Introduction to First Thessalonians

Introduction to First Thessalonians Spring Valley Mennonite; January 16, 2022; 1 Thessalonians 1:1, Acts 17:1-15 This Sunday we are beginning a new sermon series in the book of 1 Thessalonians. There are several reasons I have chosen this book. There are several themes that are very timely at this point in history, one of which is the Rapture of the Church and the subsequent Day of the Lord. The theme of persecution and successfully spreading the Gospel despite severe opposition found in this book is becoming increasingly relevant in our day. There are some very important principles of Christian growth, and several doctrinal truths explained. Lastly in my motivation is that, although I have often referenced verses from the book, I have never preached through 1 Thessalonians verse-by-verse. What we will learn from our study excites me! Today's sermon will give us background information which will greatly add to our understanding to the times, setting, and occasion for this book, which along with the letter to the Galatians, is considered the earliest writings of the Apostle Paul. I will begin with describing the city of Thessalonica. If you have a study Bible with maps in the back, find a map of the Mediterranean, perhaps a map labeled the Missionary Journeys of the Apostle Paul. If you don't have such a map, I'll try to describe the geographic setting. Visualize the Mediterranean Sea with Israel at the far-right end, or eastern edge. Looking at or visualizing the map, as you travel up north from Israel, the coastline takes a sharp left for the land mass of Asia Minor, where modern-day Turkey lies. This land mass of Asia Minor is separated from Greece moving west, by a gulf of the Mediterranean called the Aegean Sea. At the upper left, or northwest corner of this gulf lies the city of Thessalonica. It is a seaport and was the largest and most important city of the province of Macedonia, which lay north of Greece or Achaia (as it was then called.) Also of great significance was the fact that Thessalonica sits on the most famous of Roman roads, the Egnation Way which connected Rome with its eastern provinces. Its population has been estimated to be around 200,000. We can surmise Paul's strategy in going to Thessalonica, for from there the Gospel message could easily spread both east and west. As we study through this letter, we will learn that is exactly what happened. I. PAUL'S MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA Turn to the 17th chapter of Acts. In chapter 16 we learn how God called Paul and his co-workers from Asia to Macedonia in a vision. 16:9: "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a certain man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" This occurred on the second missionary journey of Paul. His main companions on this trip were Silas (sometimes referred to as Silvanus), Luke (who recorded the events in the book of Acts) and Timothy. On this second trip, after visiting the churches established on his initial journey with Barnabus, Paul found himself in the far western regions, in the city of Troas, where he received the vision. So, Paul and party left from Troas and boarded a boat heading westward across the Aegean Sea. After making landfall, they proceeded to a city in the area named Philippi. We remember how Paul found a group of ladies on the bank of the river, the city not having enough of a Jewish population to have a Jewish synagogue. Among those ladies was Lydia, a seller of purple goods. As Paul taught, several ladies were the first to believe, Lydia among them. Lydia came to host the infant church in her home. The ministry began to expand as Paul preached the Gospel, but after he cast a demon out of a fortune-telling slave girl, trouble arose as her owners brought Paul and Silas before the Roman magistrate as troublemakers. After a beating, they were thrown in jail, where they were placed in stocks. At midnight they were singing hymns when an earthquake set them free, along with all the other prisoners. Thinking his prisoners had escaped the jailkeeper was going to take his life when Paul called out that everyone was still there. The jailer fell down before Paul and Silas and uttered those famous words, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." He did believe, as did his whole household, and was immediately baptized. The next morning, Paul demanded that the magistrate come to the jail and apologize for the beating, for Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, the beating of which was something strictly forbidden without a trial. The authorities, knowing they were in violation of Roman law, the authorities begged Paul and party leave the city, which they did, and proceeded to Thessalonica. I wonder why Paul and Silas did not express their status as Roman citizens and avoid the beating and imprisonment. Apparently, the Holy Spirit led in the matter, knowing of the future conversion of the Jailer and family. Often God's will seems difficult, but in retrospect we see His purposes for the greater good. We begin reading in verse 1 of chapter 17: (Read through verse 10a.) Thessalonica was a large city with enough Jewish men to have a synagogue (the minimum was 10 men.) For three Sabbaths, Paul preached in that synagogue, and a few Jews believed. More significantly, a large number of Gentiles came to believe, among them some of the leading ladies of the city. But then the Jews, out of jealousy of Paul's success, recruited some rabble to form a mob and create a riot. They marched to the house of a believer named Jason presumably looking for Paul and his companions. Not finding them, they led Jason and some other believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also!" And they further claimed, "Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." The Gospel message is upsetting to the world because it assaults the rule of this earthly kingdom and its king, who is Satan. This was true in 50 A.D. and it is true today. As Paul and Silas encountered opposition so do we. But the power of the message is seen in that the reputation of the Gospel had preceded Paul's arrival. And the Holy Spirit was about to make a bigger impact through the church at Thessalonica. I would bring to your attention that persecution did not hinder the growth of this church, nor the ministry of Paul. It is to the credit of the authorities that they only required a pledge from Jason, kind of like a security deposit, to be forfeited if further trouble broke out. Paul and his companions were then sent away that night. II. FURTHER EVENTS LEADING TO THE WRITING OF THE EPISTLE Acts 17 tells that leaving Thessalonica, Paul and Silas arrived in Berea. Going to the Synagogue, they began preaching. At first, they were well-treated, the Bereans being noble-minded and searching the scriptures to ascertain the truth of what Paul was preaching. All went well until the Jews from Thessalonica heard of the ministry and came and stirred up trouble. Paul left Berea, leaving Silas and Timothy there, and made his way south to Athens in Achaia. After a brief ministry there, and the arrival of Silas and Timothy, Paul headed north to Corinth. The ministry went well in Corinth, but Paul was deeply concerned about the believers in Thessalonica. He was worried that the Gentiles might have reverted to Paganism, and the Jews back to Judaism, so he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check. Timothy returned with a glowing report, and Paul quickly wrote a letter which is our book of 1 Thessalonians. III. HOW LONG WAS PAUL'S MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA? Since only three Sabbaths are mentioned in Acts 17, it has been surmised that three weeks was the total length of the ministry there. While we can't be dogmatic on the issue, I think there is evidence that he spent more time there, perhaps as long as several months. The arguments for a longer stay than three weeks are (first) in Philippians 4:16 we find that the Philippian church supported Paul sending financial aid on two separate occasions, which supports a longer stay. Secondly, Paul settled down long enough to pursue his trade of tentmaking (1 Thessalonians 2:9.) Thirdly, 1 Thessalonians 5:12 seems to indicate the existence of a leadership structure, something that would have required time to establish. Fourthly, Paul's strategy was to begin in the synagogue with the Jewish people, then establish a longer work with the Gentiles. Three Sabbaths or three weeks would not have given time for this Gentile ministry. Deep relationships, which we clearly see in this letter, would seem to require more than the three weeks we find mentioned in Acts 17. IV. OTHER BACKGROUND CONSIDERATIONS We might ask, "How long after the initial visit of Paul to Thessalonica was this letter written?" As we consider the events that we know about, such as the ministry in Berea, Paul traveling to Athens and his ministry there, and the reunion with Timothy and Silas, then their trip to Corinth, Timothy's fact-finding mission back to Thessalonica and his time spent there, then traveling back to Corinth-as we think about the time elapsed for all these events, it could have been over a year, perhaps longer before the letter was written. Paul states in 2:18 that he had been hindered by Satan from revisiting, indicating several attempts to make the trip. Then, look at 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9: enough time had gone by that the news of their conversion from Paganism had traveled throughout Macedonia and Achaia. And not only the facts of their conversion, but also the Gospel had been spread by this predominantly Gentile church. All this would have taken time before this letter was written. V. LOOKING TO THE BOOK ITSELF... I would conclude stating several reasons for studying 1st Thessalonians: In addition to the intrinsic value of studying God's Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to change us through illuminating it, in this letter we gain particular insight into the heart of this great Apostle, and an example of how to disciple new believers. We also learn about the development and priorities of a new church in their earliest days. These believers had a burning passion for sharing the Gospel message, a passion we need to cultivate and continually challenge one another to express. We find in 1 Thessalonians vital teachings about the Rapture of the Church and the end of the Church Age, doctrine that will encourage and give hope to all of us. I look forward to the Holy Spirit's ministry to us through our study. 2