The modern city of Soloniki is located on
practically the same site as was the ancient city of
Thessalonica. Thessalonica had originally been named
Therma, for the hot springs in the area. But 300 years
before Christ it was renamed in honor of the sister of
Alexander the Great. It was a free city, with its own
government, and it was the capital city of Macedonia.
Thessalonica stood on the important Egnation Way, which
was Rome’s greatest highway. The first record of the
church at Thessalonica is found in Acts 17:1-15. Paul
ministered in the synagogue there for at least three
weeks and saw a number of people converted. The first
letter to Thessalonica had several purposes: To
encourage and confirm the new believers in the things of
Christ; to answer false accusations made about Paul and
his ministry (chapter 2:1-12); to explain that the
Christian who had died would participate in the second
coming of Christ; to warn the Christians against pagan
immorality (chapter 4:4); to remind the church members
to honor and follow their spiritual leaders (chapter
5:12,13); to warn the church members who had given up
their jobs and were idle because they thought Christ
would soon return (chapter 5:2-9).

In chapter 2 Paul gives a picture of the ideal
Christian worker. He is a faithful steward (verses 1-6).
Paul compares himself to a mother in verse 7, showing
gentle, loving care for the church at Thessalonica. He
shows fatherly concern in verses 9-16. He labored,
preached, behaved himself, exhorted, and suffered. A
father must watch over his family and make sacrifices
for their welfare. Babies are great imitators, and it is
important that we, who are spiritual fathers, live lives
that are exemplary.

In verses 17-20 Paul shows brotherly love for
the saints at Thessalonica. In every area of Paul’s life
he desired to magnify Christ. Never did he try to bring
praise to himself; but in all things, whether being an
example of a faithful steward, gentle mother, concerned
father, or a loving brother, he sought to build up the
saints at Thessalonica and teach them the successful way
of living for Christ.

In chapter 4 we move into the second half of the
letter dealing with the practical instructions for these
new believers in Christ. The key word in this chapter is
“walk.” Paul compares the Christian’s behavior to a alk
for several reasons. It demands life, for the dead
sinner cannot walk spiritually; it requires growth, for
a little baby cannot walk; it requires liberty, for
someone who is bound cannot walk; it demands light, for
who wants to walk in the darkness; it cannot be hidden,
but is witnessed by all; and, it suggests progress
toward a goal.

Paul exhorts Christians to walk in holiness
(verses 1-8); to walk in love (verses 9-10); to walk in
honesty (verses 11-12); and to walk in hope (verses 13-
18).

The final chapter of I Thessalonians gives a
series of instructions to the Christians on how to live
in the light of the coming of Christ. The Christians in
Thessalonica were living carelessly and some were not
respecting their church leaders. There were also abuses
in the public services and there was a general need for
love and harmony among the saints. Just as Paul
admonishes the church at Thessalonica as to how to live
in harmony and purity and bring glory to Christ, we
should take not of these instructions in our own
churches and lives. We should be watchful (verses 1-11);
be respectful to our leaders (verses 12,13); be mindful
to one another (verses 14,15); be thankful (verses 16-
18); be careful in worship (verses 19-21); and be
faithful in daily conduct (verses 22-28). In verse 22
Paul admonishes the Christians to abstain from all
appearances of evil. Of course, no saint should allow
anything in his life that others could misunderstand.
God is faithful to build us up in holiness if we but
yield to Him. Prayer and attention to the Word of God
will groom each Christian and keep him ready for
Christ’s return. Beyond that, it will prepare him for
any questions that may come concerning his Christian
life, and will prepare his heart for witnessing to the
lost as he travels life’s journey.