A Study in 1 Thessalonians
Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:
Background: Thessalonica formerly known as Therme in Macedonia found at the top point of the gulf that juts into Greece and Macedonia on the Aegean Sea. Still there. Capital of Macedonia region and declared a “free city” a century before the church was founded. The half-way point on the great highway from Rome to Constantinople. This is a city for the nations.
It’s an international city, a free city with its own constitution and laws, a wealthy and diverse city, and a beach town.
This would be the key city from which to take the Good News throughout Macedonia.
Paul and Silas along with Timothy visited and planted the church in Thessalonica in Act 17:1ff. This is where Aristarchus was from and probably became a believer during the 2nd missionary journey. He was with Paul all the way to Rome through several cities as his companion.
The likelihood is that Paul and his team would be in Thessalonica for several months – at least six – perhaps as a home base from which to travel.
When the Jewish jealousy led to a mob riot, Paul and much of his team left for Berea a small near-by town. They were productive in planting churches there as well as in Thessalonica, but the Jewish authorities from Thessalonica traveled to Berea to stir up riots there, too.
The church in Thessalonica is more one from all the nations than Jewish (hence the “turn from idols” reference) even though he started at the Synagogue (Acts 17).
These two letters to the believers in Thessalonica are Paul’s earliest and, though he couldn’t attend to their growth because of the danger of harm to their leaders because of his presence, he wrote, prayed, and sent Timothy. Paul was able to return there at least three times; probably more often since it was on the main highway from West to East.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (PRT)
v. 1 Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the gathering of Christians of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
They would know Timothy and Silas from previous visits. This is a letter from friends to friends. Silas, or Silvanus, means wood. So Timmy and Woody traveled with Paul. Silas was one of those firm links between Paul and Peter as he shows up in both apostles’ writings. The leadership in this church planting movement represents the Jewish, Greek, and international mix of the culture. This is especially important to Thessalonica since it is a free state and an international commerce center.
This “gathering” or assembly is qualified as those called together by God.
The “authorized” text includes …from God… But the oldest leave this off this epistle even though it was common in most of Paul’s letters.
Col 1:20 Peace through his blood.
v. 2 We are always grateful to God because of you, remembering each of you purposely in our prayers.
Paul begins with words of thanks and words of encouragement. He prays for each with intentionality because of his love and relationship with them. Gratitude and supplication were a part of the Apostle’s regular discipline according to 5:17-18.
v. 3 We continually recall before our God and Father your faith’s work, your love’s labor, and your hope’s tenacity in the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Faith’s work” is that lifestyle, that intentionality of moments dedicated to God’s glory because we believe the promises and action of God through Jesus. “Love’s labor” is the willingness toward inconvenience, suffering, and even martyrdom because of the work of faith. Faith’s work is the evidence of what they have already done through their belief in Jesus; it’s the work completed thus far, while love’s labor is the willing troubles faces because of the work.
Milton says the hope’s patience or tenacity is that which “bears up and steers straight onward.” Hope’s tenacity doesn’t flip-flop or veer from the mission because of what life throws at us.
This verse finds context in how the church in Thessalonica was planted; in the midst of persecution in its earliest days.
vv. 4-5 And we know, fellow believers who are beloved by God, that He chose you because our Good News came to you not only in word but even more in miraculous power and in the Holy Spirit in thorough and abundant assurance; even as you saw how we chose to your advantage to live among you.
Paul is not making a gender statement with “brothers;” he is establishing that they are family, in it together – not just the guys, but the fellowship, the family whom God has loved as he, Paul, has been, too.
Beloved is the state of relationship they are in, not for past works or what God can get out of them; but they are beloved, simply and unabashedly, loved.
Chosen, elected, means God’s will to choose precedes my will to say yes; but it does not prevent my will and force me to say yes. This is an important distinction, and one we can only philosophize on; that God will “take over” my will to make me His would violate faith’s purpose. His grace and truth paves the way for my “yes” as his chosen. This is the evangelical’s position or else we no longer need to evangelize if God “takes over” and saves whom He must because of election. I will be gladly corrected in eternity in order to keep the zeal to reach the nations intact.
When Paul and Silas and Timothy preached, taught, answered questions, and discipled, the Spirit came in power accompanying the words of the Good News of the Kingdom. This was Jesus’ experience; it is the early church’s, too.
“our Good News” comes out of John 20:21. Jesus came to accomplish the mission; he then delivers the mission to take the Good News as the go. It’s our Good News. We have become an investor in the Gospel story.
Assurance means there is a fulness to confidence because of the inner understanding and the outward expression to support it. Fully assured.
vv. 6-7 And you became imitators, both of us and of the Lord, as you have embraced the word of God with many trials and with the Holy Spirit’s joy. Because of this, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
This first generation of Jesus-followers outside of Judah and Galilee were modeling their lives after Paul and the rest. They in turn model their lives after Jesus. We are not followers of Paul or a preacher here or there; we are followers of the Lord Jesus.
So, not only followers, but imitators. Follow the truth; imitate the life. We do both.
The word of God, the Good News of the Kingdom.
No less power from the Holy Spirit is needed to do miracles and signs and wonders as is for standing under the pressures of life and trials with joy and a life pointing to Jesus’ grace.
They became the “type,” the imprint of the Lord that others read and followed. Once again, God writes on our lives the message of redemption for others to read and be drawn to; and we get to share what changed us, that is, Jesus redeems us by His sacrifice and death-conquering life.
v. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has resonated not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place. Your faith toward God has spread to the degree that we don’t need to say a thing to anyone.
The truth is heard, it is broadcast from where God’s truth first came alive in Thessalonica. And now people all around hear about Jesus. Paul is writing this letter from Corinth from the center of Achaia. And he heard the impact the people of Thessalonica had on the provinces.
The word for resonated takes the image of the heavens being a “sounding board” that echoes out to all what happened in Thessalonica.
vv. 9-10 In fact, those around us report what kind of reception we got from you and how you turned to God and away from idols and false deities to serve the living and true God, and how you wait with expectation for His Son Jesus out of the heavens whom he raised up from the dead to rescue us from the approaching wrath.
The evidence? No more false gods or worthless hunks of metal or stone. Now they live for the living God. And they look toward the day when Jesus makes all things right again. Their lives and their values showed their faith.
The word for idol is “appearance” as if the rock depicting has superimposed over it an ancestor or a god from old. Empty and vaporous. Instead of being chained to empty gods, they were willingly servants (in bond-servant status) to the living and true God.
They lived and served to the person and purposes of Jesus. And they looked for the “Parousia” the return of the Kingdom and the King.
Rescue here is the timely deliverance of God’s people from the evil around them.
Small Group Questions – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
- Read this chapter in two different versions. What is the big picture in this chapter? What is Paul saying to the church in Thessalonica?
- Words of encouragement are important. What different words does Paul give to the church? How would that encourage you in difficult times?
- How do the followers of Jesus show Him to their culture? What is the culture’s response?
- Where, in your own community/culture, do you feel you should make an impact? What might change in your own life based on this chapter and study?
- How can we pray for you as you seek to imitate Jesus?
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