Issues taken up by Paul
1. Why was Paul influenced to write to the Thessalonians?
2. Why was loss of hope important and possible afflictions?
3. Issue of dead friends, neighbors, and family.
Paul’s response
1. Paul writes the letter out of self defense against accusers saying that he only preached the good and not of the afflictions.
a. Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives, nor did it work though deception (1:3). But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please human beings, but rather God, who judges our hearts (1:4). Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed - God is witness- (1:5) nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others, (1:6) although we were ale to impose our weight as apostles of Christ (1:7).
b. For even when we were among you, we used to warn you in advance......
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