Chapter 1

1:4 - The elect and the damned are predestined by God.

* This verse only mentions the believers' "election by God."  God clearly chooses us and doesn't want us to perish.  However, all throughout the Bible, it is obvious that a person who wants to go to Heaven must also choose to trust Jesus Christ.  A person who chooses to reject God will not go to Heaven.

Chapter 2

2:3 - Was Paul without guile?

* This is a letter to the Thessalonians and this passage simply states the following: "For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tries our hearts."  There is no contradiction in this passage.

2:10 - Paul with his usual modesty, proclaims that he is holy, just, and blameless.

* 1 Thessalonians 2:10 reads, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you that believe:."  Paul is clearly talking about a state of being.  Paul never proclaims being completely infallible and perfect.  Notice the word "behaved," which is in the past tense.  Paul is referring to a specific moment in the past.

* There are many verses were Paul proclaims his sinful nature and unworthiness.  Please see: 1 Timothy 1:15, Romans 5:8, etc.

2:14-16 - Paul accuses "the Jews" of killing Jesus, persecuting the prophets, displeasing God, and being "contrary to all men." He concludes that the wrath of God will "come upon them to the uttermost.

* 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 reads, "For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost."

* All of the things Paul mentions can be verified in different parts of the Bible.  The Jews did demand Jesus' crucifixion, they killed some of God's prophets, and they persecuted the early believers in Jesus Christ.

* Paul is talking about some specific Jews; not all Jews, in all places, forever.  He was talking about some Jews that were sinning.

* The Jewish temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 A.D.  When Paul mentions, "the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost," he is surely referring to this and their scattering.

2:18 - Paul would have arrived earlier, but Satan hindered him.

* This is recorded in the Bible.  There is an unseen, spiritual world that is at war with God, His angels, and His people.  A similar circumstance can be seen in Daniel 10:13.

Chapter 3

3:13 - Paul expects Jesus to return within the lifetime of his lifetime.

* 1 Thessalonians 3:13 reads, "So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."  Paul doesn't give any timetable for Jesus' return.

* There are two more times when Jesus will appear to the people on Earth.  He will appear, in the air, at the rapture.  This is when the Christians will be raptured from the Earth and join God in Heaven.  The next and last time Jesus will appear is at His "Second Coming."  He will defeat Satan and his army and reign on the Earth for 1,000 years.  Paul is referring to one of the times that Jesus Christ will return.  He does not say when He will return.  Paul knows that He will return at an unknown hour (which is written in Matthew 24:36, Revelation 3:3, etc.).  Therefore, Paul is making a statement about their spiritual holiness and telling the Thessalonians to be pure and holy, so you will be blameless whenever Jesus returns.

Chapter 4

4:4 - Paul says everyone "should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor." I'll bet Paul's vessel was in good hands.

* This Greek word for "vessel" has a wide variety of meanings.  Paul is likely referring to a husband's wife or his own self.

4:6 - Is it OK to steal?

* 1 Thessalonians 4:6 reads, "No man (should) go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have forewarned you and testified."

* Yes, it is wrong to steal.  Exodus 3:22, Exodus 12:35 and 36, and Ezekiel 39:10 are all referring to the Israelites taking the things that the Egyptians had stolen from them when they were slaves.

4:15, 17 - Paul thought he would live to see the rapture.

* Once again, Paul doesn't give a timetable for the rapture.

* This part of scripture is prophetic.  While Paul was writing to the Thessalonians and telling them to become holy, because Christ was coming at an unknown hour, he was also writing to future generations.  Nothing in this passage indicates that these words were written only for the Thessalonians.  In the scriptures, it is common to have a prophetic passage written to an existing person or people, but also intended for a future audience.

Chapter 5

5:3 - Does Hell exist? No.

* This verse only refers to destruction on Earth.

5:21 - Paul gives some good advice in this verse, saying "prove all things; hold fast to what is good." But should we "prove all things," as Paul says in this verse, or "believe all things," as he says in 1 Cor.13:7?

* The phrase "believes all things," in 1 Corinthians 13:7, doesn't encourage being gullible.  However, this Greek word for "believe" refers to trusting in Jesus Christ.  This Greek word that was translated into the phrase "all things" can better be translated "always."  Therefore, a much better and more accurate rendering of this passage is: "(Love) always trusts Jesus Christ."

5:23 - Paul prays that the Thessalonians will be good until Jesus returns. Of course this implies that he expected this to happen within their lifetimes.

* Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to stay pure.  He gives no timetable for Jesus' return.  He clearly expects and believes that He will return at an unknown hour (Matthew 24:36, Revelation 3:3, etc.).