November 3, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Thessalonians? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Thessalonians 1 (NIV)
1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith
2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3We 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..…..Continue Reading
What a wonderful greeting and reminder of the importance of our faith that is given to the Thessalonians in this chapter! The faith, hope, and love of these people not only changed their individual lives but they in turn were true examples to others to do the same. This is a great picture for us as to the importance of walking in faith and the work God can do in and through us when we do!
I Thessalonians 1: As Paul greets these saints, it reminds me of his kindness to the Phillipuans, as we study Sundays. Verse 9, the testimony of other saints, that Thessalonians stopped worshipping idols to worship God. This is the story of every one if us, it doesn’t limit idol worship to dead statues. We worship flesh, things of the earth, and pride, I John 2:15-17.
Verse 10 is a classic “John 3:16 verse” as I call it. Paul says it in direct response to their choice to elect God. Peace, gy
Here is some information on the city of Thessalonica. It was in a ideal location. It was situated on the banks of a hospitable harbor in the Thermaic Gulf near the northwest corner of the Aegean Sea. In the Apostle Paul`s day it was the chief seaport of the Roman providence of Macedonia. Thessalonia ranked with Corinth and Ephesus. the main ports of the provinces of Achaia and Asia, as a great shipping center. Thessalonia also enjoyed another advantage. The Egnatian Way, the main Roman road from Rome to the Orient via Byzantium [ modern Istanbul], passed through the city. This put Thessalonia in direct contact with many other important cities by land as well as by sea. It was one of the most important centers of a population in Paul`s day, occupying a strategic location both governmentally and militarily. [ The Bible Knowledge Commentary] It is belived that the population was near 200,000 during New Testament times. Most of the people living there were native Greeks, but many Romans lived there along with Jews and Orientals. The city was built by Cassander in 315BC. a Greek general under Alexander the great. Cassander chose this place for it`s location and named it after his wife, Thessalonia, who was a half sister of Alexander the Great. It also had the status of a free city received by Anthony and Octavian [ latter called Caesar Augustus]. [ Same source as above] Here is a extra side note. In World War 1 the Allies based soldiers in Thessalonia, and during the Second World War the Nazis extracted 60,000 Jews from the city and executed them. The city today has a population of 300,000. It is called today Salonica or Thessaloniki. God bless all and pray for Israel. God said to Abraham. [I will bless those that bless you and curse them that curse you.]
Thessalonians 1
During my research yesterday Paul had traveled to Thessalonica on his second missionary trip while he and others were revisiting the churches in the province of Asia. On this trip Paul, Silas, Timothy, Luke, and perhaps others were on this trip. Paul had gotten a vision that he was to go to Macedonia. So he went and others joined him. So they crossed into Europe and preached at Philippi then then through circumstances were led to Thessalonica where they preached the gospel. They had been persecuted at Philippi and then were persecuted in Thessalonica. But they boldly preached the gospel anyways. Read Acts 16 and 17 to get an idea of what happened to them. Some were saved , some of the wife`s of the chief leaders got saved. The Jews that didn`t believe got the crowd worked up and Paul and Silas were sent away by the believers to protect them. So they went to Berea and while preaching there had good success. It is interesting to see that the unbelieving Jews that were from Thessalonia came all the way there to persecute Paul because of his good success. Why would they care if the gospel is not preached in there city. Any ways Paul was concerned for the believers in Thessalonica so he wrote the letter. He even sent Timothy to see how they were doing. He was afraid that their faith would be hindered. We get clues from the passage. When he wrote the letter he was in Corin. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are mentioned in the greeting. They were constantly praying for the believers in Thessalonica. verse 2. Their preaching came to them not only in word but in power, and in the Holy Spirit. verse 5. [ For our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance,—–. What an amazing verse. And in verse 9 Paul mentions that they had turned to God from idols. May the Lord bless us all as we desire that close walk with Him.
I Thessalonians is believed by some, me included, to be the first letter written by Paul. (Others think it is Galatians). But it interesting to consider this as the one where he establishes the pattern of following first century practice of identifying himself and then the recipients and then a wish of good favor. He adds here thankfulness as he recognizes all the good results that the gospel has brought to their lives and others. Although salvation is by grace and faith, it is a sure sign that those are present when change in life and conviction about the way God would have us live accompanies them. And especially when you’re in Paul’s position, a distance away, and trying to evaluate how true their faith is. And the evidence is abundant for the Thessalonians, not only in their own lives, but how the gospel spread through them and how their conviction about the things of God had spread throughout the region. This is good for any leader to see because growth in Christ is a benefit to all and as we grow, and become salt and light, then others will come to the gospel as well. May this be as true of us as it was for the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 1
The faith of the Thessalonians was evident.
“For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to 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, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
When our work is performed with faith, love and perseverance, motivated by our belief in Jesus, we are doing the things that God purposed for us to do. God loves us, he has chosen us, and we are filled with the power and discernment of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus will rescue us from the wrath of God when it comes upon the earth. Thank you Jesus!