Is three weeks enough time to start a church? – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 2

Paul is very troubled about the Christians in Thessalonica.  Why?

Two reasons: too little time and too much pressure.

First, time.  He was only with them for about three weeks.  That is such a short amount of time.  How could they possibly learn to be followers of Jesus in three weeks?  I’ll grant you that Paul was intelligent and motivated.  I’ll grant you that the Thessalonian Christians were godly Jews and Greeks, likely already pious and seeking the Messiah. But so were Jesus’ disciples, and after three years of discipleship with his crew, when Jesus was arrested, all but one of his disciples ran away, one betrayed him, and another denied him three times.  That was Jesus.  Not Paul.  There’s just no way you can disciple a group of new Christians in three weeks, to get them to the point where they are solid in their faith. Right? Paul is thinking he didn’t have enough time with them.

And that relates to the second factor that I believe led Paul to be super concerned about those brand new Christians in Thessalonica.  Pressure.  In the previous post we studied the story of how the church in Thessalonica began. We read that Thessalonian Jews tried to capture Paul. Paul escaped, but what would stop those anti-Christian Jews from trying to convince the Christians remaining in Thessalonica that Paul was a heretic, a liar, and that he had just abandoned them?  Nothing.  Those Jews were passionate about stopping what they believed was a cult, this Christian movement. There was pressure.

Paul would be right to be concerned that the church in Thessalonica which got off to such a wonderful start could fall apart in no time.

So he has to know.  He has to find out how they are doing.  And what he really wants to do is to go back there himself.  But that would be extremely unwise.  You don’t just show up where you are a wanted man, especially considering the importance of the mission of the Kingdom and how many other towns need to hear about Jesus.

What will Paul do?  In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verses 17-18, Paul writes,

“But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.”

I suspect that his comment there “Satan blocked our way” is a metaphorical reference to the Jews who opposed him.  He could not go to Thessalonica in person. 

Going there in person, though, is not the only option.  Paul comes up with a Plan B.  Look at chapter 3, verses 1-3.

“So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.”

Paul sends his missionary associate Timothy to check on the Christians in Thessalonica.  And what does Timothy find out?  Look at verse 6,

“But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.”

The Christians in Thessalonica are standing strong in the faith!!!  Paul is elated.  Though he was only with them for two to three weeks, they are still following Jesus months later!  What a huge relief Paul must have felt.  But even with that super encouraging news, it is not as if Paul can now say, “Great, I don’t need to worry about them anymore.  They’re good to go.”  No.  He still wants to connect with them.  In this we see Paul’s sacrificial heart of love.  He wants to tell them how he is feeling about them, and he wants to encourage them further, so he comes up with a Plan C.

In tomorrow’s post, we learn about Paul’s Plan C.

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