The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
Commentary by Nick Boork
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October 9 –1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Paul planted this church on his second missionary journey. He was accompanied by Silas and other team members. The Lord opened this door for Paul to speak the Word and Luke records that many were persuaded by the things Paul shared. However, some Jews in the city gathered a mob to persecute Paul and he had to leave before spending much time establishing these new believers in the faith. Those that persecuted Paul also rose up against these new Believers. Paul wrote to comfort them and teach the essentials of what it means to have faith in Christ. Some Bible Scholars call 1 Thessalonians a “Pastoral letter” because of Paul’s obvious concern for the spiritual wellbeing of this new church. It’s a favorite book used to teach Bible studies by missionaries as it covers so many essential truths and experiences of new believers.
Let’s begin with the conversion of the Thessalonians from Pagan idolatry to faith in the living God. As Paul preached the gospel the seed of the word of God was planted into the minds and hearts of many in the city. He recalls how they received the word of God with abundant joy in the Holy Spirit and that his message came with great power and assurance resulting in many of them being radically born again. All of their lives they had been brought up in myths and idolatry but when Paul preached Christ crucified and raised from the dead the Holy Spirit brought conviction in their hearts followed by the miracle of salvation. This is why Paul reminds them that they were the elect of God because they had responded to the word of God and we’re now showing the fruits of salvation.
These believers developed a great zeal for Jesus Christ and began to spread the gospel far and wide! Paul says that the word of God sounded out like a trumpet in that entire region and people were testifying about how the gospel changed so many lives at Thessalonica. These believers were taking the great commission of Christ seriously and we’re carrying the message out farther and farther. Remember how Jesus told the apostles in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be witnesses for Christ both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. This is what was happening through these believers at Thessalonica that had been transformed by the power of God. I think that even the apostle Paul was amazed because he says that the testimony of their salvation made a great impact among people from other cities hearing about how they turned from pagan idolatry and false gods to serve the living in true God and his blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. These believers had connected to the truth that had set them free and they were filled with a living hope in a risen glorified Christ who could come at any moment and bring the kingdom of God in power to the earth.
Paul reminds them in his letter that God had trusted him with the gospel and he was acting as his ambassador to them. Paul never took advantage of any of them financially but became a powerful witness of what a Spirit filled man dedicated to follow Christ was like. The apostle Paul’s motive was never to make money off these people but rather to see their souls made rich through faith in Christ. He affectionately refers to the kind of relationship they had saying that we treated you like a mother or as nurse would care for young children. Because of the relationship and fellowship that they had in the gospel they were bonded together in the love of Christ. These believers became more than just members of the church, now they were part of the spiritual family of God and Paul and his team felt closely connected to each of them spiritually. This was very exciting for the apostle Paul because he was able to see the fruit of his labor in the believers lives at Thessalonica. There is nothing like knowing that the Lord has used you to impact lives for eternity.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Paul planted the church at Thessalonica on his second missionary journey.
2) 1 Thessalonians is filled with all the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.
3) Many were converted and renounced pagan idolatry to follow Christ.
4) The message of the gospel spread like wild fire through these new believers!
5) Paul and his team developed a deep family bond with these believers and sincerely cared to see them grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute.
Enroll free today! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
OKAY, HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Paul planted this church on his second missionary journey. He was accompanied by Silas and other team members. The Lord opened this door for Paul to speak the Word and Luke records that many were persuaded by the things Paul shared. However, some Jews in the city gathered a mob to persecute Paul and he had to leave before spending much time establishing these new believers in the faith. Those that persecuted Paul also rose up against these new Believers. Paul wrote to comfort them and teach the essentials of what it means to have faith in Christ. Some Bible Scholars call 1 Thessalonians a “Pastoral letter” because of Paul’s obvious concern for the spiritual wellbeing of this new church. It’s a favorite book used to teach Bible studies by missionaries as it covers so many essential truths and experiences of new believers.
Let’s begin with the conversion of the Thessalonians from Pagan idolatry to faith in the living God. As Paul preached the gospel the seed of the word of God was planted into the minds and hearts of many in the city. He recalls how they received the word of God with abundant joy in the Holy Spirit and that his message came with great power and assurance resulting in many of them being radically born again. All of their lives they had been brought up in myths and idolatry but when Paul preached Christ crucified and raised from the dead the Holy Spirit brought conviction in their hearts followed by the miracle of salvation. This is why Paul reminds them that they were the elect of God because they had responded to the word of God and we’re now showing the fruits of salvation.
These believers developed a great zeal for Jesus Christ and began to spread the gospel far and wide! Paul says that the word of God sounded out like a trumpet in that entire region and people were testifying about how the gospel changed so many lives at Thessalonica. These believers were taking the great commission of Christ seriously and we’re carrying the message out farther and farther. Remember how Jesus told the apostles in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and that they would be witnesses for Christ both in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. This is what was happening through these believers at Thessalonica that had been transformed by the power of God. I think that even the apostle Paul was amazed because he says that the testimony of their salvation made a great impact among people from other cities hearing about how they turned from pagan idolatry and false gods to serve the living in true God and his blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. These believers had connected to the truth that had set them free and they were filled with a living hope in a risen glorified Christ who could come at any moment and bring the kingdom of God in power to the earth.
Paul reminds them in his letter that God had trusted him with the gospel and he was acting as his ambassador to them. Paul never took advantage of any of them financially but became a powerful witness of what a Spirit filled man dedicated to follow Christ was like. The apostle Paul’s motive was never to make money off these people but rather to see their souls made rich through faith in Christ. He affectionately refers to the kind of relationship they had saying that we treated you like a mother or as nurse would care for young children. Because of the relationship and fellowship that they had in the gospel they were bonded together in the love of Christ. These believers became more than just members of the church, now they were part of the spiritual family of God and Paul and his team felt closely connected to each of them spiritually. This was very exciting for the apostle Paul because he was able to see the fruit of his labor in the believers lives at Thessalonica. There is nothing like knowing that the Lord has used you to impact lives for eternity.
WHAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE?
1) Paul planted the church at Thessalonica on his second missionary journey.
2) 1 Thessalonians is filled with all the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.
3) Many were converted and renounced pagan idolatry to follow Christ.
4) The message of the gospel spread like wild fire through these new believers!
5) Paul and his team developed a deep family bond with these believers and sincerely cared to see them grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ.
PRAYER TO APPLY THE WORD OF GOD TO OUR LIVES
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute.
Enroll free today! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll