Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians

When the gospel was first preached to the Thessalonians, a strong part of the message focused on the expectation of Christ’s return. Several years later, the death of some of the believers raised questions in the church. How long would Christ delay? What about those who died in the meantime? How should Christians live? In response to these questions and other concerns, Paul sent the Thessalonians a letter.A.D. 51 to 52 (Acts 18:12–17), the first letter to the Thessalonians is dated about A.D. 51. This makes 1 Thessalonians second only to Galatians in the chronological order of Paul’s letters.

NEW TESTAMENT Book Approximate Writing Date Author

1. James A.D. 44–49 James

2. Galatians A.D. 49–50 Paul

3. Matthew A.D. 50–60 Matthew

4. Mark A.D. 50–60 Mark

5. 1 Thessalonians A.D. 51 Paul

6. 2 Thessalonians A.D. 51–52 Paul

7. 1 Corinthians A.D. 55 Paul

8. 2 Corinthians A.D. 55–56 Paul

9. Romans A.D. 56 Paul

10. Luke A.D. 60–61 Luke

11. Ephesians A.D. 60–62 Paul

12. Philippians A.D. 60–62 Paul

13. Colossians A.D. 60–62 Paul

14. Philemon A.D. 60–62 Paul

15. Acts A.D. 62 Luke

16. 1 Timothy A.D. 62–64 Paul

17. Titus A.D. 62–64 Paul

18. 1 Peter A.D. 64–65 Peter

19. 2 Timothy A.D. 66–67 Paul

20. 2 Peter A.D. 67–68 Peter

21. Hebrews A.D. 67–69 Unknown

22. Jude A.D. 68–70 Jude

23. John A.D. 80–90 John

24. 1 John A.D. 90–95 John

25. 2 John A.D. 90–95 John

26. 3 John A.D. 90–95 John

27. Revelation A.D. 94–96 John

Paul’s original visit to Thessalonica during his second missionary journey (A.D. 50—Acts 16:1–18:22) was brief but effective. A church was planted there before the apostle and his companions were evicted (Acts 17:1–9).Paul sent Timothy back into the region to obtain a report on the new churches at Berea and Thessalonica. Timothy’s good news prompted Paul to write his first letter. At that point the apostle was in Corinth, where he remained long enough to write his second letter to the church. Timothy’s report about Thessalonica must have included some details that delighted and some that concerned Paul. Some of these became the purposes behind his letter:

• To encourage the church (1:2–10)

• To answer false allegations (2:1–12)

• To comfort a persecuted flock (2:13–16)

• To express his joy in their faith (2:17–3:13)

• To remind them of the importance of moral purity (4:1–8)

• To condemn the sluggard lifestyle (4:9–12)

• To correct a wrong understanding of prophetic events (4:13–5:11)

• To defuse tensions within the church (5:12–15)

• To exhort the church in the basics of Christian living (5:16–22).

There was a lot of troublesome Jews in Thessalonica.......Acts 17:1-9..........Acts 17:13 “But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.”

Vs. 1.......Paul and Silvanus and Timothy......Silvanus is Silas....Silas also wrote for Peter 1 Peter 5:12 “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.”

Timothy travelled with Paul on his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys.

Notice how Paul describes this church....To the church at Thessalonica in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

From what I have read most of the assembly would be his initial converts and they were Jewish, Paul makes it very clear that this was not a Jewish assembly, but one gathered in the Name of Jesus, the Son of God........Go back to Acts 17:2–3 “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”

Is Christ means the anointed, the Messiah, Son of God!

3 sabbaths some suppose approx. 15 days.....Very brief but concise and this church got it!

Grace to You.....Jacob has gotten to where he signs all his emails this way.

Grace and peace can only be given through God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Grace of God through Christ brings Peace with God from the Lord Jesus Christ!

Vs. 2-3........Paul is praying for this church....3 of those prayers are in this 1st letter......ch. 3 and ch. 5 also have his prayer for this church.

Never ceased to give thanks for this church.......The motivation of this thanksgiving is or should be a guide for all churches/bodies of Christ.

Work of faith.....

Their works produced by faith

Labor of love........

Their labor prompted by love

Patience of hope......

Their steadfastness inspired by their hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In a letter that I wrote last year to this church, I wrote about you faithful brothers and sisters from this text.......In my view, what a great commendation for a body of believers......If a Christian sets out to be known for something, this is what should be seen from those on the outside and inside!

Paul ending his love chapter with these things......1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” .....Love being the greatest, because after we have attained, after we are in the presence of the God faith and hope is no longer necessary, only love will remain!

We live unto God according to what we know about Him through Jesus Christ, that produces works....Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We labor for people because of love.....Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

We hope because of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.....One of my favorite lines in the hymn Just As I Am is “Because thy promised, I believe.”

We have the testimony of the works and words of Jesus the Son of God, and He has promised.......

Vs. 4-7.....Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God......God chose that His Gospel to come their way at the right time, with the right folks....because of God’s Great Love!!! how do we know that? Because they believed....“We know how God chose you, that is to say, we know that our gospel came to you not simply with words, etc.”

Verse 5 gives the answer.....Paul states “For our Gospel”......not meaning that it was his, but it distinguishes from the false teachings around.....anything different was false.

Galatians 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Other than what Paul preached........The whole idea is that there is not another Gospel of Jesus Christ.......There were some folks teaching some of Jesus but adding or taking out things and that is no Gospel at all.

Our Gospel, The True Gospel, came not only with words, but with power, and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.....

A better understanding of Paul is saying maybe found in the NLT....… “For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.”

It came with words but also with power given by the Holy Spirit and by the deep conviction from Paul and his companions that testified that their Gospel (The Gospel that they believed, which is the only one) is true.

How they lived, what they said, etc.

These Thessalonians became followers of Paul.......what does that mean when you become a follower of Paul?

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” ......It means you are following Christ!

They did not come by this Word of God easy, remember Paul was basically run out of the city and then chased to Berea by the Jews that were in Thessalonica.

“having received the message in much affliction.”

In the midst of receiving the message in much affliction, the joy of the Holy Spirit was with them!

I realize that I might be overthinking this here, but that is one of the best attributes of the Holy Spirit.......Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

This is not a come and go gift, it is a joy that remains.......I can shamefully testify that I have allowed circumstances to hide that joy before.......This joy is not something that you conjure up by saying something over and over, it is the presence of God that dwells in you and it comes by faith in Jesus Christ.....Believe in His Grace, His Love, His Peace, His Joy.....

This church was examples for other churches......

The Greek word for “ensamples” is “typikōs” which means “mold, stamp, statue, or a mark left by a blow.”

It is like a seal or stamp on minted coins.......Paul stated that this church left their mark or the mark of Christ with these churches within the Roman provinces.

Vs. 8-10........They reverberated God’s Word, The Gospel of Christ, to their own church (locally), to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia (nationally), and everywhere else (globally).......

Everyplace that.......Notice the phrasing......Your faith to God-ward is spread......It is our faith that preaches the sermons, not the articulation or the excitement.....it is the real life results of the life of the believers that makes the message that they teach genuine!

That is what Paul has been stating all along.........

Macedonia and Achaia had reported to Paul and his crew that the folks in Thessalonica had turned from their idol worship, to serve the living and true God......there is no other God!

They have a hope in Jesus Christ that He will return.......To deliver us from God’s wrath upon the earth and all unbelievers!