Download Thessalonica of Macedonia

Thessalonica of
Macedonia
Thessalonica is Greece's second major
economic, industrial, commercial and political
centre, and a major transportation hub for
the rest of southeastern Europe;
About The City
• Thessalonica lies on the northern fringe of the
Thermaic Gulf, along its western side, and to
its south-eastern side is bordered by Mt.
Hortiatis and on the Egnatian Way route.
• Thessalonica was hit by powerful
earthquakes in 620, 667, 700, 1677, 1759,
1902, 1904, 1905, 1932, and 1978. The event
in 1978 measured a 6.5 magnitude on the
Richter scale
About The City
• The city was founded around 315 BC by the
King Cassander of Macedon, on or near the
site of the ancient town of Therma and
twenty-six other local villages.
• He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a
half-sister of Alexander the Great (Thessalonikē means the "victory over the
Thessalians").
• After the fall of the kingdom of Macedon in
168 BC, Thessalonica became a city of the
Roman Republic. Pop 1978 - 363,987
Paul on his journey
visits here
• Acts 17:1-2 Now when they had passed
through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came
to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the
Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in
unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned
with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and
alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered,
and risen again from the dead; and that this
Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ
• Acts 17:4-5 And some of them believed,
and consorted with Paul and Silas; and
of the devout Greeks a great multitude,
and of the chief women not a few.5 But
the Jews which believed not, moved with
envy, took unto them certain lewd
fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a
company, and set all the city on an
uproar, and assaulted the house of
Jason, and sought to bring them out to
the people.
• Acts 17:6-9 And when they found them not,
they drew Jason and certain brethren unto
the rulers of the city, crying, These that have
turned the world upside down are come
hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received:
and these all do contrary to the decrees of
Caesar, saying that there is another king, one
Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and
the rulers of the city, when they heard these
things. 9 And when they had taken security
of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
Acts 10 And the brethren immediately sent
away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea
It was a sounding board
of the gospel
• 1 Thess 1:8-9 For from you sounded out
the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every
place your faith to God-ward is spread
abroad; so that we need not to speak any
thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us
what manner of entering in we had unto
you, and how ye turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God
Christians from the area …
• Acts 19:29 And the whole city was filled with
confusion: and having caught Gaius and
Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's
companions in travel, they rushed with one
accord into the theatre.
• Acts 20:4 And there accompanied him into
Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the
Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and
Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia,
Tychicus and Trophimus
Christians from the area …
• Acts 27:2 And entering into a ship of
Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by
the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a
Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
Paul visits the church once again
• Acts 20:1-3 And after the uproar was ceased,
Paul called unto him the disciples, and
embraced them, and departed for to go into
Macedonia. 2 And when he had gone over
those parts, and had given them much
exhortation, he came into Greece, 3 And there
abode three months. And when the Jews laid
wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria,
he purposed to return through Macedonia.
Paul writes 1 Thessolonians
• 1 Thess 1:1-4 Paul, and Silvanus, and
Timotheus, unto the church of the
Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in
the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and
peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus
Christ. 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, and labour of love, and patience of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and
our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your
election of God.
Paul gives them exhortation …
• 1:7 ye were ensamples to all that believe in
Macedonia and Achaia.
• Vs:8 from you sounded out the word of the
Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place your faith to God-ward is
spread abroad; so that we need not to speak
any thing.
• Vs:9 how ye turned to God from idols to serve
the living and true God;
Paul gives them exhortation …
• 1 Thess 2:7 But we were gentle among you,
•
even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
1 Thess 2:11-13 As ye know how we exhorted
and comforted and charged every one of you, as
a father doth his children, 12 That ye would
walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto
his kingdom and glory 13 For this cause also
thank we God without ceasing, because, when
ye received the word of God which ye heard of
us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as
it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
Paul had to leave Thessolonica ..
• 1 Thess 3:1-2 Wherefore when we could no
longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at
Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our
brother, and minister of God, and our
fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to
establish you, and to comfort you concerning
your faith:
• Then Timothy worked with the Christians and
resulted in them being strong in the faith and
Paul was so happy to hear of their convictions.
Christians can’t just live any kind of life!
• 4:3 abstain from fornication
• 4:4 know how to possess his vessel in
sanctification and honor;
• 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence (yearn,
to have the heart set on a thing, sexual)
• 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his
brother in any matter
• 4:9 for ye yourselves are taught of God to
love one another.
• 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to
do your own business, and to work with your
own hands, as we commanded you;
• 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them
that are without
• 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;
but let us watch and be sober.
• 5:8 be sober, putting on the breastplate of
faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope
of salvation.
• 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto
any man; but ever follow that which is good,
both among yourselves, and to all men.
•
•
•
•
5:17 Pray without ceasing.
5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
5:20 Despise not prophesying.
5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which
is good.
• 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
To you who are troubled …
• 2 Thess 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled
rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished
with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints,
and to be admired in all them that believe
(because our testimony among you was
believed) in that day.
Warning to the brethern ….
• 2 Thess 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in
mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by
word, nor by letter as from us
• 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means:
• 2:10 because they received not the love of
the truth, that they might be saved.
• 2:11-12 And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe
a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
Final encouragements …..
• 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold
the traditions which ye have been taught,
whether by word, or our epistle.
• 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself,
and God, even our Father, which hath loved us,
and hath given us everlasting consolation and
good hope through grace,17 Comfort your
hearts, and stablish you in every good word
and work.
Pray for us ……….
• 3:2 And that we may be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men: for all men
have not faith.
• 3:3 Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and
keep you from evil.
• 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the
love of God, and into the patient waiting for
Christ.
• 3:6 withdraw yourselves from every brother
that walketh disorderly