Paul writes to the Thessalonians (in his first epistle) with the objective of revealing how faith, love, and hope have been manifested within their community, and he does so using their lived experience as a form of phenomenological case study on the subject. The beauty of Paul’s writing is in his first-hand accounts as a witness of these events and recalls these events as a researcher in his observations on why their church has been so powerful in the Holy Spirit. We as God’s faithful children can too learn from Paul’s case study.

The Power of the Spirit is Love

Paul writes that they ministered not “in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thes 1:5). Now stay with me as I jump around the continuing chapters of this epistle to lead each statement Paul makes back to these originating assertions in the first chapter of the writing. The first chapter is key to each following chapter’s explanation.

The glory in which Paul noticed manifesting in the church of Thessalonica was made fruitful through the existential experiences which propelled deeply-ingrained learning in the members of the church. Paul explains how his journey to the Thessalonians was “not in vain” (1 Thes 2:1) “for our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit” (1 Thes 2:2) but was “approved by God” and “entrusted with the gospel,” speaking “not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts” (1 Thes 2:3-4).

Paul continues to reveal how the Spirit’s power came not “us[ing] flattering words…nor a cloak for covetousness…nor did we seek glory from men” (1 Thes 2:5-6). Instead, he shows that they “were gentle…just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children…affectionately longing for [them],” imparting “not only the gospel of God but also [their] own lives to them” (1 Thes 2:7-8).

He shows here that the gospel is powerfully proclaimed through words that are embodied through the altruistic and parental love one bestows to others. The Spirit’s power is in the love!

Work of Faith

“And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, that you may become examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (1 Thes 1:6-7).

As mentioned earlier in 1 Thes 2:2, Paul and his disciples were shown examples of suffering in affliction to the Thessalonians. This moment of affliction is where Paul glories the teaching method which came from these engagements, an opportunity to speak boldly the gospel through times of conflict. Paul alludes here with this quote above (vv. 6-7) in how his boldness of preaching came through joy in the Holy Spirit and he reminds them of the power this joy brings in discipleship—learn how boldness in one’s faith is the expression of faith and relationship with God.

The Work of Faith is:

• revealed through one’s boldness,
• in spreading the gospel,
• in word and love,
• a labor of love as described below,
• and in the patience of hope (later revealed in this article).

Labor of Love

Paul continues in the proceeding verse to reveal that those who the Thessalonians spoke the gospel to declared to him “how [they] turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…” (1 Thes 1:9).

These new believers in their community recognized these Thessalonians turned from their old ways (repentance) and began to serve God (work of faith producing a labor of love).

Paul reminds those reading his epistle how he too labored and toiled, day and night, not being a burden to them but preaching the gospel of God (1 Thes 2:9). That they “are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly [they] behaved…” (1 Thes 2:10).

A major aspect to the labor of love in which Paul hopes to bring to their remembrance is his self-serving nature, the parental love in which he embodied when with them. And not only parental love but a Godly love, as a child recognizing what his Father wishes from him, to be devout, just, and blameless for not only His own benefit but for theirs as well.

While laboring in love as a teacher, Paul “exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of [them], as a father does his own children” (1 Thes 2:11), more paternal love! This Paul states is so they “would walk worthy of God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thes 2:12).

The Labor of love is:

• walking worthy of God,
• being a servant to others,
• laboring in duty and virtue,
• with a goal in mind,
• to be God’s witness!!

Patience of Hope

Paul concludes laboring in love with a commendation on the imitation of other believers in Christ, suffering as they did (1 Thes 2:13-14). These trials and sufferings Paul mentions highlights the final theme in his epistle, the endurance of hope.

This Paul writes after revealing how eager he was to see those in Thessalonica and yet was actively hindered by Satan in his journey there. How wonderful that, despite being oppressed and prevented from seeing his beloved brethren, Paul’s hope and joy stayed so strong and intimate. These feelings of hope, joy, and prudence are key to his ministry. It is Paul’s endurance of hope that drives him forward in his ministry and life journey.

Paul knows that his hope in Christ’s return, in the resurrection and salvation of souls, is enough to produce patience and endurance throughout all trials.

Chapter 4 in his letter to Thessalonica explicitly states what patience in hope looks like when lived. It is walking as revealed through discipleship (1 Thes 4:1),  following the commandments shared by Jesus (1 Thes 4:2), sanctification and abstinence through sexual immorality (1 Thes 4:3), sanctification and honor of one’s own vessel and the controlling of passions and lust (1 Thes 4:4-5), to have brotherly love (1 Thes 4:6; 9-12), and to live not unclean but holy lives (1 Thes 4:7).

Sobriety in the Lord

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation” (1 Thes 5:8).

More on the power of sobriety will be written in coming articles, but the value of sobriety cannot be overlooked in the conclusion of Paul’s phenomenological case study of Thessalonica.

In 1 Thes 4:13-18 Paul writes of the coming Day of Resurrection of the dead. 1 Thes 5:1-11 continues on why sobriety in mind, soul, and spirit is so crucial to a life of Work of Faith, Labor of Love, and Patience of Hope in Christ.

Sobriety is the key to salvation

As 1 Thes 5:8 mentions above, the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of the hope of salvation both rest on those who live soberly. To explain sobriety in detail, and what it looks like in those seeking to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth, to live holy and pure and washed from inequity, is for another article.

For now, I give you the blessing of prophecy from Paul: