The Apostolic Band, 1 Thess 1

The Apostolic Band

Please turn in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians Chapter One. After much prayer and reading through the New Testament, and in three NT books in particular, I've decided to move on to the two books written to the church in Thessalonica or to use the Greek pronunciation--Thessalonika.

First a warning. This is an introductory sermon that goes all over the place without a real outline. There are three distinct issues that I hope you will be able to discern.

What I hope to do this morning is to simply introduce you to the First of these books, then go on something of a rabbit trail to show you something unexpected, even though it has been under your eyes and in your ears for years.

It is in First Thessalonians, among Paul's other epistles, that it is easiest to see the complexity of interaction among the apostle Paul, the Apostolic band, believers in churches and all true Christians.

This point is more important than you might realize. Scholars, or so-called higher-critical scholars, who study the New Testament, like to accentuate the differences found among the various Greek texts. If you have a critical apparatus in your study Bible, you might find note drawing your attention to words that are different in the manuscripts, or words that are translated differently. Those comments sometimes shake the faith of immature believers as if they can't really trust their Bibles. There are some difficulties we must be honest about that. But, the vast majority of questions come from the use of two pronouns for we and the plural use of you. In Greek, the only ddifference in their spelling is the first letter. It starts with either an 'eta' for the first person plural hemais or the "upsilon" for the second person plural humais. And, add to that difficulty is that the one is a mirror image of the other, just upside-down. It is very easy to understand how a copyist or a scribe might misread one for the other. The context often makes it clear which word should be used. There are many theories about why the scribes might have changed some of these words on purpose. Most of them have to do with them wanting the text to be more inclusive--for the writer/writers as well as the readers.

Let's read the first verses in Chapter One: 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^[a]

Their Good Example

² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. ⁵ For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

 Church is singular. We believe at the point this epistle was written, there was only one church in all of Thessalonica.

These two books are among the earliest of the Epistles. They seem to have been written in A.D. 50 or 51 from Corinth. The only book that has a consistent claim to being written before these is Galatians.

Putting the history together, it appears that Paul received a good report from Timothy (3:6-7). The authors wrote with apostolic joy and pastoral relief. I say authors, because there are three mentioned right at the start of the book. SO, too 2 Thess came from these three men. This is a point usually gone over quickly, but I believe it is an important point to make and an important case to be made for how Paul saw himself among the rest of his travelling companions.

W know who Paul is and Timothy is easily identified as Paul's son in the faith and one of his most trusted fellow-ministers. But, we should also stop to ask, "Who is Silvanus?"

The identity of Silvanus is easier than you might think. He is Silas, of the duo Paul and Silas, who travelled together for many years before going their separate ways--perhaps more than 20.

This triplet in both of these epistles shows the interconnectedness of these three men as co-workers in the Gospel. Knowing what we know about the split between Paul and Silas at some point, we see that occurring over many years of ministering together. Those things happen like with Barnabus and Silas. Yet, we also see from the subsequent history of Paul with Timothy evidenced by the second letter to Timothy being the last epistle Paul wrote that these two men had a wonderful decades long relationship of working together for the good of the gospel.

Timothy went to Corinth. He gave a report to Paul and Silas. Together, all three, are credited with writing this letter.

If we take that simple premise to the text, we can  test it to see if the writer of writers of the epistle are consistent with that perspective or if it it just a formal way of writing to be more inclusive--as some so-called scholars would say.

I don't have any problem seeing three men like those mentioned, sitting around talking about the report given about the church in Thessalonica. I don't have a problem with Paul wanting to write from all three of them. The Thessalonians would understand it having a balanced perspective. Doubtless, the church in Thessalonica owed all three of these men so very much, spiritually speaking.

 Let's look at this first section once again: 1.1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The you is plural meaning to you as a church they are hoping for God's grace to be among them. And peace understood as from either God the father of the apostolic band or God the Father of all of them together--the writers and the readers.

 They continue:

² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

The prayers are the prayers of multiple people to God for the church in Thessalonica. They were personal prayers based on knowledge of this church--knowledge received by the arrival of Timothy and his good report.

The three remaining uses of our could be either the specific apostolic band or the larger set of writers and readers. Let it suffice to say, either is fine. One over the other does not change the meaning. The apostolic band first knows of themselves what they take as comfort from the church: their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope… They know that any and all who have true saving faith will also show the evidence of its work deep within that will change the way the life is lived outwardly. Didn't this happen to Paul and Timothy in a way that is to be found in the Bible itself? Silas is a bit trickier. When we meet him, he seems to be in the faith.

By the evidence in their lives, these three writers talking among themselves, have realized they must be among the elect--those chosen by the Father to be saved by the Son and sanctified by the Spirit. What powerful examples of this grace must have been given to Paul and Silas to prompt them to write a personal note and desire to visit with them.

It was evident to them that the gospel preached by all of these men, not just preached by one--remember. When Paul and Silas made their mission's trip through Asia Minor and spent some time in their city and when Timothy was more recently there. All of them could rejoice in all that God had done in that city through a variety of men and means. One an Apostle, another a prophet from the Jerusalem Church Asct 15:22 and another the beloved and trusted son in the faith.

Sometimes, many times, the work of God is done in individuals and churches by more than one person. It is a onderful thing to have any part in it--it is all be God's conquering grace.

Listen: 

 ⁵ For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance….

The message didn't go in one ear and out the other. It was not just listened to and set aside. It was heard with the accompanying power of God to change their minds and change their lives by the work of the Spirit.

This is based on the previous experience of Paul and Silas among them in Thessalonica and the effects of Timothy's ministry among them, too.

As we will see throughout this epistle, the plural use of the first person plural is used consistently. That is the best evidence to understand this epistle as coming from all three of them. Paul did not fear to use his helpers as if they were on equal footing with him. Yet, in our egalitarian age, we have to remember that Paul had more authority from Jesus as an apostle.

Flip over to Chapter Three. This is what the letter recalls of the information given to them by Timothy: 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— ⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

The three are still closely linked together in the epistle as if the work done by them for the Lord in that church is one. We know from elsewhere that often one sows, another waters and still another reaps. But it is all ultimately one work of God based on the Gospel of grace to undeserving sinners. Whenever we hear of this grace being manifest, we too, ought to stop and have joyous prayer for the salvation of sinners.

This shows the character of the three who worked for God whether in good times or trouble… They had previously written….

5b as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

In many Bibles Chapter Two has the Title, "Paul's Conduct or Ministry." It reads: 2:1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. ² But even^[a] after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.³ For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

⁴ But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Whoever penned these words was speaking for them all.

In 2 Thessalonians we have a hint that it was Paul who wrote the epistle down on parchment as it also came from all three of these men: Paul, Silvanus and Timothy. At the end of Chapter Three Paul is signing off and writes: 3:17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

That is the only time in 2 Thess where we have the word I. It is so they might recognize Paul's handwriting and know it was authentic. Authentic, but no less authoritative having come from him and his apostolic band of me.

Back in 1 Thess the pronoun I is used only once as well. It is also in the salutation, in 5:27 we read: I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy^[a] brethren.

We are not told explicitly who penned such a strong statement about this letter. It is Paul as an Apostle who had the right to command the church in this way.

So, we understand the humility of Paul within ght great apostolic authority he was given. He did not use his authority in pompous ways, but he appealed to the holy brethren, the believers, in a number of ways expecting those who truly believe would follow.

1 & 2 Thessalonians are unique in their approach to addressing the churches.

The Epistles written to individuals like Timothy, Titus, & Philemon are written in the first person singular. We would expect that.

The book of Romans comes from Paul alone. Yet, we see in the final chapter a number who labored with him at various times and a variety of places.

In the rest of the epistles there is a mixture of men who are attributed I the greetings, however, in all of those books, Paul reverts back to using I on many occasions. Timothy is the other man mentioned the most.

There is, however, one big surprise. Turn to 1 Cor 1:1.

We read: Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,….

I wonder how many times Christians have read that without asking, "Who is Sosthenes?"

I know some of you are now distracted and are frantically looking at the margins of your study Bible, or even going to the back of your Bible for a concordance. The only other time we meet him is in Acts 18. Please turn there:

12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,

That is the judgment seat of the regional proconsul placed there by the Romans. The Jews, not anyone else, not the Greeks who would have been in the majority, it was the Jews from the local synagogue who rose up against Paul, even though there were others with him. He was viewed as the leader.

This was their complaint:

 ¹³ saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”

¹⁴ And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you.¹⁵ But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of suchmatters.” ¹⁶ And he drove them from the judgment seat.

As if they were cattle, they were driven away as an offense to all present, especially the Roman Procurator. Such was the spirit of anti-semitism in many of the emperial cities. This was the response by the city-dwellers and likely some peasants:

¹⁷ Then all the Greeks^[a] took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things.

Sosthenes paid the price for instigating the riot against the Roman citizen, Paul. He was a Jew of the first degree. He had become the ruler of the synagogue--a highly respected Hebrew. We do not know when or how, but at some point, this prominent Jewish man must have heard the gospel and believed. In 1 Corinthians we find this man as part of the Apostolic band. Somehow he heard the gospel.

Did he hear of Paul's own testimony from when he was zealous for the Law and tried to snuff out the churches? We don't know, but only one thing--the power of God brought an enemy of the Gospel to embrace it. And, the man became an important co-laborer with the Apostle Paul for a time.

Such is the conquering grace of God.

So too, to Thessalonica the transforming grace of God came:

This is important background to the epistle:

Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, [The Apostolic Band] came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”

Wouldn't be great to find them on Sermon Audio as the first Christian sermons ever preached in Thessalonica. Maybe archeologists will someday find the DVDs. I know they won't. But there are some times I read the scriptures and wish I was there and able to understand the language. TO hear Paul, the former rabbi, in a synagogue reasoning from the OT scriptures that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead. And, then to have him say, this Jesus that I preach to you, is that Christ--the one anointed of God to save his people from their sins.

It had real effects. The church in Thessalonica was born that day:

 ⁴ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

They wanted to hear more of these wonderful truths. They had been given ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts to embrace the gospel.

Preaching the gospel often had contrary effects:

⁵ But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious,^[a]took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.

Do you see how the apostolic band is described? These who have turned the world upside-down have come here too.

We use this word picture in the West. To have one's world turned upside-down is to have it radically changed.

Some of you who came to faith in later years know what that means. Perhaps, you had plans that the Lord undermined after he called you to himself. He not only changes you, but he changed the direction in which you were heading. And, he did it for your good and to glorify himself.

God takes his enemies and makes them his friends. Those of us who believe were at one time his enemies--we opposed him until he conquered us by his grace. He loved those who hated him. He demonstrated His mighty power by making them alive--he sent the gospel that some would believe. And, to get the attention of some, it came in extraordinary ways without violating his will. To others it came after hearing the Gospel proclaimed and to others, after hearing the Word many times.

God the Father knows how to bring his future sons and daughters to faith in Christ. Sometimes in good experiences, other times through suffering. But, all who are to be his will come in God's timing. May the Lord help us to live in such a way that we turn our spheres of contact on its head that others might inquire what's new and what's different.