Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 1:7

"so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia." — 1 Thessalonians 1:7 (ASV)

In v.6, Paul introduces a new point in his explanation of how he knew God had chosen the Thessalonians (cf. v.4). In a relatively short time they “became imitators” (GK 3629). Now their lifestyle was completely different from what it was before the Gospel came to them, because their conversion led them to imitate Paul and his companions. Paul repeatedly encouraged this wholesome following of examples (1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Galatians 4:12; Ephesians 5:1; Ephesians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9). He did not hesitate to present himself as one to be copied, for he patterned his own life after Christ’s (1 Corinthians 11:1). That is why he added “and of the Lord” here. The notion of imitating God and Christ applies to holiness (1 Peter 1:15–16), love (Matthew 5:43–48; Matthew 15:12), and suffering (Matthew 16:24– 25; Mark 10:38–39; 1 Peter 2:18–21)—three areas touched upon later in this letter: holiness in 3:13; 4:3, 7; love in 3:12; 4:9–10; and suffering in 3:2–4.

Spiritual advance was possible for the Thessalonians only after they first “welcomed the message” preached by the missionaries. Even after their conversion, their response to the message was just as enthusiastic, though this response entailed “severe suffering.” “Suffering” (or “tribulation”; GK 2568) plays a large part in these letters (3:3–4, 7; 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 6–7) because persecution was so common (Acts 17:5–9) and grew so intense as to be comparable to the bitter opposition by the Jews against the Lord Jesus and the Judean church (1 Thessalonians 2:14–16). Christ’s enemies would do anything to make life miserable for Christians. Yet instead of misery the Thessalonians displayed a “joy given by the Holy Spirit”; such a response defies natural explanation. The same One who gave Paul and his companions power for proclaiming the Gospel (v.5) dwelt within those who received the Gospel and transformed them.

The greatest attainment for these new Christians was becoming for others what Paul and his companions had been for them (v.7)—“a model” (GK 5596) to Christians throughout Greece. This word suggests an exact reproduction. Christians in Philippi, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and elsewhere in Macedonia and Achaia did well to look to Thessalonica.