I Thessalonians Introduction

Introduction: The Orthodox Study Bible: Thessalonians

Author = Paul, Silouanos and Timothy helped to establish the church in Thessalonica during second missionary journey. (Acts 15:36-18:22)

1Now after they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And according to what was customary to Paul, he went in to them, and for three sabbaths was discoursing with them from the Scriptures, 3laying open and setting forth that it was needful for the Christ to have suffered, and to have risen from the dead, and that “this Jesus Whom I proclaim to you is the Christ.” 4And some of them were persuaded and were allotted to Paul and Silas—both of the Greeks who were reverent, a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5But those Jews who were not persuaded became jealous, and took to themselves certain evil men of the market-loungers, and formed a crowd, and made an uproar in the city; and having taken a stand against the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6But not having found them, they were dragging Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have upset the inhabited world are present here also, 7“whom Jason hath received. And these all practice contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” 8And they agitated the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9And after they took bail from Jason and the rest, they dismissed them. 10And the brethren straightway by night sent off to Verea both Paul and Silas, who, having arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews. . . 13But when the Jews of Thessalonica came to know that in Verea also the word of God was proclaimed by Paul, they came there also stirring up the crowds. 14And then straightway the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as the sea; but both Silas and Timothy were staying behind there. 15And those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and having received a command for Silas and Timothy that they should come to him as quickly as possible, they went forth. [Acts 17:1-19]

Date: It was written six months after the church in Thessalonica was founded (50-51 AD). It is probably the first letter written by Paul of the New Testament.

Theme: A holy life leads to eternal life

Background information:

  • Thessalonica is a city that was built on the Aegean sea and was the most prominent Roman providence of Macedonia- it was a naval and commercial center.

  • The first members of the church were primarily Gentiles who were former idol-worshippers and some Jews.

  • When Paul left the new church was exemplary but young and unstable. After Paul left the Jews continued to persecute them and he became concerned about how they were fairing. He sends Timothy to visit them and to give a report on how they were doing.

CHAPTER 1
1Paul, and Silouanos (July 30), and Timothy, to the Church 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.

2We give thanks to God always concerning you all, making remembrance of you in the time of our prayers, 3remembering unceasingly your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father,

1. The early Christians made daily prayers in a spirit of thankfulness
- Developing spiritual disciplines ( unceasingly )

2. Faith & Works
Saint Chrysostom: “What is ‘your work of faith’ (uJmw`n tou` e[rgou th`~ pivstew~)? That nothing has turned you aside from your inheritance. For this is the work of faith. If you believe, suffer all things; but if you suffer not, you believe not....He therefore who believes will suffer all things. Faith then is shown through his works.” [Explanatory Notes for the First Epistle to the Thessalonians, Hom. 1, P.G. 62:426 (col. 394).]

1. The three virtues of faith, hope and love - faith produces actions (Orthodox Study Bible)
Faith - produces works
Hope - produces patience
Love- produces labors

Blessed Theophylact: “You were patient under many and lengthy temptations. You endured being strengthened in hope.” [Explanation to the First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, P.G. 124:504C (col. 1281).]

Saint Chrysostom: “For all things proceed from faith and hope, so that what happened to them declared not their courage only, but that they believed with full assurance in the prize of the contents laid up in store for them.” [Hom. 1, P.G. 62: 427 (col. 394).]

4knowing, brethren, beloved by God, your election.

Election - chosen, saved at the second coming. Paul uses this phrase in several of his greetings as a way of identifying the faithful.

30“And then shall the sign of the Son of Man appear in the heaven, and then the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the heaven with power and great glory. 31“And He shall send forth His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from the uttermost parts of the heavens unto their extremities. [Mt. 24:30,31]

5For our Gospel did not come to be to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much fullness of assurance, even as you know of what sort we were among you for your sake;

1. The Gospel is not an ideology but the transfiguring power of the Holy Spirit, Who changes lives.

6and you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7so that ye became examples to all those who believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For from you the word of the Lord hath been sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith, which is toward God, hath gone forth, so that there is no need for us to have to speak anything.

1. Imitation of the Master: Spiritual Fatherhood and discipleship

  • The spiritual father is an imitator of Christ.

  • Discipleship is characterized by being in affliction and at the same time experiencing the joy of the Holy Spirit.

  • A true disciple becomes and evangelist to others.

  • The message is a witness to the word of the Lord and to their faith in action.

9For they themselves keep on reporting concerning us, what sort of entrance we had with you, and how you turned toward God from the idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for His Son from the heavens, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath which is coming. [1 Thess. 1:1-10]

1. The power of repentance
“What sort of entrance we had with you” (oJpoivan ei[sodon e[comen pro;~ uJma`~). Saint Chrysostom: “What does this mean? That it was full of perils, and myriads of deaths, but that none of these things troubled you. But as if nothing happened, so you took hold of us; as if you had suffered nothing bad, but had enjoyed ten thousand good things, so you received us after these things....The expression is complicated, and contains an encomium both of them and of themselves.” [Hom. 2, P.G. 62:433 (col. 400).]