Up to the nineteenth century First Thessalonians went unchallenged as a Pauline epistle at which time radical critics claimed that its lack of doctrinal content made its authenticity suspect. But this is a weak objection on two counts: (1) the proportion of doctrinal teaching in Paul’s epistles varies widely, and (2) 4:13-5:11 quickly grounded the Thessalonians in Christian doctrine. The only problematic issue when this epistle was written concerned the matter of Christ’s return. Paul planted the Thessalonian church on his second missionary journey and wrote this epistle as a response to a good report regarding the church from Timothy in AD 51.
TIMES: AD 51
KEY VERSES: 1 Th 1:10; 2:4-9, 3:12-13; 4:7; 5:10; 5:22
THEME: Paul’s time in Thessalonica was cut short, and Paul used these letters to clarify some of his teachings. After a review of the basics, the primary issues covered in 1 Thessalonians are what happens when people die and the timing of the second coming of Christ. There were so many people that had seen Jesus, that the promise of his return was met with anxious expectation. There have been so many predictions concerning the end times that come and go, but this book will help us to sharpen and renew our expectations.
Thanksgiving for These Believers
1:1-2 Paul with Silvanus, and Timothy gives greetings to the church of the Thessalonians. Silvanus is the Roman form of the name Silas. After Paul had separated from Barnabas (Acts 15:36-40), Silas became Paul’s traveling companion on the second missionary journey. He may have served as Paul’s secretary. He was a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:22-23), and he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch to deliver the decree of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:22-23). He and Paul suffered a beating at Philippi (Acts 16:22-24), and he had helped found the church at Thessalonica. Timothy was also with Paul on the second missionary journey. Paul considered him like a son and loved him dearly. (Acts 16:3; 1 Titus 1:2).
This letter is in response to Timothy’s report from the church in Thessalonica.
To the church comes from the Greek word ekklesia which means any gathering or assembly. In the New Testament, this word calls to mind the relationship of believers in Thessalonica as a body.
1:3 Paul acknowledges their work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] the Lord Jesus Christ [1 Thes. 1:10]
1:4-5 Paul addresses his brothers and sisters explaining the good news. He had preached the gospel to them clearly when he was with them. For three weeks he had “engaged in discussion and friendly debate with them from the Scriptures, explaining and pointing out [scriptural evidence] that it was necessary for Christ to suffer and rise from the dead.” (Acts 17:2-3) This message was different from the messianic expectations that he knew from his own training as a Pharisee. Jews of that day were looking for a conquering champion, not a suffering savior. In order to share our faith successfully, we must bear the following rules in mind:
- We must be clean vessels. The ones who carry the articles of the Lord must purify themselves. (Is. 52:11) David prays for forgiveness and cleansing, and a willing spirit. He says in Psalm 51:13, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.”
- We must be able to clearly give out the simple facts of the gospel without bogging our listeners down with profound theological concepts. Philip demonstrated how to do this when he dealt with a eunuch in the desert. (Ac 8:35)
- We must avoid arguments and stick to the basic issues of man’s sin and Christ’s sacrifice.
- We must use the Word of God. This was the reason for Paul’s tremendous success as an evangelist—his constant use of God’s Word. (Acts 17:2; 18:28; 2 Titus 2:15; 3:14-17)
- We must depend on the Spirit of God (Jn 3:15; Acts 6:10; 1 Cor. 2:4)
1:6 The Thessalonians became imitators of him (Paul) and of the Lord after they welcomed his message. As we focus on Jesus, we will reflect His image to others.(2 Cor 3:18)
1:7 And they became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
1:8-9 For the word of the Lord has resounded from you. Since Thessalonica was a port city on a much-traveled route (Egnatian Way), those who saw the virtuous life and persistent faith of the Thessalonian Christians would spread the word throughout the entire region.
1:10 And they look forward to with great expectation the coming of Christ who endured God’s wrath so all who are in Christ would escape that wrath and should have nothing to fear.
Paul’s Ministry
2:1-2 Paul tells his listeners that even though he and Silas were mistreated and beaten in Philippi, God gave them the strength to come and preach the good news in Thessalonica.
2:3 And their message is based on the truth.
2:4-9 They have been entrusted with God’s gospel to tell the truth and to please God and not man. So, Paul did not flatter, but instead preached boldly that everyone was a sinner who needed to be saved by the grace of God. He also stated that he and the apostles sought no glory or honor, but behaved gently and acted like mothers caring for their children because they were delighted to share the good news. And they were not a financial burden to anyone.
2:11-13 Paul said they were exhorting and encouraging them as a father guides his children to lives of honor, moral courage, and personal integrity. And when they heard the word to consider it coming from God through the apostles.
2:14-16 And those who persecuted Christ and killed him and the prophets and showed themselves displeasing to God have experienced His wrath at last (completely and forever). [Gen.15:6]
2:17-18 We wanted to see you face to face, but Satan hindered us. We can be assured that when we do the work of the Lord, we will experience spiritual attacks and opposition of various kinds.
Encouragement of Timothy’s Visit
3:1-3 When forced to leave Thessalonica, Paul and Silas went to Berea, the next city west of Thessalonica. The Thessalonian Jews who opposed Paul (when they learned where he was) went to Berea to stir up opposition. But those who live godly lives should expect persecution. (2 Tim 3:12). And Christ warned his apostles they would experience the same kind of rejection that he did.
3:6-9 Timothy has come back to us giving us a positive report about you regarding your steadfast faith and the warmth of your love. This makes us feel comforted and greatly encouraged about you because of your unwavering trust in God. And we are ready to live [in spite of everything] if you stand firm in the Lord.
3:10 We pray that we may see you face to face and may complete whatever you may be lacking in your faith.
3:12 May the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another.
3:13 And may the Lord strengthen and establish your hearts in the sight of our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints (God’s people).
Saints means “holy ones” or those set apart.
Sanctification and Love
4:1 We ask you if you will follow the instruction that you received from us about how you should walk and please God…
How you ought to walk The Christian life not only begins with faith, but it continues as a daily walk of faith. Christians are not to live as unsaved Gentiles.
(Eph 4:17) Instead they are to walk worthy of their calling from God (Eph 4:1) John encourages Christians to walk in the light, that is, in the revealed will of God (1 Jn 1:7).
4:2-3 You know that commandments and precepts we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality. A major problem for the early church was maintaining sexual purity. (1 Cor 5:19) Pagan religions often included sexual orgies as part of their worship, and temple prostitutes were dedicated to various gods. In contrast, Christianity taught that the body is God’s temple (1 Cor 6:18-20) and the body should be honored as created by God, and it should be sanctified keeping with its holy purpose.
4:7 God has not called us to impurity but to holiness
4:8 So, whoever rejects and disregards this is not just rejecting man, but God.
4:9 You have been personally taught by God to love one another and do things for their benefit. [Lev. 19:18; John 13:34]
4:10 You excel in this more and more. Although these believers already had a good record of loving one another, Paul wanted that love to increase. This was a commandment of Jesus (Jn 13:34-35; 15:12, 17) and is an important basis of evangelism. The genuine love of Christians should attract others to the faith.
4:11 And make your ambition to live quietly and peacefully. A Christian home should be in order as a testimony to others, character, personal integrity, and moral courage worthy of respect of the outside world.
Those Who Died in Christ
4:14 Jesus died and rose again and God will raise up those believers who have fallen asleep in Him
4:16 The Lord Himself will come down from heaven and with a shout of a command, voice of the archangel, and sound of the trumpet the dead in Christ will arise.
4:17 Simultaneously, we who are alive and remain on earth will be raptured up together with the resurrected ones in the clouds and meet the Lord in the air so we will always be with the Lord. John 14:3; 1 Cor 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil 1:23; Col 3:4
The Day of the Lord
5:2 You brothers and sisters know perfectly well that the day of the [return of the] Lord. The day of the Lord in the Old Testament was characterized by two phases. God’s judgment against sinful people and God’s eternal reign over His people. God’s judgment will be a time of darkness and an expression of His wrath (Joel 2:1-2; Am 5:18-20; Zeph 1:14-15) His reign will also be a time of blessing (Isa 2:1-3; 11:1-9; 30:23-26; Zec 14:1, 7-11, 20-21; Mt 19:28; Ac 3:19-21)
5:4-6 But you believers are not in spiritual darkness so the day of judgment will not overtake you by surprise (because you will be looking forward to it and expecting it) for you are sons of light and sons of the day. So, let us not sleep as the rest of the world, but let us keep wide awake and sober.
5:9 For God has not destined us to [incur His] wrath. The wrath of God at the day of the Lord will be on the unbelieving world that has spurned and mocked Christ (Rev 6:12-17)
5:11 Therefore encourage and comfort one another and build up one another….
Christian Conduct
5:12-13 Appreciate those who work among you and respect your leaders who are in charge over you in the Lord and who give you instruction. Appreciate them and hold them in the highest regard. Live in peace with one another.
5:14 Encourage the timid and help the spiritually weak. Be patient with everyone and always control your temper.
5:15 Do not repay evil with evil.
5:16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith.
5:17 Be unceasing and persistent in prayer.
5:18 In every situation be thankful and continually give thanks to God, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.
5:19 And do not quench [subdue] or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
5:20 Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies (spoken revelations—words of instruction, exhortation or warning]
5:21 But test things carefully [so you can recognize what is good] and hold on to what is good.
5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
5:23 May the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through -make you pure, whole, and undamaged-consecrated to Him—[set apart for His purpose]; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept complete and found blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Paul said that he was entrusted with God’s gospel to tell the truth and to please God and not man. So, he did not flatter, but instead preached boldly that everyone was a sinner who needed to be saved by the grace of God. He also stated that he and the apostles sought no glory or honor, but behaved gently and acted like mothers caring for their children because they were delighted to share the good news. He stressed that God calls us to be sanctified–holy and consecrated-set apart and that we should abstain from evil. Paul tells us what happens when people die and the timing of the second coming of Christ. Paul says we should also continually say thanks for it is the will of God in Christ Jesus. It is also important to note that Paul said it is the love that we show each other is what draws people to our faith.
Did you enjoy this post? Are you thanking our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for taking upon Himself all of our sins so that we could escape perdition? Are you also thanking God the Father for conceiving of and orchestrating His Plan of Salvation for man? Are you glad that God commissioned Paul to preach to the Gentiles?
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