Chapter 1

Paul wrote this letter a few weeks after he left Thessalonica, because he had heard what had happened there after he left. Paul had only been in Thessalonica three weeks when the Jews from the synagogue there prompted a bunch of ruffians to make an assault on the house where Paul had been staying. Paul wasn’t there at the time, and the disciples hustled him out of Thessalonica by night. Reading between the lines of Paul’s letter, we know that the disciples there had been the object of a lot of violence. Some of them had even been killed in anti-Christian rioting. The people were really discouraged.

This word came to Paul in Corinth, not long after he wrote his letter to the Galatians. The year appears to be A.D. 52. Read to get the tone of Paul’s letter as he tries to encourage these embattled saints.

(1 Thessalonians 1) "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. {2} We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; {3} Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; {4} Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

It is a very encouraging opening, as he speaks of their faith, their work, their patience. Paul had only been there three weeks, but this was a very intense time for all of them.

{5} For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

A hint of defensiveness begins to enter, as Paul has to remind them how he and Silas had conducted themselves while they were in the town. As we will see, Paul’s motives were already being questioned.

{6} And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: {7} So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. {8} For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. {9} For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; {10} And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

This church was primarily Gentile. They had turned from idols to serve God. It is fascinating that, even though Paul had been there only three weeks and a short time had followed since he left, that this church’s reputation was known far and wide. All this without modern communications.

The last clause, "the wrath to come," introduces a sober note. The purpose of the epistle is to encourage them in the wrath already past. Now he warns that there is more to come.

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