Prayer in 1-2 Thessalonians

.	A Study of	.
	1 & 2 Thessalonians Study of Major Themes Prayer
last revised: 1/16/00	Lorin L. Cranford	St. Paul

Texts to Study

1 Thessalonians	2 Thessalonians
Proem: 1:2-10 1:2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, 1:3-10 constantly 1:3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters [Gk brothers] beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 1:5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.	Proem: 1:3-12 1:3aWe are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, 1:3b-12 as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. 1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering -- 1:6 since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 1:7 and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 1:8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 1:12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2:1-3:13 Ministry to the Thessalonians 2:1-16 Earlier Ministry 2:13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.	2:13-17 Prayers 2:13-14 Thanksgiving 2:15 Exhortation 2:16-17 Wish Prayer 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 2:17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2:1-3:13 Ministry to the Thessalonians 2:1-16 Earlier Ministry 2:17-3:13 Anticipated Ministry *2:17-3:5 Concerns* *3:6-10 Timothy's Report* *3:11-13 Prayer* 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you 3:13 And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.	3:1-15 Encouragements 3:1-5 More Prayers 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, 3:2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. 3:3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil. 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Conclusio: 5:23-28 5:23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5:24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.	Conclusio 3:16-18 3:16a Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.
Conclusio: 5:23-28 5:25 Beloved, pray for us.	Conclusio 3:16-18 3:16bThe Lord be with you all.
Conclusio: 5:23-28 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you	Conclusio 3:16-18 3:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Study Questions

List the different kinds of prayers that are possible to pray.
Identify the types of prayers that Paul expressed in these two letters.
What did Paul thank God for regarding the Thessalonicans?
What did Paul ask God to do for the Thessalonicans? For himself in relation to the Thessalonicans?
Did Paul ask the Thessalonicans to pray for him? If so, for what?
What does this emphasis on prayer in these two letters suggest about the role of prayer in the Christian's life today?