Thessalonica was the capital of one of the colonies of Macedonia in Greece. Its former name was “Therma,” meaning “hot springs.” Cassander the First, the son of Antipater, rebuilt it in the year 315 B.C., and made it the center for his throne. He named the city after his wife, Thessalonica, the sister of Alexander the Great and daughter of Philip II of Macedonia. In the Roman Empire, it was the capital of the new state, and its population was approximately 200,000. Thessalonica had great significance because of its geographical location on the Greek route, which is a great military road connecting Rome with the East. It was a big harbor equipped as a naval base for the Roman ships, and five or six rulers of the city governed it (Acts 17:6). Being a great commercial center, it attracted many rich Romans and some of the Jewish merchants (Acts 17:4), who held their council there. It was known for its corruption and wickedness, which compelled St. Paul to talk about the life of purity (1 Thess. 4:1-8). ACCEPTING THE FAITH St. Paul visited Thessalonica for the first time during his second missionary journey around the year 52 A.D. Silvanus1 and Timothy accompanied him (Acts 17:1-10). After being expelled from Philippi, St. Paul directed his attention to the Jews and talked with them for three Sabbaths in their synagogue. He attracted some of the Jews to the faith, and many of the proselytes, and some of the prominent women. These became the foundation of the first church in Thessalonica. St. Paul wrote to the Philippians saying, “For even in 1 Silvanus, the Latin form of the Greek word “Silas.” The origin of this word is Aram “Sheila” or “Saul.” 8 Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities” (Phil. 4:16). This reveals he was not relying on the people of Thessalonica financially, and that he stayed there for more than three weeks (1 Thess. 2:7-11). He exerted much effort in his ministry and caring for them night and day. Some said that he stayed there more than six months1, while others think that he did not stay there more than a month. WHEN WAS ITWRITTEN? Probably toward the end of 52 A.D., or the beginning of 53 A.D., that is, after a very short period of his ministry in Thessalonica while being in Corinth. ITS PURPOSE SS. Paul and Silas succeeded in their ministry in Thessalonica, although they stayed for a very short time. “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:5-7). The accusation against Paul and Silas was that they cause uproar and they are against the decrees of Caesar. (Acts 17:7) This worried the multitudes and the rulers of the city, so they left Thessalonica and went to Berea, but they were attacked also in Berea, so they went to Athens (Acts 17:15), then to Corinth. (Acts 18:1) The ministry succeeded in Thessalonica between the Jews and the Gentiles. As the Jews stirred their brothers who believed, so the Gentiles stirred their brothers who believed. The church suffered a lot from the Jews and from the Gentiles, and the believers expected St. Paul to go back and help them. But he sent Timothy to strengthen their faith, which made some to doubt his fatherhood. So he had to write 1 W. M. Ramsay: St. Paul, the Traveler and Roman Citizen. London 1895, p.228. 9 telling them his desire to see them, declaring his true fatherhood. On the other hand, he wanted to draw their attention from the worry of the grief events to the inner spiritual joy. He talked to them about the resurrection and the advent of the Lord Jesus, to support them amidst their bitter afflictions. He encouraged them for the spiritual strife, and for a holy life filled with love, hoping for the eternal crown and the heavenly wedding, so that they may enjoy the Fatherly bosom, DIVISIONS OF THE EPISTLE: 1. Introduction ch. 1:1 2. The success of the church in Thessalonica ch. 1:2-10 3. St. Paul’s fatherhood ch. 2:1-12 4. The suffering of the church ch. 2:13-16 5. The eagerness of St. Paul to see them ch. 2:17-20 6. Sending Timothy to them ch. 3:1-5 7. Timothy’s report about them ch. 3:6-13 8. Their abiding in holiness ch. 4:1-8 9. Their abiding in love ch. 4:9-12 10. Their viewpoint toward the dead ch. 4:13-18 11. Waiting for the Lord ch. 5:1-11 12. Concluding commandments ch. 5:12-28
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