Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), our entire group was invited to a "new backyard" party hosted by another member of our congregation, a member who doesn't join us for our little Bible study. The invitation was "Bring your whole group. We'll incorporate your study into our party." So, for various and sundry reasons, we did.
At the appointed time, we were invited into the house to begin our study (actually, we were invited to sit around the new backyard fire pit, in the dark, on a hard brick wall, in the chilly night air - but hey, we're old people - we're old, we're cold, we hurt, we can't see, we can't hear, so we asked to have a place inside the house), and we found ourselves alone in a room while a few lingering party-goers, including the host and hostess remained outside. We sat in our dimly lighted room hoping others would join us, including one of our church elders, but it didn't happen. We tried to do our study, but we all felt so awkward that we soon disbanded.
Well, it was worth a try. Even though the study was very awkward for us, maybe God used it in some way we can't know about. We'll leave it at that. Our ways and His don't always jibe. In the end, God wins, and that's all that counts. We "win," too, even when we don't know it.
This, however, was the jist of our study. Paul and Silas, and probably Timothy, too, were on what is known as Paul's Second Missionary Journey, and having been chased out (more or less) of Philippi, they came to Thessalonica where Paul taught for perhaps 3 weeks. Some experts think more, but it doesn't seem it could be much more. As usual Paul starts out in the synagogue, and some synagogue Jews and a "large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women" heard what Paul said and believed him. (Paul and his companions were quickly banished from Thessalonica, too, when some of the synagogue members, becoming jealous, challenged what Paul said.)
Oh, there's so much to think about as a result of this short account of history and this small epistle. Here are some of the things we "thought" about (and would have thought about more had we not felt so "out of place" at the party):
- "God fearing." This is a phrase we read several times in the Bible. What does it mean? In the New Testament, it means these people were Gentiles (not Jews). In our lives, we could take it to mean "not Christians" or "not Christians like us." So, who are these God-fearing people in our lives?
- We had some Jews (these were the synagogue members) who didn't like Paul's message and who effectively booted him out of town. The interesting thing is that apparently there weren't enough of them to make a good protest. They went to the marketplace and found "some worthless men" to join the protest. When we see protests today, how many really believe in the protest? How many are protesting just because it's a protest? How many are the "worthless men" (or women) of the marketplace. (Now, I wouldn't call them "worthless," but this is the adjective used in the historical record, so I use the term only as a parallel.)
- Does the good news of Jesus Christ still stir people up? Think about it.
- Think about why you believe someone and why you don't believe someone else. One of our group answered, "I tend to believe those who are consistent in their message." Good point. Paul was surely consistent. Persistent, too!! (I actually think there's something else at work here, especially when the gospel is preached. More about that later.****)
- Paul knew (face-to-face) these people of Thessalonica for only a short while. Yet, when he's chased from town, he can't forget them. What's this all about, huh? He's so obsessed with their well-being that he has Timothy go back and check on them, to make sure they're doing ok and haven't forgotten what they learned. Then, within a year, more or less, he writes this passionate letter to them. The people of Thessalonica aren't the only people Paul's been ministering to all this time. But he just can't forget them.
- So what does Timothy find out when he makes the requested trip back to Thessalonica? Those people are doing so well that everyone in neighboring towns, cities, and countries know about their new faith, the faith in Jesus. So, what does this tell us? Paul's short visit + the Word of the Gospel + an encounter with the living God, through Jesus = ________.
And on we go. There's much to think about in this epistle. The upshot of it for me is:
- We have a man on fire for Jesus - Paul. He is infused with the lovingness of our great God. He has but one mission for the rest of his life - Go love the world for Jesus! In the epistle to the Philippians, written while Paul is a house prisoner in Rome, Paul writes: "As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." Phil 1:13
I don't think he means he's literally in chains. Or even if he does, that's not the whole meaning. I think he means "My life belongs to Christ, and everyone here knows it. I exist for the Gospel!"
Paul ends his letter with a list of things for the Thessalonians to do with and in their lives. He gives "instructions" for living the faith. He never preaches "salvation through works," but, like James, Paul knows that the faith that saves you changes you - not just for a future life, for eternity, but for now. It changes the way you live. It changes the way you love. It changes the way you are. This is a God thing, not a mankind thing.
- ****When the Word is spoken, some hear it, and it has its own power. When I say "hear," I don't mean just hear a sound - they hear this Word throughout their bodies, their minds, their lives. The Word takes root. I can't explain it, nor can I fully understand it. The Word took root in Thessalonica. They heard. They lived. They told.
