Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 3

Paul Recalls their Conversion to Christ by the Preaching of the Gospel and the Power of the Holy Spirit Part 2

1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye 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, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. KJV

It was well known in all of the surrounding cities of Asia Minor during that time that all the Gentiles there were worshipers of many gods or idols, so when it was heard round about that many had become followers of 'the way' or now the term being 'Christians' since the time spent in Antioch (Acts 11:26) much attention/curiosity was given to this city of Thessalonica to bear witness to this new development, therefore, we find Paul describing their conversion and the effects of it likewise in this manner saying, "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything." (1 Thessalonians 1:8) (KJV). In describing the effects or aftermath of their conversion to Christ, Paul here uses the little English phrase 'sounded out' which is used only this one time in the entire New Testament and it is translated by one Greek word execheomai meaning to make a loud noise or reverberate; to “echo” forth, that is, resound (be generally reported): - sound forth. In other words, the news or the evidence of some people in the city of Thessalonica rang out like someone ringing a loud Church bell or like the loud booming sound of a large marching band coming down the street during a parade or like the flying over of Airforce fighter Jets, so was the noise of the regeneration and new birth by the Power of God the Holy Spirit of many in the city of Thessalonica, it could not be missed and more importantly it could not be ignored and this is why the violence against Jason's House occurred (from those in the city who were not converted) Acts 17:5-9 as we documented in the last commentary/study.

What resounded or ricocheted or reverberated out from these new Christians was the 'word of the Lord' and Paul uses this phrase both subjectively and objectively to paint a Word Picture for us that the new converts in the city of Thessalonica (who before the Gospel pierced their souls spoke about what all other Gentiles spoke about) now they spoke about Jesus Christ and the Words of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ just as Paul spoke concerning himself when he entered the city of Corinth when he said this to them at the beginning of his letter, "For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2) (Amplified Bible). Note: "Much of the business and commerce that took place in the province of then Asia Minor required travel through the city of Thessalonica and with that reality many people encountered the new converts in the city for they certainly declared the Gospel of Christ to as many as they physically could and so this is what Paul meant when he says, 'in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.'" Paul now acknowledges to them that he had met many people after leaving their city and they relayed to him the reality of the faith of the believers in the Church @ Thessalonica and so he says, "For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;" (1 Thessalonians 1:9) (KJV). The little English phrase 'themselves shew' is translated by one Greek word apaggello it is used here confirming what we said earlier meaning to announce: - bring word (again), declare, report, shew (again), tell. In other words, many people as they travelled through the city of Thessalonica spoke of the converts to Jesus Christ in that city and most likely how they proclaimed His Name their and testified of their faith in Christ and proclaimed or preached the Gospel of Christ to all who would listen.

The Gentiles in the city worshipped 'idols' and this English word is translated by the Greek word eidolon meaning an image (that is, for worship); by implication a heathen god, or (plural) the worship of such: - idol. In other words, the Thessalonians who worshipped these images or statues really thought they were worshipping the 'gods' or what they in ignorance perceived to be 'god' in their view until the Gospel of the One True God pierced their souls showing them that what they once believed and worshipped was indeed false, just as our Lord Jesus declared was the only True God when He prayed these words, "When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify {and} exalt {and} honor {and} magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify {and} extol {and} honor {and} magnify You. [Just as] You have granted Him power {and} authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true {and} real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent." (John 17:1-3) (Amplified Bible) and likewise what the Holy Spirit wrote through the Apostle John when he said these words, "And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding {and} insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) {and} come to know better {and} more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal." (1 John 5:20) (Amplified Bible).

In every century since the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, all sinners converted to Christ have had this sure and confident hope as the Apostle Paul declares with these words, "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:10) (KJV) and so did these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica. The little English phrase 'to wait for' is used this one and only time in the entire New Testament and is translated by one Greek word anameno meaning to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, remain, stand, or tarry; to wait for or to await. In other words, these believers in Thessalonica and we believers today are not working for, or wishing for, or waiting for a better world to be made by human beings down here on the earth, but instead we know certainly that Christ Jesus our Lord will come for each one of us (who belong to Him) individually and receive us to Himself as He said with these words, "And when I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:3) (KJV), this is done by our Lord Jesus Christ for every converted sinner @ the rapture of the Church or @ the death of every follower of His.

There is never coming upon this earth a better world, a world of peace and prosperity, a world free from hate, racism, and violence made by the wisdom of men, but what is coming upon this earth or this world is the Judgement or the Wrath of God (that is, Jesus who is God) as the Apostle John describes for us in vivid HD surround sound with these words, "When He [the Lamb] broke open the sixth seal, I looked, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun grew black as sackcloth of hair, [the full disc of] the moon became like blood. And the stars of the sky dropped to the earth like a fig tree shedding its unripe fruit out of season when shaken by a strong wind. And the sky rolled up like a scroll {and} vanished, and every mountain and island was dislodged from its place. Then the kings of the earth and their noblemen and their magnates and their military chiefs and the wealthy and the strong and [everyone, whether] slave or free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, and they called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on (before) us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the deep-seated indignation {and} wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of His wrath (vengeance, retribution, indignation) has come, and who is able to stand before it?" (Revelation 6:12-17) (Amplified Bible). Praise be to Jesus Name that here Paul declares that He (Christ) is the One the Only One 'which delivered' us from this wrath to come. This English phrase 'which delivered' is translated by one Greek word rhuomai a verb meaning to rush or draw (for oneself), that is, rescue: - deliver. Is there any better hope out there in the world or the universe today? I'll let you answer this question for yourself...

"I am a movie buff, that is, I enjoy going to the Theater to watch all sorts of films depicted on the big screen. In so doing, I have seen some absolute phenomenal special effects done in many movies, but what we read in Revelations 6:12-17 is not a movie it is real and will really happen, but if it were, imagine the millions of dollars that would be required to make those things appear real. Therefore, we Christians knowing this truth should be diligent in getting out the Word of God, the Gospel of God, the Gospel of the Grace of God to see those who are deceived by the devil in their worship of false gods or idols that have no power to rescue them from this sure wrath of the True God that is coming upon the earth (whether it is believed or not it is coming). Listen to what the Psalmist had to say concerning idols, 'The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. [Idols] have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make [idols] are like them; so is everyone who trusts in {and} relies on them.' (Psalm 135:15-18) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

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…