My Commentary On 1 Thessalonians

Introduction

This commentary is based the New International Version of the Bible, 1994 addition, and therefore all quotes will be taken from this version. Chapter titles in this commentary correspond with section titles from the NIV which makes for easier reading and study.

Thessalonica was the capital of the province of Macedonia . Paul first visited this city in and around 50 or 51 AD. The story is told in Acts 17:1 – 9.

Paul’s first trip to this city was cut very short because some claimed he was teaching that there was another king, instead of the Emperor of Rome. He therefore escaped from the city by night. He proceeded on to Berea and then to Corinth . Paul had great concern for these people, as he did for all of the people he won to the Lord. His fear was that they might not stand the persecution that arose in the city due to his visit. Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to check up on them and they were doing very well under the circumstances. Paul was most concerned with their faith, if they still trusted in Jesus. The church was even growing in numbers despite the persecution. Timothy met up with Paul at Corinth and told him the good news. In Acts 18:5 you can read of this account.

We learn from 2 Corinthians that the Macedonians, which would include Thessalonica were extremely poor yet very generous in their giving. Paul hoped their example would encourage other churches in the area of giving as well.

Paul wrote this first letter to the Thessalonians from Corinth near the end of 50 or 51 AD.

Paul’s Introduction (ch. 1:1)

Paul opens this letter by telling us who the letter is written to, that is the “church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul, in all of his letters makes a strong point by noting that God the Father and Jesus Christ the Lord are unseparatable. Paul, as well as those who claim to be Christians, believe in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christians there is no other God. Christians do not believe in some generic god.

“Grace and peace to you”, Paul says to his readers something that they would surely need lots of due to the persecution they faced on a daily basis.

Thanksgiving For The Thessalonians (ch. 1:2 - 10)

Paul tells his readers that they, meaning Timothy and Silas constantly remember them in their prayers. They thank God for them each time they pray for these people. Paul says that they “remember before God their work that was a result of their faith, and their labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”. Note here that Paul uses the words faith and love in the same sentence. These two words Paul joins together many times in his letters. You have faith in Jesus, that is to say, you trust him for your life, and as a result you love those God has placed you with. Love is an outworking, a product of the trust we have in Jesus. To the degree we love, is the degree in which we trust Jesus for our lives. To love as Jesus wants us to love does require real faith, or true trust. We cannot love on our own as Jesus would have us love. Love is not a feeling. Love is actions performed to both the loving and the unloving.

Paul also remembers these people’s endurance. This endurance is in light of the persecution they were going through because of their faith in Jesus. They were enduring these hard times because of the “hope that they had found in Jesus”. This hope, I believe, is the hope of the resurrection, something that continually drove and motivated Paul in all that he did.

When Paul first came to the city of Thessalonica he preached the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, but first to the Jews, as was his practice. He says here in verse 4 that this preaching was not “in word” alone, but in the power of God which comes from the Holy Spirit. This only makes sense. Paul preached Jesus, a man that he claimed to be God and a Messiah, who died and rose from the dead. If Paul’s preaching was merely words, then his words would sound quite foolish. But there was a demonstration of power that came with Paul’s preaching. This power could be seen in miraculous signs and wonders, as well as the inner conviction of the Holy Spirit to those who heard the good news.

Paul spoke with “deep conviction” which is very evident in all that we read in Paul’s writings. The more you learn about Paul, who he was, how he lived his life, you see a man with very deep conviction.

In verse 5 he says, “you know how we lived among you for your sake”. Paul’s way of living can be seen clearly in the second letter that he wrote to the Corinthians. As he wrote this letter to the Thessalonians, he was in Corinth , a place where there were many problems to solve within the church. The way he lived among people was a selfless way of life, taking nothing from them, but giving all he had to them.

Paul says that these people “became imitators of us” (Paul and his companions). “In spite of the severe sufferings they welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit". Paul mentions these people to the Corinthian church in order to encourage the Corinthians. He notes that they were extremely poor as well as having to endure great persecution.

Paul really felt good about these people. He says that these believers “became a model for all of the believers in Macedonia and Achaia”. He says that the “Lord’s message rang out from them”. They were obviously very evangelical in their faith, spreading the good news to whom ever would listen.

The reception of the gospel in Thessalonica was well known by everyone in the surrounding region. Wherever Paul went, he said that he did not have to tell others about them, because the news of the Thessalonians becoming Christians spread quite fast in the region. Part of what was spread across the countryside was that these people “turned to God from their idols”. Along with turning from idol worship to Jesus, it is said of these people that they were “waiting for His Son from Heaven”. They had a strong sense that Jesus would one day return to take them away. This can be seen later, because one of Paul’s concerns for them had to do with the return of Christ and some bad teaching that was being taught among them.

We read the words, “who will rescue us from the coming wrath” in verse 10. We see two things here. One is that Paul, along with most Christians back then, viewed their salvation as a rescue. They believed that they were rescued from their sins, from the world around them, and from God’s wrath, much like one being rescued from a house that is on fire. Secondly, Paul is convinced that there is a day coming when God’s anger and wrath will be poured out on those who have rejected His salvation that came through Jesus. Here Paul says that Christians will escape this day of wrath.

Paul’s Ministry In Thessalonica (ch. 2:1 - 16)

Paul opens chapter 2 by telling his readers that his “visit to them was not a failure”. One might well think that his time spent in Thessalonica was a failure since he only spent three weeks there and had to sneak out at night and escape those who were after him. Paul just wants these new Christians to know that he does not view his short stay in their city as a failure.

It did not really matter where Paul went, in most places he suffered persecution at the hands of those who opposed him. In verse 2 he said that he suffered in Philippi , a city just north of Thessalonica, where he had visited as well. So their city was no different than any other. After being “insulted” in Philippi , “with the help of our God, we dared to tell you the gospel”. Many would have given up, but not Paul. This is why he says that he “dared to tell the gospel” to them.

As in Corinth and many other cities, Paul’s opposition accused him of trickery and preaching for wrong motives. In verse 3 he tells these new Christians that this is far from the truth. He said, “we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel”. Paul felt that God had given him a trust. That is , God trusted Paul to perform the job He wanted him to do, and Paul took this trust very seriously. God approved Paul and gave him the job of preaching His message. This is why he “appeals” to all that will hear. The word “appeal” as used in the NIV suggests that Paul had many debates, maybe even arguments with some of those he spoke too. Paul was forceful at times. The word "appeal" points to this. He knew the consequences for those who rejected his message.

In verse 4 Paul says that he “is not trying to please men but God”. This reminds me of Gal. Chapter 1 where he says very clearly that no man taught him this gospel and that he is pleasing no man by preaching it. He will stand before God his Father someday to give an account and therefore it is God who he wants to please.

There is a difference between pleasing God and serving man. Paul pleased God only. He did not bow down and please man, that is do what they wanted him to do so he could make friends with them. Yet he pleased God by serving man. Serving man, is not the same as pleasing man.

In verse 5 Paul continues to defend his ministry. He says that “he never uses flattery”, and never wears a “mask to cover up greed”. Paul speaks things as they are. He does not beat around the bush. He does not use nice words for his own gain, and he is definitely not a greedy man. As he says, he “does not look for praise from men”. Paul looks for praise from God. When Jesus returns He will give Paul the recognition due him. You can tell when a man is looking for praise from man. He says and does things strictly for that reason.

Unless you get the idea that Paul is a heartless, non feeling type of man, since he cares little for praise from man, that is not the case. He may not want undue praise, but he does want people’s love, affection and trust, and it bothers him greatly when he loses this in his friends and fellow believers. If you read his second letter to the Corinthians, you'll clearly see this to be true.

In verse 6 Paul tells his readers “that as an apostle he could have been a burden” to the Thessalonians. That is, he could have asked for financial support from them. This is a right of an apostle, yet Paul refused to take any money from these people, as he did with many of the churches. He felt like “a mother with children”, he says. He would rather give to these new Christians than to take anything from them. I'd suggest that all pastors memorize this verse.

Paul says that he “was delighted to share not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well”. Once again, this was Paul’s lifestyle. This is the way he lived wherever he went. This was not true only in Thessalonica. You can read Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians and see these very same words.

Sharing the gospel and sharing one's life are two different things. It's easy to preach behind the pulpit, but to get down from the platform and live among those you preach to and serve them is another thing altogether. We have too many pulpit preachers these days and not enough serving pastors.

Paul reminds these people “that they worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone”. The word "they" refers to Paul and those working with him. This was over and beyond the call of duty for Paul. Most Christian workers receive an income for their work, and in today’s world some receive a very good income, yet Paul worked himself night and day and preached the gospel as well, all for the sake of those he ministered to.

Verses 10 through 12 continue the theme of Paul’s defense of his ministry and the godly lifestyle that he lived. He says that he lived righteously among them and he treated these new believers as if they were his own children, “encouraging, comforting them, and urging them to live lives as worthy of God who calls you into His Kingdom and glory.” When we become Christians, we enter into God’s Kingdom here on earth. This Kingdom differs from the future Kingdom of God in that it is spiritual and in part, yet very much a real Kingdom. As Christians we need to think in terms of living in 2 kingdoms, or 2 worlds, that is the earthly world around us and the Kingdom of God that is invisible at the moment. We are in fact representatives of this spiritual and invisible kingdom to the visible kingdoms of men.

In verse 14 Paul gives thanks to God for the Thessalonians because they received the word that Paul preached as being the “word of God, not the word of men”. This would be very important. Many would hear what Paul said and maybe accept it as a new lifestyle that Paul was teaching on his own, but the gospel was not Paul’s idea. It was God’s idea. It was the very word of God, and for those who accept the word with this understanding will not depart from it easily.

Notice that Paul says that the Word of God “works” in the believer. That is to say, the Scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit is one real way that God is involved in changing our lives. I would go as far to say that without an active participation in the Scriptures, a Christian cannot grow into maturity, and is on dangerous ground, making it easy to slip back into unbelief. The problem today is that post-modern thinking is infiltrating the church with its de-emphases on the Bible. This is a tragedy.

In verse 14 Paul compares the Thessalonians church to the churches in Judea . They were both “imitators” of God despite the persecution from their own countrymen. The Jewish church in Judea suffered at the hands of the Jews and the Thessalonians suffered at the hands of the Romans.

Paul says that the Jews who persecute the Judea church were the very ones that killed Jesus in the first place along with the prophets of old.

These people who persecute Christians “are hostile to God and to all men” for what they do. They also “heap up their sins to the limit”. These Jewish persecutors were trying to prevent Paul not only from preaching to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles whom they had no authority over. Paul says that the “wrath of God is now on them at last”. There has been some speculation to just what Paul meant by the idea that these Jews had already entered into God’s wrath. Some suggest that this may be an allusion to the judgement to come at the end of the age. Others might suggest that this might even be prophetic, speaking of the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the disbursement of the Jews which in fact was a demonstration of God's wrath as seen in His judgment. Yet in another sense of the word, if one is in unbelief, he has already entered into God's'’ wrath, even though the wrath is still to come. On the other hand, if we enter into faith, we enter into God’s peace. Jesus, in John 3:18 says that “whosoever does not believe stands condemned already”. Even though the judgement is in the future, you are presently condemned to God’s wrath, unless you come to faith.

Paul’s Longing To See The Thessalonians (ch. 2:17 – 3:5)

In verse 17 Paul says that he and his fellow workers were “torn away” from the Thessalonians, yet this tearing away “was in person, not in thought”. He goes on to say that “out of intense longing” they tried to go back to Thessalonica, but “satan stopped us”. Now this is interesting. Here is the great apostle Paul being “stopped by satan”. Paul believed the opposition that he experienced was directly from satan, and at this juncture he could not do what he wanted to do because satan was in the way. It seemed that in this instance satan was stronger that Paul. Or, it might possibly be that God was using satan in order for Paul not to go to Thessalonica at that particular moment. This is conjecture only. We really don’t know. Suffice to say, satan stopped Paul, so if this is the case, he could most likely stop us from doing things as well, unless we are no threat to him and then he would have nothing to do with us, which is probably the case more times than not. The one thing we learn here is that satan is a powerful enemy and we should take him seriously. I've often thought concerning some Christian songs we sing, that we make light of satan. I don't think we should.

In verse 19 Paul asked the question, “what is our hope, our glory, our crown in the presence of our Lord Jesus”? Paul answers his own question by saying the Thessalonians themselves were his hope, glory and crown. Paul’s feeling is that on the day of judgement, the day Christ returns for His people, he will present all those he had responsibility for to Jesus. This would be the crowning event in Paul’s ministry, to see his people accepted into the presence of the Lord. This is the joy of his life that he lived for. Paul would rather have this joy than any joy from earthly possessions.

In chapter 3 verse 1 Paul says that “when they could stand it no more, they sent Timothy” to Thessalonica. For some reason Paul could not go himself. Satan got in his way. Whether this was because of persecution, an illness, a messenger from satan (thorn in his flesh) we really don’t know. All that we know is that since Paul could not visit these people Timothy could, so he sent him “to strengthen and encourage them in their faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials”. (ch. 3:3) Paul was deeply concerned about these people’s faith. Faith is fundamental in being a Christian. We are saved by faith, that is our trust in Jesus. We live our lives by faith. Once again that is our trust in Jesus. Paul did not want them to give up on this trust they had in Jesus, because losing your faith means losing your salvation.

In verse 4 Paul reminds his readers that when he was with them he actually told them that they would suffer persecution and it turned out to be as he said it would be. So once again he says that “when he could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith”. Paul is a man of strong emotions. I can imagine the feelings he had within him that caused him not to be able to stand it any longer. He had to find out about their faith. He had to know for sure that they were still walking with the Lord.

In verse 5 Paul expresses a fear. Yes, the great apostle Paul did have fears. His fear was that “the tempter (satan) might have tempted them and that his efforts might have been useless”. Paul was afraid that they would give into satan’s temptation to give up. If this was the case, Paul’s ministry and all the effort he put into it, would be in vain, would be useless. This would disturb Paul more than anything. He being a driven man, hated to do anything for nothing, that is, do something and have someone else destroy what he has done.

Next Section - Chapter 3 to 5

Next Section - Chapter 3 to 5

Home Page