The First Epistle To The Thessalonians. Part 2

Church History: Paul writes 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians From Corinth A.D. 50-51

Paul and Silas were driven away from Thessalonica by the opposition of the Jews. A mob was created by them; the house of Jason was assailed; he and 'certain brethren,' who were supposed to have harbored and secreted Paul and Silas, were dragged before the magistrates and accused of receiving those who "had turned the world upside down," and who were guilty of treason against the Roman emperor, (Acts 17:5-7). So great was the turmoil, and such would be the danger of Paul and Silas if they remained there, that the members of the church decided that they should go to a place of safety, and they were conveyed by night to the neighboring city of Berea. There the gospel was received with more favor, and Paul preached without opposition, until the Jews from Thessalonica, hearing where he was, came and stirred up the people against him, (Acts 17:13). It became necessary again that he should be removed to a place of safety, and he was conducted to Athens; while Silas and Timothy remained at Berea. Timothy, it appears, had accompanied Paul, and had been with him, as well as Luke, at Philippi and Thessalonica, though he is not mentioned as present' with them until the arrival at Berea. When Paul went to Athens, he gave commandment to those who conducted him, that Silas and Timothy should come to him as soon as possible; and while he waited for them at Athens, he delivered the memorable speech on Mars' hill, recorded in (Acts 17:1-34). Their actual arrival at Athens is not mentioned by Luke, (Acts 17:1-34), but that Timothy came to him there appears from (1Thessalonians 3:1-2). "Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone, and sent Timotheus our brother, etc., to comfort you concerning your faith." Timothy appears, therefore, to have been with Paul at Athens but a short time, for he sent him back to Thessalonica, and before his return, Paul had gone to Corinth, whereas Silas and Timothy followed him, (Acts 18:5).

Paul had remained but a short time at Athens, and there is internal evidence that the epistle was not written there. In (1Thessalonians 3:1,2), Paul says, that such was his anxiety for them, that he had concluded to remain at Athens alone, and that he had sent Timothy to them from that place to impart to them consolation. In the same epistle, (1Thessalonians 3:6), he speaks of Timothy's return to him before the epistle was written. But, from (Acts 17:1-34) and (Acts 18:5), it is evident that Timothy did not return to Paul at Athens, but that he and Silas came to him after he had left Athens and had gone to Corinth.

This is where Paul had gone after his short visit to Athens, and there he remained a year and a half, (Acts 18:1). It is further evident that the epistle was not written to the Thessalonians so soon as it would be necessary to suppose, if it were written-from Athens. In (1Thessalonians 2:17-18), the author says, "But we, brethren, being taken from you a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." From this it is evident that the apostle had repeatedly endeavored to visit them, but had been hindered. But it is not reasonable to suppose that he had attempted this during the short time that he was in Athens, and so soon after having been driver, away from Berea. It is more probable that this had occurred during his residence at Corinth, and it would seem also from this, that the epistle was written towards the close of his residence there. At the time of writing the epistle, Silas and Timothy were with the apostle, (1Thessalonians 1:1), and we know that they were with him when he was at Corinth, (Acts 18:5).

If this epistle was written, at the time supposed, at Corinth, it must have been about the 13th year of the reign of Claudius, and about A.D. 52. It was the first epistle written by the apostle Paul, and, in some respects, may be allowed to excite a deeper interest on that account than any others of his. The Second Epistle to the Thessalonians is supposed to have been written at the same place, and, probably, in the same year.