How did the Thessalonians receive God’s message? (v2:13, Matthew 13:18-23)
- They accepted it as the Word of God
- And not just as word of men
- Parable of the farmer:
- First group: Didn’t understand
- Second group: Gave up because of persecution
- Third group: Weren’t fruitful as their focus was on the world
- Fourth group: Understood and became fruitful
- Thessalonians and the “Parable of the farmer”:
- Thessalonians understood the Gospel
- They not only received the Gospel with Joy
- They were willing to face persecution
- They became fruitful
- They “most certainly” bore fruit
- Became the example for believers in other places around them
How were the assemblies in Judea, persecuted? (v14-16,Acts 11:1-3,13:42-45,50,14:19,15:1)
- They killed Lord Jesus
- And their own prophets
- Drove Paul and his team out
- In one case they thought he was dead after being
- Don’t please God
- Contrary to all men
- Forbidding to speak to the gentiles
- Believers
- Questioning Peter about his visit to Cornelius
- Claiming following the law is prerequisite to salvation
- Unbelieving Jews
- Filled with Jealousy
- Contradicted Paul
- Blasphemed
- Believers
Why was Paul so concerned about the Thessalonians? What was his goal? (v2:14, 17-3:3)
- Thessalonians had suffered just like the Church in Judea
- Hence, Paul was really concerned about the spiritual status
- Paul wanted to do anything he could to help
- Establish the Thessalonian Church
- Comfort them concerning their faith
- They were persecuted because of their faith
- Make sure none of them would give up because of the affliction
- Since Paul was hindered, he sent Timothy
- Paul confirms, that they were appointed for this task
Conclusion:
- Thessalonians followed the example set by assemblies of God in Judea
- Even though they both (Thessalonians and Paul) faced persecutions
- Thessalonians didn’t give up on their faith
- Paul didn’t give up on the Thessalonians and his appointed task
Main Passage 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:3 – World English Bible (WEB)
13 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, 18 because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus[a] at his coming? 20 For you are our glory and our joy.
3 Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith, 3 that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.
Footnotes
- 2:19 TR adds “Christ”
Notes / Cross References
Matthew 13:18-23 18 “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer. 19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside. 20 What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Acts 11:1-3 11 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!”
Acts 13:42-45 42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
Acts 13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
Acts 14:19 But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”
