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First Letter To Thessalonica
First Letter to Thessalonica.
Thessalonica was a major city in Macedonia. Its population has been estimated to be as high as 200,000 people when Paul arrived. It was situated on the Via Egnatia 'highway', which was a major east-west trade route. It was also the senatorial province and was governed by a roman proconsul. Any charge of 'insurrection against Rome and its Emperor' was taken very seriously.
Having a major sea port it became an economic hub of the region. When Paul arrived he found a large metropolitan city with a synagogue there. As with many of the synagogues there was a contingent of 'God-fearers' - gentiles who attended and followed Jewish teaching but had not been circumcised as proselytes. It is interesting that many among these received the message of Paul and became Christians (Acts 17:4). Paul mentions this in 1Thess. 1: 9 as their 'turning from idols to serve the living and true God', although this may refer to his work among the gentile population after he left the synagogue.
Paul was allowed to teach in the synagogue for 3 weeks and then apparently he stayed a short while teaching - long enough to establish himself in his trade of tent-making (2 Thess. 3:7-10). The unbelieving Jews were not content with him being out of the synagogue, but wanted him out of town - and out of Macedonia. They were willing to join themselves to the 'rabble' of the town in order to create the ill-will against Paul. It worked and Paul was 'torn from' these new Christians (1Thess. 2:17). He was worried about their faith so he sent Timothy back (1Thess. 3:1). Timothy went and returned with the report of what was going on. At this point in the story, Paul writes this letter to teach, exhort, and establish the saints in Thessalonica.
The first part of the letter is to assure them that are on the correct path for eternal life with God. They have 1) turned to God, 2) are serving the Living and True God, and 3) are waiting for His Son. Since their conversion was to the TRUE and LIVING God, they need to hold fast to that idea. Though they are persecuted for it, they are to be steadfast in their faith. In the serving they are to remember and immolate the example that Paul had set before them. They are encouraged to stand fast in their faith because Jesus is coming .
The last part of the letter exhorts them in the principles of living as Christians. Though the world they lived in was open to sexual immorality, they were God's people and needed to learn holiness (4:1-8). They were to increase in their love for each other (4:9-12). They were to hold fast to the promise of Jesus return and the resurrection of the dead (4:13-5:4). Paul finishes this book with a list of short commands concerning the life of a Christian. Hugh DeLong
