Session 5: Authentic Joy
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Background
Background
He likely wrote the letter from Corinth between AD 50–51 (compare ), making it one of the earliest books of the NT.
1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
The church at Thessalonica had been established during Paul’s second missionary journey as he responded to the call of God to enter into Macedonia (; ). His concern whether the new converts could withstand the pressures of persecution led him to dispatch Timothy to visit the church. Timothy reported that the believers were doing remarkably well. Overjoyed by what he heard, Paul wrote a letter to the Thessalonians. The verses in this session indicate how pleased he was to learn of their faith, love, and hope. Because of their love for the Lord and joy in the gospel, they had become powerful examples of the ability of the gospel to change lives.
Silvanus and Timothy
Silvanus and Timothy
Silvanus and Timothy
Silvanus and Timothy
Silvanus Silas, also known as Silvanus, was a well-respected leader from the Jerusalem church who accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey (, ; ). Paul likely includes Silas as a cosender of this letter because he also ministered to the Thessalonians (, ). Silvanus, or Silas, was a Judean Christian () who joined Paul after he separated from Barnabas ().
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
Timothy Half-Gentile, half-Jewish disciple and companion of Paul. Paul includes Timothy as a cosender because, like Silvanus, the Thessalonians knew him (). Timothy, of Lystra in south Galatia, was a son of a Jewish mother and Greek father and became partners with Paul when Paul passed through his hometown early on his second journey (see ; Introduction to 1 Timothy). Timothy had just returned from a visit to the Thessalonian church (), and his report is Paul’s major source of information as he writes.
Timothy met Paul in Lystra () and assisted him in his missionary efforts (e.g., ; ; ), becoming like a son to Paul (). Paul offers Timothy as an example of a servant-hearted leader and faithful partner in the gospel ().
14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there.
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—
1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.
4 Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. 5 These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas,
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes.
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,
2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
The city of Thessalonica
The city of Thessalonica
was located in the Roman province of Macedonia (modern-day Greece). Its harbor and proximity to a major highway (Via Egnatia) made it a strategic location for Paul’s ministry in Macedonia.
The Romans captured Thessalonica in 168 BC. They later made it a free city because of its support of the Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar. As a free city, Thessalonica was allowed to retain its Greek culture and language, despite Roman control (e.g., they could mint their own coins). In response, the Thessalonians established a cult for the emperor. A variety of gods were also worshiped in Thessalonica: Cabirus, Dionysus, Serapis, and Isis. Paul’s instruction in the letter challenges these cultural, political, and religious convictions.
Faith and love drive what we do
Faith and love drive what we do
Let’s go to
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
What makes a Christian authentic?
Grace to you and peace Paul’s typical greeting throughout his letters (e.g., ; ). It summarizes his gospel message: God’s work through Christ (“grace”) brings people into a harmonious relationship with God and one another (“peace”).
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Greek word used here, charis, usually translated as “grace,” is an alteration of the standard term chairein (from chairō, meaning “to rejoice”). The other Greek term used here, eirēnē, is equivalent to the Hebrew term shalom (“peace”), which carries the idea of wholeness.
The gospel begins with God’s work on our behalf and results in a transformation of our relationships with God and neighbor—from broken to whole.
1:2–3 Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith, Love, and Hope. Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians are evidencing the essential marks of the Christian life—faith, love, and hope.
Faith, hope, and love. sound familiar? Look at ;
1:3 work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope Faith, love, and hope are the three core Christian virtues (; ). They serve as evidence of the Thessalonians’ salvation and the effectiveness of missionary efforts among them.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
Joy flows from our salvation
Joy flows from our salvation
Move to
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
Why do you think Paul was so convinced the Thessalonians were chosen by God?
1:4 The ultimate reason for Paul’s certainty regarding the Thessalonians’ election is that they are brothers loved by God. God’s love undergirds election (; cf. ; )
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Paul infers from the events of the mission that the Thessalonians were elect and therefore he can reassure them that they are forever secure.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
20 Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
21 But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Paul infers from the events of the mission that the Thessalonians were elect and therefore he can reassure them that they are forever secure.
In what ways were they imitators of Paul (and of Christ)? Look at ;
1:5 power Refers to the power evident in Paul’s preaching. It may also refer to God’s miraculous power among the Thessalonians, which confirmed the integrity of his gospel message.
Suffering affliction is normal for those destined to be saved at the end (see ; ).
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
In the ancient world, students imitated their teachers as part of their education. In the Christian faith, disciples imitate God’s character ()—and in doing so, live lives worthy of imitation (; ).
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
In the ancient world, students imitated their teachers as part of their education. In the Christian faith, disciples imitate God’s character ()—and in doing so, live lives worthy of imitation (; ).
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Love and joy flow out of us as a witness and example
Love and joy flow out of us as a witness and example
Let’s move to
affliction Refers to the opposition and persecution experienced by the believers in Thessalonica (3:3–4, 7; , ).
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the 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.
What is meant by our silent witness?
joy The Greek word used here, chara, refers to a state of rejoicing or happiness.
1:7 Macedonia A Roman province on the Balkan Peninsula. Thessalonica was located in Macedonia. Achaia A Roman province south of Macedonia (modern-day Greece). The cities of Athens and Corinth were located in Achaia.
what transpired in Thessalonica resulted in the gospel being proclaimed far and wide, no doubt aided by the fact that Thessalonica was strategically located (see Introduction: Purpose, Occasion, and Background).
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (AD 49–51)
Paul and Silas visit Lystra and Derbe
Paul and Silas visit Philippi
Paul and Silas visit Thessalonica
Paul visits Athens
Paul visits Corinth
Paul writes letters from Corinth to the Thessalonian church
what transpired in Thessalonica resulted in the gospel being proclaimed far and wide, no doubt aided by the fact that Thessalonica was strategically located (see Introduction: Purpose, Occasion, and Background).
in Macedonia and Achaia In the ancient world, news spread as people traveled. Since Thessalonica was a commercial port, the news of the Thessalonians’ response to the gospel message spread throughout Macedonia and Achaia (see and note).
What is idolatry? What idols do we serve today?
1:9 idols An object of worship and devotion that resembled a person, god, or animal. The Thessalonians didn’t add an idol of Jesus to their pantheon, as would have been their custom before conversion—they abandoned their idols to serve Him.
In Graeco-Roman society, polytheism—the belief in or worship of more than one god—was the norm. The social, political, and religious life of the Thessalonians was intertwined with idolatrous beliefs and practices.
7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
1:9–10 The Greeks from other areas report that the Thessalonians had repented of their idolatrous past, had committed themselves to serve God, and were waiting for Jesus’ second coming—the key traits of genuine Christian conversion. living and true God.
References to the Second Coming in this letter: , ; ; ; ,
In contrast to idols, God is the only real Deity. wait for his Son. This is the first of many references to the second coming in this letter (cf. ). whom he raised from the dead.
The Thessalonians apparently were discouraged at the delay of Christ’s return because some believers had already died.
This may anticipate ; where Paul affirms the Thessalonians’ hope for the deceased on the foundation of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and delivers us from the wrath to come. Believers are not destined for wrath at the final judgment.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1:10 await his Son from heaven Refers to Christ’s visible and personal return to earth at the end of the present age. Paul says that Jesus will return from heaven because it is the place where He reigns with God (compare ).
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
wrath The Greek word used here, orgē, refers in this context to God’s judgment upon the wicked. The believers of Thessalonica are encouraged to not mistake affliction and persecution (thlipsis) for God’s final judgment on the wicked (orgē).
Paul addresses their concern in this letter ().
raised from the dead Christ’s resurrection from the dead is the foundation of Christian hope (compare ; ). It is also the reason believers await His return. Even death cannot hinder union with Christ ().
Takeaways
Takeaways
wrath The Greek word used here, orgē, refers in this context to God’s judgment upon the wicked. The believers of Thessalonica are encouraged to not mistake affliction and persecution (thlipsis) for God’s final judgment on the wicked (orgē).
Fullness of life - including grace, peace, faith, hope, and love - can be realized only by being in a right relationship with God
In His love, God has chosen us in Christ to become His children by faith
Individually, believers are to be examples of what it means to live in the love and joy of Jesus Christ
A church as body also is to be an example to its community of what it means to live together as the people of God