Chapter Introduction
Paul’s vindication for what happened when he visited Thessalonica. This leads to a profile of effective ministry.
- Preach the gospel, even in persecution.
- Maintain a good motive, not a people pleaser.
- To the glory of God, not the praise of men
- Avoid flattery and greed
- Be characterized by gentleness, not being a burden
- Minister in love, with hard work and holiness
- Encourage, comfort, and cheer on others.
What comes to mind when you think of a bad road? Potholes? Icy roads? Curvy roads that make you sick? How about roads in Pennsylvania? They have to be some of the worst roads in America. How about the long, endless road in the sunshine? It's hot and broiling and relentless. How about the lonely road? It seems you're on it by yourself to fend for yourself.
In this chapter, we'll get another look at the road that Paul and Silas were on. Much is revealed about the person and the message by the road they travel. We'll see the hazards they came on and how they dealt with them. This is a very different road but one we might recognize. This road should be compared to the road of others.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Philosophers and speakers in that day were known to modify their message and use great care not to offend anyone. They justified their means to accomplish an end, to win over the audience, and to be accepted. In the end, it was about ego, money, and power. The message was delivered in vain.
The Jews and evil men in Thessalonica were apparently accusing Paul of a similar thing. Paul pointed out that the Thessalonians hadn't come empty-handed. His was a real message of hope and salvation. They knew this, and Paul reminded them.
Paul and Silas had been beaten with rods in Philippi. It would have been easy for them to keep their message to themselves or preach to a more receptive crowd. They could have been more careful, easily deciding that it wasn’t worth getting beat over. The beatings these men took didn't just leave a little red mark. They drew blood, lifted the flesh, and left scars. When Paul and Silas came to Thessalonica, they were still healing up. Despite the pain and suffering they were going through, they were still speaking the gospel boldly to all who might hear it. They did not whither or shy away from their calling.
The message was clear: they had risked their lives to bring this precious gospel of hope to those at Thessalonica. It wasn’t just an empty and powerless message or a sales pitch. Paul said they were bold to speak to them in much conflict. The word translated to conflict is the word 'Agon.' We've seen this before. Paul used 'agon' as a metaphor. The word would bring to mind the athletic arena and then the contests within that arena. These contests were race battles or some other struggle. We would see the picture of agony there.
The contest in the 'agon' would be strenuous and intense. It was like a war to overcome the enemy that was also strong and fighting intensely to win. That's how Paul and Silas felt, leaving Philippi and entering Thessalonica. You can imagine the spiritual battle raging in them as they were on the road from Philippi to Thessalonica and then again from Thessalonica to Berea and every road they traveled. They were in the 'Agon.' They were engaged in the battle fully and completely. And they faced a dark and wicked opposition and would stop at nothing to silence their message. But God had empowered him to continue.
There were a lot of religions and spiritualities represented in Thessalonica in those days. The agon was crowded. A person could have found everything from worshipping Greek gods and goddesses to the Egyptian deities of Isis, Sarapis, and Anubis. There were sex cults and drinking cults. Then, there were the philosophical religions and intellectual religions. All these were competing for the attention of men. Many of these competing spiritualities were missionary minded and sent men into the culture to preach their message. The buffet or religions were full of shysters and crooks who just took advantage of people.
Paul asked the Thessalonians to examine how the gospel came to them. It came amid much conflict. It didn’t come from Paul’s mind, creating some error. It didn’t come to them by deception or immorality. Other messages arrived this way, but the gospel arrived in much conflict. The gospel still did its work in conflict. In fact, it did so with greater power. Christ said when we are weak, He is strong. People sought answers, hope, and someone to lead them out of hopelessness in conflict.
1 Thessalonians 2:4-9
Paul and Silas came to them entrusted with the gospel message. They weren't pedaling just another "new" thing from the world. They carried the gospel of the preeminent King of kings. This message came from high above and trumped all other teachings. This message came from the Living God, who set Paul and Silas on this path through Philippi to Thessalonica. It didn't come from men. Paul and Silas weren't doing this for their popularity or glory. They didn't come with fancy speeches or slick presentations to play on the emotions and feelings of the weak and poor.
Paul said, unlike other teachers passing through Thessalonica, they didn't operate under the cloak of covetousness. The Greek word behind covetousness means “a desire to possess more than others.” Paul and Silas came simply to deliver a simple message. They didn't change the message to appeal to men. The message was what it was. And that truth of the gospel was even offensive to our sinful nature. The cross is an offense to an evil world. It is light and a beacon of hope in a dark world. Paul held God up as a witness to this.
Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica, bloodied and beaten. They spoke boldly in the Lord, taking nothing in return, even when they could have expected to be offered hospitality. They were careful to give all honor to God and take none for themselves. They came gentle, as a nursing mother cherishes her own child. A nursing mother offers nourishment and life and cherishes her young. When Paul and Silas went to the people of Thessalonica, they had something they needed. Like a nursing mother, they brought it to them carefully, thoughtfully, and lovingly in the name of the Lord.
In verse 8, we see the phrase "affectionately longing for you." It is the only place this word shows up in the bible. It's a continued reference to the nursing mother caring for her children. It creates the picture of Paul caring for them as a doting parent. As a mother cares for her young, Paul & Silas cared for them. They were well pleased to bring the gospel. That would have been enough, but there was more. They gave their lives also. That would have been evident to anyone who knew the story of Paul and Silas. Their lives were laid out for the gospel. They held nothing back. That's the road they were on.
Paul and Silas worked day and night so as not to be a burden to anyone. They didn't even make demands as apostles, even though they could have. As apostles, they had a right to receive the basic needs of those who received their message. But they didn't even pursue that; they wanted to be above reproach so no man could accuse them. That's why Paul worked as a tentmaker on the side, so he wouldn't have to take anything for the message he received.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Paul wasn't one to bring attention to himself. You can imagine the Jews claiming to be the devout and just and blameless ones as they made accusations against Paul. Paul wasn't boasting; he was stating facts. In pointing out his behavior, he established a notable contrast to those who claimed to be devout and blameless. Paul didn't point his finger at the Jews and make accusations. Instead, he just guarded his own behavior and ensured that if anyone pointed an accusing finger at him, they would have to lie or fabricate something.
Enemies in Thessalonica were accusing Paul of being self-centered and self-serving. They said he wasn't preaching the gospel for their benefit but for his own personal gain. So, in answer, Paul holds himself and Silas up for examination. He challenged these people to look through their lives with a fine-tooth comb and see if everything they said or did was consistent with the message they taught. Despite being treated poorly, Paul & Silas were devout and just and blameless. Their behavior was above reproach. Paul and Silas spent their time exhorting, comforting, and encouraging everyone to walk worthy of God.
You can imagine what kind of credibility they would have if they would have responded in an ungodly way. The world is always watching. They should see our actions as a testimony to a consistent walk worthy of our God. This says I'm living out what I'm preaching. My beliefs form my thinking, and my thinking controls my actions, deeds, and words. Actions inconsistent with the message we proclaim or attest to testify to a disconnect between God and what we say and do. Something is wrong, and the unbeliever and the critic can spot those things a mile away. This is why we should examine ourselves and ask, “Am I walking in a manner worthy of the God who calls me into His own kingdom and glory?”
To walk worthy is to live by an appropriate standards and dignity of Jesus. It is to be consistent in thought, word, and deed.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
There were men pedaling messages, prophecies, and ideologies all over Thessalonica. I'm sure some claimed to have the word of God. But they were carrying the words of men. Paul brought the word of God to that city, and they received it as such. It says they welcomed it, and for that, Paul was grateful. The fact that they welcomed it shows that the Holy Spirit had been doing His work before Paul and Silas arrived. People were convicted of their unrighteousness and were prepared to receive the truth. God's word is truth, and it went out among the people of Thessalonica to do its work. These men pedaling false words had nothing to show for their work, while Paul could point to the word he delivered and show how effective it was in changing the lives of those who believed.
The people in Thessalonica were the brethren. They had become the Eklessia, the church, the called-out ones. Paul said they were just like the first churches in Judea among the Jews. The Jews had risen up to silence Christianity by persecuting the church in Judea. Paul said they killed the prophets, they killed Jesus, and they persecuted the Christians to maintain their religion and power over people. The same thing happened there in Thessalonica.
He wanted these folks to know they weren't the first to suffer. They weren't the first on the bad road. They could find comfort in the fact that this is expected. The religions, spiritualities, and forces of darkness are going to fight back and rise against us. That's the road we travel. What is really fascinating is that the Jews felt compelled to rise up against Christianity. Why would they hold onto them if their beliefs didn't exist? And the very scriptures they taught and embraced spoke of the messiah to come, the one they denied. But they were focused on things of the world, not God or the scriptures.
This is like the pagans carrying their idols to war. They said this is our god, will always be our god, and nothing will change that, regardless of how powerless and pathetic our god is. If you have to carry your god to the battlefield and protect him while there, something's wrong. At what point would you realize that your god is a worthless piece of wood or a trinket with no power? If your god doesn't speak the truth, doesn't hear, or is powerless, you have the wrong god.
The entire issue with the Jews was that Christianity allowed the people an avenue to God that they had no control over. Before the gospel went out to the Gentiles, their only hope was to find God by converting to Judaism. They went to the priests and rabbis and had to jump through their hoops. It was a power trip that the Jewish religious establishment didn't want to give up.
These supposed “men of god” were running around stirring up trouble, plotting with evil men, and trying to harm the Christians. Then, they stood up in the synagogue as if they were righteous before God and taught other men. There is no way these Jewish priests and rabbis who were persecuting the church could back up their actions by saying what they were doing was God's will. Their actions were inconsistent with their teaching. There was a huge gap between what they said and what they did.
Paul said God was not pleased with these men because they were trying to keep others from God. This was piling sin up on them, and God's wrath would fall on these men. They had attacked Paul and tried to smear his name and turn people against him. Paul responded, not by attacking them, but by stating the facts.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
Part of the criticism leveled at Paul was his absence from them. His enemies ran him out of town, then accused him of deserting them. This sounds just like Satan and his tactics. Paul assured them they were in his heart even though he couldn't be with them. Because of this absence, he was even more determined to return to them soon. Paul and Silas wanted to come, but Satan hindered them.
Satan hindered them. It is interesting that Paul mentions Satan in this way. It's the only time in this letter Paul speaks of Satan. When he wrote this, Paul had to know the Thessalonians would understand who he was talking about. Had he taught them about Satan and his tactics in his short stay there? Had he warned them that Satan would come behind him and try to steal what he brought them?
Imagine now, as a new believer, being persecuted and still trying to figure this all out, and then the apostle, the one with the answers and the message, was being opposed by Satan. That could be frightening unless you had already been told that God is sovereign over all. Satan can only do what God allows. If God allows it, it can result in good for us and glory for him. God provides believers the opportunity to be steadfast, learn to trust, and lean on their faith.
We don't really know how Satan blocked Paul. You could explore several possibilities. Some think this goes back to Acts 17, when the Jews said these guys were turning the world upside down, and they dragged Jason and others before the magistrate. In Acts 17, verse 9 says, “So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.” This security they got from Jason may have been Jason and the other Christians making a promise that Paul would not return to Thessalonica. If that were the case, Satan used the mob to run Paul out of town. Then, he was able to keep him away by bringing a threat to the Christians when they responded by promising to keep Paul away.
Paul gives Satan credit for blocking their way to Thessalonica, but it doesn't stop Paul or discourage him in any way. He knew this blocking move by Satan would serve God's purpose. And it did because Paul sat down and wrote what he wanted to say so we could hold it today. Satan thought he had blocked the road. He thought he had won by keeping Paul away. But God used this to bring Paul to his writing desk. Satan's block brought the word of God to the Thessalonians and millions of other Christians also. This is a great lesson for us. When we are blocked or hindered by Satan, God isn't surprised. We shouldn't feel defeated or give Satan too much credit. God has a purpose in these things. We can keep our eyes on Him and watch how he works these things out.
Paul said his hope isn't at the mercy of Satan. God may allow Satan to throw up a roadblock, but it will ultimately be for God's glory. Paul's hope and joy and crown of rejoicing would be found in the Thessalonians when they were present at the coming of Christ. The Saints there were a crown. The word for crown here is the Stephanos. This crown was made with a woven branch, flower, or vine and then awarded to the victor at the Olympics. The contestants entered the agon, and they gave all they had, and in their victory, they received the Stephanos. That's what Paul says the Thessalonian church will be. It will be like a crown of victory when they stand before Jesus at his coming. That will be Paul and Silas's glory and joy.
All the perils on the road that Paul traveled will all be worth it in the end when he sees the church stand as the bride of Christ. Each of us travels a road. We are to be engaged in our life and calling. Our road will be marked by tests and trials, pitfalls, hindrances, and hazards. It will seem like a bad road at times.
Paul walked the road to Thessalonica and entered into the agon by the direction and power of the Lord to bring the gospel of truth to the Thessalonians. He and Silas were still bloodied and beaten, but they continued. It was a long road. It was painful. You know Satan was trying to work on their fears. We know this seemed like a bad road.
They continued by faith, doing what God sent them to do. Not because it looked right or felt right. It was long hours and no pay; they were underappreciated, underfed, beaten, mocked, and shamed. But they never stopped. How many of us would have run for the hills? How many of us have never engaged in the battle at all? How many of us sit on the sidelines, waiting for a better-looking road?
The Thessalonians were beginning to experience the road Paul and Silas had traveled. Paul previously told them about affliction in chapter one. This was the crushing pressure. It was operating under unnatural and uncomfortable pressure from circumstances. He also spoke to them of suffering. This was traveling a physically painful road. In verse 15, he wrote of persecution. This means being driven out and rejected, run off the road. Then, also in verse 15, he said there was a working contrary to men. This is to impede progress. This is a wind that blows in our faces instead of at our backs. This is when all progress seems to be uphill. In verse 18, Paul said Satan hindered them. This is the road that is broken up or blocked. There are trees down and sections missing. This is like one of those interstates in California after an earthquake. The road just ends in the middle of nowhere.
Paul's road was like this, and the Thessalonians began to understand. They were feeling the affliction, suffering, persecution, the contrary workings of men, and the hindrance of Satan. This is part of the Christian life. Are you on the Road set before you? Have you entered into the contest to compete for the prize? Do you give your all to God; all your heart, desires, emotions, feelings, money, time, everything? No matter how it hurts, even when you are bloodied and scarred and in pain?
When the Lord returns, we want to be His crown. We want to be found working and believing, faithful in prayer or singing His praises. We don't want to be found wringing our hands, worrying, or fretting. We don't want to be harboring any anger or bitterness. We don't want to be bound up in fear because we think Satan has blocked our way or had free reign in our lives.
©2017, 2024 DOUG FORD
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