Introduction to 1 Thessalonians

Scripture Reading | 1 Thes. 1:1-10

Introduction

The City of Thessalonica

The Church in Thessalonica - Established & Epistle Background

Author, Written, Purpose

Theological Themes

Sermon

The City of Thessalonica

Thessalonica was founded in 315 BCE by Cassander, one of Alexander the Great’s successors, who named it after his wife, a half-sister of Alexander.[1]

The city was constructed in an amphitheater formation at the head of the Thermaic Gulf.[1] Its strategic location made it a crossroads between east and west, the Balkans, and the Aegean, allowing it to flourish as the principal city of northern Greece under Hellenistic, Roman, and later Greek rule.[1]

As Macedonia’s crucial seaport with a safe harbor, Thessalonica served as a vital center for commerce, social life, and military operations, and the famous Roman road Via Egnatia passed through it, connecting Rome with the region north of the Aegean. (Became known as “the mother of all Macedonia”)

[2] In the first century, this cosmopolitan city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants included Greeks, Romans, Asians, and a substantial Jewish population.[2]

Thessalonica’s history extends far beyond antiquity. The city flourished under Byzantine rule but was repeatedly invaded by Slavs, Saracens, Crusaders, and Ottoman Turks before being returned to Greek control in 1913.[1] During World War II, the German army occupied the city and systematically exterminated its Jewish population of 60,000.[2] Remarkably, Thessalonica remains one of the few Greek cities continuously inhabited from the Hellenistic era to the present day,[3] and today it has 900,000 residents, a major university, and vibrant urban amenities.[1]

[1] Rick McCarthy and Susan McCarthy, Defining Moments: The Transformational Promises of Faith-Based Travel (New York, NY: Mount Tabor Media, 2021). [2] Mike Stallard, 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Living for Christ’s Return, Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary Series (AMG Publishers, 2009), 4. [3] Andrew R. Talbert, “Thessalonica,” in The Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

2. The Church in Thessalonica

Paul traveled 100 miles from Philippi through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica on his second apostolic journey (Acts 16:1-18:22)

Acts 16:12 - Philippi (chief city of that part of Macedonia)

Acts 16:40 - depart after jailed, freed

Acts 17:1 - Amphipolis and Apollonia

Acts 17:1-9 - church established

After being forced to leave Thessalonica, the missionary team traveled to Berea, about fifty miles away. There they had a successful ministry until Jews from Thessalonica arrived, stirred up trouble, and Paul was again forced to leave. This time, however, Silas and Timothy were able to stay behind. From Berea, Paul went to Athens, where they later rejoined him (cf. Acts 17:15).

Though forcibly separated from the Thessalonians, Paul was deeply concerned about them. The apostle expressed the great desire he felt in 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18

So great was his concern that he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica (1 Thess. 3:1-2, 5)—even though that left him to face the formidable task of evangelizing Athens by himself (he also sent Silas from Athens to Macedonia, possibly to Philippi; cf. Acts 18:5)

Paul’s relief and joy from Timothy’s report - 1 Thess. 3:6-8

3. Author & Purpose

Author

Paul - identifies himself twice as the author of the letter

1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 2:18 “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”

Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy (1 The. 3:2, 6), Paul’s traveling companions on this second apostolic journey (Acts 17:1-9) are also mentioned in the letter.

They are mentioned in the “greeting”.

Although Paul the inspired author, most of the first person plural pronouns (we, us, our) refer to all three.

However, during Timothy’s visit back to Thessalonica, they refer only to Paul and Silvanus (3:1, 2, 6).

1 Thessalonians is 1 of 2 letters Paul writes to these believers.

When Written

Paul most likely wrote 1 Thessalonians in response to Timothy’s good report after Timothy and Slivanus rejoined Paul when he was in Corinth.

Acts 18:5 “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.”

Purpose

Multiple reasons

Encouragement - 1 Thess. 1:2-10

responding to false allegations - 1 Thess. 2:1-12

comfort - 1 Thess. 2:13-16

expressing joy in their faith - 1 Thess. 2:17-3:13

their walk - 1 Thess. 4:1-8

correction of the slothful - 1 Thess. 4:9-12

addressing misunderstanding of prophetic events & more comfort - 1 Thess. 4:13-5:11

reproving tensions between each other - 1 Thess. 5:12-15

final exhortations in walking after the Spirit - 1 Thess. 5:16-22

4. Theological Themes

Many focus on the prophetic or eschatological

1 The. 1:10

1 The. 2:19

1 The. 3:13

1 The. 4:13ff

1 The. 5:1-10

Very pastoral

1 The. 2:1-12

Suffering & persecution

1 The. 2:14

1 The. 3

The believers walk

1 The. 1-5

Faith, Hope, Love

1 The. 1:3

5. Outline

1. (Ch. 1–3) - Work of Faith

2. (Ch. 4:1–12) - Labor of Love

3. (Ch. 4:13–5:28) - Patience of Hope

Another Outline

1. Thanksgiving for Their Testimony (1:1–10)

2. Paul’s Ministry Among Them (2:1–16)

3. Paul’s Concern & Joy (2:17–3:13)

4. Call to Holy Living (4:1–12)

5. Hope in Christ’s Return (4:13–5:11)

6. Final Instructions & Blessing (5:12–28)

Conclusion

As I introduce First Thessalonians to you, it was a city of Macedonia and a crossroads of the ancient world, and became the setting for the establishment of a church through Paul’s ministry during his second apostolic journey (Acts 17:1–9). Though the apostle was forced to depart under persecution, his deep concern for these believers remained evident—seen in his desire to return (1 Thess. 2:17–18) and in his sending of Timothy to establish and comfort them concerning their faith (1 Thess. 3:1–2, 5). After receiving Timothy’s report, Paul writes from Corinth with clear purpose: to encourage their steadfastness, defend the integrity of his ministry, comfort them in suffering, exhort them in their walk, correct disorder, and bring clarity and comfort regarding prophetic events, concluding with final exhortations for Spirit-led living.

As we move forward, I want you to recognize the doctrinal structure that unfolds before us: the work of faith, the labor of love, and the patience of hope, as set forth in 1 Thessalonians 1:3. These are not abstract ideas, but the very substance of the Christian life—rooted in the gospel and its distribution, expressed in sanctification, and oriented toward the coming of Christ. This letter is both pastoral, doctrinal, and theological, addressing suffering, holiness, and our expectation of the Lord’s coming. My aim and prayer is that the sound doctrine contained therein will produce in us a desire to walk in these truths—to live faithfully in the midst of opposition, to abound in holiness, and to rest in the sure and coming hope we have in Jesus Christ.