To the Assembly

The Thessalonians received the Gospel of Christ in tribulation yet remained faithful while eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7.

In the first chapter of First Thessalonians, Paul anticipates the Letter’s main subjects - the tribulation of believers, Christian hope, and “the arrival” of Jesus, when he will rescue his people from wrath, resurrect the righteous dead, and “meet” his assembled saints as he descends from Heaven. On that day, we will “obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Letter is addressed to “the Assembly in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The Greek noun ‘ekklésia’ is commonly translated as “church” in English versions of the New Testament, but it more accurately means “assembly” or “congregation” - a group of individuals assembled for a particular purpose:

• “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God, Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace” – (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

• “And Moses spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Israel [‘qahal’] the words of this song, until they were finished” – (1 Thessalonians 31:30).

[Church, Norway - Photo by Rino Falstad on Unsplash]

The term “assembly” in this context is derived from the Hebrew Bible, especially its references to the “congregation of Israel” gathered before the Tabernacle for worship - the ‘Qahal Yahweh’, or “the assembly of Yahweh” – (Deuteronomy 23:1).

The Church of Thessalonica is “in God and Jesus.” Paul maintains the distinction between God and His Son but also stresses their unity. This is not metaphysical speculation about the divine nature. The Father cannot be known apart from the Son, and the Church constitutes the Assembly of God because of its relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ - (John 14:6-9).

The saints who gather in any city for worship constitute the Assembly in God and Jesus in that location. The followers of Christ are distinct from society. Together they become a “pilgrim” people persecuted because of their allegiance to Jesus and departure from the values of the surrounding culture.

• “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father; knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election” - (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4).

The term “endurance of hope” describes the forward-looking faith of the Church. With great hope, we anticipate the coming day when Jesus will return, raise the dead, and gather us to himself. We will shine brightly as Paul’s “hope and joy and crown of boasting” on that day. Knowing this equips us for perseverance through tribulation as we wait for Jesus to arrive – (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:13-18).

TRIBULATION

Suffering for the Gospel is evidence of our “election” by God, confirmation that we have been “counted worthy to suffer for the Kingdom.” The hope for which we endure opposition will be answered and fulfilled when Jesus returns – (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

The Greek term translated as “election” or ‘eklektos’ means “chosen.” Those of us who respond positively to the Gospel are chosen by God to become members of His covenant community, to receive salvation, and to bear witness to all that He has done through Christ for us.

The Thessalonian believers embraced the message proclaimed by Paul, despite opposition and persecution, which more than justified their election.

• “How that our gospel came not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, even as you know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake. And you became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit, and you became examples to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia” - (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7).

The Thessalonians were impressed by Paul’s message. It was accompanied by “power in the Holy Spirit.” However, most striking of all was their acceptance of the Gospel “in much tribulation.”

The Greek noun ‘thlipsis’ translated here as “tribulation” originally meant “a pressing together,” hence the idea of “pressure.” From this developed the sense of “affliction, tribulation.”

Paul faced opposition in Thessalonica, especially from the leaders of the local synagogue. Tensions became so high that the Apostle was compelled to leave the city before his work was finished, hence his anxiety over the condition of the congregation. This was not unexpected. Jesus himself warned that his disciples would be persecuted – (Acts 17:1-9).

• “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things by your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews; who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and expelled us, and please not God, and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, filling up their sins always. But the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” – (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16).

• “And you will be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for truly I say to you, You will not go through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord” – (Matthew 10:22-24).

• “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore, the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” – (John 15:18-20).

In this passage, Paul is doing more than simply recalling the past. The term “tribulation” anticipates his later statements in the Letter given for the benefit of the Thessalonians.

For example, his declaration in Chapter 3 that God “has appointed us for tribulation.” Suffering for the Gospel does not indicate God’s abandonment, but His approval and election of us. The Gospel caused much opposition in the city, indicating just how effective the message was among the population of Thessalonica – (Acts 17:1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3:3).

• “So that, we ourselves glory in you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure, a manifest token of the just judgment of God; to the end, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God” – (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5).

We must not be dismayed by persecution. Our willingness to suffer abuse for the sake of the Gospel goes to the heart of what it means to be disciples of Jesus. His return will bring salvation to those who wait patiently for him – (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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SEE ALSO:

• Ekklésia - Assembly of God - (The Christian use of the term church or ekklésia is derived from the assembly of Yahweh gathered for worship in the Hebrew Bible)

• Afflicted Disciples - (The disciple who faithfully bears witness to the Gospel and Jesus will endure tribulation and persecution for his sake)

• His Path - (Jesus proclaimed a new political reality, the Kingdom of God, and it bears little resemblance to the political regimes and ideologies of the world)

• Waiting for Jesus - (The Church of Thessalonica began to serve the Living God and wait eagerly for the arrival of His Son from Heaven – 1 Thessalonians 1:8-1)