Introduction to 1 and 2 Thessalonians (4)

Pray Psalm 33.20-22.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.
Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.

Read Acts 17.10-15.

Reflect.
1. How did searching the Scriptures affect those who heard Paul?

2. Why did Paul have to flee Berea?

Meditate.
A pattern is becoming clear which follows the pattern of Paul’s ministry to date: Seek the lost, proclaim Jesus and His Kingdom, persuade some, infuriate others, move along to other places. Paul believed this pattern is what every disciple should expect (1 Tim. 1.16). We’re not all called to be apostles or evangelists, but we are called to the Kingdom and glory of God as witnesses for Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 2.12; Acts 18). Like Paul and Jesus, we should be seekers of the lost, ready to proclaim Jesus from His Word, and willing to accept whatever it pleases the Lord to bring our way.

Berea is the last stop in Macedonia. From there, Paul will move south to Achaia, or what is today southern Greece. After an overnight walk, Paul and Silas arrived in Berea and went to the local synagogue. We may assume that Luke was with them as well, and perhaps some others. In Berea, they found many people who were rather more open-minded than those in Thessalonica and who, after much searching of the Scriptures, believed the Gospel. But before Paul could get them rooted as a congregation, trouble-makers from Thessalonica arrived, and he had to depart.

Timothy, it appears, must have stayed on in Thessalonica to help the new church there (he is not mentioned in verse 10, but appears again in verse 14; cf. Acts 14.21-23 and Tit. 1.5). He joined Paul and Silas in Berea only later. Timothy and Silas stayed on in Berea when Paul had to leave (with Luke and others), but he sent for them to join him in Athens after a time. From there, Timothy would be sent back to Thessalonica to check on the progress of the church (1 Thess. 3.1-6).

Here is another pattern in Paul’s ministry. He didn’t merely preach the Gospel and start churches – small congregations of believers meeting in homes. He continued to exercise care and oversight of the churches he started, either by visiting them himself or sending others. In addition, as we shall see in our next installment, he used the ministry of writing to continue strengthening those who had come to the Lord.

Prepare.
1. What do you suppose that “searching” of the Scriptures involved? Is this something we should be doing?

2. Paul seems to be making good use of his team as he progresses through Macedonia. What do you suppose Timothy was doing as he stayed in Thessalonica? Or as he and Silas remained in Berea? Why was that work necessary?

3. What is suggested about the power of the Word of God in this account? Is it a good idea to encourage those who do not yet believe to “search the Scriptures”? How might you do that? 

They did not investigate like skeptical people, because they had already believed, but like people who were unaware of the prophets’ ancient doctrine. Or rather, they believed more because, after examining the Scriptures, they saw that the circumstances of the incarnation of the Lord agreed with the words of the ancient prophets.  Ammonius (late 5^th-early 6^thcentury), Catena on the Acts of the Apostles 17.12-13

Let Your Word abide in me richly, Lord (Col. 3.16), and help me as I talk with others to…

Pray Psalm 33.1-12.
Ask the Lord to show you how His Word can lead and guide you this day, and how you might share His Word with others.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 33.1-12 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout!  His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

God spoke and heaven came to be, and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

Let all below now fear the Lord; let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by Jesus’ Word; let all on earth in Him confide.

He nullifies the nations’ plans; forever stands His sov’reign Word.
All they are blessed who with Him stand – the chosen people of the Lord.

T. M. Moore

Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Order our workbook, God’s Covenant, and find out how all Scripture fits within this redemptive framework (click here).

Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).