A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.

As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

1 Thessalonians 1:7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Verse 7 speaks of the consequence of the actions described in verse 5 and 6, that the Thessalonians were presented the gospel and became imitators of the men who presented this gospel to them. We addressed the term “imitator” in an earlier posting, but Paul uses another term, somewhat related to imitator.

To be an imitator is to follow one as a model, a reference to finding and following a guide, having a goal to copy in order to become like that person. To imitate is to follow someone in their mannerisms, character, desires, ethics, sufferings and thoughts.

To be an example is to be that which others may imitate. Paul is beginning to teach on the very same principle he instructed Timothy of years later.

2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Although Paul is speaking to the church as a whole, in that their body life was a fantastic example for other churches to imitate, the process of multiplication in the same in body life as well in personal discipleship. Our lives either impact the church in a positive way, as the Thessalonian church did according to Paul, or our lives impact the church negatively.

One church that did not have the full endorsement of the apostle was the Corinthian church. His non-commendation is expressed throughout the first epistle, but man be clearly noted in chapter 11.

1 Corinthians 11:17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.
1 Corinthians 11:22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

Even though the apostle Paul stayed with the Corinthians for much longer than he did with the Thessalonians, his presence and manner of life did not seem to “stick” with the metropolitan Corinthians.

Note that in the epistle/letter to the Corinthians, the internal difficulties were addressed directly with the church. As my momma used to say, “don’t be showing everyone your dirty laundry!” Paul addressed the issues of the Corinthian church, with the Corinthian church. We have the privilege of reading this letter of holy writ, but it seems the intent of Paul was to be direct with the church and not enter into a public discourse “showing everyone the Corinthians dirty laundry”.

Not so with the Thessalonians. Paul spoke of them as examples to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, (which coincidentally contained a church named Corinth.) These believers molded themselves to be such imitators that they became examples for others to follow. And Paul told everybody!

This is a very high compliment from the apostle to a small church he had not been able to return to. The word was getting out that the Thessalonian’s caught the life Paul exhibited, and the gospel he proclaimed.

The church was alive and was providing proof of that life, in the midst of much affliction!

Might the affliction the Thessalonians accepted be the missing element in the church of Corinth? I will let my reader consider the difference and make up their own mind.

No matter, the Thessalonians were examples, believers who could be watched by other churches as they lived their lives, providing an example to be imitated, as others sought to follow the Lord.

A very worthy model to imitate!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.