At the time of Paul’s second (A.D. 49-52) and third (A.D. 53-57) missionary journeys which was when he visited the Thessalonians, it was a part of Macedonia, that is now Greece. It’s on the bay of the Aegean Sea, and it lies about 70 miles WSW of the city of Philippi, also a major city where Paul established the church. In some Bible versions, at the end of the last verse of this letter, it says that it was written from Athens. Now, in case you didn’t know, Paul was imprisoned in A.D. 58 and sent to Rome in A.D. 60, so this letter was written before he was in bonds.

          Shortly before Paul, Silas, and Timothy went to Thessalonica the first time, they were in Philippi, where there was a servant girl who was a fortune teller. She followed Paul and the others for days crying out, These men are the servants of God, sent to show us how to be saved. This disturbed Paul. As you can imagine, in a place where people worshipped idols, this kind of introduction wouldn’t be accepted very easily. It’s no different than today. Most people whose souls are lost aren’t gonna believe just because you walk up to them and say “Jesus loves you”. The way that Jesus enters into each person’s heart is different, and Paul knew that this wasn’t the way to lead lost souls home. So, Paul commanded the evil spirit to leave the girl, which in turn halted the profits of from her fortune telling to her masters. In anger, they apprehended Paul and the others, whipped them and threw them into prison. But at midnight, they sang praises to God and an earthquake shook the prison. You’ll have to go back to Acts, Chapter 16:25-40 to find out the rest of the story, but I’ll tell you this much, the one who watched over the jail ended up being converted by Paul.

          Let’s continue now with Paul’s letter. You know that our visit to you wasn’t useless. Even after what we went through and how we were treated shamefully, as you know, in Philippi, we were still confident in our God to preach the Gospel to you even though many were against us. Our teaching wasn’t to mislead, nor of uncleanness, nor in dishonesty, but as we were approved by God, to be put in trust with the Gospel, and that’s how we speak, not to please men, but rather to please God, who judges our hearts.

          We never used flattering words as you know, or a disguise for greed, God is our witness. We never looked for the praise of men, neither from you, or even of others, when we may have been a cost to you, as the Apostles of Christ. But we were gentle (meek) among you, like a nurse who cherishes her children, so, being fond of you, we were willing to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but also our own souls, because you were dear to us.

          You remember our work and suffering, our laboring night and day because we wouldn’t tolerate being an expense to any of you, and we preached to you the Gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God knows how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you who believe.

           As you know, we urged and comforted and directed every one of you, as a father does his children, so that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to His kingdom and glory. For this reason also we thank God without ceasing, because, when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in TRUTH, the Word of God, which completely works also in you that believe.

          You became followers of the churches of God which in Judæa are in Christ Jesus, because you have also suffered similar things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jewish people, who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they don’t please God, and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always, for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

          But we, being away from you for a short time in presence, but not in heart, tried even harder to visit you, with great intent. We wanted to come to you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it to see you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming, because you are our glory and joy.

          What a tremendous compliment. How would you like to hear that from a chosen servant of God, like Paul, that what he wishes for most of all, is to see you in the presence of Christ at His coming? I’d have to bet that he prayed that for every one of us, when he spent his moments alone with God. Why . . . That could make a person sit up straighter just thinking of it, a spiritual giant like Paul, praying for you. He is the epitome of selflessness. If he’s not in the top few of your favorite heroes list, you might ought to revise your list. In fact, maybe he is the reason why you find it honorable to study God’s Word every day. Maybe a little return prayer is in order, huh? A little, God bless the soul of Paul the Apostle, added to your prayer list may just release a little miracle in your day today . . . Who knows? Just a thought.