← All books

1 Thessalonians 1

1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul and Timothy are names we still use today. Silvanus isn’t—just look at the last four letters.
Many names from the New Testament are still incredibly common today, while others have completely disappeared from our culture. What factors cause certain historical names to stay popular for centuries while others are totally forgotten?
1:2
We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
Paul thanks God for them because they leave five-star reviews for his tent-making business, Tarsus Tabernacles.
It is easy to give thanks for people when they are actively supporting our work or making us look good. How do we build the habit of thanking God for people even when they aren't directly benefiting us?
1:3
remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul has a good memory. He can recall all their faithful works, labors of love, and the names of the Christians he murdered.
Paul starts his letter by explicitly listing the specific things he remembers and appreciates about this community. What are the benefits of openly recounting the positive traits of others when thanking God for them?
1:4
We know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,
It’s good to be chosen. But the Thessalonians weren’t selected until the thirteenth round of the draft, long after the franchise apostles were off the board.
Paul states that he knows these specific people were chosen by God. If a select group is explicitly chosen, does that mean God has actively decided not to choose others?
1:5
and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.
Paul and his buddies were good guys while they were in Thessalonica. No telling what they did last weekend in Corinth.
Paul points out that they know exactly what kind of men his team was while they were living among them. Why is it so easy to maintain a perfect, holy reputation when you are in front of people versus when you are completely out of their sight?
1:6
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of severe suffering you received the word with joy from the Holy Spirit.
It’s difficult to imitate the Lord Jesus, because how do you even find twelve close friends when you’re 31?
The Thessalonians managed to maintain joy and deep community bonds even while going through intense hardship. What makes it so difficult for modern adults to build and keep that same level of close-knit community?
1:7
And you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
Most believers today could not locate Macedonia on a map. Or where Achaia is in Japan.
The Thessalonians became famous examples of faith to regions they had never even visited. How can a small, local group of people live in a way that impacts communities far outside their own geography?
1:8
For the word of the Lord rang forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we do not need to speak about it.
Their faith is known everywhere because they apparently won’t stop talking about it. They’re like that grandma who corners you at a party to show you 75 identical photos of little Johnny Theophilus.
The Thessalonians were evidently vocal about their faith. What is the difference between sharing a faith you are genuinely excited about versus pushing a belief system you feel obligated to force on people?
1:9
For they report about us what kind of reception we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God
They gave up bowing down to a block of wood shaped like a person, so they could bow down to a block of wood shaped like a lowercase t.
The Thessalonians traded their traditional, physical idols to serve the living God instead. From an objective standpoint, what is the difference between pagan idolatry and the Christian use of religious symbols like the cross?
1:10
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus who delivers us from the coming wrath.
It’s ironic God raised one man from the dead, just so he could kill everyone else.
This verse pairs the resurrection of Jesus directly with the concept of an impending divine wrath. How does one reconcile the early Christian portrayal of Jesus as a merciful savior with his concurrent role as the primary agent of judgment?