1 Thessalonians 2

Paul writes that before he arrived in Thessalonica, “we got shamefully mistreated in Philippi” (1 Thessalonians 2:2). The backstory shows up in Acts 16:16-40. Take a look at that story. Paul and Silas were arrested, stripped of their clothes and beaten, and then thrown in jail overnight. The next day, when city officials realized the two were Roman citizens, they released them. It was apparently illegal to treat citizens that way without a trial. When the officials asked the men to leave town quietly, Paul refused: “If they want us to leave, they’re going to have to personally escort us out of here” (Acts 16:37). The officials did just that. What happened in Philippi that you think Paul might have considered most shameful of all?

Paul said he and his mission team came to Thessalonica “so we could tell you the good news from God, in spite of the strong opposition we faced” (1 Thessalonians 2:2). Do you think that makes a difference to people hearing the message, the fact that the person is speaking out in the face of violent opposition?

Paul said he and his team paid their own way while they were in town. But he adds, “We could have given you some orders to follow. After all, we are the Messiah’s apostles” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). What’s the point of that? Why would Paul add something like that, as in, “We could have ordered you to pay us for our ministry work, but we decided not to this time”?

Paul complimented the people of Thessalonica for accepting his message “for what it is: God’s word” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Christians typically reserve the Bible for that tag: God’s Word. Many preachers, however, describe their sermons as God’s word, much like Paul did. When is a message God’s word, compared to a script written by a preacher or some other well-intended Christian?

When Paul talked about the Jews in what is now Israel driving him out of the country, he said, “They live as though their goal is to commit as many sins as possible. God’s judgment has finally caught up with them” (1 Thessalonians 2:16). The footnote says, “Some Bible experts speculate that what Paul meant is that these Jewish leaders are doomed because they have reached the point of no return.” What are some other ways Paul might have meant that, and which do you think is most likely?

LIFE APPLICATION. When Paul describes what he and his team were not—self-serving, liars, frauds, and people-manipulators (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6)—he may have been describing some tricks of the trade among false teachers who lived in town or who traveled through. Where do you think we can we see those tricks of the trade at work today?

LIFE APPLICATION. Paul calls the people of Thessalonica “our pride and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:20). What a kind thing to say about someone Paul had spent just three weeks visiting. Perhaps this is a fine occasion to take a moment and think about who in our life qualifies as our pride and joy. Who’s on your list?