Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica was very likely the earliest Epistle that he penned. Thessalonica was the principal city of Macedonia; and the Gospel was first preached there by Paul when he visited the place with Silas and Timothy on his first journey to Europe (Acts 17:1-10). This Epistle was evidently written from Corinth, around the year 55 AD, during the early part of the Apostle’s sojourn of 18 months in that city (Acts 18:1-18). The letter is very largely taken up with practical exhortations. It refers to persecutions which the Christians in Thessalonica had received at the hands of their countrymen (chapter 2:14-16), and it consoles them (chapter 4:13-18) in regard to the future state of their deceased friends and family members – a subject upon which (as well as upon other subjects connected with the last days) they seem to have been anxious and disquieted.
The distinguishing feature which marks every chapter in this letter – like all the Apostle’s Epistles – is Christ. And how sweetly and blessedly has he held Him forth to the Church! What a mercy it is to us – and to the whole Church – that the Holy Spirit called Paul, by a vision in the night, to visit Macedonia! (Acts 16:17) What a mercy it is for all the Church that the Holy Spirit prompted the Apostle to write this Epistle, and inspired the blessed contents of it! What a mercy it is that He has preserved the precious record safe to this present hour, and caused these pages to be handed down to us! And what a mercy of mercies it shall be, in all these things, if the Lord has given us enlightened understanding! May the Holy Spirit direct and guide our hearts as we study this letter, and cause them to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The Apostle opens his letter with those familiar words: “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” All goodness comes from God; and so no good can be hoped for by sinners, except from God in Christ. And the best good may be expected from God, as our Father, for the sake of Christ. Paul immediately proceeds to mention how he and his friends always mentioned the Thessalonian believers in their prayers. We should not only pray for ourselves, but also for others – remembering them without ceasing.
Wherever there is true faith, it will work; it will affect both the heart and the life (verse 3). Faith works by love; it shows itself in love to God, as well as in love to our neighbor. And wherever there is a well-grounded hope of everlasting life, this will appear by the exercise of patience. It is a sign of sincerity when, in all we do, we seek to approve ourselves to the Lord. Unless His Spirit comes to us with the Word of God, it will be a dead letter to us. But thankfully, in the case of the Thessalonians, they did receive the Word by the power of the Holy Spirit (verse 5). They were fully convinced of the truth of it, so as not to be shaken in their minds by objections and doubts; they were willing to leave all for Jesus, and to venture their souls and everlasting condition upon the truth of the Gospel-revelation.
When careless, ignorant, and immoral persons are turned from their carnal pursuits and connections to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus, and to live soberly and righteously; the matter speaks for itself – just as it did in the believers in Thessalonica (verses 6-10). The wonderful effects of the Word of God upon the Thessalonians were famous and well-known in the regions around that city, and in every place; and so, from the good success of the Gospel among them, many others were encouraged to believe it, and to be willing – when called – to suffer for it. When they heard the good news of salvation, the Thessalonians immediately quitted their idolatry, turned from their idols, and abandoned all the false worship that they had been educated in. But they did not stop there; for they also gave themselves up to the living and true God, devoted themselves to His service, and set themselves to wait for Christ’s return from heaven (verse 10). And this is one of the peculiarities of our holy religion – namely, to wait for Christ’s second coming, as those who believe that He will indeed come again and bring us joy. Truly, there is good reason to believe that He will surely come, because God has raised Him from the dead – which is full assurance unto all people that He will return one day to judge the earth (Acts 17:31). And there is also good reason to hope and wait for His com-ing, because He has delivered us from the wrath to come! He came to this earth once already to purchase our salvation; and when He comes again, He will bring salvation with Him – full and final deliverance from sin, death, hell, and wrath! Let us all, without delay, flee from this wrath to come; and let us seek refuge in Jesus alone!
Lord, we praise You always for the Divine grace, mercy, and love that has been bestowed upon us. We pray for grace to be poured out upon many others as well, causing them to turn from idols unto You, to serve You as true and living, and to wait for the Second Coming of the Son of Man from heaven – as the bright Morning Star! Amen.
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