THESSALONICA

was formerly the metropolis of Macedonia; it is now called

Salonichi, and is the best peopled, and one of the best towns

for commerce, in the Levant. The apostle Paul, being diverted from his

design of going into the provinces of Asia, properly so called, and

directed after an extraordinary manner to preach the gospel in

Macedonia

(Acts xvi. 9, 10),

in obedience to the call of God went from Troas to Samothracia, thence

to Neapolis, and thence to Philippi, where he had good success in his

ministry, but met with hard usage, being cast into prison with Silas

his companion in travel and labour, from which being wonderfully

delivered, they comforted the brethren there, and departed. Passing

through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where the

apostle planted a church that consisted of some believing Jews and many

converted Gentiles,

Acts xvii. 1-4.

But a tumult being raised in the city by the unbelieving Jews, and the

lewd and baser sort of the inhabitants, Paul and Silas, for their

safety, were sent away by night unto Berea, and afterwards Paul was

conducted to Athens, leaving Silas and Timotheus behind him, but sent

directions that they should come to him with all speed. When they came,

Timotheus was sent to Thessalonica, to enquire after their welfare and

to establish them in the faith

(1 Thess. iii. 2),

and, returning to Paul while he tarried at Athens, was sent again,

together with Silas, to visit the churches in Macedonia. So that Paul,

being left at Athens alone

(1 Thess. iii. 1),

departed thence to Corinth, where he continued a year and a half, in

which time Silas and Timotheus returned to him from Macedonia

(Acts xviii. 5),

and then he wrote this epistle to the church of Christ at Thessalonica,

which, though it is placed after the other epistles of this apostle, is

supposed to be first in time of all Paul’s epistles, and to be written

about A.D. 51. The main scope of it is to express the thankfulness of

this apostle for the good success his preaching had among them, to

establish them in the faith, and persuade them to a holy

conversation.