20160903 Saturday, September 3 2016
1 Thessalonians 01: The Church Of Mount Olympus

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"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"

The city of Thessalonica (or Thessaloniki) was a major ancient metropolis on the Thermaic Bay of what is today northern Greece. The famous Mount Olympus can be seen from the city (see the photo below). Prior to the rise of the Roman Empire, it had been within the heart of the Macedonian Empire of Alexander the Great (see A History Of Jerusalem: Greeks, Ptolemies, Seleucids), however by the first century AD, "Rome" had risen politically and militarily, but not culturally or academically, to dominate the region (see A History Of Jerusalem: Pompey And The Caesars). Greek remained the language of the "world" (see Paul, The Apostle To The World).

The apostle Paul visited and traveled through Thessalonica on his second and third missionary journeys (see Paul's First Missionary Journey, Paul's Second Missionary Journey and Paul's Third Missionary Journey). As happened almost everywhere else, Paul encountered those who accepted the Gospel ("some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few"), as well as those who rejected it ("lewd fellows of the baser sort").

"17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews [see Israel In History and Prophecy: Judaism]: 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days [see When Is The LORD's Day?] reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 17:4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 17:8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things." (Acts 17:1-8 KJV)

At that time, those of Thessalonica who rejected the Truth even pursued Paul far beyond their own city. The result was that Paul was driven to even more places to preach the Gospel.

"17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea [see also The Berean Lesson]: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. 17:14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. 17:15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed." (Acts 17:10-15 KJV)

Paul's first epistle to the Thessalonian believers was one of the first that he wrote (see also Why Did Others Write For Paul?). While not his longest letter (see The Apostle Paul's Gramma), it nevertheless contains a great amount of Christian teaching, including his famous "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

"1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church [see also Can You See 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.

1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith [see Works Means Obedience], and labour of love [see The Yoke Of Freedom], and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ [see Could Christ Return Tonight?], in the sight of God and our Father;

1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 1:5 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. 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 1:8 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. 1:9 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; 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven [see What Is The Day Of The LORD? and The Seals Of Prophecy], whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 KJV)

Fact Finder: Silvanus is recorded as being with Paul when the first epistle to the Thessalonians was written (verse 1, above). Who was Silvanus?
See Who Was Silvanus?