BRUCE C WEARNE kicks off his look at the New Testament book of I Thessalonians…
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. – I Thessalonians 1:1/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
PICTURE: Aaron Burden/Unsplash
“[T]his letter is treasured, and, in turn, it has been ascribed due respect by Christians ever since. It is part of the ongoing work of the Gospel.”
I wonder what the first Christians thought as they collated and filed, copies and sent out, these letters of Paul – in this instance, a couple of communications from Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to “the church of Thessalonians”?
When we read these letters in association with Acts 17, we confront the amazing event that had led to the founding of this church in the midst of the public worship of the God of Israel.
It had emerged as a congregation after a discussion that affirmed that the teaching of the Law and the Prophets is fulfilled in the Good News.
The opening lines of this letter, and its follow-up, are formal. This is a formality ascribing due respect to the church of Thessalonians – these people are addressed with a salute of genuine grace and peace. That formality is an act of respect, and showing such respect is part of the calling of all called into the service of God’s people.
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy have a mission from God to find and serve the people of God, those who believe their message.
And so this letter is treasured, and, in turn, it has been ascribed due respect by Christians ever since. It is part of the ongoing work of the Gospel.
These letters carry the Good News, and are motivated by the Good News. It tells us the Good News with the Holy Spirit’s authority.
Paul and his associates were not on a marketing exercise, selling an esoteric product and enlisting local suppliers to extend the reach of the product’s market value.
By their form and content and ongoing treasured existence these letters became part of the church of the Thessalonians, part of the wider proclamation of the Good News to all creation that today, 2016, has also overtaken us.
And to those who believe today, we too, only by the power of the Holy Spirit are partners in the Good News, the letter being part of our life as we, in our life before God, as we take part in the ongoing proclamation of the Good News.
The opening lines, as the formal announcement of this letter – who it is from and who it is to – are not just for us to indulge as “mere formalities” before we move on to the “real stuff” – they are integral to the letter itself and therefore truly part of its Grace and Power.
OPEN BOOK: I THESSALONIANS – A LETTER OF RESPECT CARRYING “GOOD NEWS”
BRUCE C WEARNE kicks off his look at the New Testament book of I Thessalonians…
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. – I Thessalonians 1:1/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
PICTURE: Aaron Burden/Unsplash
“[T]his letter is treasured, and, in turn, it has been ascribed due respect by Christians ever since. It is part of the ongoing work of the Gospel.”
I wonder what the first Christians thought as they collated and filed, copies and sent out, these letters of Paul – in this instance, a couple of communications from Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to “the church of Thessalonians”?
When we read these letters in association with Acts 17, we confront the amazing event that had led to the founding of this church in the midst of the public worship of the God of Israel.
It had emerged as a congregation after a discussion that affirmed that the teaching of the Law and the Prophets is fulfilled in the Good News.
The opening lines of this letter, and its follow-up, are formal. This is a formality ascribing due respect to the church of Thessalonians – these people are addressed with a salute of genuine grace and peace. That formality is an act of respect, and showing such respect is part of the calling of all called into the service of God’s people.
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy have a mission from God to find and serve the people of God, those who believe their message.
And so this letter is treasured, and, in turn, it has been ascribed due respect by Christians ever since. It is part of the ongoing work of the Gospel.
These letters carry the Good News, and are motivated by the Good News. It tells us the Good News with the Holy Spirit’s authority.
Paul and his associates were not on a marketing exercise, selling an esoteric product and enlisting local suppliers to extend the reach of the product’s market value.
By their form and content and ongoing treasured existence these letters became part of the church of the Thessalonians, part of the wider proclamation of the Good News to all creation that today, 2016, has also overtaken us.
And to those who believe today, we too, only by the power of the Holy Spirit are partners in the Good News, the letter being part of our life as we, in our life before God, as we take part in the ongoing proclamation of the Good News.
The opening lines, as the formal announcement of this letter – who it is from and who it is to – are not just for us to indulge as “mere formalities” before we move on to the “real stuff” – they are integral to the letter itself and therefore truly part of its Grace and Power.
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