Covenant Community Part 1 – 1 Thess 1:1a

Covenant Community Part 1 – 1 Thess 1:1a

Covenant Community, Part 1 – Introduction to 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 1:1        October 25, 2026

Introduction

  • Superstore has all of the decorations out for Halloween
    • People need something to look forward to….people need something to hope in…sadly the world offers all the wrong things to hope in.
  • New Series introduction
  • 2 points today – 1.) context and 2.) themes

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.”
  • Author – Paul
    • V1 gives us 3 names 
      • “we” and “our” throughout letter – message from the three founders
        • Silvanus = Silas
      • But Paul is specific author: see 1 Thess. 2:17-18 “17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”
        • (see also 3:5 “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” And 5:27 “I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.”)
  • Setting
    • Big context (Luke 16): 2nd missionary journey; pick up Timothy in Derbe; man of Macedonia (Luke?) invites them to Greece/Macedonia, started preaching in Phillipi – had conversions and cast our spirit of divination from girl, jailed, then left for Thessalonica
    • Acts 17:1-5a “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar…”
      • Better reception in Thessalonica, after three synagogue instances of preaching (though he was likely there more than 3 weeks) both Jews and gentiles believe from various socio-economic groups, including women.
    • Acts 17:10-15 “10The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea , and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so….13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.”
      • Jewish agitators follow and Paul leaves Berea for Athens
      • Timothy present in Berea – event though no mention in Thessalonica, was present there too (hence Timothy’s inclusion in introduction of letter 1:1)
      • 1 Thess. 3:1-2 “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith…”
        • Timothy and Silas rejoined Paul in Athens, and then Paul sends Timothy back to Thessalonica (origination point of Jewish agitators)
    • Acts 18:1, 5 “1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth….5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia…”
      • Paul eventually arrives in Corinth by way of Athens and then Timothy and Silas catch up with him and report back from Macedonia (where Thessalonica/Berea/Phillipi) 
      • Paul in Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:11) and it is from here that he writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians
        • 1 Thess. 3:6 “But now that Timothy has come to us from you…”
          • Tomothy returned from his dispatch reported to Paul who now writes and sends his letters.
            • Likely no more than a year-ish has passed since the founding of the church in Thessalonica
    • Time period Acts 18:12 “But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia…”
      • History (Delphi Inscription) tells us Gallio served in this role from 51-52ish….so written during this time, likely somewhere 49-51
        • Approx. 20 years from time of Jesus
        • One of earliest letters from Paul (often this or Galatians argued as first letters)
    • Thessalonica was capital of Roman province of Macedonia – giant natural harbor and location made it a center for trade, very wealthy with around 200k people, natural hot springs drew visitors from around the world, cosmopolitan city with many cultic religions (Greek, Roman, Egyptian) as well as Jews present

Themes

  • Structure
    • 1st half = celebration of their faithfulness in the midst of persecution
    • 2nd half = exhortation to grow in obedience and faith in Jesus
      • Three prayers (thanksgiving 1:1-3, growth 3:11-13, peace 5:23) frame these two halves of the letter
  • Themes:
    • A. How to Live Together
      • “brother(s)” – used 19 X in this book (1:4, 2:1, 9, 14, 17, 3:2, 7, 4:1, 6, 10(x2), 13, 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27  + “brotherly” love 4:9) (only Romans and 1 Cor. have more uses by Paul – both much longer letters)
        • Significance of brotherhood in Greco-Roman culture
      • What is covenant community: The local family of faith, mutually committed to bear one another’s burdens in humble faith, hope, and love.
        • 1. Covenant Community Is a United Family
          • See Ephesians 2:18-22, 4:1-6, 25
        • 2. Covenant Community Commits to Mutual Love
          • See John 13:34-35
        • 3. Covenant Community Exhorts One Another
          • See Galatians 6:1-2, Hebrews 3:13
        • 4. Covenant Community Grows Together
          • See Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:24-25
        • 5.Covenant Community Practices Holiness and Accountability
          • See Matthew 18:15-17, James 5:16, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
        • 6. Covenant Community Humbles Itself Under Godly Leadership
          • See Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:1-5
        • 7. Covenant Community Worships and Lives on Mission Together
          • See Acts 2:42-47, Matthew 28:18-20
    • B. In the Light of His Return
      • Christ’s Return mentioned in every chapter of 1 Thess. 1:10, 2:19-20, 3:13, 4:13-18, 5:1-11, 23-24 and the first two in 2 Thess. 1:7-10, 2:1-12
      • Acts 17:6-7 “6…These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 … and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
        • The King will return and we must hopefully look forward to that return with no fear but with awareness that things will get worse before they get better.

Conclusion

  • Superstores also presently advertising and stocking for Christmas….for folks who want to look past Halloween, already have Christmas decorations up…better than celebrating Halloween – celebrating the birth of Jesus, but we are called to have hope in and look forward to the return of Jesus as we grow together in covenant community.
  • Amen. Amen. 
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