1 Thessalonians 1 — Good News in Word and Power
Introduction: When Paul and his companions are directed by the Holy Spirit with the call to Macedonia from Asia by a vision, they have a small beginning at Philippi with a few women who are converted. Their brief time there ends with a public scourging and subsequent time in jail, after Paul had commanded an evil spirit to leave a young woman. A miraculous earthquake sets Paul and Silas free and leads to the conversion of the jailer and his household — the core of the Philippian church. Paul and his companions then continued their journey through Macedonia to Thessalonica.
NOTE: Bible verses are taken from the World English Bible (WEB).
A — Paul’s Experience at Thessalonica
Acts 17 “1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’ 4 Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women. 5 But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar… 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Beroea.”
Comments: Before moving westward into Macedonia, Paul had developed a pattern of going to synagogues in the cities of Asia as his first step in proclaiming Christ. At Thessalonica he reasoned from the scriptures for three Sabbath days, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead. Many Greeks and some Jews believed the gospel message. The LORD used the dispersion of Israel over the centuries to spread the Old Testament word of God among many Gentile nations. The Jews at Thessalonica who would not receive the truth about Jesus were driven by misdirected zeal to violent reaction, recruiting wicked men from the marketplace and saying these are the men “who have turned the world upside down.” This characterization of Paul gives evidence that his reputation had preceded him before he traveled in Macedonia. Christians are expected to respect those in authority and even pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1–6), but as Peter and John declared, there may be times when a hard choice is required, and we must rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:18–20).
B — Paul Opened His Letter with Greetings and Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 1 “1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. 4 We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, 5 and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance.”
Comments: Paul and Silas (here called Silvanus) had suffered together at Philippi, and Timothy had also been with them during that time, though not beaten and imprisoned. In this brief opening, Paul mentions God the Father with the Lord Jesus Christ three times, underscoring that Jesus is God. Paul brings in the activity of the Holy Spirit as he refers to them as brothers loved by God and reminds them that they are chosen. The good news they received came not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. Those who are chosen by God will bear fruit for him as evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:15; Romans 9:8–12; 2 Peter 1:3–11).
C — The Thessalonian Believers Were Well Spoken of by Others
1 Thessalonians 1 “6 You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
Comments: Paul commends the believers at Thessalonica for being imitators of the display of Christianity by those who brought the gospel message to them, having sincerely received the LORD in the midst of strong persecution. The joy of their faith that evidenced the Holy Spirit within became a topic of discussion across Macedonia and even was well spoken about in Achaia and beyond. Paul goes on to say that he did not need to report of how well the Thessalonians had received him, because many had already heard of their faith in turning away from idols to the living and true God. They now wait expectantly for Jesus to return — the Son of God who was raised from the dead, who delivers us from the wrath to come (Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 16:16–17; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20).
Reflections in Prayer
As so often is the case in reading about the first century Christians, I am humbled that you have chosen me to have eternal life among so many who suffered for your name. Your Word has not changed from the time of the Old Testament saints, because your love and mercy endure forever. I echo in my own life what Jacob said upon his return to the land that would become Israel, “I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant.” Each of the Christians in this account of the foundation of the church at Thessalonica had their own unique roles to play, not only there but as they had impact on believers in other regions. I desire to continually seek my part in doing your will where you have placed me, and in the society of my time period. May I always remind myself and other Christians of the hope we share with those at Thessalonica, that we have “turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Amen and amen!
Published 31 January 2011