Reflections on LifeSample

Unlike some of Paul’s other letters (see Galatians!), 1 Thessalonians is positive and encouraging. Paul is proud of the believers in Thessalonica, grateful to receive such a good report from Timothy. They are experiencing considerable persecution for their faith in Jesus, yet they remain steadfast. Paul takes this as evidence that they really did receive the message he preached, not as a “human word” but as the word of God himself.

They received the message with joy, and it has proven to be the very word of God by the fruit in their lives, their faith and love and hope (1:3). They withstand persecution and suffering, they love one another and believers elsewhere, they lead holy lives, they encourage one another. Paul’s letter is meant to encourage them to continue to do all these things, and even more so. All these things are proof that the word has taken root in them, and that God’s Spirit is alive in them, that “this word continues to work in [those] who believe.”

What exactly is the word that Paul preached to the Thessalonians? Of course, Paul doesn’t mean “the Bible” like what we have today. Neither does he mean only the essential gospel message, that Jesus died to save us and rose again. Acts 17 describes Paul’s approach in Thessalonica. As he usually did, Paul began by preaching to Jews and God-fearing non-Jews in the synagogue, showing how Jesus fulfilled the Hebrew scriptures (our Old Testament), that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer, die, and rise again (Acts 17:2-3). Paul was telling Jesus’ story within the big story of the Jewish scriptures. This is the story preserved for us in the Bible.

Let this be an encouragement to all of us to soak ourselves in the “living and active” word of God and allow God’s Spirit to work in us.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. (1 Thess 5:23-25, NLT)