My Notes on the book of 1 Thessalonians. – Introduction
Paul wrote this letter at or around 52 or 53 AD. Possibly the very first letter that Paul wrote. Thessalonica was a Roman colony about 50 miles west of Philippi and 189 miles north of Athens as the crow flies. The city is still in existence today and is known as “Salonika.”
Paul went to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. We are told in Acts 17 that Paul was in Thessalonica, preaching in the synagogue for three sabbaths. The word of God was moving through the people of Thessalonica. We are told that some of the people (devout Greeks and a few of the leading women) trusted their lives to Jesus. Then, like clockwork, the Jews were upset with Paul. They were jealous and started a mob in the marketplace. The Jews did not want to hear about Jesus, and the name of Jesus made them angry. Because of this, Paul had to leave and travel to another city.
The team made their way to Berea, and Paul again went into the synagogue to preach the gospel of Jesus. Many believed. However, the Jews from Thessalonica found out that Paul was preaching in Berea, so the Christian brothers sent Paul off again to Athens. Silas and Timothy stayed back, and they became pastors of the towns of Berea and Thessalonica.
Acts 18:5 Silas and Timothy rejoin Paul and bring him up to date on what is happening in Thessalonica and Berea. The church had some questions about Jesus’s second coming, which is a big reason for this first letter to the church in Thessalonica. Paul helps to explain a few of their questions. It is actually pretty remarkable, that Paul was in Thessalonica for three sabbaths, which is three weeks. He was able to share the gospel, which transformed their (the new believers) lives. It is not our job as Christians to change the minds of the non-believers. It is our job to share the gospel. When people relent and turn from their own evil ways and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they will begin to change their view on life and trust in God’s ways and design of life.
More to come on the first chapter. If you enjoyed this read, please leave a comment or a like. Thank you for taking the time out of your day. I appreciate it!