1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 1 verses 6-10 (ESV)

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Commentary

            (Vs. 6) Paul states that the Thessalonians became imitators of the Apostle and the Lord. Echoes of Jesus words to the disciples “come follow me” are found here. “The theme of imitation is common in Paul’s letters (1 Cor 4:6; 11:1; Eph 5:1; Phil 3:17).9 But this instance is unusual since imitation here is not connected to some moral demand. In every other instance in Paul’s letters the theme is part of a request that his readers become imitators of himself, God, or Christ. In Thessalonica, however, Paul acknowledges that they already are imitators. But they are not just imitators of Paul, but also the Lord.”¹ Paul continues by describing that the Church did not have an easy conversion and Christian walk. Persecution, however, was not enough to take away their joy in the Holy Spirit. “Paul by the Thessalonians and all who so walked (Phil. 3:17), and then again these imitators themselves became a pattern for others Nor is that a spiritless imitation, but a following (Luke 9:23 sqq., 57 sqq.) in the power of the Spirit, who begets ever new, fresh life, though in historical continuity; since He is a Spirit of remembrance. . .”²

¹Byron, John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 45). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

²John Peter Lange et al., A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 19.

                       

Vs 7. The Thessalonians faith clearly had spread beyond Thessalonica. Paul praises the church for their outreach. That is his theme in this letter praising the Thessalonians for their witness to a watching world.

            Vs 8. Paul here uses a bit of exaggeration when he states that the news of their conversion has gone out everywhere. But maybe not such an exaggeration. You see Thessalonica is in a very unique place. The city is located on a natural harbor and on the main east west trade route of the Roman Empire. Also, it was no small-town scholars estimate between 100,000 and 300,000 people lived in the city at the time of Paul. “All the believers in Macedonia and Achaia” covered a lot of territory. Macedonia was the Roman province in the northeast section of Greece. The Macedonian churches of which we are aware included those in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Achaia was the Roman province directly south of Macedonia. In it were churches in the cities of Athens and Corinth. North to south the two provinces stretched for several hundred miles and contained all of the churches established on the second missionary journey” (Acts 16:6–18:22).^[1]

Vs 9-10 Paul continues his praise of the church noting that wherever he goes people are talking about the Thessalonian’s conversion. The city was everywhere filled with temples and idol worship. The church turned from them and was following the one true God. They were waiting patiently for Christ’s return from heaven. Waiting is hard work. “Well, maybe you will experience a tremendous, nonstop rush of excitement. Maybe there will be an immediate confirmation of your decision — circumstances will click, every risk will pay off, your efforts will be crowned with success, your spiritual life will thrive, your faith will double, and your friends will marvel, all in the space of a second. Maybe. But not always. For good reasons, God does not always move at our frantic pace. We are too often double espresso followers of a decaf Sovereign.”⁴

This passage (1:2–10) began as an expression of thanks to God (1:2–5). The affirmations growing out of Paul’s prayer of thanks explained the basis for his thankfulness. "But beyond this, and more importantly for the message of the letter, the recital of examples of faithfulness on the part of the Thessalonians were calculated to (1) support the good already evident in the Thessalonian church, (2) strengthen existing goodwill between Paul and the church, and (3) anticipate the message contained in the remainder of the letter. The need, especially for the second of these items, is evident as Paul reviewed his behavior in Thessalonica. If in doing this he was responding to critics, then certainly they were critics attempting to drive a wedge between the apostle and his converts. And success in discrediting the apostle might well have led to the discrediting of the apostle’s message. In the verses that follow, Paul defended himself in order to defend his message"5.
D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 66.

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³D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 62–63.
⁴    John Ortberg Devotionals Daily