1 Thess. 1:1; Acts 17:1-15, Introduction (1)

The Thessalonian epistles have much to contribute to believers today.

·        Eschatology.  There is an emphasis on “future things” as every chapter of both letters ends with encouragements based in eschatology.

·        Sanctification.  1 Thess. 4-5 emphasize various issues of spiritual growth.

·        Ecclesiology.  1 Thess. 1-3 emphasize issues of church and church ministry.  It is as amazingly relevant for today as it was when Paul wrote it.

With that in mind let us begin a study of 1 Thessalonians.

I.      Author(s), 1:1

A. PAUL.  Paul was set apart for special ministry (Acts 9).  God renewed the mind of this persecutor of Christians in the desert of Arabia.  After ministry in Damascus and Jerusalem he had ended up at Tarsus, his hometown.  Barnabas sought out Paul to come to Antioch to teach (Ac. 12) where they were set apart for ministry (Ac. 13:1-3).  After completing one journey, after the Jerusalem Council (Ac. 15) Paul desired to return to the churches they had established (Acts 15:36-40) which he did, taking Silas (Ac. 15:22) after he (Paul) and Barnabas had a disagreement over taking John Mark.


B. Silas.  Silas was known to Paul when he (Silas) came to Antioch to deliver the decision of the Council.  Silas knew of Paul’s “push” (actually, it was his calling) to take the gospel to the Gentiles and thus Silas must have been in full agreement with Paul.  After the Macedonian call (Ac. 16:6-10) the team (Timothy had joined by now) crossed over into Europe, taking them in a more heavily Roman direction.  The first stop was Philippi (Acts 16:16-40) where the two were imprisoned for serving Christ.


C. Timothy.  Timothy was from Lystra, perhaps a product of the first ministry of Paul on the first journey.  He was a disciple and recommended to Paul by the believers who knew him (Acts 16:1-5).  His mother (Eunice) was a Jewess and his father a Greek and Timothy had been spiritually encouraged by his mother and grandmother (Lois, 2 Tim. 1:5).  He was known for his sincere faith.  He had not been circumcised as a child so to avoid unnecessary obstacles from the Jews Paul had him circumcised.


These three, plus probably Luke, came to Thessalonica after leaving Philippi.  They were there for three Sabbaths, staying with Jason (who may have been Paul’s kinsman, Rom. 16:25).  In just three weeks the ministry of Christ caused the Jews to riot.  From Thessalonica they went to Berea where the Thessalonian Jews came and again caused trouble.  Paul was sent on to Athens while the other two stayed in Berea.  They regrouped in Athens but because of continuing pressure on the church in Thessalonica Paul sent Timothy back to encourage them (1 Th. 3:2-3).  He returned to Paul in Corinth where Paul then wrote the first letter and then not long after, the second letter.


There is one more things to say about “authorship” but for now let us glory in the oversight of the Sovereign God in directing us as we serve Him.