1 Thessalonians Part 3

Review:

Written to the church in Thessalonica not long after Paul and Silas’ journey there

Written to encourage the church as they grow in faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:4–10

4 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9 For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among 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 rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Vs 4-5 - 4 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.

Paul states that they are loved by God and that they are chosen by God! Loved by God as all people are loved by God and chosen by God as all who call on his name are. There is a difference between being loved by God and being chosen by God.

We will find out why they were chosen by God in vs 6, before he explains that he talks about what happened

They brought the Good News in words - preaching

They brought the Good News in power - via the Holy Spirit!

Is the power see through miracles or through simply the sharing of the Gospel while under persecution?

The Holy Spirit gave full conviction of the truth of their message. Can also mean full assurance. The full or deep conviction or assurance on the part of those presenting the message not receiving it.

their concern for the Thessalonians was evident by they way they lived while with them.

Vs 6-7 - 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Paul now identifies why they were chosen by God

They recieved the the word with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit

they became imitators of how the authors lived and imitators of Jesus.

they became imitators eve in the mist of persecution.

Their lives became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Vs 8-10 - 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9 For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among 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 rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Their lives were like a trumpet blast that not only reached Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place.

In fact is was so much so that Paul and his companions don’t even have to tell others about it, for they already know.

There is much talk about how Paul and his companions were welcomed by the church in Thessalonica.

There are three things we see the author talk about,

Their turning to god away from idols:

This indicates that many if not most were not Jews for Jews would not have participated in idol worship. But it was prominent amongst the gentiles

Not only turning away from idols but serving the living and true God

serve here is not like someone who serves another for an income but as one who serves as a slave to a master.

they are also awaiting for the return of Jesus

the true and living God raised his son Jesus from the dead

the who of who rescues us from the wrath that is coming is Jesus not his father

The coming wrath is God’s judgement on the ungodly, hence we are saved from for we have been giving Jesus’ righteousness so will not suffer God’s wrath.