In the Roman province of Macedonia on the bay of Therme, was the city of Thessalonica--an important center a commerce and a stronghold of idolatry. To this city came he who was "determined not to know anything  *  *  save Jesus Christ, and him crucified"; and in this region of great darkness appeared the light of the gospel of God's Son. With the Apostle Paul came his faithful companions and helpers Silas and Timothy, undaunted by the memory of the Philippian jail or by fears of the things which might befall them in their new field. There was in Thessalonica a synagogue of the Jews; "and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto thorn, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures." (Acts 17:1, 2). From these scriptures he alleged that the Christ--He whom the Jews had been awaiting through the centuries--was destined to suffer, and that He was to rise from the dead; "And this Jesus," said he, "whom I proclaim unto you, is the Christ." The resurrection of Jesus was here, as elsewhere, a fundamental part of the apostle's preaching. A suffering Savior and a risen Lord were essential elements of his gospel.

      But so far as the main body of his hearers was concerned, the irrefutable arguments from the scriptures were in vain. However, even among these were some whose hearts were prepared to receive the truth; for "Some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few." (verse 4). Thus we are told of the beginning of the church which Paul at a later time addressed as "The Church of the Thessalonians."

      In many respects this seems to have been a model church. Some of the letters to the churches were called forth by great evils; but in reading the letters to this church we are rather impressed with its many excellent characteristics, which the churches now would do well to emulate. The gospel had come to them not "in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance"; and they had "received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit." (1 Thes. 1:5, 6). And what unspeakable joy filled the heart of Paul when, after having been from them for some time, he received the glad tidings of their faith and love, which continued to grow exceedingly even in all the persecutions and afflictions which they endured. (1 Thes. 3:6-9; 2 Thes. 1:3, 4).

      The Church of the Thessalonians was pre-eminently a working church--a missionary church. "For from you," says the Apostle, "hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything." (1 Thes. 1:8). They are not content with sounding forth the word in their own city, or in their own province, alone; nor did they [63] confine their labors here until it could be said that all the heathen at home had been converted. But in this work they became imitators of Paul and his companions. (Verse 6).

      Not only was this church a working church, but it was also a waiting church. They had "turned unto God from idols," not only "to serve a living and true God," but also "to wait for his Son from heaven." Their hopes were not set upon the things of this world--upon social changes, human advancement, political movements; but upon the coming of Jesus. Then they could hope for rest from their trials. Certainly even in their much affliction "the abundance a their joy and their deep poverty" could abound "unto the riches of their liberality." (2 Cor. 8:2).

["The Church of the Thessalonians." Word and Work 9 (February 1916): 63-64.]

      The electronic version of J. Edward Boyd's "The Church of the Thessalonians" has been produced from microfilm of Word and Work for 1916.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 63:     ((Acts 17:1, 2). [ (Acts 17:1, 2).
            (1 Thes. 1-8). [ (1 Thes. 1:8).
 p. 64:     God." but also [ God," but also
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 31 January 2002.
Updated 30 June 2003.