To The Church Of Thessalonica Series

Thessalonians

1 & 2 Thessalonians

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

During Roman rule (167 BC to Ad 395) Thessalonica functioned as one of the most important cities in all of Macedonia. The city was founded by king Cassander who solidified twenty-six villages in the region into one city built near the ancient site of Therme. The king named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. The city population is estimated to range from 100 to 200 thousand people, making it “among the top ten largest cities in the Roman Empire.” The success of Thessalonica was predominantly due to three geographical factors. First, the city was built on a natural harbor on the Aegean Sea that had deep anchorage and had excellent “protection from the dangerous southeast winds.” This port not only gave access to the cities of the Aegean but beyond to the great ports in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt. The second geological factor attributed to Thessalonica’s success was due to the city being situated near the Via Enatia, a major highway built by the Romans, which gave it access to “major land travel routes.” Third, Thessalonica was situated in fertile lands nourished by abundant rivers, such as the Axius and Haliacmon, and was rich in “mineral deposits (gold, silver, iron, copper, lead), and vast forests to provide timber for building.” Since no other city in Macedonia had such geographic/strategic advantages, a writer of the time Meletius proclaimed, “So long as nature does not change, Thessalonica will remain wealthy and fortunate.”

Favored Political Status and Government

Unlike their neighboring communities Thessalonica was a free city. This “favored political status” was granted to the city due to its fierce loyalty to Rome. For instance, when the Macedonian rebellion was quelled, the Thessalonians put up a statue to their conqueror, Metellus, calling him “their savior and benefactor!” Also, for switching their support from Brutus and Cassius to Marc Antony and Octavian they were given the status of a “free city” which was only granted when a place “displayed remarkable loyalty to the interests of the Roman people.” This favored status meant Thessalonica was exempt from paying tribute to Rome, could mint their own coins, was free from military occupation, and was free to govern themselves. They had between five and six politarchs who had a term of one year and were responsible to “convoke the assembly of citizens and to put their seal on decrees and assure they were executed.” Like “truly Roman cities, women held places of honor and authority” at Thessalonica as well. While they had the freedom to govern their own affairs, the fact that they had a Roman treasurer to govern their finances and many Roman officials living in their city, constantly reminded them that their “favored status” did not come without strings attached! This explains why a mob was so easily formed and the city officials were “thrown into turmoil” when some jealous Jews said that Paul and his companions had “caused trouble all over the world” and were “defying Caesar’s decrees” and saying there “another king, one called Jesus” (Acts 17:6-7)!

Religiously Pluralistic Environment

Like every major city in the ancient world, Thessalonica had gods and the emperor whom they worshipped. The patron god of the city was Cabirus. He was a “martyred hero, murdered by his two brothers, buried with symbols of royal power, and expected to return to help the oppressed poor in general and the citizens of Thessalonica in particular.” Archaeological and coin evidence exists of twenty-five other gods (or) heros such as Dionysius whose symbol was the phallus or male sex organ who was always associated with wine and drinking, Serapis the Greco-Egyptian deity of the sun, Isis the Egyptian goddess of love, healing, fertility, magic, and the moon, Anubis the Egyptian jackal-headed god of the afterlife, Aphrodite the goddess of love, Demeter the goddess of harvest and agriculture, and Zeus the king of the Greek gods. Not only did Paul have to contend with these gods but also Judaism and its strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and the worship of Emperors whom the people believed were divine. This pluralistic environment affected every aspect of the Thessalonian’s daily life. For instance, to be a good “Roman” citizen you had to participate in “feasts, sacrifices, celebrations, games, and other public events.” Fortune-telling, astrology, and pilgrimages to shrines to get “answers to questions of love, success at business, and health,” were common. Theatrical works often portrayed violence and drinking, gambling, and sex was part of the economy. Men were expected to have an active sex life, often bisexual, with “slaves, prostitutes, and lovers.” The distress Apostle Paul felt over Athens being “full of idols” (Acts 17:6) was likely the same way he felt concerning the city of Thessalonica!

Authorship and Dates

First and Second Thessalonians are some of the oldest Christian writings of the New Testament, written even before the church offices of deacons and presbyters were developed. Both letters were written during Paul’s second missionary journey between 49 and 51 AD. Sometime after the Jerusalem council where it was decided that Christians were not required to follow the Mosaic Law (Acts 15:1-29), Paul and Silas left Antioch, was joined by Timothy (16:1-3), and headed to Asia Minor to spread the Good News (16:6-8). Summoned by God (16:9-10) to preach in Macedonia they went to Philippi and planted a church there. Paul preached in the local synagogue on the Sabbaths and the rest of the week he and his co-workers supported themselves working as tentmakers (Acts 18:3). After having received a severe flogging by Roman officials and put in prison, they, or at least Paul himself, “travelled Via Egnatia westward to Thessalonica.” Several Jews and even more Gentiles came to know Christ (Acts 17:1-4) but persecution broke out and they left and travelled to Berea and then to the province of Achaia (Acts 17:5–10, 15–16). The writing of both letters occurred while Paul was at Corinth, about a year after he was forced to leave Thessalonica. While both letters could have been written by Paul, Silas, and Timothy, very few scholars question Paul alone writing the first letter due to “vocabulary, style, and content being typical of Paul.” And though while the second letter “coming across as more harsh, cold,” the mention of the man of lawlessness reflecting Nero redivivus (Neor revived) legend of the 80s and 90s, and repetition of words from the first letter indicating another author copying the first letter’s material; I agree with the scholars up until the 19th century that Apostle Paul is the author of both letters as he clearly stated in scripture (1 Thess 1:1; 2:18; 2 Thess 1:1; 3:17)!