1 Thessalonians 1 - Commended
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Who are the Thessalonians?
Thessalonica
Founded in 315 B.C. by Cassander
Named for his wife, a half-sister of Alexander the Great
Capital of the Roman province of Macedonia
Stood on the “Via Egnatia”, the Roman highway to the East
A cosmopolitan city, with enough Jews to have a synagogue; a “free Roman city” with many Greeks
The church here was founded on Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 15:36-18:22)
The “Macedonian Call”
Philippi - Lydia converted, deliverance from jail (Paul & Silas)
Thessalonica
Berea
Athens
Corinth
1 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women. 5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.
Paul’s first letter was written from Corinth perhaps a year after the founding of the church.
Purpose:
to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica who were making good progress in their new faith (1:2–10)
to correct misinformation about himself and his fellow missionaries that some of his critics in Thessalonica were circulating (2:1–3:13)
to give additional instruction that would contribute to the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth (4:1–5:24).
“Far and away the largest theological contribution of the Epistles [1 and 2 Thessalonians] lies in what they say about eschatology.”
For Paul’s letters, it could be thought of as a mix of “good news, bad news”
Today’s text is rich, like a cheesecake. I would encourage you not only to listen closely, but to read through it throughout the week to let it sink in.
1. Partnership
1. Partnership
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.
This was the ancient formula for letter writing.
Silvanus (Latin) / Silas (Aramaic) and Timothy - had helped found the church
The church - ekklesia, assembly
Grace - the foundation of our salvation, new standing with God
Peace - out new relationship with God
2. Evidence
2. Evidence
2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,
v. 2 “thank God” - they had accepted the gospel and were living out their faith
v. 3 “work produced by faith” - good works do not give us salvation, but they do demonstrate it
v. 4 “labor produced by love” - labor of love? No. Labor to the point of exhaustion.
“hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” - not wishful, hopeful thinking; rather “an active, firm assurance springing from strong faith”
“loved by God” - the reason for Jesus’ sacrifice for us
“he has chosen you” - chosen by God (recall the Macedonian call)
v. 5 “in power” - miracles, like the being freed from the jail at Phillipi
“in the Holy Sprit” - the source of this power
“with full assurance” - they were convinced of the truth of the gospel
3. Influence
3. Influence
5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. 7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything,
“how we lived among you” - they demonstrated their faith, even in the brief time that they were with them
v. 6 “imitators” - impression on a coin, the image of an actual person
“severe persecution” - antagonism from the Jewish leaders
“an example” - Macedonia, Achaia - pretty much all of Greece!
“in every place that your faith in God has gone out” - Thessalonica was a port city, making it easy for their influence to spread
4. Purpose
4. Purpose
9 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: 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 rescues us from the coming wrath.
“reception” - Paul, Silas, and Timothy were accepted by these believers
“turned to God from idols” - and the influence of pagan worship in Thessalonica.
“wait for his Son…the coming wrath” This world is not all that there is.
God’s wrath - righteous judgment on sin
“they understood the promise of Christ’s return and the consequences of rejecting Him”
What can we do to hold fast to this truth?
If we really believe it, how will that change our actions?