Verse 8
The Thessalonians had acted as relay runners by passing the gospel they had heard on to farther places. They were a missionary church.
"The figure is of an echo that continues indefinitely (perfect tense, eksechetai, ’rang out’) and implies the persistence of the testimony over an ever-increasing expanse . . ." [Note: Thomas, p. 247.]
They were so effective at this that Paul felt his ministry of pioneer evangelism was no longer necessary in that area. Possibly only the news of the Thessalonians’ faith had circulated widely but they had not sent out missionaries. [Note: Martin, p. 63.]
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