1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Paul’s Ministry Model

Have you ever faced opposition for trying to do the right thing?

What was the need you identified? What was your idea? How did you pitch the idea and to whom? What were the reactions: were they positive, mostly negative, mixed?

Background

Adapted from Pastor Robert’s Lecture on 1 Thessalonians from Panorama of the New Testament

Thessalonica was conquered by Alexander the Great in 315 B. C, and quickly rose to prominence. Predominantly a Roman city, it had become the capital of Macedonia by Paul’s time. Since it had an important seaport, Thessalonica attracted a multiplicity of cultures. There was also a robust Jewish community there (John McRay, “Thessalonica,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp 1590-1591).

Paul founded the Church of Thessalonica during his 2nd Missionary Journey at around A. D. 51 (Acts 17:1-9). Upon his arrival, the apostle, along with Silas preached Christ at a Jewish synagogue “on three Sabbath days” (Acts 17:2). The reaction was mixed. Many God-fearing women came to faith in Christ (Acts 17:4). However, a sizable Jewish contingency started a riot by claiming that Paul was advocating Jesus as king over the Roman emperor (Acts 17:5-9).

It is from these turbulent beginnings that the Thessalonian church was birthed. Fellow Thessalonians continued to harass the Christians (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14-15; 3:7). Yet they remained strong and faithful to the Lord.