Blessed first day of Advent and the new church year!
Next semester I'm teaching Thessalonians and Corinthians. A Wesleyan commentary I wrote a few years back already has my explanatory notes on 1 and 2 Corinthians. But I don't want to make the students buy commentaries on 1 and 2 Thessalonians since we will hopefully breeze through them.
So I hope to generate some brief explanatory notes over them here these next few Sundays.
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1:1 Paul and Silas and Timothy to the church of Thessalonica in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace.
Thus begins what may have been Paul's first surviving letter and, indeed, the first writing of the New Testament written. It is an ancient letter prescript with only a few unique features. Paul has included within the "sender" section Silas and Timothy, his coworkers. If we coordinate 1 Thessalonians with the book of Acts, Paul was with Silas and Timothy in Greece on his so called "second" missionary journey. The dating of Paul's time at Corinth would put this letter around AD50-51. I wonder if Timothy is the secretary of the letter, whom in this case Paul might also send with the letter.
Thessalonica was in Macedonia, along the Egnatian Way that led to Rome in the West. According to Acts and Philippians, Paul was not long there, being forced to leave town prematurely. While Acts only mentions three Sabbaths, Philippians probably implies that he was there a little longer, perhaps a couple months.
"Grace and peace" would become Paul's standard greeting, combining as it seems something like the Greek for greetings (charein) and the Hebrew greeting (shalom), thus embodying the unity of Jew and Gentile.
1:2-3 We give thanks to God always concerning you all as we make mention in our prayers, constantly remembering your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father,
This is the thanksgiving section of the letter, also a standard feature of an ancient letter, although Paul develops it far more than most letters did.
The expression "work of faith" no doubt was not peculiar at all when Paul wrote it. It is thus a sign of how far off track the faith versus works debate today has gone. Faith and works for Paul were not contradictory notions, but faith showed itself in action.
1:4-5 ... knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election, because our gospel did not come to you in word only but also in power and with Holy Spirit and with much confidence, just as you know how we came to you because of you,
Election is something Paul infers after the fact rather than something that drives his theology. He induces that the Thessalonians are elect because perhaps miracles and other manifestations of power accompanied their conversion. Such an observation would not mean for Paul that they could not help but make it to the end or would not contradict someone leaving the fellowship. Paul predestination language does not cause anything in his theology, ethics, or action. It is rather an affirmation or effect of what has already happened.
1:6-7 ... and you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word with much tribulation with the joy of Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all who have faith in Macedonia and in Achaea.
Paul has no difficulty holding himself and Silas up against Jesus as examples to emulate in suffering and persecution. Jesus endured persecution. Paul and Silas have endured persecution. The Thessalonians have endured persecution, and their endurance is an example for those in Macedonia and Greece.
1:8 For the word of the Lord has gone out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaea but in every place your faith toward God has gone out with the result that we do not need to say something.
The Thessalonian church, according to Acts, was not the first church in Macedonia to believe on the Christ. But perhaps the amount of persecution there was greater. Whatever the reason, the faith of the Thessalonians that they showed in such crisis had gotten around.
We notice that faith here is directed toward God. While it is fairly conventional for Christians to speak of faith in Christ, Paul more often thought of faith as directed toward God. The sense of faith here seems to be one of keeping faith or being faithful to God, which of course involves trusting in Him too. It is not a mere confession of faith, however, but a way of acting in faith.
1:9 For they themselves announce concerning you of what sort of entrance we had to you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
This verse indicates that the audience of 1 Thessalonians is Gentile rather than Jewish. As a Jew, Paul believes that there is only one legitimate, true God. Idols, on the other hand, do not have life.
1:10 ... and to await His Son from the skies, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Here is perhaps the earliest Pauline teaching on the coming of Christ. We might have translated the word for "skies" as "heavens," but that makes it too easy for us to impose later understandings of heaven on Paul's meaning. The word basically means skies, and Paul seemed to conceptualize the world in terms of three of them.
Interesting that the early formulation is that God raised Jesus from the dead rather than that Jesus arose. It is a testament once again to the theocentric nature of at least Paul's early thinking. Faith is directed toward God, and God is the one who raised Jesus "out of the corpses."
Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath. The wrath is presumably the wrath of God in judgment. Paul does not say how Jesus' victorious resurrection connects to his rescue of us from God's wrath.
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36 comments:
In just the first 10 verses of Thessolonians, Paul speaks about numerous different theological issues. However, at the time of his writing about them, they less of an issue than what they have become to be today. Issues such as predestination, and faith versus works, or simply the resurrection are debated my Christians, and non-christians alike. I wonder if some of what Paul wrote is taken to extremes in many theological debates or are read into beyond whatever he intended to be found in them.
Hannah Arend
The concept of reconciling works and faith that is found in verse 3 is contentious to most denominations today. For many Christians it is thought of as "either/or" but here we see that it is potrayed as "both/and". I find that this is true of many philosophies presented in the Bible. True Christianity in it's purest form is a dichotomy of "both/and"'s that make nailing down biblical doctrine near impossible for most of us to humanly accomplish. I think that this fact is what points to the authenticity of Christianity. If we really examine it's true essence, it goes against what our human nature and logic are inclined towards.
In verse 1, I liked how Paul discreetly greeted both the Jews and Gentiles, using the Greek word charein and Hebrew word shalom. Putting these two groups in the same category is so important for the body of Christ to be unified and in one accord. Having unity with one another is stressed in several parts of the bible including Philippians 2:1-2 and Acts 4:32. However, verse 9 implies that 1 Thessalonians was intended for only the Gentiles. I think that is peculiar that Paul first greeted both people groups, but later it is obvious that the Gentiles were to be the recipients of this letter.
Katie Hamilton
Thanks Hannah, Angela, and Katie for getting us started!
I believe that Paul chooses his words very carefully at the beginning of this letter. He encourages and praises the people of the church in Thessalonica throughout most of these verses, and he does so in order to grab their attention. We are all more apt to receive the words and instructions of someone who is an encourager, rather than a condemner. Paul writes about some serious and intense issues in 1 Thessalonians, which requires the full attention of the readers. He achieves this through his positive language and attitude in the first few verses.
James 2:17 reminds me and confirms that the example of faith the Thessalonian church portrayed is the way faith is truly supposed to be lived out, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." In verses 1:2-3 Paul gives thanks to the church because of their "faith and (just as important) their actions". The intrinsic emotional terms Paul uses to describe this faith, are all accompanied by something physical or an extrinsic action. (Work/Faith; labor/love; endurance/hope) Paul makes references about "serving the living and true God", in 1:9. Obviously the Thessalonian church was viewed differently from some of the others in Macedonia (1:8), there was something different in the way they served God, no matter how hard the trials and situations may have been. This may mean that instead of waiting and praying for the Holy Spirit to come upon those who they shared God with and proclaimed His name to, they actually let their faith allow the Holy Spirit to work through their actions which resulted in a living faith that was so contagious to many, even to those who persecuted them.
karen sand
I understand the explanation of Paul's use of "election" in 1:4-5, however, I find myself trying to relate it to my own conversion experience. Are all who are in the body of Christ "elect"? I certainly do not love the debate, but does it mean that God simply chooses to display His power along with the Holy Spirit for the sake of persuasion? Was this just a "spiritual landmark" that the Lord knew this Church would need to return to because of the coming persecution? If it is not something that "drives his theology," have we simply made to much of Paul's word, "election"? Big surprise: many questions and few answers.
When first reading this passage of verse 4-5 I was taken back about the possible theology of predestination. The gap and lack of information that we have about what has happened to the people makes us to be sure to be very careful in reading this. As said in the original post, the possibility of a miraculous act of God on these people shows the reason why Paul might have chose the word "election." The later part of the verse shows that it was through some kind of power that the people had confidence in God.
TJ Knowland
I find it interesting that Paul remembers or recognizes the Thessalonian's "Work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope". In I Corinthians 13:13 Paul says "And these three remain: faith, hope and love." I tend to believe Paul's thankful here because they are holding onto the things that were, are, and always will be (Christ). John tells us in John 1 that Christ came that we might be born not of the flesh (mortal) rather of the Spirit (eternal). Clearly, by the Thessalonian's transformation (vss 9-10), the word of God came them with power, the Holy Spirit, and with deep convictioning.
Jason Lefler
we talked a little bit about election in romans class...i was wondering if election carries the same sort of idea in thessalonians as it does in romans. we talked a lot about this idea of election being in a corporate sense rather than it being an individual thing. is this the case in 1 thessalonians as well?
I noticed that in the first 3 chapters of this book, Paul chooses to praise the Thessalonians for what they have done and the hardships they have endured. This is a very important aspect of all of Paul's writings. He usually first praises the people for the good they are doing, then goes into what they could work on and get better at. Paul also seems to really love this group of people, as he mentions over and over again how he wants to come visit them again, although the chances of this seem pretty slim.
In this first chapter, Paul gives us a great example of how we as Christians should build one another up. Paul is so encouraging to his audience and reassuring them that they are currently on the right track. It also gives us a clear picture of how living earnestly in faith influences others; Paul says wherever they go they find people telling them about the faith of the Thessalonians in God.
After having recently studied Ephesians, where Paul describes the fact that the Gentiles are also heirs and members of the body as “the mystery of Christ”, I was a little surprised to read in Thessalonians 1:4 that God had chosen them. My surprise was not in the fact that they were chosen, but rather how Paul in what is supposed to be his earliest writing is so matter-of-fact about it, and then in a later writing devotes so much time to this issue. Was the faith of the Thessalonians so much greater then the recipients of The Letter to the Ephesians?
From this point on I will be alert to how Paul describes the end times. In verse 10 it would appear that Paul believes the end is near and that believers will be spared from any part of the tribulation.
I really like How Paul seems to so flippantly put himself and Silas with Christ as those to be imitated (even if here it only seems to be in reference to suffering). This is a beautiful Idea. We can be identified with Christ. Of course we will never be truly like Christ, but the idea that Paul just straight put himself in the same list with Jesus and also includes his friend Silas is a really sobering thought. We can attain that. What could be better than being able to be put in the same list as Jesus (really in just about any list with Jesus). That's how I want to live my life...
Paul talks a lot about their suffering in a seemingly matter-of-fact way, as if what they are undergoing is to be expected. In the Acts class we talked about how early Christians knew that faith in Jesus would lead to suffering and possibly death. This is no exception in Thessalonica-Paul held them up as examples of those who have undergone suffering!
Andrea Meredith
Anders, I personally still see Paul thinking more of the Thessalonians as a group as called and elect rather than the destiny of each one of them as individuals being distinguished from the destinies of other individuals. The difference with Romans is that there Paul is focused, in my view, more on the Gentiles as chosen and most Jews (currently) as not chosen.
The group distinction I am pushing is a function of a group culture versus our more individualistic culture, and I think the language is more emotive and cohesive--it expresses God's love for them and implies their belonging--more than primarily logical to where we can play out the logical consequences in relation to others.
I found Paul's view on faith very interesting. I have always thought of faith as being a belief that one has and not so much and action, but Paul seems to think that faith and works go together. I really begins to make sense in 1:8 when he seems to say that faith is and action that is directed toward God. It is because of the faith that we have in Christ that we are able to show our faith toward God though our actions. It's always been hard for me to understand how to link those two things together.
I thought it was a very interesting point that Paul's standard greeting in his letters, "Grace" and "Peace" could have been a strategic greeting because of using a Greek common greeting and "shalom" which would hold mighty significance to the Jews. I always seem to breeze through Paul's greetings without ever considering the purpose for him using certain words and phrases. I find it fascinating that Paul would appeal to unity between Jew and Gentile in Christ with this seemingly flippant phrase.
Joel Larison
I find it interesting how Paul speaks about the Holy Spirit and His relationship to the gospel as he speaks of the power and conviction that the Spirit gives. Their is a lot of material on each person of the Trinity in this chapter as Paul references the God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. It's interesting to see how Paul connects the Son with the Father and the attributes he gives to both of them...
Jeremy Armiger
In the first chapter of 1 Thessalonians Paul appears to set up the Thessalonian church as an example of faithfulness. He mentions the persecution that they have suffered several times. He also mentions how their faith in God was known "everywhere".For me it is important to remember that these were Gentile believers- believers who experienced life changing conversion. As Gentiles they were not "religious" people, but their faith in God was something to be imitated.
-Rachel Arend
I found it interesting how much Paul was praising the Thessalonians and even had the guts to compare himself and those with him to Jesus. Today we are taught to be humble before the Lord and that we are not worthy enough to be compared to Jesus (at least that is how I feel sometimes). But here Paul is showing us that in some ways we are like Christ, and He has shown us how to respond to situations and conflicts that come our way. It is an encouragement for us to be able to also see that it can be done by ordinary men like Paul, Silas and Timothy.
I find it kind of interesting that the concept of a living G-d and non-living idols being in competition is kind of forgotten. I mean I suppose that not many people set up their own little statue and start burning things in front of it these days but I mean, we don't do that for G-d either these days last I checked. So with the change of G-d's worship what have we added? It seems that too often we throw a new form of idolatry in the mix (materialism, celebrity, or even our own bodies at times) and don't consider the ramifications. What a strange thought that we could be committing such acts and just put it off as being “normal”.
What strikes me the most in this first chapter is Paul's view on Faith being towards God, not necessarily in God. I have never really thought of it this way until now and it makes since. It kinds of seems like there is acknowledgement that one will fall short at times, but that they still want to continue to have faith in God. I also find it interesting that Paul is giving them praise for keeping the faith. There are so many different issues Paul brings up in this first chapter, but another thing that stood out to me was in verse 8 I believe where he talks about how their works are found in their faith and that they are not 2 separate components, but one. I am amazed at what all Paul has to say in just the first chapter.
Kristi Moore
When i first read through this passage the first thing that i saw was the verse where Paul talks about the Thesselonians being the elect. At first i was not too sure about it. I can think that many people when they read this verse would think that there are only a chosen amount of people that can go to heaven. After reading through the rest of the chapter i saw how much they were persecuted and i could better understand why Paul said that they were the elect. After seeing the amount of persecution they were going through i liked how Paul encouraged them with relating their persecution with his. I felt that it would bring the Thessalonians comfort when they read it.
I felt that this chapter was very full but a great encouragement to those being persecuted.
In this first chapter, i like how Paul praises and encourages the Thessalonians. I really like how he says he, Silas and Timothy 'always' thank God for them and mentioned them in their prayers. It seems like a very small thing but i feel that this shows how important prayer is and prayer for others.
sean schwarze
I find it interesting that Paul has confidence enough to outright tell the Thessalonians to emulate him and Silas. I think this shows the confidence we can all share in the work of the Holy Spirit within our lives.
I wonder how people would react today if a teacher/pastor made a similar statement?
Matthew Aspinall
-Zach Vincent-
This chapter is full of great content for discussion. Who would have thought that an introduction to a letter would touch on two huge theological debates in the church?!?
I agree with the evidence presented concerning Paul's thoughts on predestination. The letter is written after the church in Thessalonica converts to Christianity so he is merely speaking about something that had happened to the church earlier, not necessarily before time began. He is simply just stating that they are God's people because they worship the one, true God. I can see how confusion about predestination can occur because predestination lingo exists in this passage.
Paul obviously shows the importance of both faith and works and how they work together to love and honor God. Even if Paul or I am wrong about this relationship between works and faith, is it worth fighting about? This fighting is not getting us anywhere! Why wouldn't you want to help out a fellow man? Stop figuring out whether you need to or not and just do it! It won't harm you!
God has given so much knowledge to Paul and Silas, its amazing to hear of the stories where churches literally sit on the words that come out of Paul's mouth. Once again God can do anything through anybody.
Chris Scheuerell
I always enjoy reading Paul's letter because he greets the people, hoping that they are doing well. Paul also says that he is praying for them. When Paul talks about the Thessalonian' faith in God, he is just referring to their belief in the Lord, but their trust as well. People seem to neglect that trust is just as important as faith. You are acting out your faith, as you said in your commentary. It is interesting to be reminded of this truth.
~Amber Davies
[I don't know about anyone else, but I'm excited to talk about the application of this passage!]
I personally find it interesting with the "faith, hope, and love" parallel [v.3 and 1 Cor. 13], and I think it's important to note that they are mentioned together, even though love is the greatest--does this mean that without hope and faith, love cannot be achieved? I know that works are easy for a short amount of time, but endurance is... well... killer, unless we have hope in Jesus.
I also found the fifth verse very interesting, and I have a few questions about it. Does "power" refer to the power and confidence Paul, Silas and Timothy had? Or does it refer to the Holy Spirit's power? And what about the "deep conviction"? Is this personal or communal? Is it caused by the Holy Spirit or the listeners' conscientious efforts (both of which are more than likely)? Just wondering though!
Marta Tillett
I wonder how far the news of the Thessalonians' exemplary faith spread and what exactly Paul meant by saying people "everywhere" had heard of their model (1:8). Also, along the lines of the faith versus works debate, Paul seems to explain that faith, love, and hope in Christ are foundational and can't help but lead to an outpouring of work, labor, and endurance, respectively. It makes sense that the hope, love, and faith based on a relationship with Christ would transform lives and produce much fruit to reveal God's glory. Isn't that what is really taking place here anyway--God is being glorified in Paul's words as He is at work in and through the lives of the Thessalonians.
I wonder what the differentiation is between Paul's use of the words "work" and "labor" and what significance this diference might hold in connection with their respective foundations that Paul mentions.
-Sarah Meyer
Dr. Schenck wrote:
“Election is something Paul infers after the fact rather than something that drives his theology. […] Paul predestination language does not cause anything in his theology, ethics, or action.”
I thought this was an interesting observation. If there is a connection between the Thessalonians’ “election” and miracles and other manifestations of power, how could this transfer into a modern context in which such miracles are often downplayed?
I love that from the get-go Paul uses his faith, hope, and love combination. It really shows how his letters are permeated by these gifts/virtues. Our actions should not flow out of duty but by gratitude for the faith, hope, and love we receive from Christ. I wonder about the phrase "the church of Thessalonica in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Does Paul see the church as existing in the heavenly realms, or does this reflect the indwelling of God in the church? Why does Paul refrain from including the Spirit in that initial greeting? Does this show a lack of a trinitarian understanding?
--Steve Hands
I always wondered what significance Paul’s familiar greeting of “grace and peace” had...I like this suggestion that it may be a way for him to show the unity of the Jew and the Gentile. It is very interesting that Paul would use this phrase “work of faith”, clearly showing the close relationship of the two ideas. It is also clear again in verse 8 that faith is active as Paul talks about the faith of the Thessalonians being directed “toward God.” Also, it is incredible to see how the persecution and tribulation they faced had such an impact on the surrounding areas so that the word had already reached the people before Paul and Silas arrived to share with them.
I find Paul's reference in verse 6 to be imitators intriguing in that first, he mentions "us" ( I'm assuming he's talking about Silas, Timothy, and himself) before he mentions God and second, it seems to reflect other later work in Corinthians, Ephesians, and depending on authorship, perhaps even Hebrews. I find it amusing in 1 Corinthians 4:16 that he repeats his desire that the believers imitate him and only 2 verses later he warns them about becoming arrogant.
I don't believe that Paul is exhibiting arrogance in these passages but I am curious how the post-modern generation receives this as a whole. Would we recommend the same thing today? I highly doubt it - we seem to be too caught up in confessing our shortcomings and meditating on our brokenness to think it appropriate to ask someone to truly imitate us and God.
Adam Otto
In verse six Paul mentions that that the Thessalonian Church 'became imitators of the Lord; in spite severe suffering.' The next verse says that they were an example to believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Christ said that 'blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' It is not stated that the Thessalonians were persecuted because of their righteousness, but the two seem to go hand in hand throughout the scriptures. Often, as is the case here, the most persecuted seem to have the greatest faith. If our faith is lacking perhaps it is because we are too far removed from the cry of the oppressed and persecuted, and not near enough to the poor and broken. What is our faith for if it is not to serve?
Matthew Potter
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