I Thessalonians 1
Thessalonica was a bustling seaport city at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. It was an important communication and trade center, located at the junction of the great Egnatian Way and the road leading north to the Danube. It was the largest city in Macedonia and was also the capital of its province.
The background of the Thessalonian church is found in Ac 17:1–9. Since Paul began his ministry there in the Jewish synagogue, it is reasonable to assume that the new church included some Jews. However, 1:9–10; Ac 17:4 seem to indicate that the church was largely Gentile in membership.
The background of the Thessalonian church is found in Ac 17:1–9. Since Paul began his ministry there in the Jewish synagogue, it is reasonable to assume that the new church included some Jews. However, 1:9–10; Ac 17:4 seem to indicate that the church was largely Gentile in membership.
In I Thessalonians all the main Pauline doctrines are taught — the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (i, 10; iv, 14; v, 10); His Divinity and Sonship of the living God (i, 9, 10); the resurrection of our bodies (iv, 15-18), the mediatorship of Christ (v, 10); the call of the nations to the Kingdom of Christ, which is the Church (ii, 12), sanctification by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (iv, 8). The plain and direct style, the writer's affectionate concern for his spiritual children, his impatience of Judaizers, the preponderance of personal over doctrinal statements, the frank and honest self-revelation of the writer — all these distinctly Pauline characteristics argue strongly for the authenticity of this letter.
[SOURCE: Catholic Encyclopedia: Epistles to the Thessalonians]
[SOURCE: Catholic Encyclopedia: Epistles to the Thessalonians]
Impressed by the faithfulness of the Thessalonians in the face of persecution, Paul wrote to encourage the Christians in that community with the goal that they would continue to grow in godliness. Paul knew that the people had been exposed to errant teaching from those in opposition to the way of Jesus Christ and the grace of God. And Paul also understood that unless the young church continued to mature in its faith, the danger would only increase over time.
With that in mind, Paul taught the people that any spiritual growth would ultimately be motivated by their hope in the ultimate return of Jesus Christ. Paul was never interested in simply telling people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, for he knew that what ultimately inspired change was a life of consistently walking in the power of God’s Spirit. And so to a group of young Christians with questions and uncertainties, Paul offered the hope of Christ’s return, providing both comfort in the midst of questions and motivation to godly living.
[SOURCE: Bible Teachings of Charles Swindoll: First Thessalonians]
With that in mind, Paul taught the people that any spiritual growth would ultimately be motivated by their hope in the ultimate return of Jesus Christ. Paul was never interested in simply telling people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, for he knew that what ultimately inspired change was a life of consistently walking in the power of God’s Spirit. And so to a group of young Christians with questions and uncertainties, Paul offered the hope of Christ’s return, providing both comfort in the midst of questions and motivation to godly living.
[SOURCE: Bible Teachings of Charles Swindoll: First Thessalonians]
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I Thessalonians 1:1:
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; Grace and peace to you. |
This is unique of the thirteen letters attributed to Paul, in that he does not introduce himself as apostle, servant, or prisoner. He refers to himself simply as Paul. The inclusion of Sylvanus and Timothy suggest that maybe they had a part in the writing of the letter.
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I Thessalonians 1:5:
1Paul, 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. 2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3remembering 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, 4knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5For 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. |
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 |
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
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I Thessalonians 1:6-7:
6And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. |
 Arthur W Pink Files
First, "Godly sorrow" issues from a broken and contrite heart, which is something that no man possesses by nature. On the contrary, the heart of the unregenerate is like "the nether millstone." A miracle of grace has to be wrought before "a heart of flesh" is imparted. This is accomplished by means of the Word, under the immediate operations of the Holy Spirit. "It not My word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jer 23:29). That speaks of an humbling and painful experience--the travail preceding the birth. Every genuine conversion is one in which the Word is received "in much affliction" (I Thess 1:6). That "affliction" is caused by the truth enabling the soul to view sin as God sees it--it's true nature, its heinousness, its infinite ill-desert. --Arthur Pink
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I Thessalonians 1:8-10:
8For 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. 9For 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, 10and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. |
 Daniel Strange Files
Theologically speaking, we are in a spiritual battle. The Bible makes it very clear. We have a sense of being in a culture war because we're talking about different worldviews clashing with each other.
And I think the Bible makes it very clear that idolatry in its modern form, whatever it might be, needs to be tackled and brought down. Now, the way we do that is certainly not through violence or through some kind of angry stance, but by giving reason for the hope that we have. It's trying to proclaim the gospel, and that involves confrontation and persuasion.However, we should not fit into the Culture Wars as they are drawn by the rest of the world, because sometimes it is set up as a very binary form of left or right. We are involved in a spiritual war and in a sense there is a cultural war, but the weapons we use in that war are not human weapons and we must give a reason for the hope we have with gentleness and respect, while at the same time trying to tear down idols and encourage people to turn from idols to the living God, as it says in 1 Thessalonians. -Daniel Strange; Evangeilkcal Focus; “Jesus is Lord is a political claim, but the transformation of society will no come about by political means” 11/10/23 |
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I Thessalonians 1:13:
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. |
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