1 Thessalonians

Encouragement

The theme of encouragement is one that is so apparently evident in Paul’s first letter to the believers in Thessalonica. The setting of Paul’s heart is the key reason the letter expresses so much emotion and gratitude, for his intent is to help the Thessalonians see that the fruits of their faith are being a blessing to other believers including him. At this point in Paul’s life he had been denied by the Holy Spirit to speak where he wanted, beaten, imprisoned, kicked out of towns, mocked, and disheartened by the idol worship of the Greeks. He had come to a place where most people would be so frustrated they would deeply consider if their efforts had been in vain. This letter is a response Paul had to hearing from Timothy of the steadfastness of the faith of the Thessalonians. Paul, upon hearing of the church in Thessalonica and the lives of the believers there was rejuvenated… seeing the fruits of his labor and that his work had not been in vain at all. This would have been such a huge encouragement to Paul, blessing his heart with a reality that God was bringing people into the kingdom faithfully. The emotion and atmosphere of this letter are his heartfelt response to the belief of the Thessalonians… for he wanted them to see that their faith had bolstered his and that the hope they have been following in Christ is indeed true. The God they are worshipping is faithful, as Paul now realized yet again upon hearing of the Thessalonians.

The Thessalians would feel encouraged as they saw Paul’s defense of himself, realizing that he in fact did love them. They would be encouraged as they saw his affirming words, as he was thankful for their steadfastness and faith in Christ reported by Timothy. Paul spoke to them of Timothy’s good report, and how this blessed him so much. As they remembered the time they had with Paul they would be encouraged to realize how blameless he was and the reality of God’s grace shown to them during that time. Their experience receiving the gospel was indeed real and it had a profound impact on their lives. They didn’t have to doubt themselves, doubt God, or doubt the reality of God’s revealed word through Paul. The were affirmed in the truth of God’s mercy to them in Christ, that though God’s wrath was upon them they are no children of God’s through salvation in Christ. They were encouraged to walk upright lives apart from sexual immorality and the wickedness prevailing amongst the gentiles who rejected Christ. They would also feel a sense of pride in Paul’s repeated encouragement that they are doing well in loving each other and being good witnesses… that their testimony across Macedonia testifies to their goodness and faith. They would be encouraged to see that they have nothing to fear in death, for they have God’s promises of life in Christ. They would also see that in the same way they have been encouraged they must continue to encourage and love each other according to God.

For the contemporary reader there is a strong emotional fervor to Paul’s letter that shows that a leader of believers blesses his disciples and the body by being encouraging. Encouragement is cyclical in that as believers are encouraged they cannot help but want to return the encouragement in others. The strengthening that happened in Paul’s life came from the diligence in faith of the Thessalonians. The strengthening that occurred within the Thessalonian church derived from Paul’s encouragement, his uncompromising life of holiness and surrender to Christ, and his deep love for the people. Encouragement is necessary in the body of Christ for it is the lifeblood that sustains through difficult times… without it people begin to feel alone and question their faith. The atmosphere created by Paul’s encouragement was created by the Thessalonians faithfulness to God. The atmosphere therefore resulted from a blessing of encouragement and cycled to be an encouragement to the Thessalonians… bringing strength to the body as truth was rejoiced in and shared by many.