1 Thessalonians 1
(1 Th 1:1) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
· In Paul's second missionary journey, Paul had planned to go to Asia, but was told in a vision to go to Macedonia instead, which happened to be where Thessalonica was (see notes on Acts 16:9-10).
· In the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey, he visited Thessalonica for a few weeks, and established a church there (Acts 17:1-10). Since Paul has spent so little time in Thessalonica, he was concerned they did not grasp the depth of the gospel, and that their lives were not fashioned as they should be to these principles. Paul sent Timothy later to check on them (1 Thess 3:1-5), and they brought back a mostly good report. They were suffering some tribulations. And, we see in 1 Thess 4:11, 5:14 that there was some trouble.
· Thessalonica was founded around 315 BC by the King Cassander of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. It was part of the Kingdom of Macedon. After the fall of the kingdom of Macedon in 168 BC, Thessalonica became a city of the Roman Republic. It grew to be an important trade-hub located on the Via Egnatia and facilitating trade between Europe and Asia. The city became the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia.
· Thessalonica (aka Salonica) currently is the second-largest city in Greece and is the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region. It is the largest city in the wider geographical region of Macedonia. It has a population of around 360,000.
· The letters to the Thessalonians were the first of Paul's letters, written in 52 AD, during his second missionary journey, when he was in Corinth for 18 months. Paul wrote this letter after Timothy had returned from Macedonia with news of the state of the church in Thessalonica (Acts 18:1-5; 1 Thess 3:6).
· It is the oldest existing Christian document (the gospels were written over a decade later).
· The church was composed almost exclusively of Gentiles. This reflects the ethnic and religious makeup of Thessalonica. However, there were Jews in the church, as Acts 17:1-4 states that there were Jews converted during Paul's initial preaching in Thessalonica.
· Paul's main purpose in writing is to encourage and reassure the Christians there, but he also includes some doctrine, since he had spent so little time there. Paul urges them to go on working quietly while waiting in hope for the return of Christ.
· This letter is from Paul, Silvanus (aka Silas), and Timothy. After Paul's split with Barnabas, Silas was Paul's partner in his journeys.
· The church was "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". They were a diverse church, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, but in Christ were one.
· The desire for them is for them to gave grace, for without God's grace, no gift of God can be given. Grace is God's favor to us who don't deserve it, so every gift from God is through his grace. All good is from God, and no good comes to us without His grace.
· And then he wishes for them to have the peace that only God can give (Phil 4:6-7). What is more desiarable on this earth than to live in peace? Especially since they had "received the word in much affliction" (vs 6).
(1 Th 1:2) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
· Who in the world are those you really get along with, those you are comfortable being around? How about in our church? How about in your family?
· Who in the world are those you find annoying, that you don't enjoy being around? How about in our church? How about in your family?
· As you go through life, spending time in different neighborhoods, different work places, different churches, you will find some of both, no matter where you go, right? Or sometimes, you may find a whole lot more of those who are annoying rather than those you enjoy being with?
· Paul did a lot of travelling. Take a look at who he found as he went from city to city. Here Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians. We also see that he also gives thanks for those in Rome (Rom 1:8), in Corinth (1 Cor 1:4), in Ephesus (Eph 1:15-16), in Philippi (Phil 1:3), and in Colossae (Col 1:3). Do you think all those Christians he writes to were always pleasant to be with? What types of people do you think he found in those cities? All types, eh? Those churches contained all sorts of people, just as our churches do today. But what was his perspective of those people? He thanked God for them, for all of them.
· We need to see people as God sees them, in their need, in their beauty, in the richness of each soul.
· May we love others and be thankful for others in the same way Paul did, in the way God wants us to.
· Are there people in your life you have never considered being thankful for? Re-examine how you view those people. Try to see them as God sees them.
· (That doesn't mean we treat everyone the same, because we need to be wary of untrustworthy people - but still, we need to see everyone as God does.)
· May I "give thanks to God always" for others in my life. And, regularly pray for them, as Paul did.
(1 Th 1:3) remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
· What are the things that distinguished the Thessalonica church? Paul lists 3 things here.
· He mentions their work of faith. They did God's work, and they did it in faith, trusting God in their work. He would not have said this if they were complacent, if they were not doing God's work. He would not have said this if they were not trusting God as they worked, if they were trying to do it on their own. And, he may have questioned what faith they really had if he had not seen this work, as faith without works is a dead faith, not a real faith (James 2:18).
· He mentions their labor of love. Again, labor indicates they are working. But now we see what motivates them - love for those for whom they labor. They had a passion for people.
· He mentions their patience of hope. Things were not alwasy easy (as things still are not always easy!), yet they persevered with patience, looking forward with hope what God has in store for them. This hope is great, because it is a hope in things not seen (Rom 8:25).
· In summary, this was a church with faith, hope, and love.
· May we be a church with these qualities - we work with faith, we labor with love, and we are patient with hope.
· May I be a Christian with these qualities - I work with faith, I labor with love, and I am patient with hope.
· They were able to do these things because they God in view. We are to keep our eyes on God. When a basketball player is playing an away game, and is shooting a free throw, there is a cacophony of noises and sights around him, but he is focused on one thing, the basket. In the midst of the chaos and temptations of the world, may we focus on God., so we can do what we should be doing.
(1 Th 1:4) knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
· Paul is reminding them of their election.
· God's influence on the unsaved must be exercised if they are ever going to turn to Him in saving faith (John 6:44-45, Matt 11:25-27, Phil 1:29).
· How do we know that God frees man's will so he can turn to God?
1. The exhortations to turn to God (Prov 1:23; Isa 31:6; Ezek 14:6; Matt 18:13; Acts 3:19).
2. The exhortations to repent (1 Kings 8:47; Matt 2:3; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38, 2 Pet 3:9).
3. The exhortations to believe (2 Chr 20:20; Isa 43:10; John 6:29; 14:1; Acts 16:31).
4. The exhortations to obey (Acts 5:32; 2 Thess 1:8; Heb 5:9).
· What is "election"?
o Election is the sovereign act of God by which from all eternity He graciously chose in Christ Jesus for Himself, and on account of no foreseen merit, certain sinful ones to be the recipients of His special saving grace (John 1:11-13; 15:16; Acts 13:48; Eph 1:4,11; 2 Thess 2:14).
(1 Th 1:5) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
· When we speak as God would have us, we do not present mere words, but results via the power of God. We know that God is always working in our words as we speak of Him.
· Not only is there power in the words themselves, but the Holy Spirit is there also working.
· Are there Christians that you look up to? Why? Their knowledge of the Bible, or their ability to talk about God, or their work for God, or their character? Seeing them, doesn't it set a bar, a level, to attain, seeing someone actually doing it?
· We should be the kind of person we can be for others' sakes. We are to show them what kind of person they should become by seeing it in our lives. It is difficult for the student to rise above the level of the teacher. You as the teacher of others should rise to a position and relationship with God so others can see it and emulate it.
(1 Th 1:6) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
· Why become a Christian? Below are listed reasons from a few web sites.
- Because you believe in Christ
- To have a relationship with God
- To spend eternity with God
- To leave behind the inferior quality of life of the non-Christian
- To avoid divine justice
- Because Jesus Christ is the only way to escape the indictment of God's justice
- To receive the true blessing and fulfillment in life through Christ
- To experience freedom
- To have a greater power to overcome evil
- To have lasting joy & peace
- To fulfill your true potential & purpose
· I see 2 primary reasons, root reasons, to become a Christian - to enter into a relationship with God, and to receive eternal life with Him. But also, it is truth, it is right, it is perfect. To perfectly become in life what you were born for, everything else pales in comparison to becoming a Christian. And without that, nothing is of consequence.
· I wonder what reasons were given to the church in Thessalonica? It surely wasn't a prosperity gospel, for when they became Christians, that most certainly guaranteed hardship and affliction in those days. Interesting that in the same breath talking about the affliction they received, it also talks about the joy they received. This is related to the peace that the world cannot understand (Phil 4:6-7). Also, they turned from false idols to the living and true God (vs 9) - they went from a useless false religion to a true relationship with God. They also now could look forward to the true return of Christ (vs 10).
(1 Th 1:7) so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
· So much of what we do should not be for our own edification, but for others. This should be a goal for us individually, and a goal of our church, to be examples for others, to show others - "this is how you live the Christian life". Think about it - is that one of your goals? Is your life worth emulating? Why or why not? What needs to change?
(1 Th 1:8) For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
· They were such an example that the word spread about it across the region.
· Achaia is a part of modern Greece.
(1 Th 1:9) For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
(1 Th 1:10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.