THE SUCCESS OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA St. Paul used to start his epistles by encouraging the people and praising their good traits. Before he speaks about the problems or weaknesses he encourages them, thus opening the door of hope to everyone. While writing to a church groaning from tribulation, he declares her success in the life of faith and her witness to the Lord Christ before other churches. 1. The introduction v. 1 2. The success of the Church A. His gratitude for their success v. 2 B. Their faith, hope and love v. 3-6 C. Their example before everyone v. 7-10 1. THE INTRODUCTION “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” (v.1) St. Paul does not have a standard introduction for all his epistles, but he writes a different one that suits each church. While writing to a church groaning from tribulation, we notice the following: A. St. Paul writes his name, without mentioning his apostolic title, because usually when one is in trouble, he does not want to be formal but with the spirit of the brotherly friendship he speaks with them. That is why he adds the names Silvanus and Timothy, as his partners in writing, although he was the only writer. In humility, he emphasized that he was not the only one with the feelings of love and compassion but the others who participated in the service too. What a loving and humble shepherd, who goes with them as a 11 lamb among lambs, sharing with them their afflictions, not to attach them to his person, but to declare to them how much a shepherd loves his people, so that they may touch the love of Christ to them in him as in other shepherds. B. The writer directs his epistle to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The church has members from the Jews as well as the Gentiles, but they are all one church, by being in the Lord Jesus Christ, as His one holy Body. For where the Son is, His Church is with Him in the Fatherly bosom. As the Lord Jesus said, “That where I am, there you may be also… No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John. 14:3,6). C. St. Paul calls God our Father, for the believers need to enjoy the compassionate love of God and His concern for their salvation. On the other hand, he wanted to emphasize, in the introduction, the Fatherhood of God, which is the source of every spiritual and physical fatherhood. D. St. Paul is asking grace and peace for them, for the true peace is not fulfilled by removing all the difficulties that befall us, but by enjoying the hidden grace of God. Sometimes during afflictions bad thoughts may destroy our inner peace, but God’s grace can raise our thoughts above the difficulties, and fill us with the divine surpassing peace. Hence, our heart will sing saying, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul” (Ps 94:19) 2. THE SUCCESS OF THE CHURCH Since the church was surrounded by tribulations from the Jews and the Gentiles, St. Paul wanted to uplift her thoughts to the success that she has achieved by the Holy Spirit: A. His gratitude for their success and their prayers for them. (v.2) B. Stressing the good points in their lives. (v.3-6) C. Their example to everyone. 12 A. His gratitude for their success and his prayers for them: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” (v.2) St. Paul with Timothy and Silvanus are offering continuous thanks to God for the success of the church of the Thessalonians, as well as praying for their growth. Truly, he is a wise shepherd who wants spiritual benefit for those who are suffering. Although he is groaning with them and sharing their difficulties, yet in the mean time, he is thanking God for His spiritual blessings during their tribulations. He wants to raise them above the sufferings, which is the purpose of this epistle, and on the other hand, he wants to emphasize that the secret for every spiritual blessing and the success in their lives is due to God Himself. At the end, he reminds them that he is praying for them, and declaring his true love for them. B. Their faith, hope, and love: St. Paul wants to distract them from thinking of their immediate afflictions to reflect on the work of God’s grace inside them through faith, hope and love. He says, “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” (v.3). He wants them to continuously meditate on faith, love, and hope, not through mere theoretical principles, but through practical life. What does he mean by work of faith? St. John Chrysostom said, [The believer endures a lot, for the faith delivered to him appears through his works. Thus, we can say that faith is not mere theory but is declared through your works, steadfastness and zeal1.] St. John Chrysostom talks about the labor of love by saying: [What is the labor of love? When many adversaries pull us away from love and we stand against all of them, isn’t this considered labor?2] Probably what St. Paul meant about “labor of love” is what was mentioned about Jason and his household in the book of Acts 17: 5,6. 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 1. 2 In 1 Thess. Hom. 1. 13 And how they endured much for their love to Paul and Silas and for the Gospel, when their adversaries attacked them and brought them before the rulers. Since the tribulation remained in the church even after Paul and Silas left the city, yet the new church patiently hoped in the kingdom and the true Bridegroom our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why St. Paul wrote, “And patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.” These are the three matters which St. Paul is thanking the Lord for, and which he is concentrating his attention and prayers: their work of faith, their labor of love, their patience of hope. These three represent one unity that can not be divided or separated. Since believing in the word of truth drives the believer to work for the eternal kingdom, then he opens his heart with love for everyone, desiring not only to work but also to labor, hurrying to the cross instead of temporary rest. He sees heavens opened before him, so he hopes to enjoy its glory. He does not groan from the hardships but carries the patience of Christ, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame…” (Heb. 12:2). When eternity comes, we do not need faith any more, for we see God face to face, and we do not need hope for we enjoy what we were hoping for. However, love remains, love which never falls (1 Cor. 13:8). Eternal love, which is built on faith and hope, honors faith and crowns hope. The secret of the success of the church of Thessalonians and their enjoyment of the true faith, love and hope was God’s choosing them as His children. “Knowing beloved children, your election by God” (v.4). St. Paul is emphasizing that the secret of their power amidst afflictions was God being with them. He is the One working in them and the One who chose them. St. Paul is afraid lest they become depressed from all the difficulties which they had encountered. That is why he is talking with pride about their spiritual success and is very cautious lest they fall in haughtiness because of their endurance in temptations. That is why he was directing their attention to God who loved them first, for He chose them and still works in them until they enter into His glories. The church is in dire need for a wise shepherd 14 who encourages God’s people with joyful words which instill in them hope and confidence, and in the mean time, without flattering, he directs them to God who is the secret of their success and growth. The words “Knowing beloved brethren, your election by God” (v.4) reveal the mystery of St. Paul’s love to them and his struggle for them. As if he is telling them, “Since God loves you that much and has chosen you to be His children, do I cease working for you, day and night, to achieve God’s purpose in you?” This is the view of the wise shepherd toward the ministry; he does not work for the expense of the people, but he serves all humanity, God’s favorite creation, and whom God desires its salvation and its entry to the eternal glories. He works for God, and through Him and with His capabilities! St. Paul, realizing God’s love for them and Him choosing them, made his ministry for them not mere words or philosophy, but power able to renew their lives, so he was certain that God is working through them. He said, “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” (v.5). St. Paul is emphasizing here God’s love to them and His choosing them, which gave him three capabilities to work among them: power, Holy Spirit and much assurance. These were the secret of his success. He carries “power,” that is, the power of the Gospel for salvation. God, who chose them, offered them salvation through the cross or the Gospel. St. Paul came hidden in the cross, through the Gospel. He did not present them mere words but the secret of the strong new life through the cross. He did not go to them in weakness, but he was equipped with the power of the Gospel, who is able to captivate one in the divine love and make him enter into the kingdom of God and to live as a child of God by the power of the Spirit. God’s love to the believers and His choosing them has armed him by the power of the Gospel of salvation, and gave him the Holy Spirit to work in him for the ministry. He went to them by the Holy Spirit who is able to declare God’s love incarnated in offering His Son, the ransom for many. Truly the Gospel is the power of the minister to 15 achieve his mission, but he cannot work without the Holy Spirit who attracts the souls to the cross, and to reconcile them with God in His Son, and to make them enter to the new life on the heavenly level. Finally, St. Paul realizing that God chose them, made them enter with great assurance, trusting that God desires the salvation of men. He is confident that God achieves His purpose through his ministry and that the secret of his power lies in his outlook full of hope, even amidst tribulations, whether from outside or inside. Even if there are divisions among the Jews and the Gentiles, he is confident that God can work to renew his creation. He is not pessimistic nor in despair, no matter what the circumstances are! St. Paul said, “As you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake” (v.5). He is telling them that his strife midst sufferings, day and night, and his concern for them testify how he was equipped with the Holy Spirit and much assurance. However, he is giving them the credit, for they are the subjects of God’s love and His election. St. John Chrysostom said: [St. Paul is praising their good deeds secretly, and that is why he is enduring everything for them. Him saying, “What kind of men we were among you,” is an indication that he is willing to sacrifice his life for them. He said in a different time, “I endure all things for the sake of the elect…” (2 Tim. 2:10). What things the believer does not endure for the sake of God’s elect?1”] What gladdened St. Paul’s heart was that they were following his example and even God’s example in enduring the sufferings joyfully. He said, “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (v.6). St. John Chrysostom said: [How amazing! Suddenly the disciples became teachers! They did not only hear the word but they were elevated to St. Paul’s level. He praises them saying, “Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (v.6). They received the word not only in affliction, but also in much affliction. This is what the book of Acts relates to us how persecution 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 1. 16 was against them (Acts 17:5-8), for the wicked people have stirred the rulers against them. Not only they endured and suffered, but also they rejoiced. This is exactly what the apostles did, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41). How amazing! Enduring hardships is not easy, however, these have exceeded the human limits, and as if they have no bodies which are affected by sufferings! How did they follow God’s example? God endured joyfully many hardships, by His own will. For our sake, He emptied Himself, and He rejoiced as the time approached for Him to be spat upon, whipped, and crucified. He said, “Glorify Me…”(Jn. 17:1-5) How can one talk about tribulation and joy at the same time? How can the two meet? He adds, “Joy of the Holy Spirit.” Tribulation is in the carnal matters, while joy is in the spiritual matters. How? All what happened to them was demeaning, but the Spirit did not leave them. Therefore, anyone who suffers can be joyful, if he is suffering for God. However, if he is suffering for his sins, then he will remain in his sufferings. This is the joy of the Holy Spirit. Whatever is saddening becomes joyful! St. Paul said that the wicked will persecute them, but the Spirit will not forget them. As the three youths enjoyed the dew amidst the fire, you will also enjoy the afflictions. Truly it is not the nature of the fire to rain dew, likewise it is not the nature of the tribulation to produce joy, but the Spirit makes suffering easy if it is for Christ; for amidst the fire, the believers are at rest1.] The Lord promised us with sufferings, but not without joy. He said, “Therefore, you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you…In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer (rejoice), I have overcome the world.” (John 16:22,33) C. Their example to everyone: “So that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (v.7). The people at Macedonia believed in the Lord Jesus before the 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 1. 17 people in Thessalonica, but the latter became an example to the former. The church in Thessalonica became a teacher not to unbelievers but to believers who preceded them in the faith. In a very short time, the people in Thessalonica accepted the faith and became an example not only to Macedonia in the north, and which Thessalonica is one of its important cities, but also to Achaia, which is in the south. Thus, its influence extended to the north and to the south. St. John Chrysostom said: [Let no one despair if he had wasted so much time without doing anything good. In a short time, one can do a lot of achievements that had not been done in the past. Since those who were not believers were so enlightened, how about those who were believers from the beginning?1] St. Paul continues his talk about the effect of their new life and their faith, which spread everywhere. “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. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (v. 8-10). St. John Chrysostom commented on these words by saying: [As the smell of the sweet scented perfume spreads to far places freshening the air with its nice aroma, likewise famous and great people do not hide their virtues, but through their good example, they win many to Christ and change them to a better life. This was exactly what had happened as if he is telling them that you had filled the world with your amazing teachings!2] The words “has sounded forth” express the spiritual power of their faith and their vitality. The entire world had heard about their faith, and it was sounded forth, so there was no need for St. Paul even to say anything. “We do not need to say anything.” Their practical 1 In 1 Thess. Hom. 1. 2 In 1 Thess. Hom. 2. 18 faith carried an inner testimony, as if it is a loud trumpet sounding not only in the surrounding cities but also to far distances. The voice of the Lord has sounded in every place. They were a living testimony of the work of God’s grace in man. They accomplished the message, which St. Paul desired to finish. What does he mean by saying: “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you”? He wanted to declare to them that their glorious spiritual life amidst tribulations did not only announce their spiritual glories but also St. Paul’s blessedness. Everyone started talking about St. Paul going to them, accompanied by Silas, and how they served and changed those men to the living God who is able to raise from the dead. St. John Chrysostom states that they endured all dangers like St. Paul. The secret of enduring suffering joyfully is their faith in the One who rose from the dead. St. Paul is directing their attention, during tribulations, to the Heavenly Father, whom the Son obeyed to the point of death. The Son rose by His own power and authority as He said, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18).
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