We are embarking on an exciting new journey, inspired by Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church. This young congregation was established during Paul’s brief stay in Thessalonica, Greece, where he spent only three Sabbaths. It is mentioned in Acts 17:1-4.Facing persecution from local Judaizers, Paul had to leave Thessalonica hastily, entrusting Timothy and Silas to support and encourage the fledgling church.
Paul wrote two letters to the Thessalonians to reassure them of his continued commitment and to dispel any doubts about his apostleship, as some detractors were spreading rumors that he was merely preaching for financial gain. Recognizing the vulnerability of this nascent church, Paul sought to ensure that they remained steadfast in their faith and did not revert back to their former pagan practices.
Throughout these letters, Paul addresses numerous subtopics related to how believers should conduct themselves, making his teachings highly relevant to our contemporary world.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 , An Exemplary Church
Verse 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.
Paul begins his letter by acknowledging Sylvanus and Timothy as co-authors, as they were the ones who stayed behind to support and nurture the young church. Upon their return with a positive report, it was fitting for Paul to include them in this discourse, emphasizing that the gospel is a shared responsibility, a fellowship, and an expression of unity.
He also reminds the church of its divine origins, stating that it exists within God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This highlights that the church is deeply rooted in both the Father and Jesus. Furthermore, Paul demonstrates the hierarchy within the Godhead by referring to the Father as “God” and Jesus as “Lord.”
It is important to note that this distinction does not imply that Jesus is any less eternal or equal to God the Father. By being called “Lord,” Jesus is given a title reserved exclusively for God. The purpose of such distinction is to illustrate the structure within the Godhead. Paul extends blessings of grace and peace to the Thessalonians, invoking both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ as the divine sources of these gifts.
Verses 2-3
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly[a]mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy were undoubtedly inspired and uplifted by the young Thessalonian church, which they saw as a shining example of spiritual vitality. This dynamic congregation became the focus of their prayers, as they continually thanked God for nurturing such a thriving community of believers.
The Thessalonians’ actions were driven by faith, confirming their strong foundation in God and sparking great enthusiasm among Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Their hard work was rooted in love, and their perseverance stemmed from their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. By connecting their work, faith, and hope to Jesus Christ, Paul emphasizes that he, Silas, and Timothy were merely stewards guiding the Thessalonians toward their true shepherd – Jesus Christ.
This profound sense of gratitude and admiration for the Thessalonian church can be seen in Paul’s eagerness to mention them in his prayers, and he will elaborate on the reasons for his joy in the following verses.
It is important these three essentials of the believer that Paul mentioned- faith, love and hope. Starting with faith, we are told in the book of Hebrews that without faith, it is impossible to please God. And we are also told in Romans 1:17 that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So the faith that the Thessalonians displayed was birthed by the effectual action of the Word of God in their lives as they heard it, meaning when the Gospel was preached to them , it brought about a change in their hearts, and that change led to the actions that Paul mentioned.
Next, it is their labor, that was birthed from love, but this love that Paul is mentioning is the love of God. It is a love that is given to the born again Christian by the Holy Spirit, as given in Romans 5:5,
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
See, this isn’t a love that can be manufactured by self will, but it is produced by the Holy Spirit who enables us to love as He pours this love in our hearts. And the Thessalonians were exuding this love even their labor.
Lastly, Paul mentions and we need to know the depth of this hope. Let’s look at the following verses
Romans 8:22-25,
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
As you can see from the verse above, this hope isn’t wishful thinking, it is based on the truth and veracity of the promises of God. And what is this hope? Our adoptions to sonship, the redemption of our bodies whereby when Jesus returns, this body of sin that we dwell in will be done away with and we will be given a new spiritual body, similar to that of Christ, incapable of sinning in our thoughts and actions anymore. This is the hope the Thessalonians were looking forward to, and us as well. I would also like to add Romans 15:14 to this,
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
The scriptures were given to us to encourage us and to give us hope, a hope that doesn’t rest on empty promises but the character of God, this is the whole reason why we have the Scriptures, to keep us anchored.
Verses 4-5
4 For we know, brothers[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Paul expresses his optimism and enthusiasm for the Thessalonians’ spiritual vitality, considering the unique circumstances surrounding the church’s founding. Established during Paul’s brief three-Sabbath stay in Greece, he had to entrust the church to Timothy and Silas due to persecution.
In these verses, Paul outlines the reasons for his confidence in the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth. They were loved by God and chosen by Him, evidenced by the profound impact of the gospel on their lives. The gospel’s transformative power was not only evident through words but also through the tangible demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power, which led to conviction and transformation among the Thessalonians..
Jesus spoke of the Word of God’s ability to bear fruit, empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring about conviction and repentance ( John 16). Paul experienced this firsthand in his own life and witnessed it in the Thessalonians. This is why he was so eager to continue encouraging them, as he knew their conversion was genuine and divinely inspired.
Verses 6-7
6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
The Thessalonian church was truly exemplary, as Paul highlights the evidence of God’s work and the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. Like Paul, Silas, and Timothy, this young congregation faced significant affliction, likely from persecution by their fellow countrymen. However, they remained steadfast and unwavering in their faith under these harsh circumstances.
Filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, the Thessalonians’ devotion served as an inspiring example to other believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Paul masterfully directs attention back to Jesus, the chief shepherd, emphasizing that both him and his companions and the Thessalonians imitated Christ’s faith, with the Spirit of God working within them all to fulfill His divine purpose.
Paul was greatly encouraged by this young church’s ability to thrive amid adversity. It also served as a powerful reminder to him that without God, nothing can be accomplished. The Thessalonian church could have easily become an example of how an inexperienced congregation might quickly crumble and attract criticism. Yet, God defied such expectations, showcasing His power through the Thessalonians by the Holy Spirit, reminding everyone that true success comes not from human strength or might, but only through the Spirit of God.
I had to come back to verses 4-7 a second time. And the question that I had was- Will others imitate you and I? Why am I saying this. See, when Paul preached the gospel in Thessalonica, he says that the message didn’t just come in words but in power, in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. And the proof of this is in the following verse:…You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” God honored his message through Paul and his companions by enabling them to not only preach the Gospel but live it out in front of their audience. They exuded so much of the life of Christ that their message didn’t fall on deaf ears, and that is the grace of God that was at work. And my prayer is that this pattern will be ours as well, that as we preach the word, the Holy Spirit pricks our hearts constantly so that we live in fear, not a crippling fear but one that leads to a Holy Life.
Verses 8-10
8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and 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 delivers us from the wrath to come.
In verses 8-10, Paul continues to praise the Thessalonian church for the impact they have had on other congregations. Their influence extended beyond their local region of Macedonia and Achaia, spreading far and wide. This supports Paul’s earlier assertion that the gospel preached in Thessalonica arrived not only in words but with power and a demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s work.
Despite their inexperience and youthfulness, the Thessalonians embraced the Spirit’s guidance and became a cornerstone church, influencing others as news spread about the grace of God within them and the resulting transformative work. One such example of this transformation was their abandonment of idolatry and wholehearted acceptance of the one true God – the God of the Jews. They eagerly awaited the return of Jesus Christ, the Savior whom God raised from the dead to deliver them from the impending wrath.
Throughout this letter, Paul will further discuss the coming wrath of God. He reassures the Thessalonians that because they belong to Christ, they will be delivered from this divine judgment, just like all who eagerly await His return. Before delving deeper into the subject, Paul begins by recognizing the remarkable work of God within the Thessalonian church and the significance of their faith in light of the approaching wrath.
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My name is Tayib Salami and I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. In 2017, I entered a very dark time in my life and it’s only by the grace of the Living God that I’m still alive today. It led me to really go deeper in my faith and consider a myriad of questions that I never thought about asking myself or others before. Welcome and enjoy the ride with me.