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1 THESSALONIANS
Introducing 1 Thessalonians
Conventional wisdom tells us that nothing is certain except death and taxes, but for most of us that is not enough. Wouldn’t you like to be just as sure about where you stand with God? That’s what the Thessalonians were looking for, and Paul’s letters to them can help you find that assurance as well.
In the year A.D. 50, Paul entered Thessalonica while on his second missionary journey. He preached there for three weeks and was able to establish a church. However, a group of jealous Jews interpreted Paul’s message to mean that he was proclaiming another ruler in opposition to the Roman emperor, and he was forced to leave town (Acts 17:1-10).
Because of Paul’s concern for this young church, he sent his coworker, Timothy, to learn how the Thessalonians were doing. Timothy reported that the Christians’ faith remained strong but that they continued to be persecuted by those who had banished Paul. Timothy also brought back questions which Paul had not had time to answer during his short stay.
First Thessalonians was Paul’s first attempt at offering encouragement and answering questions—in fact it was probably the first of Paul’s epistles. It was written from Corinth only a few months after Paul had left Thessalonica.
In 1 Thessalonians Paul offers encouragement in four major areas: (1) How can I be sure that I will be with Jesus after death? (2) How can I be sure that Jesus is coming again? (3) How can I be sure that Jesus hasn’t forgotten me when I am suffering persecution? (4) How can I be sure that my life is pleasing to God?
Through your study of these letters, it is my hope that you will become sure of your faith and of your salvation and that, as a result, you will be able to “encourage each other with these words”(1Th 4:18).
www.ivpress.com/bible/1thess/
Chapter 1 (ESV)
Greeting
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.
The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Meditation
- For Christians, faith, love and hope are not just abstract ideas. We see in the example of the church of Thessalonica. The Thessalonian Christians were remarkable as a truly committed church. They not only received the gospel – they acted on it! They had faith that produced work, love that prompted labor, and hope that inspired endurance (v3). Their actions became an example and a source of joy for Paul and other churches who heard about what God was doing among the Thessalonians.
- A church should be a prominent and unmistakable shining light to the community in which it exists. What is the reputation of your church or cell group throughout the community? How can you help your church or cell group become such a shining light?
- How do you live out and act in faith, love and hope as a Christian in your everyday life?