.png){kind=icon}
This chapter outlines how Paul conducted his mission work by studying 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians is the oldest writing in the New Testament. Most scholars date it to around 49 CE (some even earlier). Paul wrote it to a friendly congregation in order to renew his ties with that community. Through a socio-historical investigation of 1 Thessalonians, this chapter reconstructs Paul’s missionary method and the history of Thessalonian community.
The Founding of the Church in Thessalonica
Paul typically chose large cities in which to spread his gospel, presumably because there were more potential converts. Paul did not concentrate on converting large groups of people: He did not stand on the street corner and shout his message. Rather, he set up shop, perhaps dealing in leather, and talked with people (mostly pagans) as they came around.
Presumably, Paul began the process of conversion by convincing pagans that they were worshipping false Gods (1 Thess 1:9–10). Then he introduced the concept of the one God, the God of Israel. Once Paul convinced a person of these two premises, he began to speak of Jesus as the Son of God who, through his death and resurrection, brought salvation. Accordingly, the Thessalonians believed that Jesus’ death and resurrection brought Christians into a right relationship with God. These Christians also adhered to Paul’s apocalyptic belief that Jesus would return soon to judge the world.
The Beginnings of the Thessalonian Church: A Sociohistorical Perspective
Although historians cannot be certain of the socio-economic makeup of Paul’s churches, it seems likely that most converts were not wealthy, elite, or educated—though certainly some were. These Christians did not meet in public places but in private homes called “house churches.” The communities apparently thought of themselves as closed groups, and there were strict membership regulations. Perhaps because of the closed nature of their association, they experienced some persecution from those outside the church. A shared experience of suffering helped solidify the social group. Likewise, Paul stresses their connections with other Christian communities and the history of Israel.
The Church at Thessalonica after Paul’s Departure
After Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus left Thessalonica to continue their mission elsewhere, Paul sent Timothy back to the Thessalonians to check on them. When Timothy returned, Paul penned this “friendship letter” to renew their acquaintance and address some of the church’s concerns. Their primary concern involved the delay of the end. The Thessalonians had taken Paul’s apocalyptic message seriously and were disturbed when members of the church died before Jesus’ return. The church members were concerned about the ultimate fate of these dead believers. Paul assured the Thessalonians that when Jesus returned, those who had died would be raised first. Paul, however, still expected some of the church members—including himself—to be alive when his apocalyptic expectations were realized. Paul’s apocalyptic scenario presupposes a three-storied universe, an ancient way of viewing the world in spatial terms of “up,” “down,” and “here.”
Conclusion: Paul the Apostle
Paul was the apostle to the gentiles. His mission in Thessalonica, as elsewhere, was directed at gentiles. Paul convinced these people to turn away from pagan gods and to accept the God of Israel and Jesus, his only Son. These Christians also eagerly awaited Jesus’ return in judgment. They were part of a larger, cohesive social group, reinforced by (i) shared insider information, (ii) mutual love and support, (iii) a common front against external persecution, and (iv) rules that governed their lives.