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 1:9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

Who are “they”?

As I mentioned in my last rambling, I think Paul may have spoke of both believers (regarding the Word of the Lord) and unbelievers (regarding the Faith of the Saints). If my thinking is correct, who might Paul be referring to when he speaks of “they themselves”? Am I getting lost in my pronouns!

Whoever is doing the reporting, “they” understood the impact Paul and his cohorts had on the Thessalonians, or more accurately, the reception the Thessalonians gave Paul and his gang.

What type of reception did you ask?

Well, the city did not show it’s best face to these visitors, but for a few of the citizens, they openly accepted these strangers with good news, exhibited a willingness to hear and listen, and an openness to be influenced by men that laid it on the line for others. They saw men speaking of a risen Savior, being in the middle of a riot erupting with some jealous Jews, eventually having their synagogue ruler dragged before the court, with these apostles run out of town.

The reception of those few Thessalonians resulted in conversion to a whole new life. They were willing to hear a message, they watched the messengers and they made a choice. People were hearing about it, and some of “them” were reporting about it!

And what were “they” reporting?

Two pieces of news!

turned to God from idols

Turning.

I want to speak of this word as defining repentance, and it might very well speak of that, but the Greek word usually used for repentance, μετάνοια metánoia, is not used here. This word is ἐπιστρέφω epistréphō. Interestingly it is used often of Gentiles becoming believers.

• Acts 9:35
• Acts 9:40 
• Acts 11:21
• Acts 14:15
• Acts 15:19
• Acts 26:18.
• Acts 26:20
• 2 Corinthians 3:16 
• 1 Peter 2:25

Nothing too earth shattering about it’s meaning, for it simply means to turn, or to turn oneself. These folk saw the gospel, heard the gospel and turned to God. This turning included one action with two results. These folks turned to God and these folks turned from idols. This is conversion, and this also informs us of the idol worship involved in those who did not turn.

Is this true for todays citizen of the world? If one you know hasn’t turned to God, is it safe to conclude they are still following after idols? Leave a comment, let me know your thoughts

to serve the living and true God

Many may hear the gospel, and say they believe in God. They say they believe and well enough they may. But the second piece of news being reported on was the commitment the Thessalonians exhibited. They turned to serve the Living and True God.

Let me be blunt. The Christian life is not a warm fuzzy feeling received every 7 days for 15 minutes while the music blares in the auditorium. The Christian life is a life of service, of following and caring for others in His name. At times there are very difficult decisions to be made in following the Master, decisions and actions that cause pain, loneliness, separation from friends and family, in order to follow after the One who walked a path to Golgotha.

To serve the Living and True God is a marker of the man or woman of faith, of one who has truly turned to God from idols.

The Thessalonians had turned even though no promise of an easy life. Pretty impressive. I guess it makes sense that “they” were telling everyone.

Still not sure who “they” are though!

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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.