The Three Great Christian Virtues
1. Paul begins 1 Thessalonians with a salutation that was customary for the time. First identifying the writers, then the recipients, followed by a brief greeting. In 8 of his letters Paul only identifies himself. In three of his letters he includes Timothy in the greeting. But in both letters to the Thessalonians Paul includes Silvanus and Timothy in the greeting. Why does he do this?
2. Paul identifies the recipients of the letter as the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. What is the definition of the term church (Greek: ekklēsia—#1577)? What is significant about the term church, as Paul uses it, and to whom does it refer?
b. In this salutation the identity of who comprises the church of the Thessalonians is very specific . . . those who are in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In light of the fact that many were Gentiles who had been attending the Jewish synagogue, why is this specific identification important?
3. Paul’s greeting is one that is found in all 13 of his letters and is one that he appears to have coined himself, since it is not found in any known Greek or Roman literature. Here in 1 Thessalonians the greeting is grace to you and peace. This is an abbreviated form of his usual greeting, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s greeting is very much more than a mere perfunctory greeting. It, in fact, describes the transaction and the result of receiving saving faith.
a. Define and explain the significance of the term grace (Greek: charis—#5485).
b. Define and explain the significance of the term peace (Greek: eirēnē—#1515).
c. What is significant about this greeting of grace to you and peace?
4. Paul begins the body of his letter in v. 2 with a pronouncement of personal thanks to God for His protection and blessing upon the Thessalonians. Why is this statement important and why does Paul use the plural pronouns we and our in this blessing?
In v. 3 Paul expresses the first of three things that he is grateful for . . . constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. Notice here in v. 3 that Paul lists what are considered the three greatest Christian virtues . . . faith, love and hope.
5. The first virtue Paul lists is your work of faith. Paul doesn’t call for them to merely “remember your faith.” Paul calls for them to remember their work (ergon—#2041) of faith (pistis—#4102). What does one’s work of faith refer to?
6. The second virtue Paul lists is their labor (kopos—#2873) of love (agapē—#26). Why is their love considered to be labor?
7. The third virtue Paul lists is their steadfastness (hupomonē—#5281) of hope (elpis—#1680). The word hope is an important word in Scripture, appearing often. But biblical hope is not the same as secular hope. What is the difference and why is hope such an important virtue?
8. Why is “steadfastness” of hope so important?
9. While Paul list the three great Christian virtues as faith, love and hope, in 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul lists the order of these virtues as faith, hope and love. Is there any significance to these virtues appearing in a different order in these two passages?
10. Why are faith, love and hope such important virtues that they are considered the three great Christians virtues?
1. Paul begins 1 Thessalonians with a salutation that was customary for the time. First identifying the writers, then the recipients, followed by a brief greeting. In 8 of his letters Paul only identifies himself. In three of his letters he includes Timothy in the greeting. But in both letters to the Thessalonians Paul includes Silvanus and Timothy in the greeting. Why does he do this?
2. Paul identifies the recipients of the letter as the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
a. What is the definition of the term church (Greek: ekklēsia—#1577)? What is significant about the term church, as Paul uses it, and to whom does it refer?
b. In this salutation the identity of who comprises the church of the Thessalonians is very specific . . . those who are in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In light of the fact that many were Gentiles who had been attending the Jewish synagogue, why is this specific identification important?
3. Paul’s greeting is one that is found in all 13 of his letters and is one that he appears to have coined himself, since it is not found in any known Greek or Roman literature. Here in 1 Thessalonians the greeting is grace to you and peace. This is an abbreviated form of his usual greeting, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s greeting is very much more than a mere perfunctory greeting. It, in fact, describes the transaction and the result of receiving saving faith.
a. Define and explain the significance of the term grace (Greek: charis—#5485).
b. Define and explain the significance of the term peace (Greek: eirēnē—#1515).
c. What is significant about this greeting of grace to you and peace?
4. Paul begins the body of his letter in v. 2 with a pronouncement of personal thanks to God for His protection and blessing upon the Thessalonians. Why is this statement important and why does Paul use the plural pronouns we and our in this blessing?
In v. 3 Paul expresses the first of three things that he is grateful for . . . constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. Notice here in v. 3 that Paul lists what are considered the three greatest Christian virtues . . . faith, love and hope.
5. The first virtue Paul lists is your work of faith. Paul doesn’t call for them to merely “remember your faith.” Paul calls for them to remember their work (ergon—#2041) of faith (pistis—#4102). What does one’s work of faith refer to?
6. The second virtue Paul lists is their labor (kopos—#2873) of love (agapē—#26). Why is their love considered to be labor?
7. The third virtue Paul lists is their steadfastness (hupomonē—#5281) of hope (elpis—#1680). The word hope is an important word in Scripture, appearing often. But biblical hope is not the same as secular hope. What is the difference and why is hope such an important virtue?
8. Why is “steadfastness” of hope so important?
9. While Paul list the three great Christian virtues as faith, love and hope, in 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul lists the order of these virtues as faith, hope and love. Is there any significance to these virtues appearing in a different order in these two passages?
10. Why are faith, love and hope such important virtues that they are considered the three great Christians virtues?
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