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Message
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Who? When? Why?
The year is 51AD.
In that year the plans for, what is known, as the second missionary journey of Paul start to take place. You can read all about this journey in Acts 15:36 - 18:22. It is a missionary journey that takes about 3 years and covers approximately 2300km on land and 2000km by sea.
Paul was going to take Barnabas on this journey, but they had such a disagreement that they parted company. (Acts 15:39). So Paul took Silas instead. Silas was also known as Silvanus. We first read about Silas in Acts 15:22 where the Jerusalem council has decided to write a letter to the Gentiles. The letter needs to be sent with reliable people.
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:
Acts 15:22-23
Apart from a time when Paul goes to Athens by himself, Silas sticks by Paul right through the three years of the journey – including the times they were in prison, and beaten, and driven out of towns. We know from Scripture that Paul has high regard for Silas. In 1 Peter 5:12 Paul describes Silas as a “faithful brother”.
Fairly early in the journey when they get to Lystra, we meet Timothy for the first time.
1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
Acts 16:1-2
Paul had previous visited Lystra and Iconium 2-3 years earlier during the first missionary journey. A new church was planted the, and now this church had grown, and Timothy had been encouraged and supported and taught by the church. So much so that Paul takes Timothy with them. One day Paul will say that Timothy “has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” (Philippians 2:22).
Indeed in future years Paul will send Timothy to Corinth to sort out the issues the church is going through – issues that pushed the ministry experience of Paul.
Paul, Silas and Timothy.
A ministry team making their way through, what at the time, was Asia Minor on their way to Greece. Now let’s read 1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Sometimes the language we use to describe Scripture gives a general summary. Language like:-
Paul’s missionary journeys.
The churches Paul planted.
The letters of Paul.
There is nothing inherently wrong with this general language – as long as we also keep in mind a more specific picture.
During all of the missionary journeys Paul rarely travels by himself – there is a team. A team with mature qualified commended leaders, and others who are built up and encouraged and equipped. They support Paul in the ministry work. At times their names are attached to letters:-
1 Corinthians 1:1 – Paul and Sosthenes
2 Corinthians, Philippians and Colossians – Paul and Timothy
1 & 2 Thessalonians – Paul, Silas and Timothy
It is a reminder that churches grow because of a team effort. People working together, supporting one another, getting behind the key leaders and upholding their ministry and their calling.
That’s how churches grow – especially new churches.
The churches in Lystra and Iconium have been going for a few years – as has the church in Antioch. Now possibly some of the people from Asia and Phrygia who witnessed the day of Pentecost – that time when they saw tongues of fire and heard preaching in their own language – possibly some of them have come home and shared the Gospel.
Aside from this, no missionary journey has gone past Antioch.
So when the team enter Thessalonica it is a place where the Gospel is unknown.
What sort of city have they come to?
A Large City.
Thessalonica had a natural harbour which was deep and protected. Lots of trade came through the port – along with the riches associated with trade. The city was also on a major highway. Its location enabled it to become one of the top 10 largest cities in the Roman empire in the 1st century AD.
The size of the city meant it had everything.
All the entertainment you wanted. Plays. The theatre. A gymnasium for sport.
All the services and support networks. Shopping areas. Artisans. Goods and services.
A strong governance structure with a citizen assembly, a citizen council, and the city officials who served in a judicial way. It was a true democracy.
Thessalonica also catered for all your religious needs. Archaeology has identified 25 different gods and heroes who were worshipped in the city – and Scripture tells us there was a synagogue.
It had everything … deliberately.
Which is how the Roman Empire succeeded in keeping conquered nations at peace for so long.
As a conquering army the Romans didn’t use force, or slavery, or exile to control. Instead they enticed the conquered citizens into the culture. They provided social stability and support.
Our cities are the greatest there has ever been and they will give you everything you need.
What could you possible want over all of this?
All you need to do is fit in.
All you need to do is fit in.
That was the over-arching ethos of living in Roman controlled cities – fit in.
In Thessalonica the pressure was even greater.
In 42BC Thessalonica was given the status of being “civitas libera” … a free city.
This meant that the city had great autonomy over civil affairs. They decided the future. They could produce their own coins. There were even tax concessions.
A free city … it was a status they had as long as everyone in the city supported Rome.
A free city … a favoured status that was sacred to all the residents of Thessalonica.
So if anything … or anyone … was seen to be doing anything that might jeopardise that favoured status they were dealt with quite aggressively.
This is the city which Paul, Silas and Timothy enter. Let’s read what happens when they arrive. Acts 17:1-10a.
You can kind of understand the response of the synagogue.
Paul is invited to speak because he is a trained Pharisee. For three Sabbaths he preaches about a suffering Messiah.
The Jews looked for a Messiah
A triumphant, powerful, break-the-chains-of-Rome Messiah.
The Messiah who would establish his throne in Jerusalem and who would give Israel the capacity to rule over all the nations.
But a suffering Messiah …
A dead and raised back to life Messiah …
Jesus as Messiah …
That was not regular synagogue teaching. But it is teaching that is the start of the church of the Thessalonians
It starts with the conversion of some Jews.
It continues with the conversion of God-fearing Greeks. These are people who have been raised believing in many Gods, but who have then been converted to Judaism and monotheism – believing in one God. As Paul is preaching they make a second conversion. To believing in Jesus as the Messiah.
As all these people convert there the patience of the synagogue stops after three weeks.
Which has led some people to suggest that Paul was only in Thessalonica for three weeks.
Let’s stop there a moment and consider a few other Scriptures.
As you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.
Philippians 4:15-16
It is about 170km from Philippi to Thessalonica. The church there was a few weeks old – you can read about it in Acts 16.
Yet, this very new, and quite poor, church sent support to Paul in Thessalonica – more than once. The first lot of support is sent – it is a 10 day round trip.
Then another report comes … Paul needs more support … that is another 10 day round trip. It kind of suggests that Paul is in Thessalonica a little longer.
Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
1 Thessalonians 2:9
When Paul is in Corinth he makes his living as a tent-maker.
He did the same in Thessalonica. He starts a business and earns money.
A shop – making tents. Three weeks seems a little short in time to do all that.
You became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia … they tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.
1 Thessalonians 1:7,9
Jewish converts and converts who were God-fearing Greeks don’t turn from idols to God.
However pagans do.
After being ejected from the synagogue Paul works day and night in his shop and he shares the Gospel as people gather to talk.
This is where the next group of converts come from.
Pagans – including not a few prominent women
So the ministry team is in Thessalonians for more than three Sabbaths. But it doesn’t seem to take much longer before the impacts of the ministry are being widely noticed.
Jews, God-fearing Greeks, Pagans, women of prominence. There is a change in them.
They are not participating in all the religious festivals or prioritising all the gods.
They are changing their social networks, and gathering in new ways.
They no longer call Caesar the king nor worship the living “god”.
They are not politically correct.
They are acting in unexpected ways.
They don’t conform.
They don’t fit in.
They are … a threat to our favoured status. Nobody threatens that status.
Which is why it is quite an easy thing for the Jews to stir up the rabble and the city authorities.
The ministry team leaves the city – too early for Paul’s liking.
Paul knows the church is suffering.
You suffered from your own people the same things those churches (in Judea) suffered from the Jews
1 Thessalonians 2:14
The Jews persecuted the early church – most of which was made of Jewish converts.
Not the church, which is made up of many Gentiles, is also being persecuted.
Being pressured to fit in. Being pressured to conform. Being pressured to move away from the claim that only Jesus is the way to life.
Don’t stand out.
Don’t make dogmatic statements.
Don’t make citizens feel uncomfortable.
Don’t be unique.
Don’t tell us what to think about religion.
The is the world the Thessalonians face. And the world is still the same.
For all the clamouring to protect their favoured status – the reality was simple. If Rome decided to take away their “free city” status it could be done overnight.
The situation is a powerful symbol of what is also going on in their spiritual lives.
“We are free citizens.”
But they are not free. Freedom outside of Jesus is a myth.
If we are not free in Christ we are slaves to darkness.
For all the hatred and persecution of the church the reality is that the church – those who are citizens of heaven – believers … we are the ones the world needs to most.
That is our call isn’t it.
As gathered Christians we will always be in a situation where the not-yet-believers around us
want to do what they want, when they want, without guilt or shame or consequences.
In that situation we are called to be light.
To keep persevering.
To keep standing out.
To be an example of Jesus in all that we do.
That is what we are going to see as we make our way through 1 Thessalonians. How to stand out in a world that is pressuring us to just fit it.
To show those who think they are free that they are in fact slaves.
To be strong and ready.
Prayer
