1 & 2 Thessalonians: A Study of 2 Letters, Part 1

Introduction

This study will work somewhat methodically through both letters written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica. In doing so I hope to pull out lessons we can learn and apply to following Jesus today. Before we dive into that it is important we understand some background about the church in Thessalonica; addressing contextual questions of where it is, what sort of place it was, and how the church started.

In order to answer these questions we need to turn to Acts 16 and 17, these chapters provide us with a lot of context for these letters. I encourage you to read these chapters, but in summary they tell us how Paul and his travelling group came to be in Thessalonica. Having received guidance from the Holy Spirit they have gone to Macedonia. On this journey they preached in Philippi and were imprisoned. God delivers them, and saves the jailer and his family. It is in Philippi that they meet Lydia and together establish a church.

From Philippi they go on to Thessalonica. Again Paul preaches the good news of Jesus, first in the synagogue over the course of three sabbaths (Acts 17:2). The response was mixed; some turned to Jesus and some stirred up trouble. It is those that turned to Jesus that form the church that Paul writes to.

What is particularly key to note is that when the trouble springs up those who have turned to Jesus quickly send Paul and Silas on to Berea (Acts 17: 10). So, over a period of three weeks (assuming consecutive Sabbaths) Paul plants a church, and then has to flee. This is not ideal. Paul, as we will see from 1 Thessalonians, is concerned for this young church. Will they have simply turned away from Jesus without the support and teaching that Paul would have wanted to give before leaving?

From these chapters we can answer our initial context questions. Thessalonica is a city in Macedonia, on the coast of the Aegean Sea, west of Philippi. Acts 17:5-8 indicates that the people are at the very least following the decrees of Rome, possibly afraid of the consequences of not doing so, or maybe fully supportive of Rome. We also see that the population, and the church community is diverse, made up of Greeks and Jews. The church is started as people are persuaded by Paul and his preaching on the messiah, and they follow Jesus. This initial formation is immediately followed by persecution in Acts 17: 5-7.

All of this provides us with an excellent picture of the church Paul is writing these letters to.

1 Thessalonians 1 - Faith, Love, Hope, Action

As is common across Paul’s letters he opens with his introduction and declaration of grace and peace to the recipient. What follows in this opening chapter is Paul expressing joy and delight at what he has heard about this young church. Remember, in Acts 17 Paul is sent away and Timothy and Silas remain in the area at Berea. Now Timothy and Silas have rejoined Paul (1 Thessalonians 3: 6) and they will have shared how the church in Thessalonica is doing. 

We can see, in the first chapter, a pattern for Christian living that should inspire and challenge is today.

“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1: 3

Of course, Paul is thankful for the actions of these people. They most likely saved his life. But this is, presumably, based on the reports he has heard from Timothy and Silas.

For us I’d like to pick up the active nature of this verse. We have the words “work” and “labor” here and Paul has used two different words. The first of these is “έργον” (ergon) meaning work, or deed, or practical proof. Paul is thankful that there is practical proof of the believers faith. This is something that takes commitment and effort. In reading this I am reminded of James 2: 14-25, particularly verse 18.

“But someone will say, “You have faith, I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds [έργον] and I will show you my faith by what I do [έργον].”

James 2: 18

I think we can fall into the trap of “I have faith, I don’t need work or deeds”. What Paul, and James, are telling us is the exact opposite. Our faith should lead to action, to work. This verse is challenging us today to have practical proof for our faith.

The next word Paul uses  is “κόπος” (kopos) meaning labor or toil, or struggle. This adds an extra layer of meaning  for us, it tells us that following Jesus is not always easy, it comes with challenges. I’m sure all of us can attest to this. But what is it that enables us to toil and labor? Love. We know we are loved by God, we have love for one another, and this prompts our action. If we translate these verses more directly we see that Paul is talking about a work of faith, and a labor of love. It is clear, then, that action is the hallmark of faith and love. Finally, in this verse we come to the endurance of hope in Jesus. To unpack this more we need to look to the end of the chapter.

“They [believers in Macedonia and Achaia] tell how you turned to God from idols to serve this living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath”

1 Thessalonians 1: 9b-10

Paul must be delighted with the reports of endurance, especially as they are in the face of opposition. Remember this is a pantheistic culture, there are lots of gods, lots of idols, and the cult of Rome to stand firm against.

In these verses Paul is commending the believers, and reminding them that they now live with a future hope. They have this hope because of Jesus. We can see clearly the connection between this verse and verse 3. When we grasp what Jesus has done for us, as Paul lays out here, it naturally leads to the response of verse 3, to faith, love, and endurance accompanied by practical proof even, or especially, when it is hard.

Practical Application

• Give thanks to God for the future hope you have in Jesus.

• Reflect upon the ways your faith is made known to others.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live out your faith in practical ways.

1 Thessalonians 2: 1-16 - Motives and Actions

As we read chapter 2 I really want us to notice the motives and actions of Paul and his team. If we take the actions in isolation they can paint a very daunting picture, or set us an impossible challenge.

“We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.”

1 Thessalonians 2: 2

Yes, this acknowledges it was with God’s help, but suffering and opposition are key themes in this verse about daring to preach the gospel. We see that it is God’s gospel, but that doesn’t make the suffering and insults any less of a direct attack. 

When we focus on a verse like this in isolation it presents an impossible challenge: declare God, face opposition and suffering, and declare God more. That is hard, even with God’s help it is a tough path to follow. So what is it that keeps Paul and his team going? What is their motivation?

“On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God who tests our hearts.”1 Thessalonians 2: 4

“We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.”

1 Thessalonians 2: 6

These verses show us how, and why, Paul and his team could persevere – their focus was on God, and God alone. When we know God has called us to do something, and when our focus is on Him and wanting to respond well to all He has done, then overcoming opposition is possible.

At this point it is only fair to comment on opposition and acknowledge my current situation. I am not facing the kind of opposition and suffering Paul experienced, and that many Christians face around the world today (OpenDoors is a good resource to guide your prayers for the wider world). So, as I speak about how our motivation can fuel our action I have to be clear about that. In my circumstance I may fear sharing what I believe, or be afraid to offer prayer because I worry about the response or repercussions. But, if I truly focus on God, if I believe that He has me in my context for a reason, then I can dare to share. It is still not easy though.

The next thing we see is imitation.

“For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus”

1 Thessalonians 2: 14a

The call for us is clear, imitation. Paul makes the same point in 1 Thessalonians 1: 6, 1 Corinthians 4: 16, 1 Corinthians 11: 1, and Ephesians 5: 1. We don’t need to figure it all out on our own. Rather, we look to our fellow believers and imitate their response. When I read about the persecuted Church I see a praying Church, a supporting Church, a committed and bold Church. When I experience opposition, no matter how small, what lessons can I learn? I can learn to pray more, to support my fellow believers and ask for their support, and, with God’s help, I can be bold living for Him and not for the approval of others.

Practical Application

• Spend time reflecting on all that God has done, allow this to be your motivation.

• Consider times when you need to be bolder, and ask God to strengthen you, and for His word to be actively working in your life.

• Read about the persecuted Church, learn from their response and pray for those situations.

1 Thessalonians 2: 17 - 3: 13 - Standing Firm

Chapter 3 picks up on some of the details of what happened after Paul and his team left Thessalonica in Acts 17: 1-15. Here we read that from Athens Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica, understanding why Paul did this can help us prepare for situations we may face. In some way this provides a model for us to imitate, or at the very least some key characteristics to make sure are present in our churches.

Paul knows, for certain and through experience, that following Jesus comes with opposition (he was once in that opposition and so knows what it is like from both sides). We read at the end of chapter 2 (1 Thessalonians 2: 17-20) how he longs to return to them. He says that they were torn away in body but not in thought. The word translated as thought is καρδια (kardia) meaning “heart”. In just the short time they were together there is a real depth of relationship that has developed. This is a mutual feeling; Timothy speaks of the Thessalonians longing to see them too (1 Thessalonians 3:1).

With this combination of his own experience, his love for these people, knowing how little time he spent with them, and the circumstances under which he fled it is no wonder Paul longed to see them and took the decision to send Timothy to them. We don’t know what Timothy said or did when he was with the Thessalonians but we do know why he was sent and what he found.

“For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.”

1 Thessalonians 3: 5

Paul’s fear is that the new believers have found it too hard and have given up, and have returned to their old ways. It’s easy to understand why they might do that. After all, they didn’t seem to experience this persecution, or trial, or suffering before. If we think about the Israelites fleeing Egypt we can see now quickly new difficulties lead to seeing the past through rose tinted spectacles, e.g. Exodus 16: 3.

Temptation works through lies and doubts that contain a small nub of truth. The Israelites may well have had more food, more readily available in Egypt, but they were also beaten and used as forced labour, and the victims of cruel infanticide. They were horrendously treated. Yet in that moment, in the wilderness, with a lack of food, they only remembered the food.

Paul is concerned that the Thessalonians have forgotten the hope and good news that he preached, and have remembered only that there was no direct persecution before. That combination would surely lead to them turning away. This has been the pattern since the first temptation in Genesis 3.

What is the lesson for us today? How did the new believers in Thessalonica remain strong?

Personally, I think the lesson is to be on our guard, be aware that the tempter is at work as much today as when Paul wrote this letter in the first century. The temptations may be different in form, but they are built on the same lie; you can’t trust God, and your life would be better/simpler/easier/richer if you were in control. This is the lie Satan told Adam and Eve in Eden in Genesis 3. It is the temptation Paul was afraid had overrun the faith of the Thessalonians, and it is the same tactic used today to try to lead followers of Jesus away from Him.

What, then, can we learn from the Thessalonians? How did they stand firm? I think there are a couple of things we can pull from the text to help us here. We can see from this chapter that relationships are key. If we look back at chapter 2 we also see that the word of God was at work in them.

Starting with what we see in chapter 2, it tells us of the continued importance of the word of God.

“...when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

1 Thessalonians 2: 13b

For us the word of GOd is what is written in the Bible, and it is at work in us. The idea that Paul conveys here is that the word itself is living, active, and working. In the 1st Century this most likely means the teaching Paul gave from what we call the Old Testament, how this points to a Messiah, and how Jesus is the fulfilment of all that was spoken of and longed for. So, the Thessalonians received this well, and this word helps them to stand firm. As we consider this in the 21st Century we must surely conclude that spending reading, studying, and praying into the word of God is, as is allowing it to work in us strengthening and changing us. We are to use the word as we take our stand, just as Jesus did in Matthew 4.

Coming back to chapter 3 I think we can see that relationships are also key in successfully taking a stand. The very presence of this letter tells us there is some connection between Paul and the people. Paul has said that he and his team are praying for the new believers and the new church in Thessalonica. It was this love and concern that resulted in Timothy being sent back to them. We also read in chapter 1 and here in chapter 3 that they have been giving thales to God for these believers. At the end of chapter 3 we get Paul’s prayer for them, and I think it is  reasonable to conclude that he has been praying in this way since he fled Thessalonica.

“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

1 Thessalonians 3: 13

This, along with the thanksgiving in chapter 1, and the prayer that God would open the way for a return visit, is a prayer from a place of real relationship.

The final point on relationships is about the love the believers have for one another.

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

1 Thessalonians 3: 12

Love between believers is key, and it is brought about by Jesus, who first loved us (1 John 4: 19). As we love one another we can stand firm in unity. It is from this place of incredible strength that we can love those who do not know Jesus. In the context of this letter, and in our own world today, this includes those who persecute and oppress. This is what Jesus taught in Matthew 5: 44.

Practical Application

• Ask God to strengthen you through His word. Next time you read the Bible start by praying that request.

• Give thanks for those in your church community, and ask God to help you love them more.

• How can you demonstrate God’s love to those you know, who don’t yet follow Jesus?

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Part 2