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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 42
I Thessalonians 1:1 – 2:14
Well Paul didn’t argue with the vision, he took a ship and went across to Philippi. Here Paul and Silas leave the Church at Antioch, and then in chapter 14 then move on into central Turkey, Asia Minor, and go into the work at Iconium, and Derbe, and Lystra then all the way up to chapter 16 is the account of what happened in Philippi.
Philippi, a Roman colony, meant that there was a Roman Garrison stationed there at the city, or like today we call them occupation troops. Now look at verse 5.
"The God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Here into this pagan world comes one man, with two or three of his friends, but by and large, it was the work of the apostle Paul that caused these pagans to think that they were literally turning their religious world upside down, or like most people say, "right side up". Now verse 7.
10. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: (which is the next little city south of Thessalonica) who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews."
They spent some time at Berea and then Paul comes down to Athens alone. I’ve had to teach people three years before they see it. Now let’s take it verse by verse for a little bit.
I Thessalonians 1:1-3
"Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church (assembly) of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ:… (that’s the same positioning that Paul teaches us in Colossians chapter 3, as we saw a week or two ago. We’re hid in Christ in God. 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;"
Now, whenever the scripture repeats something in a rather short period of time, what’s my word? Now let’s go down to verse 9 and what a tremendous verse. I Thessalonians 1:9
"For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, (in other words, your testimony shows how God blessed our ministry among you) and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."
What one word describes those people turning from their pagan idolatry to the truth of God? FAITH!!! It was their faith. It still takes faith in God’s word. Now, put that over with the work in verse 3 and what was the labor in verse 3? Here’s how you learn to compare scripture with scripture. Love! Faith and love. Now come on down to verse 10.
I Thessalonians 1:10a
Come back and compare it with the third part of verse 3 and what’s the word? Hope! Let’s go to I Corinthians chapter 13. I Corinthians 13:13a
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity,…"(love),
Let’s just compare verse 3 and 9 here in I Thessalonians chapter 1.
I Thessalonians 1:3a
"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, …" Comparing with the last part of verse 9.
I Thessalonians 1:9a
"…and how ye turned to God from idols…"
I Thessalonians 1:3a
"…and labour of love,…"
I Thessalonians 1:9b
"…to serve the living and true God."
What is predominant reason for serving God right now today in the year 2000? Ignorance is simply a lack of teaching. I Thessalonians 1:3b
"…the patience of hope…" And comparing with verse 10, this patience of hope.
I Thessalonians 1:10a
So again he’s used all three words of Faith, Love, and Hope. Now let me show you another verse where Paul uses those same 3 words. Come over to the Book of Titus, chapter 2 for a moment. Now look what Paul writes concerning Faith, Hope, and Love.
Titus 2:11
"For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men."
Ephesians 2:9
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
Through Faith! So what can you label this verse? Faith. All right then the next verse.
Titus 2:12
What’s that? That’s your labour of love. "Titus 2:13
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
So we have Faith, Love, and Hope. I don’t need a book on how to treat my kids. If you’re into this BOOK it’s going to come naturally.
So Paul had brought them by simply proclaiming the Gospel, the good news out of that immoral pagan background,
I Thessalonians 1:4
"Knowing, (he didn’t have to wonder, he knew these Thessalonians were believers) brethren beloved, your election of God."
Now verse 5.
I Thessalonians 1:5a
"For our gospel…"
The Gospel Paul defines so clearly in I Corinthians 15:1-4. I Thessalonians 1:5-6a
I Corinthians 4:16
Paul says, "be ye followers of me!" Now come on over to chapter 11 verse 1.
Transcribers note: As Les was looking for I Corinthians 11:1, he accidentally turned to II Corinthians 11:1, and didn’t have time to finish the verse, before time ran out. I Corinthians 11:1

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