PAUL'S ARRIVAL IN THESSALONICA Paul reminded the Thessalonian brethren that the purpose of his coming and the message preached in that coming were not empty. Either they had heard or he had told them about the beating and imprisonment he and Silas had endured at Philippi (Acts 16:1-40). If they had... [ Continue Reading ]
MOTIVES BEHIND PAUL'S PREACHING In a city filled with idol worship, the presentation of a religious message without trickery being used for personal gain would surely impress the hearers. Also, Paul and his associates had not preached with any impure motives from a moral standpoint. The word "guile... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL'S CONDUCT AMONG THEM Paul, and those with him, had not used insincere praise to get the attention of those in Thessalonica, nor had they disguised some selfish desire for monetary gain. To verify the truthfulness of his words, the apostle called on the Thessalonians' memory of his actions and G... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WITNESSED PAUL'S LOVE AND BEHAVIOR Paul's love for them was so intense that he was ready to pour out his very life for them in the preaching of the gospel. One who preaches the gospel with the right motives has such a love for souls that he readily shares the gospel and even his life in the ho... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BRETHREN AND THE JEWS--TWO RESPONSES TO THE GOSPEL There were those unbelievers at Thessalonica who had not been receptive to the truth (Acts 17:11). This may have made Paul even more thankful for the believers. He was thankful they had received God's word and accepted it through obedient belief... [ Continue Reading ]
A DEEP DESIRE TO SEE THEM Paul had been forced to leave, or orphaned as his word means, the newborn Christians in Thessalonica against his personal desire, as can be seen when he says, "having been taken away from you." While he was not physically with them, his heart never left them. He had a stro... [ Continue Reading ]