Bible Challenge: 1 & 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Timothy

Thessalonica was the capital of the province of Macedonia.  It sat on both sea and land routes of travel.  The church there was founded by Paul and his visit there is mentioned in the book of Acts.  These letters are about the life of the congregation and how their problems are both similar to and different from those of the other church communities in the area.  The second letter moves into the fulfillment of God's promises and how to await the return of Christ.

One of the best exhortations in the epistles comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 & 2 Timothy are letters to Timothy from Paul - or more likely from a senior student of Paul after Paul's death.  These two letters, along with Titus, are sometimes called the pastoral epistles because they are pastoral counsel to second generation leaders of the church.

First Timothy provides guidance in the problems of leading a church - which seem remarkably similar to some we face today and in how to oppose false teaching.

Second Timothy is much more about how Timothy, himself, should exercise Christian leadership.