Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 2

Paul Recalls their Conversion to Christ by the Preaching of the Gospel and the Power of the Holy Spirit Part 1

1 Thessalonians 1:5-7 For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. KJV

Immediately after Paul's greeting to these believers in Thessalonica, he reminds them of the miracle of their individual conversions to Christ and the subsequent forming of their Church in the city of Thessalonica, that before had no body of believers there in Jesus Christ as he says in this manner, "For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." (1 Thessalonians 1:5) (KJV). Paul includes Silas and Timothy in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ along with him throughout this city of non-believers at the time. Paul declares that the preaching of the Gospel of Grace did not come just by way of their human speech, but the Power of God accompanied their speech (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). This English word 'power' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word dunamis which is where we get our English word 'dynamite' from meaning force (literally or figuratively); specifically, miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself).

Paul is reminding them of the miracle that took place in their individual souls or inner man and inner woman when God the Holy Spirit took Paul's, Silas's, and Timothy's preaching of the Gospel and convicted them of sin, righteousness, and judgement just as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ said He would do with these words spoken to the first Apostles/Disciples, "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. And when He comes, He will convict {and} convince the world {and} bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in Me [trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me]; About righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God), because I go to My Father, and you will see Me no longer; About judgment, because the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world [Satan] is judged {and} condemned {and} sentence already is passed upon him." (John 16:7-11) (Amplified Bible).

When Paul says here, 'and in much assurance', he means that it was God the Holy Spirit who made them confident, conquering, and comfortably certain of their forgiveness of sin (past, present, and future sin) eternally and their union with our Lord Jesus Christ by grace through faith as Paul declared to the believers in Rome with these words, "For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory." (Romans 8:15-17) (Amplified Bible).

Once these Thessalonians were converted to Christ, they immediately left or parted with close communion with their unconverted friends and family to fellowship with Paul, Silas, and Timothy as fellow followers of Christ Jesus our Lord as Paul puts it with these words, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:" (1 Thessalonians 1:6) (KJV). The English word 'followers' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word mimetes which is where we get our English word 'mimic' from it means to imitate. In other words, these converted Thessalonian people no longer wanted to be like unconverted family and friends they had known for a long time, but instead they now desired to imitate or be like Paul, Silas, and Timothy as they followed Christ, so did these new believers in Thessalonica want to do.

Paul reminded them of the hostility, harassment, and even hatred they encountered upon receiving and accepting the Gospel of Christ. Paul uses the English word 'affliction' which is translated by the Greek word thlipsis meaning pressure (literally or figuratively): - anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble. The reality of these words by Paul can be better understood with the account recorded for us in the Book of Acts by Dr. Luke, "Now after [Paul and Silas] had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul entered, as he usually did, and for three Sabbaths he reasoned {and} argued with them from the Scriptures, explaining [them] {and} [quoting passages] setting forth {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 (the Messiah). And some of them [accordingly] were induced to believe and associated themselves with Paul and Silas, as did a great number of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the unbelieving Jews were aroused to jealousy, and, getting hold of some wicked men (ruffians and rascals) and loungers in the marketplace, they gathered together a mob, set the town in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring [Paul and Silas] out to the people. But when they failed to find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren before the city authorities, crying, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, And Jason has received them to his house {and} privately protected them! And they are all ignoring {and} acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, [actually] asserting that there is another king, one Jesus! And both the crowd and the city authorities, on hearing this, were irritated (stirred up and troubled). And when they had taken security [bail] from Jason and the others, they let them go." (Acts 17:1-9) (Amplified Bible).

Despite this intense pressure experienced by these new believers in Thessalonica, the newly found joy they experienced in the Holy Spirit far outweighed these light temporary afflictions at the time (2 Corinthians 4:17) & (Hebrews 10:32). The reception of the Gospel by these sinners converted to saints in Thessalonica under the extreme pressure and persecution we just documented made these converts 'ensamples' to others in nearby cities. This English word 'ensamples' Paul uses here to describe them is translated by the Greek word tupos meaning (figuratively) style or resemblance; specifically, a sampler (type), that is, a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning): example, fashion, figure, form, or pattern. In other words, the Thessalonians were firm, fixed, and forceful in their acceptance of the Gospel of Christ and all that the Word of God revealed (as they were taught it by Paul) and their later fidelity and faithfulness in which they adhered to it during the extremely sharp and strongly felt persecution they received upon their accepting Christ and His Word.

"The Gospel of Christ and of Grace is sure, solid, and satisfying to the souls of all who will have ears (spiritual ears) to hear it because it is the Word of God which carries with it the Power of God and it is able to convert/save any sinful soul of man or woman that truly sees their need for salvation just as the Prophet Isaiah said concerning the Word of God hundreds of years even before our Lord Jesus Christ manifested Himself in the flesh, 'So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please {and} purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.' (Isaiah 55:11) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"They were fully convinced of the truth of it, so as not to be easily shaken in mind by objections and doubts; they were willing to leave all for Christ, and to venture their souls and everlasting condition upon the verity of the Gospel revelation. The word was not to them, like the sentiments of some philosophers about matters of opinion and doubtful speculation, but the object of their faith and assurance. Their faith was the evidence of things not seen; and the Thessalonians thus knew what manner of men the Apostle and his fellow-labourers were among them, and what they did for their sake, and with what good success." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…