Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Why are these letters letters?
- How does Paul's background and life story inform his view of Jesus?
- Paul takes a lot of pride in the fact that he works and isn't supported by the community. Why do you think that is?
- Is the metaphor of a father a good fit for Paul?
- Why do you think Paul's relationship with the Thessalonians seems so warm and fuzzy?
- Paul talks about the end of the world a lot. Have Christians today kind of moved away from this? Are there still Christian denominations that talk up the end times a ton? (Hint: yes.)
- Compare Paul's version of the end of the world with the images found in the Hebrew Bible.
- Paul is Jewish, but he calls out the Jews for killing Jesus. What gives?
- Why is Paul so concerned about how Christians are viewed by their Gentile neighbors?
- How does Paul ask Christians to set themselves apart from Gentiles?
- What do you think of Paul's views on sex? Are they practical or outdated?
- Paul is pretty interested in people's sex lives. Why would a guy who's celibate care?
- The Thessalonians are concerned that dead Christians aren't gonna be able to share in eternal life with God. Why? How does Paul calm their fears?
- No one knows the date that Jesus will come back, but Paul probably expected it to be within his lifetime. Why would Christians of that time be so anxious for Jesus to return?
- Paul talks a lot about what we do with our bodies (sexy times) and the resurrection of the body. Why does the body matter so darn much?
- How does Paul view suffering in the name of Jesus—is it a good thing? Or is it sort of a bummer? Or maybe a little of both?
- Why do you think 1 Thessalonians is so cheerful? How does Paul's tone here compare to some of his other letters (like the ones to the Romans and Corinthians)?
- Do you think Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians? Why or why not?
- Why would someone want to write under Paul's name? Can you think of a modern example of anonymous people using a famous person's name to make a point?
- Scholars have never really been able to figure out who the Man of Sin was. Can you? P.S. Good luck.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11 says that "God sends [non-believers] a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false." Why would God do this? Are there other instances in the Bible like this?
- Why do you think some of the Christians in 2 Thessalonians 3 are slacking? Why does Paul come down so hard on them?
- Considering Paul never even met Jesus during his lifetime, do you think he gets too much airtime in the Bible? Why or why not?
- How would you feel if people were still reading your texts or emails 2,000 years from now?