1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: 1 Thessalonians (Acts)

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Rusty's Notes

• We left off last week with Paul in Corinth.
• Silas and Timothy rejoined him there.
• Timothy has given him a direct report of all that has occurred in Thessaloniki since Paul’s departure.
• Paul sits down to write this letter to the Church at Thessalonica.
• The Church in Thessalonica was close to perfect as you could get in comparison to the other churches Paul writes letters to.
• “If you find the perfect church, don’t join it because you will make it imperfect.” Statement based upon behavior.
  
  

1 THESSALONIANS
GREETING
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy:

• First and Second Thessalonians are the only two of his letters in which Paul did not add some elaboration to his name and/or to the names of his cosenders.[1]

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Paul uses the word church which is transcribed ekklesia in Greek.
• The word church means “a called-out people.”
• Whenever you read about a call in the Bible, it indicates divine election—God is calling out a people from this world.[2]
• The Jews were God’s chosen people (called out) in the Old Covenant.
• Ekklēsia is also a synonym for “synagogue” (synagōgē) and was occasionally used of Jewish assemblies in the Septuagint.[3]
• Yes, Paul was intentional in using “ekklesia” because he was making the point of "oneness" in Christ.
• There had to be Jews who were upset that he was including the Gentiles.
• There had to be Gentiles who didn't want to be associated with the Jews.
• But those who were focused on Paul's message of Good News were rejoicing in the "oneness".

Grace to you and peace.

• Grace precedes peace, because peace is the result of grace.
• When God’s grace comes to you, then grace will come from you and you will have peace.

 
THANKSGIVING

• This “thanksgiving” section is a commendation and exhortation.
• It is the “coming attractions” for the body of the letter.

2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers.

• Paul could not call them, social network, visit them.
• He could not be with them.
• His only option was to think about them and pray for them.

3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

• Faith, hope and love.
• Timothy has shared how they have modeled their faith to Paul.
• Works were produced by faith
• Labor was motivated by love
• Endurance was inspired by hope
• All three were based upon “in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Jesus does this through the Church.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

• Elect, chosen because they are “in Christ”.

5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance.

• It was not because we spoke eloquently.
• But you could clearly see God working in us and through us.
• Power = “dynamite”
• The assurance of the converts, if that is what Paul had in mind, might have been demonstrated by their willingness to endure persecution even after Paul was run out of the city[4]

You know how we lived among you for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord

• We patterned for you what it was like to live your life by another power.
• There was no New Testament at that time.
• It was Paul, Silas & Timothy’s spoken word as well as the Spirit living and working through them.
• You are talking about Paul, the killer of Christians.
• See how the Lord transformed him.
• If Paul, the man who killed Christians, can have a heart change, then so can you.

when, in spite of severe persecution,

• The Gospel was in opposition of idolatry.
• Christians got blamed for everything.

you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.

• You had faith, hope and love from the Holy Spirit.

7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

• Paul is commending here with also the implication that they should continue on doing these things.
• People are talking about you all over the world.

8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out.

• This is the ripple effect.
• It was evident. They couldn’t hold back
• It was like this loudspeaker.
• Not only in their words but their life actions.

Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

• This leads us to believe that the majority of the believers in Thessalonica were Gentiles because they turned from their idols/gods.

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.[5]

• Paul teases them with the resurrection and what is to come.
• He will answer their questions in chapters 4-5.

 
What every church should be is what every Christian should be: elect (born again), exemplary (imitating the right people), enthusiastic (sharing the Gospel with others), and expectant (daily looking for Jesus Christ to return).[6]

[1] Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, p. 47). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 159). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, p. 50). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[4] Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, p. 59). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (1 Th). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.