Contents:
- The qualities of model church (Chap.1)
- Christian ministry. (Chap.2)
- Christian behaviour. (Chap.3)
- Pleasing the Father (Chap.4)
- Don’t walk in sleep, but be watchful and excel. (Chap.5)
Background:
(Acts 17:1-15) explains how Paul came to Thessaloniki and how the church was founded. Paul went to Macedonia in response to a “call” from a man in Macedonia who said, “Come over into Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). So Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy arrived first in Philippi where they led Lydia and her household to Christ and there established the first European church. Paul and Silas were arrested on false charges, beaten, and put into jail. But God delivered them and they were able to lead the jailer and his household to faith in Christ.
After encouraging the new believers, Paul and his friends left Philippi (though Luke probably stayed behind temporarily) and headed for the important city of Thessaloniki. They bypassed Amphipolis and Apollonia (Acts 17:1), not because they had no burden for the people in those cities, but because Paul’s policy was to minister in the large cities and then have the believers reach out into the smaller towns nearby.
Thessalonica is about 100 miles from Philippi which was the capital of the second Roman district of the province of Macedonia. The city was a large and important commercial city, containing much wealth and learning. To this day, it is the second city in European Turkey, ranking next to Constantinople, and has between 75, 000 and 100, 000 inhabitants. It is now called Saloniki.
The city was founded around 315 BC by the King Cassander of Macedon, on or near the site of the ancient town of Therma and 26 other local villages. He named it after his wife Thessalonike a half-sister of Alexander the Great and princess of Macedon as daughter of Philip II. Under the kingdom of Macedon the city retained its own autonomy and parliament and evolved to become the most important city in Macedon.
After the fall of the kingdom of Macedon in 168 BC, Thessaloniki became a free city of the Roman Republic under Mark Antony in 41 BC. It grew to be an important trade-hub located on the Via Egnatia.
Immorality was widespread in Greek religion. The city of Thessaloniki was very much plunged into it. Thessalonica was a prime spot of wealth and influence because it was the chief port of the Roman province of Macedonia. The city was one of the crown jewels of the Roman shipping and receiving centres and Roman citizens had freedom there because it had the status of a free city. It was also the provincial capital of Macedonia.
When Paul entered the city in 51 AD, the Greeks, Roman colonists and few Jews were there, and had at least one synagogue. In this synagogue Paul and Silas and Timothy began their work, but after three Sabbaths they were apparently forced out from that place of worship due to an uproar raised by the Jews. Paul and Silas were led out of the city by night, with the help of brethren to Berea. It is likely that Paul was in Thessaloniki for less than three weeks but he succeeded in founding a church there before persecution compelled him to retire.
The first letter Paul wrote to these believers who were Christians for only a short period of time probably not more than a few months. He thought of making a second visit to Thessaloniki. When sickness prevented him from returning, he sent Timothy to strengthen the group and then report back to Paul on the progress of the church. After some time Timothy returned to Paul with good news the Church was growing and members were standing firm in their new faith, Paul wrote the first Epistle to the Thessalonians.
Thessaloniki lies on the Ignatian Way, which was the main Roman road from Rome to Asia, and Colossae its port was the terminus of some major north-south trade routes. Recent excavations in Thessaloniki have revealed that a Roman forum, a sports hippodrome, a Hellenistic market and a Samaritan synagogue.
Paul wrote the 2-letters to Thessalonians within few months about the same subject but in different ways.