Au In the beginning was the Word
 

1.- Paul arrives to Thessalonica, capital of the roman province of Macedonia, towards the year 50, after having founded the community of Philippi. Silas and Timothy accompany him. According to the practice, he goes to the synagogue and, in discussion with the Jews, he announces the Gospel: Some of them were convinced and joined Paul and Silas. So too did a great number of Greeks sympathetic to Judaism and many prominent women (Acts 17,4). And in this manner the Thessalonica community is born.

2.- Paul and his fellows stay in the synagogue for three days, and later on they meet in a home. The Jews, full of envy, plot a persecution against them and they denounce them before the magistrates: “These people who have turned the world upside down have come here too, and Jason has given them hospitality”, “They all disregard the decrees of the Emperor and claim that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17,7).

3.- Paul is in Thessalonica for a short time, perhaps several months. Due to the jewish opposition he must flee, but he is able to put down the basis of a young community formed mainly by gentiles. How it is said in the Acts of the Apostles, they go everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8,4), and the experience of Christ crucified: God has constituted him Lord and Christ (2,32; 1Co 1, 23-24)

4.- Paul is worried about the chances of his brothers. He was able of giving them only an elemental formation. Personally, he cannot go to visit them. From Athens he sends Timothy to animate them amidst the difficulties. Towards the year 52, he writes them from Corinth, when Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia (Acts 18,5). He does it alleviated by the good news they bring him

5.- Nevertheless, there are problems: the Jews continue his campaign against the apostle, there are still pagan habits, diverse catecheses are needed, for instance, over the Day of the Lord and the fact of the resurrection. With his letter, Paul desires to orient to those brothers and confront the pending problems., The letter is headed, in the initial greetings, by Paul, Silas and Timothy (1 Thes 1,1).

6.- Above everything, the thanks giving. When considering the pass, the difficulties overcome and the strong opposition suffered, Paul proclaims God´s powerful strength. The Gospel was, really, condemned to sterility, but it was announced not only by words, but with signals too: We thank God at all times for you and remember you in our prayers. We constantly recall before God our Father the work of your faith, the labours of your love and your endurance in waiting for Christ Jesus our Lord. We remember, brothers, the circumstances of your being called. The Gospel we brought you was such not only in words. Miracles, Holy Spirit and plenty of everything were given to you. (1 Thes 2,5).

7.- The first letter to the community of Thessalonica is the first writing of the New Testament. In the first three chapters Paul evokes the experience of the origin and growing of the community. The brothers of Thessalonica know well, acknowledge perfectly, remember… But, what is all about?

8.- The brothers know that Paul announced them the experience of the Gospel; that they received the word amidst a great opposition, with the joy of the Holy Spirit; that they became a model for many believers: From your community, the word of the Lord spread to Macedonia and Achaia and still farther; the faith you have in God has become news in so many places that we need say no more about it. Others tell of how you responded to us and turned from idols to the Lord. For you serve the living and true God, and you wait for his Son from Heaven whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who frees us from impending punishment. (1 Thes 1, 6-10).

9.- The brothers know that Paul´s action wasn’t sterile, but courageous, uninterested, respectful: You well know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain. We had been ill treated and insulted in Philippi but, trusting in God, we dared announce to you the message of God, and face fresh opposition. Our warnings did not conceal any error of impure motive, nor did we deceive anyone. But as God had entrusted his Gospel to us as to faithful ministers, we were anxious to please God who sees the heart, rather than men. We never pleased you with flattery, as you know, nor did we try to earn money, as God knows. We did not try to make a name for ourselves among people, either with you or anybody else, although we were messengers of Christ and could have made our weight felt. On the contrary, we were gentle with you, as a nursing mother who feeds and cuddles her baby. (1 Thes 2, 1-7)

10.- The brothers know that the Gospel that announces Paul is not a mere human word. It is the palpable of God´s strength, which confirms the announced word: This is why we never cease giving thanks to God for, on receiving our message, you accepted it, not as human teaching, but as the word of God. That is what it really is, and as such it is at work in you who believe (1 Thes 2,13).

11.- The brothers know by experience that the Gospel´s announcement means conflict, division, suffering, persecution: You followed the example of the churches of Christ Jesus, for you suffered from your compatriots the same trials they suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecute us. They displease God and harm all people when they prevent us from speaking to the pagans and trying to save them. (1 Thes 2, 14-16)

12.- Paul would like, of course, to go (more than once) to Thessalonica, but it was not possible: We are for a time deprived of your presence, but not in our heart, and we eagerly long to see you. For we have wanted to visit you, and I, Paul, more than once; but Satan prevented us… As I could no longer bear it, I decided to go alone to Athens, and send you Timothy, our brother and servant of God in the Gospel of Christ. I want him to encourage you in the faith and strengthen you so that none of you might turn back because of the trials you are now enduring. You know that such is our destiny. I warned you of this when I was there: “We shall have to face persecution”; and so it was, as you have seen. Therefore I could not stand it any longer and sent Timothy to appraise your faith and see if the Tempter had tempted you and made our work useless. (1 Thes 2,17 – 3,5).

13.- The news brought by Timothy are good: He brought us good news of your faith and mutual love, adding that you always remember us kindly and that you long to see us as much as we long to see you. In any case, Paul´s visit to the community is in God´s hands: Night and day we insistently pray to God to be able of seeing your face and to complete what your faith is missing. May God himself, our Father and our Lord Jesus prepare the way for us to visit you (1 Thes 3, 6-11). Aside this, live in a way that pleases God, you already know the instructions we gave you on behalf of the Lord Jesus (4, 1-2).

14.- Some brothers ingenuously believe that the day of the Lord will be a spectacular and imminent event, which those previously dead will miss. But it is not so, those alive are not in advantage. The dead walk in advantage: Like Christ has resurrected, the dead resurrect too. The resurrection is a transcendent reality that breaks into history. But the world does not end, it is necessary to work: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat (1 Thes 4,11; 2 Thes 3,10). Besides, the day of the Lord is a day of clouds and darkness (Jl 2,2; Zep 1,15), day of judgement of all that has nothing to do with the kingdom of God. So, like sons of the light, we must be watchful, so that, that day does not surprise us like a thief in the night (1 Thes 5,2). The Gospel is, at the same time, announcement and denunciation. In the letter to the Galatians, the hand tended to Paul in a signal of communion and the repression that the apostle of the gentiles makes to Peter, are in the same chapter (Gal 2, 1-14).

 

* Dialogue: What is what we have learned, know, remember?