Footsteps #90 

Paul was heartbroken that he wasn’t able to spend more time with the believers in Thessalonica. He knew that the short time he had been with them would leave them vulnerable to discouragement and negative influences. Not being able to be there in person, he was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write letters to them instead. Those letters make up the books in the NT known as “1 & 2Thessalonians.” 

Acts.17:5-6 identifies the jealousy of the Jews in Thessalonica and the problems that created. Their irrational response was designed to reduce Paul’s influence. On a personal note, we should realize that the deadly sentiments of jealousy and envy can destroy us. 

According to the Roman historian Suetonius, shortly before the events described in Acts.17, conflict arose among the Jews of Rome over a man Suetonius calls “Chrestus.” This term probably reflects a Roman misunderstanding of the Jewish concept of the Messiah, (Greek = Christ.) Apparently, someone’s preaching of the gospel had just split the Jewish community of Rome. 

This debate over the Messiah sounded like preparation for the installation of a new king “And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.” NLT (Acts.17:7.)  Probably for that reason, the emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from his capital city (Acts.18:2). Some of these exiles settled in or passed through Thessalonica, bringing knowledge of these events to the city. Because of the events in Rome, religious leaders in Thessalonica were determined to prevent something similar from happening there. 

Persecution can be malicious and unprovoked, or it can come by inappropriate actions on the part of believers (1Pet.3:13-16,4:12-16). It is very likely that the disturbance in Thessalonica was prompted not only by the jealousy of Paul’s opponents but also by the inappropriate actions of the new believers. His 2 letters reveal that Paul had major concerns about the lack of appropriate public behaviour by some in the church. 

Paul urges them to live quiet lives and behave properly among their Gentile neighbours (4:11-12). To not be unruly and disorderly (5:14 and 2Thess.3:6-7), to not be idle or mess in others affairs(2Thess3:11). The persecution in Thessalonica was malicious, but there was apparently blameworthy behaviour among some new Christians, as well.