1Thessalonians 1-3
Sunday Evening Bible Study
October 22, 2000
Introduction
Paul’s initial ministry in Thessalonica –
Paul first came to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. Paul had split from Barnabas over the disagreement of whether to take Barnabas’ nephew Mark with them. Paul had chosen Silas as his traveling companion and had set out to visit the churches that he had started on the first missionary journey. After going through Asia Minor and picking up young Timothy to travel with them, they decided to set out for Macedonia (northern Greece). They first went to Philippi, but after Paul cast a demon out of a slave girl, he and Silas were beaten, arrested, and thrown in jail. When they were released, they were told to leave town, and they headed off for Thessalonica. See map.
Acts 17 - Paul had been in Thessalonica for only three Saturdays, and was preaching in the Jewish synagogue. He had led some of the Jews to the Lord, but even more, had led a “multitude” of Gentile Greeks to the Lord. The Jews who didn’t believe were moved with such envy at his success, that they put the city into an uproar and had Paul and Silas kicked out.
Background of the letter to the Thessalonians –
After Thessalonica, Paul moved on to Berea, but was only there a short time when some of the Jews of Thessalonica showed up and had Paul kicked out of Berea as well. Paul then went on to Athens, but had Silas and Timothy stay with the Macedonian churches to encourage and build them up. Paul only stayed at Athens a short while, and then moved on to Corinth where he planted a church and stayed for a year and a half. It was while in Corinth that Silas and Timothy returned with news of what was happening in Macedonia. Paul writes the letters of 1&2 Thessalonians while in Corinth, in response to what he’s heard from Silas and Timothy. The letters were written around A.D. 51.
1Thessalonians 1
:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
:2-4 Paul’s prayer
:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
mention – mneia – remembrance, memory, mention
:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
without ceasing – adialeiptos – without intermission, incessantly, without ceasing
remembering – mnemoneuo – to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind; to think of and feel for a person or thing; to hold in memory, keep in mind; to make mention of
work – ergon – business, employment, that which any one is occupied; that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking; an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
Faith has a “work”. The other day a pastor said something about faith being a “verb”, and that it was action oriented. The word “faith” is not a verb, but it is still action oriented. It produces a “work” in your life. When you trust in the Lord, it results in action in your life.
labour – kopos – a beating; a beating of the breast with grief, sorrow; labour; trouble; to cause one trouble, make work for him; intense labour united with trouble and toil
love – agape – brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence. This is God’s kind of love, based on the will and not the emotions, an unconditional love that is characterized by giving. It is choosing to put value on another individual.
Just as faith results in “work”, there is a “labor” involved with love. Loving others the way God wants us to isn’t easy.
(Luke 6:27-29 NLT) "But if you are willing to listen, I
say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. {28} Pray for the
happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. {29} If someone
slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat,
offer your shirt also.
patience – hupomone (“under” + “remain”) – steadfastness, constancy, endurance; in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; patiently, and steadfastly; a patient, steadfast waiting for; a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance
hope – elpis – expectation of good, hope
If you have hope in the Lord, that He is directing your life and will take care of you, then you can endure tough times.
Lesson
Reminding God in prayer
The language that Paul is using about his prayers for the Thessalonians reminds me very much of the picture of the high priest’s garments:
(Exo 28:29-30 KJV) And Aaron shall bear the names of the
children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth
in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. {30} And
thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they
shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall
bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD
continually.
The names of the people would be on the stones of the breast piece. When Aaron would walk into the holy place, their names would be there to remind God (a “memorial”) of the people. These names were also carried over Aaron’s heart, being a picture of the priest carrying these people in his heart, caring for his people.
In the same way, Paul is “making mention” (making memorial) of these people before God, reminding God of these special qualities concerning these people.
An important aspect of ministry is learning to bring before God the people you minister to.
Illustration
Yesterday at the Men’s Conference, Jeff Johnson shared with us a little story about Hudson Taylor, the missionary that opened up China to the gospel. When asked why his ministry seemed to be enjoying such effectiveness while other people had failed, Hudson shared that he spent time regularly praying for the people he ministered to by name, bringing them before the Lord.
:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
election – ekloge – the act of picking out, choosing; of the act of God’s free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons; of persons: God’s elect
This is Paul’s reason to keep praying for them, that they belonged to God.
:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
word – logos – word
power – dunamis – strength, power, ability
assurance – plerophoria – full assurance, most certain confidence
what manner of men – hoios – what sort of, what manner of, such as
Paul will give us a bit more of his example when we get to chapter two.
Lesson
A powerful gospel
Following Jesus isn’t just about learning interesting religious facts.
It’s about allowing the power of God to change your life.
Lesson
Word and example
Paul is saying that they didn’t just preach the gospel to these people, but their lives were a demonstration of God’s power and of the Holy Spirit.
These people didn’t just hear words, they saw up close that it was real because of what they saw in Paul’s life.
Let your walk match your talk
:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord,
followers – mimetes – an imitator
Lesson
They need an example to follow
Illustration
Frightened by the clamor of thunder in the night, a little child cried out. Holding her securely in his arms, her father explained that she needn’t fear. God would take care of her because He loved her greatly.
“I know God will take care of me and love me,” she replied. “But right now, Daddy, I want someone with skin on to love me.”
We are to be God’s love, with skin on!
Lesson
They need to follow Jesus
Even though we may at times be the examples for others to follow, we don’t want to make followers of us, we want to see people be followers of Jesus.
:6 having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
Part of the way that these people had become imitators of Paul and Jesus was in that they were believers in God’s Word, even through hard times. And they were people who knew the joy of the Holy Spirit.
joy – chara – joy, gladness
David wrote,
(Psa 16:11 KJV) …in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
When the Holy Spirit is in your life, you are immersed in God’s presence.
In the very earliest days of the church, the apostles were arrested several times and told not to talk about Jesus.
(Acts 5:41 KJV) And they departed from the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
How could these guys have joy when their lives are now in danger? The Holy Spirit.
:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
ensamples – tupos – the mark of a stroke or blow, print; a figure formed by a blow or impression; of a figure or image; an example; in the technical sense, the pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made; an example to be imitated
Macedonia and Achaia – See map. The northern and southern parts of Greece. Thessalonica was in the northern, Macedonian part of Greece.
Lesson
One example begets another
Paul was an example for the Thessalonians, but they turned around and became an example for others to be molded after.
Sometimes we look to certain leaders to be the example for everyone to follow, but that’s not the way the Bible says it should be. As you begin to follow the Lord, you too become an example.
Paul wrote to Timothy:
(2 Tim 2:2 KJV) And the things that thou hast heard of me
among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able
to teach others also.
Paul had taught Timothy. Timothy would teach other men. These other men would teach more men.
:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
sounded out – execheomai – to sound forth, emit, sound, resound. The word carries the idea of to “echo out”.
spread abroad – exerchomai – to go or come forth of; with mention of the place out of which one goes, or the point from which he departs; to be made known, declared; to be spread, to be proclaimed
There were people from Thessalonica that eventually were a part of Paul’s team, including Aristarchus and Secundus.
(Acts 20:4 KJV) And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater
of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of
Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
(Acts 27:2 KJV) And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we
launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian
of Thessalonica, being with us.
These guys had come to the Lord in Thessalonica, but ended up preaching around the world with Paul.
:9 For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
entering in – eisodos – an entrance; the place or way leading into a place (as a gate); the act of entering. NLT – “the wonderful welcome you gave us”
turned – epistrepho –; to turn to; to the worship of the true God; to cause to return, to bring back; to the love and obedience of God
to serve – douleuo – to be a slave, serve, do service; metaph. to obey, submit to
:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
to wait for – anemeno (“again” + “remain”) – to wait for one (with the added notion of patience and trust). The verb is a present tense, meaning that it’s a continuous waiting.
delivered – rhoumai – to draw to one’s self, to rescue, to deliver. Almost the picture of a lifeguard who swims out to a person in distress, pulls the person up close to them and swims them safely to shore.
Lesson
Signs of conversion
1. Turning from idols
2. Serving the Living God
3. Waiting for Jesus’ return
Jesus is coming back soon. Very, very soon.
Are you paying attention to what is happening in Israel?
Much of the problem is surrounding Jerusalem.
(Zec
12:2-3 KJV) Behold, I will make Jerusalem
a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the
siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. {3} And in that day will I make
Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it
shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together
against it.
In the end times, Jerusalem will not be a popular place. All the nations will be against Jerusalem. Those that will try to help the Jews will be “cut in pieces”.
Ezekiel prophesied of a time near the end when a large army of allied nations comes against Israel, including the nations of Russia, Iran/Iraq (Persia), Ethiopia, and Libya.
(Ezek
38:8-9 NLT) A long time from now you
will be called into action. In the distant future you will swoop down on the
land of Israel, which will be lying in peace after her recovery from war and
after the return of her people from many lands. {9} You and all your allies--a
vast and awesome horde--will roll down on them like a storm and cover the land
like a cloud.
It may be that all of these things are just wake up calls for us. After all, many thought that the Lord was coming back during the Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973. But what if this is the time? Are you ready?
(Mat
24:44-51 KJV) Therefore be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. {45} Who then
is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his
household, to give them meat in due season? {46} Blessed is that servant, whom
his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. {47} Verily I say unto you, That
he shall make him ruler over all his goods. {48} But and if that evil servant
shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; {49} And shall begin to
smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; {50} The lord
of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour
that he is not aware of, {51} And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his
portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Are you a servant who is expecting his Lord’s return, doing the things He wants you to do? Or are you like the servant who said, “My master isn’t coming for a long while”?
1Thessalonians 2
Lesson
Paul’s example of ministry
This is one of my favorite sections of Scripture because of the portrait it paints of ministry. What is ministry all about? Read on.
:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
entrance – eisodos – an entrance; the place or way leading into a place (as a gate); the act of entering
vain – kenos – empty, vain, devoid of truth; metaph. of endeavours, labours, acts, which result in nothing, vain, fruitless, without effect; vain of no purpose
:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
suffered before – propascho – to suffer before
shamefully entreated – hubrizo – to be insolent, to behave insolently, wantonly, outrageously; to act insolently and shamefully towards one, to treat shamefully; of one who injures another by speaking evil of him
bold … to speak – parrhesiazomai – to use freedom in speaking, be free spoken; to speak freely; to grow confident, have boldness, show assurance, assume a bold bearing
contention – agon – an assembly,; a place of assembly: especially an assembly met to see games; the place of contest, the arena or stadium; hence the contest for a prize at their games; generally, any struggle or contest; a battle; an action at law, trial
This is just what had happened to Paul. He and Silas had been mocked, beaten, and jailed at Philippi, then went on to Thessalonica to preach the gospel, only to find more difficulties from jealous, unbelieving Jews.
:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
exhortation – paraklesis – a calling near, summons, (esp. for help); importation, supplication, entreaty; exhortation, admonition, encouragement; consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment; persuasive discourse, stirring address; instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse
deceit – plane – a wandering, a straying about; one led astray from the right way, roams hither and thither; metaph.; error, wrong opinion relative to morals or religion; error which shows itself in action, a wrong mode of acting; error, that which leads into error, deceit or fraud
uncleanness – akatharsia – uncleanness; physical; in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living; of impure motives
guile – dolos – craft, deceit, guile
Paul didn’t come and preach to the people with the wrong motives, to take advantage of these people or lead them astray.
:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
allowed – dokimazo – to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals; to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy. The idea is that God had tested Paul and found him usable.
entrusted – pisteuo – to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in; of the thing believed; to credit, have confidence; to be intrusted with a thing. God put His trust in Paul to give him the gospel, the gospel of putting our trust in God.
pleasing – aresko – to please; to strive to please; to accommodate one’s self to the opinions desires and interests of others
trieth – dokimazo – to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals; to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy. God had entrusted Paul with the gospel because He had tested his heart.
Lesson
Who are you trying to please?
Paul knew that he had been given his ministry because he had learned not bend his message for the sake of people’s approval, but he had learned to simply try and please God.
I don’t think we need to be obnoxious for the sake of not being “man-pleasers”. But I also think we need to ask ourselves if we’re willing to stick with what God puts on our heart, or do we change so we don’t offend someone?
:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:
flattering – kolakeia (from kolax, “a fawner”) – flattery, flattering discourse
cloak – prophasis – a pretext (alleged reason, pretended cause); show; under colour as though they would do something; in pretence, ostensibly
covetousness – pleonexia – greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice
Paul wasn’t just “out for the money”.
:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
sought we – zeteo – to seek in order to find; to seek i.e. require, demand; to crave, demand something from someone
glory – doxa – opinion, judgment, view; in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory; splendour, brightness; magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace
For some, the allure of ministry is not in the money, it’s in the glory. There’s something very enticing about people saying lots of good things about you. It’s not difficult to start out with the right motives, but once you taste of the “glory”, it’s kind of hard to not hear it once in a while.
Like the White Witch’s Turkish Delight in C.S. Lewis’ Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe. Once the little boy Edward tasted of the wicked witch’s delightful candy, he became addicted to it, to the point of even betraying his brothers and sisters in order to get more.
I’m not talking about learning to “appreciate” one another. That’s important. But when I’m doing things solely to get your “appreciation”, I’ve gotten off track.
might have been – dunamai – to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom; to be able to do something; to be capable, strong and powerful
burdensome – baros – heaviness, weight, burden, trouble
Paul could have thrown his weight around as an “apostle” and demanded respect and glory. But he didn’t.
:7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
gentle – epios – affable; mild, gentle
nurse – trophos – a nurse. Don’t think of a hospital. Think of a mother that is breast-feeding her child.
cherisheth – thalpo – to warm, keep warm; to cherish with tender love, to foster with tender care
Lesson
Tenderness
It’s hard to describe this if you haven’t been exposed to the gentle tenderness that becomes a part of a mother nursing her child. There’s a tender bond that grows between a mother and her child in nursing. There’s a peace, a calm, a gentleness involved.
:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
affectionately desirous – himeiromai – to desire, long for, esp. the longing of love
willing – eudokeo – it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure; think it good, choose, determine, decide; to do willingly
souls – psuche – breath; life; the soul; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
dear – agapetos – beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love
(John 15:13 KJV) Greater love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends.
:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
labour – kopos – a beating; a beating of the breast with grief, sorrow; labour; trouble; to cause one trouble, make work for him; intense labour united with trouble and toil
travail – mochthos – a hard and difficult labour, toil, travail, hardship, distress
labouring – ergazomai – to work, labour, do work; to trade, to make gains by trading, "do business"; to do, work out; exercise, perform, commit; to work for, earn by working, to acquire
chargeable – epibareo – to put a burden upon, to load; to be burdensome
Lesson
Hard work.
In a sense, there’s a sense in which ministry is “easy”.
We see a picture of this with the priest’s clothing in the Old Testament.
(Ezek
44:17-18 KJV) And it shall come to
pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be
clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they
minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. {18} They shall have
linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins;
they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
The way Pastor Chuck puts it, “ministry is about inspiration, not perspiration”. Your success in ministry is dependant upon whether God is leading you, not whether you push yourself hard enough.
Yet in a sense, ministry isn’t “easy”.
It requires hard work.
Paul was a tentmaker by trade. As he traveled from city to city, he’d work his job making tents to support himself. Then when the day’s work was over, he’d do his ministry. Sometimes he would receive financial support from some of the churches, but sometimes he didn’t. While in Thessalonica, Paul actually received two financial gifts from the church in Philippi (Phi. 4:16), but apparently it was still not enough as Paul had to still work at making tents.
:10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
witnesses – martus – a witness; one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
These people knew first hand about Paul’s character.
holily – hosios – piously, holily; from hosios – undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious
justly – dikaios – just, agreeably to right; properly, as is right; uprightly, agreeable to the law of rectitude
unblameably – amemptos – blameless, so that there is no cause for censure
:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
exhorted – parakaleo – to call to one’s side, call for, summon; to admonish, exhort; to beg, entreat, beseech; to strive to appease by entreaty; to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
comforted – paramutheomai – to speak to, address one, whether by way of admonition and incentive, or to calm and console; to encourage, console
charged – martureo – to be a witness, to bear witness; to utter honourable testimony, give a good report; conjure, implore
as a father …
Lesson
Tender and tough
Ministry isn’t just about being a “mom”, but being a “dad” too.
Ministry is sometimes compared to parenting (2Cor. 12:14), as Paul is doing here.
Illustration
How parents handle …
Feeling the Baby Move
First Child: I placed my hand on my wives tummy every chance I could for two months waiting for that first time when I could feel the baby move. Hours upon hours I waited until that magic moment when, I felt this little movement. We called all of our relatives to tell them about the blessed experience.
Second Child: When it first happened, my wife called me at the office. I quickly ran home and felt the baby move. We included the experience in all of our letters to our family.
Third Child: She told me the baby moved. I told her I would check it our during the next commercial break. I missed out because her mother called on the telephone so I went on watching Monday night football. By the end of the third quarter, I finally felt the baby move.
Fourth Child: We were in bed and I was trying to sleep. I turned to her and said "Cant you make your tummy stay still? I'm trying to sleep." When it became clear that the baby would be jumping around for a while, we called the pizza man for a delivery.
Pacifier Falls on Floor
First Child: Mother picks it up, runs to the kitchen and disinfects it by boiling in water for ten minutes. Then, after it cools down for ten minutes, she gives it back to the child.
Second Child: Mother picks it up, washes it off in hot water, blows on it to cool it down, and gives it back to the child
Third Child: Mother picks it up, licks it off, and gives it back to the child.
Fourth child: Dog picks it up and licks it off. Mother gives it back to the child.