1 Thessalonians Chapters
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Eaglewings New Testament Studies
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New believers
1 Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul, along with his friends in God's labor, Sylvanus, and Timotheus (Timothy), send this epistle (long letter) and a greeting to the Thessalonians. Paul had visited this Greek City for about a month. There he taught in the Jewish meeting place, the synagogue. He made many converts to Jesus Christ and taught them the basic truths of the faith.
Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Acts 17:4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Always satan uses his tools of envy, and evil hearted crude people to oppose and persecute the work of God and His Son, Jesus.
Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
The Christian message is indeed unique, turning the things of the world upside down.
Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
He left the Thessalonians when persecution came, for his safety, and went to Berea, where they were more receptive to the truth.
Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
The persecuting Jewish leaders followed him there, so he went to Corinth, where this letter was written.
Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
1 Th 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
Paul spoke with love and grace. He was showing by example how we should pray for one another, especially those new believers in Christ Jesus. Being new, they may not know that they have power from God to withstand the attacks of the devil. The devil comes with lies and truth mixed with guilt and accusations. He may send persecution and pass laws against the speaking of God's truth. Jesus Christ makes you free of guilt, your sins are removed and forgotten by God, through Christ Jesus. There are others of God's family also praying, for these new ones in Christ.
Elect
1 Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Faith, love, hope all in their lives in the midst of persecution. Their faith was tested and these three things will always be evidence of a spirit filled life. in the sight of God, the Father.
1 Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
The elect are the called of God, those who are chosen and have come to Jesus. They are the whosoever wills, in John 3:16, who have received eternal life as God's children.
Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Gospel Power
1 Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The gospel comes with power in the Holy Ghost. The power to become sons of God.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 Th 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
They followed those who spoke the truth and received the word, although persecution followed, the Holy Ghost gave them joy, a fruit of the Spirit. We can have peace in the midst of the troubles of this life, by the same Holy Spirit.
1 Th 1:7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
1 Th 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
They witnessed the gospel in the midst of persecution from the Jews and the brutal men who opposed God. Their ensample, their lives in the midst of the people of this region, were full of light and faith, so that the word of faith spread abroad. As Jesus willed, they let their light shine. So shall we witness the light and truth of God.
No idols
1 Th 1:9 For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
Through the witness of Paul and his companions, through the word and the power of the Holy Ghost, there was a change in the hearts of the people. They turned from (dead) idols to serve the true Living God.
Hab 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Hab 2:19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.
Hab 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
1 Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Trust and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, produces many things. First you are forgiven of sins. You receive a new heart and God's Spirit dwells in you. You are passed from death unto life. We wait for the coming of our Lord, knowing that he died for our sins. He proved that he was God's son by rising from the grave. Because He lives we do not fear death and the grave.
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Cor 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
We shall not come under the wrath of God and we will escape hell. Our dwelling place will be forever with Our Lord Jesus.
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