Exemplary Faith part 2

Review

Reasons for Paul’s gratitude

The Thessalonians’ virtues (work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope)

The Thessalonians’ salvation (loved by God, chosen by God, heard the gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit, full conviction)

Revisit “full conviction”

Potential interpretations

option 1: a reference to the manner in which the missionaries (Paul Timothy & Silas) proclaimed the gospel to them.

option 2: a reference to how the Thessalonians received the preaching of the gospel.

Support for option 1

The missionaries demonstrated their conviction through a willingness to subject themselves to intense difficulties (travel, opposition, persecution, no remuneration - see 1 Thess 3:7-9)

These outward demonstrations along with the invisible but discernable authenticity of the missionaries could have been used by God in the hearts of the Thessalonians to bring them to genuine faith.

Their manner of life references in v. 5 conveyed the missionaries’ conviction, which led to the Thessalonians embracing the gospel and ordering their lives after the same order of sacrifice.

Support for option 2

The comparative adverb just as which should introduce the last statement in v. 5 (you know what kind…), but it not translated in the ESV or NIV, but seen in the NAS and KJV, shows the intended comparison 4-5a & 5b:

We know that your faith is authentic because we have seen its impact on your lives just as you know what sort of lives we lived among you.

The way the Thessalonians received the proclamation of the gospel (with full conviction) is part of the evidence Paul references to express he is convinced that the Thessalonians were chosen by God (v. 4)

The 3 other uses of the word conviction in the New Testament show it to mean assurance (see Col. 2:2; Heb 6:11, 10:22). Receiving the gospel with full assurance would be another point of confidence for Paul that the Thessalonians’ faith was authentic.

“Full Conviction” takeaways

Authenticity

Visible/discernable

Demonstrated assurance

Worthy Examples (5b)

Paul, Timothy & Silas

The Thessalonians knew, as a result of observing Paul, Timothy and Silas, what kind of men they were. (5b)

They lived among the Thessalonians.

Question: What is the connection our character being proven or demonstrated to people and living among others?

c. They lived a consistent life (lives matched their message) for the sake of the Thessalonians (lit. because of you)

Question: What does does consistency between what we proclaim and how we live have to do with others?

The Spread of the Gospel (5b-8)

Question: Identify all the chain links in this chain reaction.

Chain Reaction

Paul, Timothy & Silas proclaim the gospel to the Thessalonians and live faithfully among them (5b)

The Thessalonians imitated Paul, Timothy & Silas and of the Lord (6)

The Thessalonians became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia (7)

The Thessalonians faith in God went forth everywhere (8)

The links in the chain (qualities of the chain reaction)

a commitment to suffer for the cause of Christ (6)

joy that is dependent not on pleasant circumstances but on a relationship with and trust in Christ. (6)

modeling faithfulness (7) imitating Jesus and his faithful servants will transform us into examples of faithfulness

going and proclaiming the gospel (8)

see:

Acts 20:4 ESV

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.

&

Acts 19:29 (ESV)

So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul’s companions in travel.

Question: What did Paul mean that he need not say anything in v. 8?

Not the spread of a good reputation. Paul was boasting about this church (reputation)

2 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV

Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

your faith in God has gone forth is a reference to the gospel. This phrase appears in several texts that speak of the proclamation of the gospel:

Romans 10:18 ESV

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

1 Corinthians 14:36 ESV

Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

Paul did not need to proclaim the gospel because the ministry of the Thessalonian church beat him to it.

Gospel Gossip (9-10)

The report of the Macedonians and those from Achia

The nature of Paul, Timothy and Silas’ entrance into Thessalonica (9)

what kind of reception we had among you is referring to the way they entered the city. reception = entrance (see 1 Thess 2:1)

This would have been in contrast to how philosophers of the day would enter a city (see 1 Thess 2:1-12 for a description of Paul and company’s entrance)

Question: Why was Paul and company committed to this kind of entrance into the city? (to gain disciples)

b. The Thessalonians’ repentance of idol worship (9)

as mentioned in the introduction, the forsaking of idol worship would have had significant consequences (family and community conflict)

The forsaking of idol worship would have also included the forsaking of immorality associated with it.

To turn to God from idols is both an attitude and action shift. This is indicative of the transformation believing the gospel has on people.

This repentance resulted in service to the living and true God. A significant contrast between the idols they used to worship and the resurrected Christ.

c. The Thessalonians’ new hope (10)

i. they were waiting for the Son from heaven

Question: Paul is commending the Thessalonians’ waiting for the Son from heaven. Why is their waiting praiseworthy?

ii. raise from the dead

Question: How does the fact that Jesus is raised from the dead help us in our waiting?

iii. delivers from the wrath of God