a sentence or two what fresh truth you saw, or what responsibility you need to carry out.