2 Thessalonians

The second letter to the Thessalonians is quite similar to the first in content, but the tone is more terse. Paul's first letter not only did not correct their misconceptions of the second coming,  but caused some to cast off their daily responsibilities and become loafers, living on other believers' expenses. At the same time, false teachers taught that the tribulation these believers were undergoing was a sign that the day of the Lord had arrived, adding more distress and confusion to the already troubled church.

Eschatology is not an easy doctrine; still it is an essential part of the Christian faith, taking up almost five percent of the NT writings. Paul realized the difficulty these young believers had on such teachings, and therefore wrote a follow-up letter to further elaborate on the details concerning the last days.

Paul pointed out that preceding Christ's return there will be rampant apostasy and lawlessness, and the revelation of the man of sin, which at present is restrained until the appointed time. So instead of loafing around and become busybodies, believers should continue to work hard, do good, pray for and support the furtherance of the gospel, and make good use of every opportunity to serve the Lord faithfully as they await His return.

2:16-17
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father who has loved us and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

OUTLINE OF 2 THESSALONIANS

1. Greetings (1:1-2)
2. Comfort in View of the Lord's Return (1:3-12)
For Discouraged Believers
a. Thanksgiving (1:3-6)
Patience in Persecutions
Faith in Tribulations
b. Supplication (1:7-12)
Vindication by God
Victory and Glory in Christ
3. Correction in View of the Lord's Return (2:1-17)
For Disillusioned Believers
a. Certainty and Signs  (2:1-12)
Apostasy | Antichrist | Anarchy–Lawlessness
Appearance of Christ
b. Consolation and Comfort (2:13-17)
Obtaining Glory | Obeying Truth
4. Conduct in View of the Lord's Return (3:1-18)
For Disobedient Believers
a. Prayer Request | Patience in Waiting (3:1-5)
b. Instructions on Work and Charity (3:6-15)
c. Benediction (3:16-18)

 

1 Thessalonians

Paul's fond memories of the Thessalonian believers are visibly expressed in the writing of this letter to the church which he founded during his second missionary trip (Acts 17:10), right after his unjust beatings, imprisonment and release at Philippi (Acts 16:19-40). 

Paul's ministry at Thessalonica was met with great opposition from the Jews there who incited a mob and created a great tumult in the city, forcing Paul to cut short his work. Despite this, a church was planted and in the face of fierce persecution and death, the new believers remained steadfast and became examples to other churches in the region.

When Paul heard of the Thessalonians' faith and testimony, he wrote this letter in part to commend and encourage them, as well as to correct some misconceptions they had on the second coming of Christ. Paul had endeared himself to these young believers, much like a mother to her children, as can be seen in his writing:

2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not only the gospel of God, but our own souls as well, because you were dear to us.

Such should be the heart of a pastor who shepherds the flock of God, just as Christ laid down His life for the sheep, and the likes of Stephen, Peter and Paul who came after, and all who would heed Christ's call to take up the cross to follow Him. 

This is agape love in action.

OUTLINE OF 1 THESSALONIANS

1. Greetings (1:1)
2. The Believer's Life Testimony (1:2-3:13)
a. Sincerity in Thanksgiving (1:2-10)
Faith | Love | Hope
b. Sincerity in Confession (2:1-20)
Pure Motive | Selfless Labour
Unforgettable Experience
c. Sincerity in Expectation (3:1-13)
Change in Plan | Joy in Persevering
Earnestness in Prayer
3. The Believer's Life Motivation (4:1-5:24)
a. Christian Living (1:1-5)
b. The Coming of the Lord 
c. The Day of the Lord 
d. Christian Conduct (1:6-18)
4. Final Words (5:25-28)
a. Prayer Request (5:25)
b. Instructions (5:26-27)
c. Benediction (5:28)

Colossians

Believers are constantly bombarded by the philosophies and religious perspectives of this world, while trying to practice the pure faith of the gospel of Christ on a daily basis. It was no different in Paul's time, especially in a small city bustling with commercial interests like Colossae, where exchange of ideas and information was common place due to trade traffic.

It seems likely that the church was founded by Epaphras as an offshoot of Paul's three-year ministry in Ephesus (1:4-8; 2:1), and when Epaphroditus brought news to Paul in prison about the onslaught of heretical and cultic teachings the church was facing, Paul was stirred to write this letter.

Ephesians and Colossians are basically twin sister epistles. The former describes the Church of Christ, while the latter portrays the Christ of the Church; one focuses on the Body and the other centers on the Head. In this respect, both letters when read together, offers us a picture of the glorious Bride and that of her magnificent Bridegroom.

What sets Christ and Christianity apart from all other religions and philosophies is the sufficiency and centrality of Christ in His Person and work. No speculations, superstitions, or any supernatural visions and experiences, proposed or pursued by man in his vain attempt to circumvent the simplicity of the gospel, can ever hope to attain in any measure the knowledge and perfection that is found in Christ.

The supremacy of Christ must be matched by the submission of the Christian in order to bring out the splendor of the divine life in the believer. Paul sums up this mystery which had been hidden in ages and generations as—

1:27 Christ in you, the hope of glory.

OUTLINE OF COLOSSIANS

1. Introduction (1:1-14)

        a. Greetings (1:1-2)

        b. Prayer and Thanksgiving (1:3-14)

2. The Transcendence of Christ (1:15-2:3)

        a. In His Nature over Creation (1:15-18)

        b. In His Redemptive Work (1:19-23)

        c. In His Church as the Head (1:24-2:3)

3. The Completeness of Christ (2:4-23)

        a. Secured in Christ (2:4-7)

        b. Complete in Christ (2:8-10)

        c. Renewed in Christ (2:11-17)

        d. Contrasted with Greek Worships (2:18-19)

        e. Contrasted with Jewish Beliefs (2:20-23)

4. The Preeminence of Christ (3:1-4:6)

        a. Our Position in Christ (3:1-4)

        b. Our Priorities in Christ (3:5-4:6)

        Put off the Old Man | Put on the New Man

        Conduct at Home | at Work | in the World

5. Conclusion (4:7-18)

        a. Sending Tychicus and Onesimus (4:7-9)

        b. Greetings from the Brethren (4:10-14)

        c. Further Instructions (4:15-18)

Philippians

The church at Philippi occupied a very special place in the heart of Paul (1:8; 4:1), not only because he suffered much and was unjustly beaten and thrown into prison while ministering in that city (Acts 16:23), but also for the sacrificial love and financial support these believers shown by sending one of their very own to personally carry their love gift to the apostle while he was in Roman custody awaiting trial.

Philippians is a letter filled with joy despite the writer himself being imprisoned and in chains. It goes to show that real joy is not a product of outward circumstances or inward conditions, but the abiding peace of God that keeps our hearts and minds through Christ. Indeed, Paul was so confident of this fact that he asserted:

4:9 Those things which you have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me—do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

This prison cell epistle is perhaps the most personal of all the letters Paul ever wrote. The main topics he touched on include: his fellowship of love with the church, the mind of Christ to emulate, and the joy of the Christian. Paul could not have put it clearer what a Christian's lifelong pursuit should be when he made reference to his own personal aspiration ever since his encounter with the resurrected Christ:

3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

For Paul, Jesus Christ was everything to him.

OUTLINE OF PHILIPPIANS

1. Introduction (1:1-11)

        a. Greetings (1:1-2)

        b. Prayer of Thanksgiving (1:3-11)

2. Christ is Our Preoccupation (1:12-30)

        a. Paul's Desire for the Gospel (1:12-18)

        b. Paul's Dilemma for the Believers (1:19-30)

3. Christ is Our Example (2:1-30)

        a. Christ's Example of Humility (2:1-11)

        b. Christian's Exemplary Life (2:12-18)

        c. Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19-30)

4. Christ is Our Treasure (3:1-21)

        a. Vanity of Glorying in the Flesh (3:1-7)

        b. Value of Prizing Christ Above All Else (3:8-21)

5. Christ is Our Sufficiency (4:1-13)

        a. Living at Peace with One Another (4:1-3)

        b. Having the Peace of God (4:4-9)

        c. Being at Peace in All Situations (4:10-13)

6. Conclusion (4:14-23)

        a. Thanking for the Gifts (4:14-19)

        b. Final Words (4:20-23)