Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention constantly in our prayers, because we remember your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brothers dearly loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of people we became among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-6)

Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica was written around 51 AD from Corinth. Acts 17:1-15 records Paul’s first visit to Thessalonica and how his visit was cut short, causing them to flee the city. 1 Thessalonians 3:1 reveals that Paul was so concerned about this shortened visit and the state of the church that he sent Timothy to them while he was in Athens (Acts 17:16-34 is Paul’s visit to Athens, then in Acts 18 he moves on to Corinth). Timothy investigated the church and stayed there for a bit, then returned and caught up with Paul in Corinth and gave his report. This letter is Paul’s response to that report. It is a letter full of Jewish ideas and Messianic hopes. The people who had responded to Paul’s gospel message had been Jews, converts to Judaism, and leading women from the city (presumably a mix of Jew and Gentile). It is a very Jewish letter to a very Jewish community of Jewish believers in Jesus. They were a persecuted church, but held fast to their faith. Paul had great pride and tender affection to these fellow believers, and it is very obvious from the letter. It is a hopeful letter and full of encouragement.

There is an important note about three verses in chapter two (verses 14-16): “For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own people, just as they themselves did also at the hands of the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that they always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end..” These verses have often been used as justification for the persecution of Jews as a whole nation because of the responsibility of a select few (the religious elite) who for political reasons were behind Jesus being killed by the Romans. Paul is NOT speaking about all the Jews. Neither was Peter in his speech on Pentecost (Acts 2:36). Neither was Stephen in his speech to the Sanhedrin who HAD voted to kill Jesus (Acts 7:51-53). The whole point of Jesus coming was to die for us. Someone had to kill Him. Those to took the reins were a specific group of people, not an entire city or racial group. These verses are true as they were meant and should NEVER be used to persecute or BLAME the Jews. WE – all human beings – are just as responsible as they because we ALL have fallen short and we ALL were the reason Jesus came. As for the specific individuals who DID vote to kill Jesus and pushed it through the Roman legal system, God has and will deal with them Himself. He needs NO HELP from us (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:17-19). Don’t let Paul’s words about a select group of Jews in Jerusalem two thousand years ago colour your attitude towards God’s chosen people today.

Chapter one is Paul’s vivid greetings to the church and his prayer for their growth in Jesus. They had become a real witness and a model to follow for all the churches in the area (Macedonia and Achaia). They were a godly people and rightly looking forward to Jesus’ return.

Chapter two outlines Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians. His visit to them had not been unfruitful. He rejoiced that they received the gospel message as a message from God to humanity, not just human words and ideas. Paul recalled the work they did there and the support from the community they had received. He really appreciated them.

Chapter three is Paul’s enthusiastic acceptance of Timothy’s report on the church and the favourable picture it painted for Paul. It is all the worry he had for them sloughing off into joy for how they are living in Jesus. His prayer was for them to grow and expand in the love of Jesus.

Chapter four is Paul’s further instruction to them on how to go forward. They were to live every day in every way for the Lord, to love one another with an accepting and supporting love, and to comfort one another as they went through persecution and trials together. This is a road map for EVERY believing community on Earth.

Chapter five exhorts the believers (them and us) to live ready for Jesus’ return. Jesus repeatedly tells us that He is coming back, that it will be sudden from our point of view, and soon from His point of view. The believers were looking forward to it with eager expectation (so should we all) and Paul told them to live like it was about to happen. That would lead them to lives of honouring God and each other, and obedience to the Word and God’s moral character. Paul closes the letter with his usual prayers and greetings, blessing them in Jesus’ name.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus, Paul

Key Verse(s): 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2:13-16; 3:9-13; 4:9-12; 5:4-24