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Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica

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Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 1 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry 1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica V. 1-2— - Of the churches Paul & his team established, the church at Thessalonica seems to the best known for its flourishing, growing ministry, even after Paul had left them o Paul has already told them in 1:7-8: 7…you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. - Paul is getting ready to defend his ministry because of skeptics in the region o From his various letters, we know that the opposition to Paul’s authority was not just isolated in Corinth, although it was there that the opposition was most intense ▪ There are several reasons for this • Paul’s call from Jesus to service was different from all the other apostles; among the churches there were some skeptics about his authority • He had been known far & wide for his fierce opposition to Christ before his conversion Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 2 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry • Location of the people to whom he ministered—Achaia, Macedonia, Greece, Cypress & other regions o These were distant from the “mother church” in Jerusalem, led by James & John, apostles who had been with Jesus from the beginning o It took several weeks to travel from these areas to Jerusalem & Judea, where the original apostles ministered • Others of the original apostles traveled to other regions to preach & build churches o Peter, Thomas, etc. o Many of their ministries were closer to Judea & in closer contact with the “mother church” ▪ Most of the skepticism, however, probably was rooted in the fact that his unique calling; he had not been with Jesus in the beginning, like all the other apostles ▪ Added to all of this was the fact that it was not comfortable to be a Christian anywhere during that time • Government opposition, social rejection, physical & financial persecution…all strove to influence Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 3 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry the converts to reject Christ & those who preached about Him o So as in all the locations he visited to preach the gospel, Paul had encountered opposition in the city of Thessalonica when he first went there ▪ But his consistent, bold preaching and teaching had prevailed, and the Thessalonian converts were the result Vv. 1-2— - V. 1— o Paul begins his defense by reminding them that their own experience serves to validate his ministry and apostolic position ▪ “Paul’s ministry among the Thessalonians was so fruitful that not only were people saved, and a vibrant, reproducing church planted, but (also) the church grew…after Paul left.”1 • The success of the Thessalonian church plant was especially effective o Despite Paul’s short time with them, local opposition, & that only a few months had passed since they accepted Christ, they were growing & successfully evangelizing 1 MacArthur Study Bible, NIV, 1849 Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 4 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry o The Thessalonians already know his ministry bears fruit because they are one of those fruits o Paul’s appeal that they should know of his ministry’s effectiveness is “…a characteristic of this book (cf. 1 Thess. 1:5; 2:1, 2, 5, 11). Similar phrases are found in 1 Thess. 2:9, ‘you recall’ and 10, ‘you are witnesses.’”2 - V. 2— o Paul reminds his readers that he has not been deterred from conducting his ministry, including bringing the gospel to Thessalonica, even in the face of severe suffering & persecution o Some of those who opposed him in Thessalonica & other cities put an accusatory twist on the fact that he and Silas had been imprisoned in Philippi ▪ 19th century commentator William Barklay writes “…that there were, no doubt, those in Thessalonica who said that this man Paul had a police record, that he was nothing less than a criminal on the run from justice and that obviously no one should listen to a man like that.”3 ▪ But an accurate view of his troubles, one held by those who had surrendered their lives to the Savior was that “…he was willing to go on preaching even though it 2 http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL07/VOL07B_02.html 3 William Barklay’s Daily Study Bible, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/1-thessalonians-2.html Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 5 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry brought him much suffering. They knew how badly treated he (and Silas) had been at Philippi (Acts 16:12-40), but this had not prevented them from coming to Thessalonica and continuing to preach boldly, even though there were the signs (that) the same…(kind of persecution would happen)…to him there (Acts 17:5)…He had been willing to suffer…for the Gospel’s sake…”4 o In v. 2, Paul writes that he had continued to preach the gospel even …in the face of strong opposition. ▪ Here, strong opposition is a military term meaning “battle” (ἀγών, agṓn) • The same word is translated “struggle” in Philippians 1:30 & “contending” in Colossians 2:1 • It is the root of the English word “agony” & stresses the severity of the struggles he faced against the Jews who opposed him at almost every step o …to tell you His gospel… literally …to tell you the gospel of God… ▪ I think the NIV translation softens what Paul is stressing about the gospel…it is not 4 Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible, https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/pet/1-thessalonians- 2.html Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 6 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry something Paul invented or imagined, but the very word of God Vv. 3-4— - He elaborates on this point in vv. 3 & 4 o What he teaches does not come from error, impure motives, or attempting to trick or confuse them ▪ This contrasted with the false apostles who traveled visiting the churches, preaching various gospels, & asking for support • “Most of these…were opportunists, who took everything they could from their listeners, and then moved on to find someone else to support them.”5 o But he teaches the gospel as one of those to whom God has given the responsibility to tell the good news ▪ He adds that he does not try to please people, but to please God • This surely was obvious to the Thessalonians, knowing of the widespread opposition & hatred for Paul because of his preaching & teaching 5 Enduring Word Bible Commentary, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-thessalonians-2/ Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 7 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry • He could not be accused of pandering or preaching what people wanted to hear just to please them • The gospel was controversial & stirred up opposition among both the Jews & the gentiles Vv. 5-8— - V. 5— o To illustrate, Paul points out that he …never used flattery… or tried to fool them with his preaching ▪ Others did so, preaching good pleasing sermons but having greed as their real motive • Greed—word means self-seeking in all its forms—money, goods, housing, flattery, prestige, etc. ▪ He adds, …God is our witness. • He has just reminded them in v. 4 that God …tests our hearts. • Now, in v. 5, he pledges that he is being honest with them …God is our witness. - V. 6—We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 8 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry o …as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ▪ Paul is reminding them that he had never made any demands of them, even though as an apostle of Christ he had the authority to do so • He was entitled as an apostle to support, but he did not ask for it or accept it • In addition, demands would include what Paul would do in the case of the Corinthians, demanding that they make changes in their practice of Christianity; as an apostle, he had that authority o But we saw in chapter 1 of this 1st letter to the Thessalonians, this church was growing & focused on the gospel of Christ o He had visited Thessalonica to preach the truth & see people believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord - V. 7— o He had been there to give, not to take from them ▪ …we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Studies in the Book of 1 Thessalonians P a g e | 9 © Copyright 2018 Joel B. Curry • Literally, “babies”6 - V. 8—…so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. o This explains the metaphor of the nursing mother (v. 7)—he & his companions loved them so much that they not only brought the message of the gospel, but also shared themselves—their lives—with them ▪ They became part of them ▪ They “…gave (their own) lives for (the sake of the Thessalonians)… The words used here by the apostle are expressive of the strongest affection and attachment.”7 ▪ This is the example of true witnessing & discipleship • Not just sharing the message verbally • But also getting involved with people, showing them love, sharing ourselves with them 6 Some early manuscripts use the term “babes” or “young children,” while others use the term “gentle”—…we were gentle among you.
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