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Thursday 2/24/22
The Power of the Gospel
📽️ 1 Thessalonians 1 🔊

1Paul, 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.
 2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
 3Remembering 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;
 4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
 5For 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.
 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
 7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
 8For 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.
 9For they themselves shew 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;
 10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Written By: God through Inspiration
Penned By: Paul
Date Penned: (51 AD)
Overview: Looking to the Lord in Trials and Persecution (c 1-5)
Theme: Faithfulness to the Lord (c 1-3)
Message: Paul Commends the Thessalonians (v 1-10)

1 Thessalonians 1 Commentary

(1:1) Greetings from Paul - Thessalonica was the capital and largest city (population: about two hundred thousand) of the Roman province of Macedonia. The most important Roman highway (the Egnatian Way)—extending from Rome all the way to the Orient—went through Thessalonica. This highway, along with the city’s thriving seaport, made Thessalonica one of the wealthiest and most flourishing trade centers in the Roman Empire. Recognized as a free city, Thessalonica was allowed self-rule and was exempted from most of the restrictions placed by Rome on other cities in the empire. With its international flavor, however, came many pagan religions and cultural influences that challenged the faith of the young Christians there.

(1;2-10) The Faith of the Thessalonian Believers - Paul and his companions probably arrived in Thessalonica in the early summer of A.D. 50. They planted the first Christian church in that city but had to leave in a hurry because their lives were threatened (Acts 17:1-10). At the first opportunity, probably when he stopped at Corinth, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the new believers were doing. Timothy returned to Paul with good news: the Christians in Thessalonica were remaining firm in the faith and were unified. But the Thessalonians did have some questions about their new faith. Paul had not had time to answer all their questions during his brief visit; in the meantime, other questions had arisen. So Paul wrote this letter to answer their questions and to commend them on their faithfulness to Christ.
Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we start the book of 1Thessalonians with Chapter 1 and in our text we see Paul writing to the Church in Thessalonica commending them on their faithfulness to the Lord in the midst of persecution. Paul gives note to the Power of the Gospel as lives are changed thru the God's Word and Spirit. In making application we see this truth today as the Power of the Gospel is the key to all of our lives. It is God's Word and His Spirit that will change your life. How about you? Do you see the Power of the Gospel? Let us learn from our text today and the reminder of Paul that there is Power in the Gospel, His Word, and His Spirit will save the life of a sinner and change our lives for His Honor and Glory.
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Sincerely,
Dr. Dave Burnette
Director, The United States Bible Society, Inc.