Free Bible Commentary
“Introduction to 1 Thessalonians”
Categories: 1 ThessaloniansThessalonica was the largest and most important city in Macedonia. It was founded around 315 B.C. by the Macedonian king Cassander, and he named the city after his wife (Thessalonike), who was the half-sister of Alexander the Great. The city was located on the northern point of the Thermaic Gulf and boasted a magnificent harbor.
Thessalonica was populated mostly by Greeks but there was a sizable Jewish population. The worship of the Greek gods Isis and Osiris as well as Dionysus was prolific, but there was also a Jewish synagogue and a number of “God-fearing Greeks” from which the first converts to Christ of the city were made (Acts 17:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
The Apostle Paul and his companions travelled to Thessalonica after receiving the famous “Macedonian Call” vision while positioned across the Aegean Sea in the city of Troas (Acts 16:8-9). After leaving Philippi, they came into the city's synagogue and “for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.’” (Acts 17:3-4).
After such a very short time Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city because “the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar” (Acts 17:5). From there they went to Berea and then Paul travelled to Athens. While there he became very concerned about the babes in Christ he was forced to leave behind in Thessalonica, so he sent Timothy to them to “strengthen and encourage” them in the faith (3:1-2), and to find out how they were faring in the faith under persecution from the Jews (3:5).
Timothy’s report was mostly good but many had gotten the wrong impression from Paul’s teaching that Christ would return immediately. Some had quit working and (4:11-12), and others were despairing over loved ones that had died (4:13). Paul encouraged them to live their lives in such a way that they would be ready for the Lord’s Second Coming no matter when it might occur (5:6-22). The return of Jesus is a prevalent theme and is mentioned near the end of each chapter (1:10; 2:19 3:13; 4:15-17; 5:23).
Please read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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