Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
3/16/1997
The Book Of First Thessalonians
Reading — Acts 17.1-10
Our Sunday evening study is on the books of the Bible. Tonight we come to First Thessalonians...A Sunday night in Thessalonica. As we arrive, we’ll look at the city and her history. The city of Thessalonica has an illustrious heritage.
• The first name of the city was Therma, from the hot mineral springs in the region. (Much like Hot Springs, Arkansas.) The name of the city was later changed to Thessalonica in honor of Alexander the Great’s half sister by the same name. She was the wife of a Roman general who rebuilt the city some 315 years before the birth of Jesus.
• Thessalonica has always played an important roll in military campaigns. The Persin, Xerxes, of Biblical fame, built his navel base here when he invaded Europe.
• When Rome conquered Macedonia in 146 B.C., Thessalonica was elevated to capital of the providence.
• Because the city sided with Octavius, which led to Augustus Caesar’s dominance, it was rewarded by being declared a free city. That mint she ruled herself in Paul’s day. Its interesting to note that the government was a democracy. The rulers were elected officials known as POLITARCHS. This Greek word appears two times in the Greek New Testament, both in Acts 17, verses 6 and 8. Most English translators, translate this word city officials, because there was no record of such a political body known as Potitarchs. This became a key argument with those who maintained that the Bible was a man-made document and not from God. They pointed out that Luke made a mistake. That he had used a word that which had no significance. However, in 1867, while repairing the old city walls of Thessalonica, there was found over one of the arches above the Egnatian HWY, an inscription reveling the names of the seven POLITARCHS of Thessalonica. You can read this list today in the British Museum in London.
• Thessalonica was home to a large contingent of disporia Jews. This is indicated by history, and by the fact that there was a large synagogue located there.
• In 390 A.D. over 7000 people were killed in a military campaign within the city
• In 904 A.D. 22,000 of its inhabitants were sold as slaves.
• Several great Turkish battles were fought in the streets of Thessalonica.
• WW II saw several skirmishes occur in and around the city of Thessalonica.
• The population estimates during the time of Paul was 200,000.
• Today the city is Salonika, Turkery, with a population of just under 300,000.
• Thessalonica is one of the few cities of Acts that has survived until today.
Now, let’s visit the church in Thessalonica.
This church was established by Paul on his second missionary journey as recorded by Luke in Acts 17. As Paul arrived in Thessalonica from Phillipi, he begin to teach in the synagogue. He was able to do this for three weeks before the Jewish opposition became so sever that the Jewish officials rounded up some men of bad character and persuaded them to incited a riot. When they went to Jason’s house to get Paul, he was not there, so they dragged Jason and some other brethren before the Politarchs for trial. Because the Potitarchs were fearful that Rome would hear of this riot and remove their self rule, they allowed Jason and the others to post bond and let them go. At nightfall, the church slipped Paul and Silas out of the city. Luke tells us, the church in Thessalonica was made of a number of God-fearing Greeks and several prominent women. The word God-fearing Greeks is usually taken to mean Gentile proselytes to Judaism.
On the surface it appears that Paul and company stayed in Thessalonica for only three weeks. However, when we read the book of Philippians, we find that he was there long enough to receive two monetary gifts from the Philippian church. Acts 17 does not say that the riot occurred immediately after the third Sabbath in the synagogue. Paul may have stayed sometime in the city before the Jews managed to incite a riot.
Now, let’s examine the book of first Thessalonians.
Forced out of Thessalonica, Paul and his team went to Berea. The angry Jews from Thessalonica followed Paul to Berea and caused trouble for him there also. Leaving Berea, Paul goes to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy in Berea to establish and strengthen this infant church. From Athens Paul goes to Corinth. Soon afterwards Silas and Timothy joined him there. It was then, that Timothy brought this glowing report from the Christians in Thessalonica. He had two messages for Paul. One that the Thessalonians loved Paul and wanted to see him again. And that they were standing firm in their faith in spite of persecution.
Filled with joy because of this good news, Paul penned this Epistle: So, the letter was written from Corinth round 51 A.D. The TWO purposes of the letter is very evident.
• To commend the Thessalonian Christians for their loyalty in the face of persecution.
• And to correct some doctrinal deficiencies within this infant church.
Access a Bible and let’s take a few moments to survey the book.
A thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ faith.
Read some of Paul’s comments with me, beginning with verse two.
2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 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.
6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere.
What a compliment to be paid to a church, that their faith and faithfulness was known through the area... Everywhere, and that they had become a model for other churches to mimic.
Paul defends his ministry in Thessalonica.
Begin reading with me from verse one in chapter two.
1 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 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. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 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. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Paul then explains why he had not come to visit them.
Let your eyes fall to verse 17 beginning.
17 But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
Then Timothy is dispatched.
Note chapter three verse one, two and five.
1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow-worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 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.
Timothy’s report and Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonican brother.
I want you to notice the tenderness of this letter. Paul has already said he treated this infant church as a mother and father would treat an infant child. Listen for the tenderness again in this section as I read, beginning with verse 6.
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 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.
In Chapter four, Paul instructs them how to live in order to please the Lord.
He says, you are already doing these thing, but I encourage you to do them more and more.
• First, live holy lives.... Maintain your moral purity.
Note verse 3, 4 and 7.
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
• Secondly, He encourages brotherly love.
Note verse 9-12.
9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
The Second coming.
One of the most distinctive feature of First Thessalonians is Paul’s comments on the second coming of Jesus. Evidently, some of the Thessalonian Christians had died and Jesus had not returned. This caused the church to think that their living for Christ was in vane. They were dying without obtaining the reward promised at His return. So Paul gives them and us some encouragement and insight into the second coming. Lets read beginning with verse 13.
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
In light of Jesus’ return this is how we are to live.
Paul says, I can’t tell you when Jesus is coming. It will be like a thief in the night.
So, let’s always be ready. Now scan chapter five and let’s note how to always be prepared for His coming: READY?
• Vs 7, Be alert, self-controlled and stay away from drunkenness.
• Vs 8, Maintain your faith, hope and love.
• Vs 11, Encourage one another.
• Vs. 12, Respect those who work hard among you.
• Vs. 13, Live in peace with one another.
• Vs. 14, Warn those who are lazy.
Encourage the timid.
Help the weak.
Be patient with everybody.
• Vs. 15, Do not pay back wrong for wrong, but be kind to each other.
• Vs. 16, Be joyful always.
Pray continually.
Give thanks in all things.
Do not quince the spirit, do not put out the spirits urgings within.
Do not treat prophecy....(Teaching from the Word).... With contempt.
Test everything.
Hold on to the good, avoid the evil.
Church, you want to know how to live in light of the fact that Jesus could come in the next moment, tomorrow or next week?
Perhaps the most important question we could ask tonight is this: Are you ready for Jesus to come right now? I’ll tell you you’re not, if you are not a child of God. But the good news is that you can be before this service is over by, Faith in God and His Son Jesus; Repentance, renouncing of sin in your life; And N. T. baptism, immersion in water for the forgiveness of all your sins.
Perhaps, you are a child of God and have not been diligent in maintaining your watch. Maybe there are some things you need to make right with God or with others. Do it now, Jesus may come tonight!
