Welcome to Thessalonica!
0 comments | Posted by Steven Layson on 09 Aug 2009 in From Steve's Study :: Christianity
Some people to a bit of travelling (so I hear). There are all sorts of reasons for travelling the world – some do it just for the experience, some do it for their work, some do it because they just can’t stand being at home, & some even do it for the sake of ministry. In the first century, Paul spent a great deal of time travelling the world telling people about Jesus. You can read all about his journeys in the book of Acts (as we’ve seen recently).
In Acts 17:1-9, Paul visits the Macedonian city of Thessalonica. This was an important sea-port and trade city – the largest in the region. He spent three weeks there in the synagogue showing them that Jesus was the promised king from the Old Testament. In God’s providence, a number of the Jewish people, as well as a large number of Gentiles, became Christians.
However, after only this short time, the other Jews in the city became so jealous and angry about the number of people turning to Jesus that they caused a riot. The result was that Paul had to leave this fledgling group of believers after only three weeks. In such a short time, there must have been many things that Paul hadn’t been able to teach them. On top of this, the persecution that Paul experienced was subsequently turned on them.
Now, some time later, Paul writes a letter to this small group of new Christians to encourage them and help them grow in their understanding of the gospel. Over the next month, we will be reading this letter together, and as we do, we’ll be able to take on board the encouragement he gives them, the assurance of eternal life and of Christ’s return, as well as being challenged to live in the light of that return.
1 Thessalonians is an encouraging letter. Let me encourage you to spend some time this week reading it (it’s only five chapters long), and pray that Paul’s prayer would be fulfilled in us (1 Thess 5:23) – “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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