1 Thessalonians -Week 1: Intro Lesson-Balanced Encouragement

In 1 Thessalonians, Paul deals with life and ministry the way they really were for both his ministry team and the Thessalonians, the way they are for all faithful Christians, and the way they ought to be as we overcome trials and temptations that come our way.

We must Balance who we are in Christ and be careful to not become over zealous, legalistic, or become complacent, allow relativism to reign.

Instead, we will see how Paul uses his words to encourage the church in Thessalonica and has them “balance” their faith accordingly so as to encourage and grow in their faith.

Turn your Bibles to . We will spend most of today in . This will give us a better foundation of this beautiful church and why the letter was written.

While you are turning there...

QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS

When was it written?

Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey.

Where was it written?

In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia).

Who wrote it?

Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors.

Why was it written?

To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return.

THE THESSALONIAN STORM AND ITS LASTING EFFECTS

About a year had passed since a storm of persecution had swept Paul, Silas, and Timothy from the city of Thessalonica.

In the wake of the storm, the budding church in that city was left bent, weary, and underdeveloped.

They needed more light from the Son to dry their weary and weathered leaves, to strengthen their wilting limbs, and to bear healthy fruit.

Here’s what happened. Following the first missionary journey (), a council of apostles and church leaders met in Jerusalem to discuss and soundly reject the false teachings of the Judaizers, who were legalists extraordinaire ().

Between the first missionary journey and the Jerusalem Council, Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians from Antioch, encouraging the young churches he and Barnabas had planted to stand strong against the threat of such legalism.

After the council, with its written decision firmly in hand, Paul determined to retrace his steps and revisit the churches: “Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are” ().

However, when Paul and Barnabas had a falling out over whether to take John Mark, the two decided to part ways ().

Instead of taking Barnabas with him on the second missionary journey, Paul chose Silas (also called “Silvanus”) as his right-hand man in ministry ().

A SNAPSHOT OF THESSALONICA

1 Thessalonians 1:1 CSB

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.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 CSB

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.

In 315 BC the Greek general Cassander, who later became king of Macedonia, founded Thessalonica. It later developed into a major commercial seaport and military launching point.

At the time of Paul’s second missionary journey (around AD 49–52), Thessalonica was the capital and most populous city of Macedonia, boasting over two hundred thousand people.

In 315 BC the Greek general Cassander, who later became king of Macedonia, founded Thessalonica. It later developed into a major commercial seaport and military launching point. At the time of Paul’s second missionary journey (around AD 49–52), Thessalonica was the capital and most populous city of Macedonia, boasting over two hundred thousand people. Situated on flourishing trade routes both by land and sea, the city was a bustling center of commerce. William Barclay points out the strategic importance of such a city for the spread of the gospel: “If Christianity was settled there, it was bound to spread East along the Egnatian Road until all Asia was conquered and West until it stormed even the city of Rome. The coming of Christianity to Thessalonica was crucial in the making of it into a world religion.”[2] The ruins of the agora, a Roman shopping center, in Thessalonica, built around the first century. As a free city in the Roman Empire, Thessalonica enjoyed some level of self-governance of its affairs without constant interference by the emperor. Such a prized status, however, could have been lost if the city’s leaders failed to maintain peace and security . . . or if the Romans suspected sedition and rebellion. Both of these charges were leveled against Paul and Silas by the raucous mob that the Jews had stirred up against the Christians (). In that episode, Thessalonian politics, economics, and religion were turned against the Christians, leaving the young church in a state of uncertainty. Along the way, Paul and Silas met a young man named Timothy in Lystra. As the son of a family of faith, Timothy enjoyed an excellent reputation among the believers (). Obviously impressed by him, Paul invited young Timothy to participate in their missionary ventures. Though Paul seems to have originally had in mind a modest journey of edifying already-established churches, the Spirit had something else in mind. As their attempts to enter various regions were frustrated by the Spirit of Jesus (), they were pushed farther and farther west through Asia Minor until they reached the coast of the Aegean Sea. (See the map “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey” on page 2). At that point, something unexpected happened. At night, Paul received a vision instructing him to cross the sea into Macedonia and to preach the gospel there (). Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (). However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment (). www.HolyLandPhotos.org Luke uses a unique term, politarchēs [4173], for the rulers of Thessalonica, a word which appears only in , . In 1877 an inscription (pictured here) was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

Situated on flourishing trade routes both by land and sea, the city was a bustling center of commerce.

William Barclay points out the strategic importance of such a city for the spread of the gospel: “If Christianity was settled there, it was bound to spread East along the Egnatian Road until all Asia was conquered and West until it stormed even the city of Rome. The coming of Christianity to Thessalonica was crucial in the making of it into a world religion.”

As a free city in the Roman Empire, Thessalonica enjoyed some level of self-governance of its affairs without constant interference by the emperor.

As a free city in the Roman Empire, Thessalonica enjoyed some level of self-governance of its affairs without constant interference by the emperor. Such a prized status, however, could have been lost if the city’s leaders failed to maintain peace and security . . . or if the Romans suspected sedition and rebellion. Both of these charges were leveled against Paul and Silas by the raucous mob that the Jews had stirred up against the Christians (). In that episode, Thessalonian politics, economics, and religion were turned against the Christians, leaving the young church in a state of uncertainty. Along the way, Paul and Silas met a young man named Timothy in Lystra. As the son of a family of faith, Timothy enjoyed an excellent reputation among the believers (). Obviously impressed by him, Paul invited young Timothy to participate in their missionary ventures. Though Paul seems to have originally had in mind a modest journey of edifying already-established churches, the Spirit had something else in mind. As their attempts to enter various regions were frustrated by the Spirit of Jesus (), they were pushed farther and farther west through Asia Minor until they reached the coast of the Aegean Sea. (See the map “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey” on page 2). At that point, something unexpected happened. At night, Paul received a vision instructing him to cross the sea into Macedonia and to preach the gospel there (). Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (). However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment (). www.HolyLandPhotos.org Luke uses a unique term, politarchēs [4173], for the rulers of Thessalonica, a word which appears only in , . In 1877 an inscription (pictured here) was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

Such a prized status, however, could have been lost if the city’s leaders failed to maintain peace and security . . . or if the Romans suspected sedition and rebellion.

Both of these charges were leveled against Paul and Silas by the raucous mob that the Jews had stirred up against the Christians ().

Acts 17:6–7 CSB

6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.”

In that episode, Thessalonian politics, economics, and religion were turned against the Christians, leaving the young church in a state of uncertainty.

In that episode, Thessalonian politics, economics, and religion were turned against the Christians, leaving the young church in a state of uncertainty. Along the way, Paul and Silas met a young man named Timothy in Lystra. As the son of a family of faith, Timothy enjoyed an excellent reputation among the believers (). Obviously impressed by him, Paul invited young Timothy to participate in their missionary ventures. Though Paul seems to have originally had in mind a modest journey of edifying already-established churches, the Spirit had something else in mind. As their attempts to enter various regions were frustrated by the Spirit of Jesus (), they were pushed farther and farther west through Asia Minor until they reached the coast of the Aegean Sea. (See the map “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey” on page 2). At that point, something unexpected happened. At night, Paul received a vision instructing him to cross the sea into Macedonia and to preach the gospel there (). Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (). However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment (). www.HolyLandPhotos.org Luke uses a unique term, politarchēs [4173], for the rulers of Thessalonica, a word which appears only in , . In 1877 an inscription (pictured here) was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

Along the way, Paul and Silas met a young man named Timothy in Lystra.

As the son of a family of faith, Timothy enjoyed an excellent reputation among the believers ().

Acts 16:1–2 CSB

1 Paul went on to Derbe and Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but his father was a Greek. 2 The brothers and sisters at Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him.

Obviously impressed by him, Paul invited young Timothy to participate in their missionary ventures.

Obviously impressed by him, Paul invited young Timothy to participate in their missionary ventures. Though Paul seems to have originally had in mind a modest journey of edifying already-established churches, the Spirit had something else in mind. As their attempts to enter various regions were frustrated by the Spirit of Jesus (), they were pushed farther and farther west through Asia Minor until they reached the coast of the Aegean Sea. (See the map “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey” on page 2). At that point, something unexpected happened. At night, Paul received a vision instructing him to cross the sea into Macedonia and to preach the gospel there (). Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (). However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment (). www.HolyLandPhotos.org Luke uses a unique term, politarchēs [4173], for the rulers of Thessalonica, a word which appears only in , . In 1877 an inscription (pictured here) was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

Though Paul seems to have originally had in mind a modest journey of edifying already-established churches, the Spirit had something else in mind.

As their attempts to enter various regions were frustrated by the Spirit of Jesus (),

Acts 16:6–8 CSB

6 They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.

Acts 16

they were pushed farther and farther west through Asia Minor until they reached the coast of the Aegean Sea.

they were pushed farther and farther west through Asia Minor until they reached the coast of the Aegean Sea. (See the map “Paul’s Second Missionary Journey” on page 2). At that point, something unexpected happened. At night, Paul received a vision instructing him to cross the sea into Macedonia and to preach the gospel there (). Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (). However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment (). www.HolyLandPhotos.org Luke uses a unique term, politarchēs [4173], for the rulers of Thessalonica, a word which appears only in , . In 1877 an inscription (pictured here) was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

At that point, something unexpected happened.

At night, Paul received a vision instructing him to cross the sea into Macedonia and to preach the gospel there ().

Acts 16:9–10 CSB

9 During the night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ ().

Acts 16:11–15 CSB

11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony and a leading city of the district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Sailing from Troas and through Neapolis, they reached the city of Philippi, where the Lord softened the hearts of many to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ (). However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment (). www.HolyLandPhotos.org Luke uses a unique term, politarchēs [4173], for the rulers of Thessalonica, a word which appears only in , . In 1877 an inscription (pictured here) was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

However, in Philippi the closed, hardened hearts of spiritual opponents turned the city leaders against Paul and Silas, eventually leading to their arrest, beating, and imprisonment ().

When was it written?

In 1877 an inscription was discovered in excavations of ancient Thessalonica that used this same term in reference to the city rulers.[3] QUICK FACTS ON 1 THESSALONIANS When was it written? Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey. Where was it written? In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia). Who wrote it? Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors. Why was it written? To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return. After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

Around AD 50, during Paul’s second missionary journey.

Where was it written?

In Corinth (province of Achaia) and sent to Thessalonica (province of Macedonia).

Who wrote it?

Paul wrote the letter with Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy as co-authors.

The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism.

Why was it written?

When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous ().

To provide encouragement to believers to continue in faith, hope, and love as they endure hardship while waiting for the Lord’s return.

After a miraculous deliverance from jail that resulted even in the salvation of the Roman jailer and his family (), Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi and traveled to Thessalonica in order to proclaim the coming of the Messiah at the Jewish synagogue in that city (). The truth of the gospel won over more and more people, especially among the God-fearing Gentiles who had been hanging around the synagogue for years but had not officially converted to Judaism. When the Jewish synagogue leaders saw both Jews and righteous Gentiles converting to Jesus as the Messiah, they became jealous (). In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas. So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (). After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica (). After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” (). They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare. But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team? The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city. And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town. In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution. In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return. OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation. The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious. In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future. In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. The book can be divided into two major sections. Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13). In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10). By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20). To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13). Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28). In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return. Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12). Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11). Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present. So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28). Paul’s Second Missionary Journey. Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica during their second major journey around Asia Minor, which extended into Macedonia and Achaia (present-day Greece). Some of the Jews there attacked the believers in Thessalonica because of Paul’s message, so Paul and Silas escaped and continued on their journey. Later, they would write to the believers in Thessalonica from Corinth.

In response, the opposing Jews mustered a pagan posse from the marketplace but searched in vain for Paul and Silas.

So they rounded up a handful of new Thessalonian believers and played the game of guilt by association: “These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” ().

After this frightening episode, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city by night, having been banned from Thessalonica ().

After several months away from their fragile church plant, Paul and Silas “could endure it no longer” ().

They sent the young Timothy to Thessalonica to check on the believers’ welfare.

But if Paul and Silas were so concerned with that fledgling church, why didn’t they just put their ministry in Athens or Corinth on pause and take a trip back north to Macedonia to provide some assistance? Why send Timothy—the youngest and most inexperienced member of their ministry team?

The fact is, a legal pledge Jason made on behalf of the church in Thessalonica () likely involved the promise that Paul and Silas, as the named perpetrators of unrest, would not return to the city.

And in all probability, it likely included a substantial sum of money in the form of a bond that would have been forfeited had Paul and Silas returned to town.

In any case, when Timothy returned from his trip to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas were thrilled to hear of their spiritual health even in the midst of persecution.

In response, the three of them wrote a letter to the church in Thessalonica from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future as they awaited the Lord’s return.

OVERVIEW OF THE LETTER

Although rather brief, Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is one of the most positive and insightful portrayals of a first-century congregation.

The faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians were downright contagious.

In Paul’s desire to encourage believers, his basic message spanned all the tenses of salvation: from the past, into the present, with a view toward the future.

In fact, the basic message of 1 Thessalonians might be summed up this way: Live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future. Paul delivers a “Balanced Encouragement” for that church.

The book can be divided into two major sections.

Turning from the Past to the Present (1:1–3:13).

In this section Paul mentions the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope in Christ (1:3), recalling crucial events in their past: their powerful reception of the gospel (1:5), their imitation of the apostles’ life and ministry (1:6), and the example of faith, love, and hope they had become for the whole region of Macedonia (1:7-10).

By reminding them of his own ministry style among them (2:1-12), Paul encourages them to endure suffering in the work of ministry just as he did (2:13-20).

To Paul’s relief, the Thessalonians’ past seeds of faith and love had not only endured persecution and hardship, but had actually grown and blossomed in the present beyond his expectations (3:1-13).

Living in the Present for the Future (4:1–5:28).

In the second part of the letter, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue to live holy lives in light of their hope in Christ’s return.

Beginning with straight talk about moral purity (4:1-8), he moves on to encourage them to love one another and to live properly among outsiders as outworking their faith and love (4:9-12).

Then, in a powerful passage on the second coming of Christ, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the hope they have of rescue from wrath, resurrection from death, and reunion with fellow believers when the Lord Jesus returns from heaven to live with His church forever (4:13–5:11).

Yet this reminder of Christ’s return wasn’t given simply to inform them about the future, but to transform them in the present.

So Paul ends this brief but glorious epistle with rapid-fire exhortations to live in faith, love, and hope in light of the past and in view of the future (5:12-28).

Closing Focus

I personally see it all as a Balance. A balance of Truth. A balance of encouragement. A balance of correction. A balance of direction. A balance of Faith, Hope and Love.

Swindoll, Charles R.. Insights on 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Swindoll's Living Insights New Testament Commentary Book 10) . Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

We each need to Balance:

Turning from the Past to the Present

and

Living in the Present for the Future

Next week we will go deeper into Chapter 1. Read verses 1-10. We will take time to focus on our commitment to Christ, to our families and our church. What examples of “Commitment” can we glean and apply from those 10 verses.

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