Outline of 1 Thessalonians: Waiting for His Son from heaven
A young, persecuted church is thanked, steadied and taught to live holy lives as it waits for Jesus to come from heaven and raise His people.
Part 1 · Thanks for a church born in trouble 1:1–3:13
Paul thanks God for the church, recalls how the gospel came and was received, and tells of his absence and joy, ending in prayer.
How you turned to God 1:1–10
Thanks for a church God chose: the gospel came in power, and they turned from idols to wait for His Son.
- 11 Thessalonians 1: From idols to the living God
Paul thanks God for a church He chose and changed: they turned from idols to serve God and await His Son.
In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ 1:1 · Your work of faith, your labor of love 1:2–3 · He has chosen you 1:4–7 · To await His Son from heaven 1:8–10
Our visit was not in vain 2:1–16
How the apostles lived among them, as mother and father, and how the church received God's word and suffered.
- 21 Thessalonians 2: Not the word of men, but of God
Paul recalls his visit: no flattery or greed, but a mother's gentleness and a father's care; they received God's word.
Bold in our God 2:1–2 · Not to please men but God 2:3–6 · Like a nursing mother 2:7–8 · As a father treats his own children 2:9–12 · As it truly is, the word of God 2:13–16 · Our crown of boasting 2:17–20
Torn away from you 2:17–3:13
Blocked from returning, Paul sent Timothy; his good news brings joy, and Paul prays for love and holiness.
- 31 Thessalonians 3: Timothy's good news
Paul sent Timothy from Athens; his good report of their faith brings joy, and Paul prays to see them.
We sent Timothy 3:1–5 · Timothy has returned 3:6–10 · Blameless in holiness at His coming 3:11–13
Part 2 · How to live while you wait 4:1–5:28
Holiness and love, comfort about the dead in Christ, watchfulness for the day of the Lord, and the life of the church.
- 41 Thessalonians 4: We will always be with the Lord
Live holy lives and love one another; the dead in Christ will rise when the Lord descends to meet His people.
Pleasing to God 4:1–2 · It is God's will that you should be holy 4:3–8 · Taught by God to love one another 4:9–12 · Not grieve like the rest 4:13–14 · The Lord Himself will descend 4:15–17 · Encourage one another 4:18
- 51 Thessalonians 5: Sons of the light and of the day
The day of the Lord will surprise the world, not believers: stay awake and sober, and build one another up.
Like a thief in the night 5:1–3 · Sons of the light 5:4–8 · Not appointed to suffer wrath 5:9–11 · Hold them in highest regard 5:12–15 · Rejoice at all times 5:16–22 · He will do it 5:23–24 · Read to all the brothers 5:25–28
Holiness and love 4:1–12
God's will is their holiness in sexual life; taught by God to love, they must love more and work quietly.
Those who have fallen asleep 4:13–18
Grief with hope: when the Lord descends, the dead in Christ rise first, and all are caught up to meet Him.
The day of the Lord 5:1–11
The day comes like a thief on the unready; the sons of the day stay awake, armed with faith, love and hope.
Life together, and farewell 5:12–28
Honor leaders, care for the weak, rejoice, pray, test all things; the faithful God will keep them blameless.
Plus What TheoMaps holds for the outline of 1 Thessalonians
- The 26 section notes, one for every section of 1 Thessalonians
- How each of its 7 movements leads into the next, in its own words
- The shape of 1 Thessalonians: 6 repeated words and phrases and 5 literary patterns
TheoMaps Plus opens the Outline of every book the way Genesis is open, on the map.