A MODEL OF AN EXEMPLARY CHURCH I THESSALONIANS 1:1-10 PART I

Paul, the established writer of I Thessalonians, wrote this first letter to believers at Thessalonica after founding the church there and moving on to Berea, Athens, and Corinth (Acts 17:1-18:1).  This first epistle was written by Paul from Corinth about A.D. 51.  This epistle was written during Paul’s second missionary journey.  Paul’s aim in writing this letter was to confirm the converts he had made during his second missionary journey. There were no obvious fractions among the Thessalonian believers, thus this church served as a model of an exemplary church. I Thessalonians 1:1-10 may be outlined as follows:  I. An Exemplary Church Commended – I Thessalonians 1:1-4; II.  An Exemplary Church Committed – I Thessalonians 1:5-10. An Exemplary Church Commended – I Thessalonians 1:1-4 In verse 1, Paul begins this epistle by mentioning the names of two of his associates, Silvanus and Timotheus.  These two men were in his thoughts whenever he used “we” or “our” in this letter.  Silvanus was the Roman form of the Jewish name “Silas.”  He accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:40).  Timotheus (Timothy) was Paul’s son in the faith (I Timothy 1:2), for Paul had led Timothy to faith in Christ.  Timothy...