Greetings from Paul.
Introduction to the book of 1 Thessalonians.
Review “commentary” vs. “scripture”.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 NLT
Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
Examine the Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 1:1
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
- The letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
Silas, and most likely Timothy, had been with Paul when the church was founded in Thessalonica, and their presence in the letter’s greeting emphasizes a shared ministry and love for the community.
The church in Thessalonica was founded by the Apostle Paul, along with Silas (and likely Timothy), during Paul’s second missionary journey around A.D. 49–50.
It appears that Timothy had joined Paul in Acts 16.
- Paul is the author. (Widely accepted as authentic by most scholars)
Silas and Timothy are co-senders.
Throughout the book Paul uses the word “we”.
Paul is communicating the thoughts of others.
The inclusion of Silas and Timothy emphasizes that the gospel work was a team effort and that the Thessalonians already knew and trusted these men.
Silas may have written the words at Paul’s dictation, but the text itself does not specify who held the pen.
are writing to the church in Thessalonica,
- The letter was written to the Church in Thessalonica.
First Thessalonians is one of Paul’s earliest epistles. (Some say Galatians was his first letter. We really don’t know.)
Date and place: Early — likely ca. AD 50–51, from Corinth on Paul’s second missionary journey.
(As I already said, Paul founded the church in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey).
2 Thessalonians was written about 6 months later. (Most likely from Corinth)
This is one of the earliest uses of the word “church” to describe a local Christian body.
This body was recognized as a true church. (More about this later)
Background:
During Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Timothy joins the team.
Acts 16:1-4 NLT (Luke)
16:1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
According to the account in the book of Acts (Acts 17:1-10), Paul, along with Silas and Timothy, traveled to Thessalonica from Philippi. He initially preached in the Jewish synagogue for three consecutive Sabbaths.
Acts 17:1-10 NLT (Luke)
Paul Preaches in Thessalonica
17:1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” 4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. 6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. 7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
8 The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports. 9 So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.
Paul and Silas in Berea
10 That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
Paul’s ministry was cut short when a mob of hostile Jews stirred up a riot and forced him and his companions to leave the city under the cover of night. He then traveled to Berea and later to Athens.
- Paul’s stay in Thessalonica was relatively short.
While Paul’s stay in Thessalonica was relatively short—some scholars suggest it was only a few weeks, while others argue for a slightly longer period of two to three months—his ministry was highly effective. He was able to convert a number of Jews, a large group of God-fearing Greeks, and many prominent women.
Thessalonica (The city):
During the time of the apostle Paul (around 50 A.D.), Thessalonica was a large and important city in the Roman province of Macedonia. With an estimated population of 200,000), it was the most populous city in the region and was a major economic hub.
Study maps of the area.
- Thessalonica was a major Macedonian city with an estimated population of 200,000..
Strategic Location:
Ideal location.
- Thessalonica was a key crossroads. It was situated on the Via Egnatia, (Eg nat i a).
This was a major Roman road connecting Italy and Rome with the eastern provinces.
This road was a crucial trade and military route for the Romans.
This road was a major commercial and cultural route, facilitating trade and the exchange of ideas.
The Apostle Paul traveled along the Via Egnatia during his missionary journeys.
Thessalonica had a large natural harbor.
It also had a large, natural harbor (Thermaic (ther ma ic) Gulf), making it a prominent port for trade in the Aegean Sea. This strategic position made it a very wealthy and influential city
- Thessalonica was a chief seaport of the Roman province of Macedonia.
Political and Strategic Importance:
Thessalonica prospered as a political and commercial center.
Capital of Macedonia:
Thessalonica was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and served as the residence for the Roman proconsul.
As the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia, it held a special status as a “free city.”
“Free City”:
As a reward for its loyalty to Rome, Thessalonica had been granted the status of a “free city.” This meant it had a degree of self-governance, including the right to mint its own currency, codify its own laws, and be governed by its own officials. This freedom meant there was no Roman garrison stationed there.
To remain a “free city” it was important to keep the Romans happy!
Diverse Population:
The city had a cosmopolitan population that included Greeks, Romans (many of the Romans who settled there became wealthy), and a significant Jewish community (wherever commerce flourished in the ancient world one would find Jewish businessmen) with its own synagogue. The diverse populace engaged in various trades and crafts.
Religious Environment:
Thessalonica was a center for pagan worship, with temples dedicated to various gods, with a variety of pagan cults and deities worshipped. This included traditional Greek and Roman gods like Dionysus (Di o ny sus), Zeus, and Apollo,
as well as a strong tradition of emperor worship. This loyalty to the emperor was an important part of maintaining the city’s “free” status.
The Jewish community provided a base for Paul’s initial ministry, though his message also quickly spread to a large number of “God-fearing Greeks” and prominent women.
The Thessalonian believers were surrounded by pagan cults and emperor worship. To declare allegiance to “the Lord Jesus Christ” was countercultural and potentially dangerous, since “Caesar is Lord” was the expected confession.
The church in Thessalonica:
The church in Thessalonica was a young Christian Community:
Paul’s stay in Thessalonica was relatively short, likely only a few weeks to a few months.
Paul’s ministry in the city, though short, led to the formation of a vibrant and devout Christian church. Most of the converts in Thessalonica were Roman or Macedonian Gentiles (NLT Study Bible).
His message about Jesus as the Messiah and a new king challenged the existing religious and political order. This quickly led to a negative reaction.
The new believers faced immediate persecution and hostility from both the local Jewish community and some Gentiles, who accused them of defying Caesar by proclaiming another king, Jesus.
Persecution:
1 Thessalonians 1:6 NLT
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 NLT
14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 NLT
3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know.
Despite this, the church in Thessalonica was known for its faith and devotion, and it became a model for other Christian communities in the region.
Purpose of the letter:
Paul was writing to new believers.
Many were Gentile converts.
The book of 1 Thessalonians was a letter full of encouragement, reassurance, and hope.
Paul had multiple reasons for writing to the church at Thessalonica.
The primary purpose of the letter was to encourage the young church, comfort a persecuted flock,
express his joy in their faith,
defend his ministry,
and provide instruction on living a holy life while they awaited Christ’s return,
address questions about believers who have died;
and correct disorderly behavior and idleness.
Since Paul’s time in Thessalonica had been so short, the Christians had not received all the teaching they needed and they did not have mature leadership to oversee the church (NLT Study Bible). Paul later sent Timothy back to the Thessalonian Church to strengthen the believers.
1 Thessalonians 3:1,2, 5 NLT
3:1 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens,
2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, …
5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a profound statement about their identity. It means their existence and community are rooted in their relationship with God and Jesus. Unlike other greetings of the time, this phrasing is distinctively Christian and suggests a close, intimate connection to the divine.
Paul makes it clear that this was not a Jewish assembly.
To “belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” shows union with both Father and Son. This was not true of the Jews (for the most part).
This was a strong encouragement to believers who were surrounded by pagan cults and emperor worship.
This reminded believers that their true identity wasn’t rooted in the city’s political power or pagan worship, but in the living God and His Son. It drew a contrast between belonging to Rome and belonging to Christ.
May God give you grace and peace.
More words of encouragement to new believers.
“Grace and peace”
In a city bustling with trade and politics, “peace” usually meant Roman order maintained by military might. Paul offers a deeper, spiritual peace that comes only from God’s grace.
Grace is God’s free and undeserved gift of love, forgiveness, and power, made fully known in Jesus Christ.
Peace is the wholeness, harmony, and well-being that comes from a reconciled relationship with God—made possible through Christ.
The combination of these two words underscores that true peace comes from the grace of God.
These are words of encouragement for all believers.
Romans 1:7 NLT
7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
