CHAPTER NINETEEN
The First Letter to the Thessalonians
Orientation
Regarded by many as Paul’s earliest known letter, and therefore the earliest writing of the New Testament, 1 Thessalonians is famous for its emphasis on the return of Christ, which is the subject of half of chapters 4 and 5 but is mentioned also at the end of every chapter. The new church in Thessalonica is so new, and so interested in the coming of Christ, that they are not sure what will happen to believers who die before he comes.
The Historical Origins of 1 Thessalonians
But the letter should also be appreciated for its great insights into the methods, motivations, as well as emotions, that characterized Paul’s ministry among the Thessalonians. It is a heartfelt letter that reveals a pastor who loves his people.
Thessalonica
Figure 19.1. Location of Thessalonica [© Baker Publishing Group]
Exploration—Reading 1 Thessalonians
From Idols to the True God
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1–10
After the initial greeting from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy (1:1), the entire first chapter of 1 Thessalonians is given to their thanksgiving for the Thessalonians. This thanksgiving is exceptionally positive, recognizing their work, labor, and love, produced by the Thessalonians’ faith, love, and hope (1:2–3). The gospel message has had powerful effect among the Thessalonians, who became imitators of Paul and his companions, despite severe persecution (1:4–6).
The Structure of 1 Thessalonians
The Thessalonians have become an example to believers throughout Macedonia and Achaia (Greece), as the word of the Lord has radiated out from them (1:7–8). The key to their transformation is that the Thessalonians “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1:9). They are waiting for God’s risen Son from heaven, “who rescues us from the coming wrath” (1:10). This key also flags two major themes of the letter: the return of Christ and his rescue of believers from judgment.
Caring for You as Our Own Children
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 2:1–12
Paul reflects on their visit among the Thessalonians (cf. Acts 17:1–9), and their motivation and conduct when speaking the gospel to them—seeking to please God, not people, never using flattery or seeking human glory (2:1–6). Instead, they treated the Thessalonians as their own children (2:7, 11), sharing their lives with them, working hard, and living blamelessly among them (2:8–10). Their goal was to encourage the Thessalonians to live worthy of God (2:12).
You Welcome the Word of God
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13–20
When Paul visited them, the Thessalonians received the word of God as it truly is, not as a word from people (2:13). And like believers in Judea, who have suffered from the Jews who rejected Jesus, the Thessalonians have suffered persecution from their own people too (2:14–16). Paul and his companions were forced to leave the Thessalonians after a short time (cf. Acts 17:5–10) and longed to see them again—their glory and joy (2:17–20).
Anti-Semitism in Christianity?
Longing for You
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 3:1–13
Paul went by himself to Athens (cf. Acts 17:14–15), while Timothy was sent to encourage the Thessalonians and to report back to Paul as to how things were going with the faith (3:1–5). Timothy brought news of their faith and love, and their longing to see Paul, just as Paul longed to see them (3:6, 10). The Thessalonians’ faith is a source of joy and thanksgiving for Paul and his companions (3:7–9). Paul prays to see them again, that they would overflow with love for one another, and that God would make them blameless at the coming of Christ (3:10–13).
Keep on Doing What You’re Doing
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 4:1–12
Paul wants to encourage the Thessalonians to live in a way that pleases God, according to their instructions. In fact, they are already living this way, but he wants them to do so even more (4:1–2). First, this will mean keeping away from sexual immorality. Believers should avoid lustful passions and not take advantage of one another. Sexual manipulation and exploitation will incur the anger of God, since “the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses” (4:3–6). Instead, God has called us to holiness. To reject this teaching is to reject God himself and God’s presence among us—the Holy Spirit (4:7–8).
Second, the Thessalonians already know how to love one another and have demonstrated this throughout Macedonia. But they should do so all the more (4:9–10). They should live “a quiet life,” which probably means a life without unnecessary drama, and they are to be diligent in their work to enable self-sufficiency (4:11–12).
Taught by God
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13–18
Paul turns his attention to a question that seems to have bothered the Thessalonians: What happens to people who die before Jesus returns? The question is raised because the Thessalonians are among the first generation of Christians and are wrestling with the fact of Christian death for the first time. Before he answers the question, Paul gives the pastoral conclusion up front: “You will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope” (4:13).
The short answer comes first: “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (4:14). “Have fallen asleep” is a metaphor for death that implies impermanence—the dead will awaken to resurrected life. And those who have fallen asleep will be raised from the dead just as Jesus was. God will do this through Jesus, and the resurrected dead will accompany Jesus.
Return to Judge the Living and the Dead
The longer answer follows. When Jesus comes again, some believers will already be dead, but others will still be alive. Those still alive will have no advantage over those who have already died (4:15). Apocalyptic imagery will accompany the coming of Christ: he will descend from heaven “with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God.” At that point, those who have already died as believers will rise from the dead (4:16). Then believers who are alive at the coming of Christ “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (4:17).
Figure 19.2. Pilaster of angels sounding trumpets from the parapet of a pulpit by Giovanni Pisano [The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1910.]
The Lord’s Coming from Heaven
The Rapture
Meeting the Lord in the Air
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:1–11
Speaking of the coming of Christ, Paul turns to focus on the question of when that will happen. The short answer this time is that “the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night,” which recalls Jesus’s words in Matthew 24:42–44. Jesus’s return cannot be predicted and so will surprise those not waiting for him (5:1–3).
Though no one knows when Jesus will come again, believers will not be caught off guard. Believers are children of the light and children of the day, and do not belong to the darkness or the night (5:4–5). The metaphors of night and day direct how people will live: those who belong to the night do the things that are covered by darkness, while believers are to be awake and self-controlled, wearing the armor of faith, hope, and love (5:6–8). This will be consistent with the salvation that God has appointed for believers, so that we may live with Christ (5:9–10).
Final Encouragements
READ 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12–28
A few final encouragements round out the letter. Paul wants to make sure that the Thessalonians respect and love their spiritual leaders, who work hard for them (5:12–13). On the other hand, anyone who does not work hard enough should be prodded (5:14). Everyone should pursue what is good for everyone else (5:14–15). They are to be people who rejoice, pray, give thanks, hold on to what is good, and stay away from evil (5:16–21).
Paul concludes with a prayer that the God of peace will keep believers blameless in spirit, soul, and body, for the coming of Christ. He will do it because he is faithful (5:23–24).
What Is “Prophecy”?
Implementation—Reading 1 Thessalonians as Christian Scripture Today
Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians makes an important contribution to the New Testament’s teaching about the return of Christ. The resurrection of the dead at Christ’s coming and the timing of these events are taught for the encouragement of these early believers. Believers today can be encouraged, as the Thessalonians were, to look ahead to the coming of Christ; the resurrection of the dead enables us to grieve with hope for those who have fallen asleep in Christ.
The believers in Thessalonica continue to set an example for the church today in their radical transformation from pagan idol worshipers to become servants of the true and living God. Though idolatry might not take the same form today, it is alive and well in our culture’s obsession with wealth, success, fame, sex, and other things that compete with God for devotion. The church would do well to follow the Thessalonians in their thorough turnaround and in their hope in the coming of God’s Son from heaven.
Paul’s example too stands as an encouragement to all believers, but especially to those who seek to lead within the church. His loving and affectionate disposition toward the Thessalonians offers a better model for Christian ministry than the often professionalized, and sometimes impersonal, approaches that can be seen today in many churches.
- Read Acts 16:6–18:5 and 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3:6. Note all the connections that you can find between the two passages.
- List all the descriptions of the Thessalonian believers found in 1 Thessalonians 1–2.
- Describe the characteristics of Paul’s ministry among the Thessalonians as seen in 1 Thessalonians 2.
- Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15. Compare and contrast the two passages.