Having been directed by the spirit to Macedonia, Paul, Silas and Timothy went first to Philippi. They left that town, leaving behind the beginnings of a strong and vibrant ecclesia, and headed down the Egnatian Way for Thessalonica.
Why Thessalonica?
To reach Thessalonica from Philippi, the little party passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia. Why not stop in one of those towns? Probably because there was a synagogue at Thessalonica which would provide a starting point for preaching the word. And Thessalonica was a major commercial center with many trade routes emanating from it. If a sound ecclesia was established there, the gospel could readily spread to surrounding areas.
From I Thes. 1:8 we can tell that this is exactly what happened. “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia…” Paul not only preached with enthusiasm, he also preached with intelligence and planning. Even before the ecclesia was established, we have useful exhortation to ourselves. Our own efforts at gospel proclamation should combine these same elements – enthusiasm, intelligence and planning.
The ecclesia begins
Acts 17:1-10 provide a brief account of the beginning of the Thessalonian ecclesia. As was his custom, Paul went first to the synagogue. There he could reach not only the Jews but also many Gentiles who were attracted to the morality of Judaism and would be ideal subjects for the gospel message. In fact, the “devout Greeks a great multitude…believed and consorted with Paul and Silas” (Acts 17:4).
A brief synopsis of the content of Paul’s preaching is contained in Acts 17:3. The key issues were that “Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.” The message was relevant to the audience, hit upon the key issues they must accept and did not skirt what would be provocative. While the summary is brief, it provides a model for the contents of our own preaching work.
Among those who responded were a number of the chief women of the city. In Philippi, Lydia was a key convert; in Berea, special mention is made of “honorable women” who believed. In order to be singled out for special mention, these new sisters must have been pillars in their respective ecclesias. Sisters may not have platform duties, but they obviously can be instrumental in the development of sound ecclesias. The strength of the ecclesias in this area speaks well of the positive influence for spiritual growth exercised by these sisters. In our own day, ecclesias can be greatly strengthened by the activities of faithful sisters.
A strong ecclesia
The Thessalonian ecclesia was not free of problems. Specific exhortations indicate areas of weakness and this ecclesia was exhorted to avoid practices associated with paganism. Fornication, the lusts of the Gentiles and defrauding of brethren all are covered in I Thes. 4. Some in the ecclesia are also cautioned to be quiet, industrious and orderly (I Thes. 4:11; II Thes. 3:6,10-15).
Yet these few passages pale in comparison to the praise heaped on the Thessalonians by Paul throughout the two epistles.
The essence of discipleship
They were strong in faith, love and hope (I Thes. 1:3). Here is the essence of true discipleship. “And now abideth faith, hope and love” (I Cor. 13:13).
Notice how these were not just ideas in the mind but were attributes that manifested themselves in “work…labor…and patience…” In our own lives, if we have faith, our works will be obvious. If we have love, we will labor. If we have hope, we will have patience.
The distinction between work and labor is interesting. A “work” points to the thing done; “labor” points to the pains spent doing it. Loving service, labor or toil for our brethren and sisters is a major component of our discipleship (I Thess. 4:9-10). As a mother will labor over her child, so we must labor for our spiritual family, for this is the true test of love. “…every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor” (I Cor. 3:8).
Examples to others
Their work, labor and patience were also evident in the Thessalonian’s proclamation of the gospel and in their endurance of persecution. “From you sounded out the word of the Lord.” The ecclesia did not disappoint Paul. It fulfilled his hope that Thessalonica would serve as a springboard for the truth in all Macedonia and Achaia. One of the reasons we have been called of God is that we might be a light of the truth in a crooked and perverse world. Are we? Are we following the example of this first century ecclesia?
The impact of trial
And the Thessalonians suffered persecutions similar to those endured by the ecclesias in Judea. “Ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews…” (I Thes. 2:14). Instead of allowing such trial to weaken their faith, the faith of the Thessalonian brethren and sisters grew stronger.
It is interesting that great trials, if they do not destroy faith, strengthen it. Thus, Paul could say of these believers: “ye are our glory and our joy” (2:20). We may not suffer physical persecutions for our beliefs but all of us will face severe trial in one form or another. With us, as well as with the Thessalonian believers, the key to endurance of trial will be our faith. What a blessing it would be if the Lord could say of us “we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your…tribulations that ye endure” (II Thes. 1:4).
Desiring the return of Christ
In every chapter of the two epistles to Thessalonica, there is some reference to the return of Christ (I Thes. 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-19; 5:1-9,23;11 Thes. 1:7-20; 2:1-3; 3:5).
Their great emphasis on the return of Christ is undoubtedly what led this ecclesia to such heights as a community of believers. In 1 Thes. 3:12-13, reference to their labor of love immediately precedes allusion to standing before the Lord when he comes. This is no coincidence. “By this shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Surely the Lord, when he comes, will look for this characteristic in ourselves. If he does not find it, we can hardly expect he will be able to “stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God.”
Hope helps endurance of trial
The endurance of trial is closely linked to the return of Christ in II Thes. 1:4-10. The Thessalonian ecclesia was confident that when their Lord came he would show who were the upright and who were the wicked. They anxiously awaited the day when the Lord shall come “to be glorified in his saints” and the wicked “shall be punished with everlasting destruction…” In our case, we can look forward to that time when our particular trials will be over. Whether our problems be physical, emotional, ecclesial, financial or family related they will be history if we are found faithful in him when he comes.
An unusual problem
The Thessalonian brethren and sisters were so keen on the return of Christ that Paul actually had to tell them he was not coming as soon as some of them anticipated. There was to be “a falling away first, and that man of sin [must] be revealed, the son of perdition” (II Thes. 2:3).
The keen expectation of the brethren was a good problem which required some further teaching. Would that we were as anxious for the return of Christ as these Thessalonian brethren.
Remembering the coming king
We come now to remember the Lord, the suffering servant, the man of sorrows. It is essential for us to remember that through his death and resurrection God provided the basis for the forgiveness of our sins. But we must also remember that he is the coming king.
What explained the Thessalonian’s zeal for the truth: their faith which produced works, their love which produced labor, their hope which produced courageous endurance of trial? They had one dominant characteristic: they looked forward to the day when Christ will return to reward those who serve him.
In these times, when it is especially difficult to serve Christ acceptably, may God grant us the strength to look to Christ’s return with keen enthusiasm and hope. May a strong desire to be in God’s kingdom help us to be found acceptable servants by His Son.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One