It is the opinion of the best critics that the epistles to the Thessalonians were written from Corinth. When Paul was forced to cease his labors in Berea, he was conducted by the brethren to Athens, but Silas and Timothy remained at Berea. Acts 17:13, 14. As soon as he reached Athens he sent word for his fellow-labors to join him. Verse 15. It seems evident that they did join him at Athens, and that Timothy was sent from Athens to Thessalonica, to learn the condition of the brethren. The following Scriptures imply this: Acts 17:16 says that “Paul waited for them at Athens.” He had sent them a command to come to him with all speed, and if they obeyed, he would not have to wait long. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 we read: “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; and sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith.” This strongly implies that Timothy was sent from Athens to Thessalonica, but he was not the bearer of the epistle to the Thessalonians, for it is in Paul’s first epistle that he speaks of having sent Timothy. It was in consequence of the good report of their constancy that Timothy brought, that Paul wrote his first epistle. Nothing is said about Silas being sent with Timothy, and he may have been sent on some other errand, but Acts 18:5 shows that they returned from Macedonia in company, and found Paul at Corinth. It was then and there that Paul wrote his first epistle to the Thessalonians.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.1

Although Silas and Timothy are associated with Paul in the opening sentence, we are not to conclude that they had an equal share with him in the writing of the epistle. It simply shows that they endorsed what Paul wrote. This would not be a minor matter, for the Thessalonians were, doubtless, better acquainted with Silas and Timothy than with Paul. On the other hand, if Paul were well known, and his worth as an apostle of Jesus Christ were fully appreciated, to mention his helpers in connection with himself, would increase their influence among those to whom he wrote. And this was what Paul desired, for he had no petty fear that he should not be appreciated, and he also expected and intended that younger men succeed him in this work.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.2

The comments of Dr. Clarke on 1 Thessalonians 1:3 are so good that we give them entire:-SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.3

“This verse contains a very high character of the believers that Thessalonica. They had faith, not speculative and indolent, but true, sound, operative; their faith worked. They had love, not that gazed at and became enamored of the perfections of God, but such a love as labored with faith to fulfill the whole will of God. Faith worked; but love, because it can do more, did more, and therefore labored-worked energetically-to promote the glory of God and the salvation of men. They had hope; not an idle, cold, heartless expectation of future good, from which they felt no excitement, and for which they could give no reason, but such a hope has produced a satisfying expectation of a future life and a state of blessedness, the reality of which faith had descried and love anticipated; a hope, not hasty and impatient to get out of the trials of life and possess the heavenly inheritance, but one that was as willing to endure hardships as to enjoy glory itself, when God might be most honored by this patient endurance. Faith worked, love labored, and hope endured patiently.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.4

“It is not a mark of much grace to be longing to get to Heaven because of the troubles and difficulties of the present life. They who love Christ are ever willing to suffer with him; and he may be as much glorified by patient suffering as by the most active faith or laborious love. There are times in which, through affliction or other hindrances, we cannot do the will of God, but we can suffer it; and in such cases he seeks a heart that bears submissively; suffers patiently, and endures as seeing him who is invisible, without murmurings or repining.”SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.5

“For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad.” Verse 8. There can be no better recommendation of a Christian than that by his life the word of the Lord is sounded forth. This is more likely to be the case in heathen than in so-called Christian countries, because, as did the Thessalonians, they received the word “in much affliction.” Those who live in a land where Christianity is popular, are very liable to fall in with that type of Christianity that is popular, and that is not a kind that will recommend them either to God or to man.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.6

That the Thessalonians did suffer severe persecution, we learn from the 14th verse of the second chapter. “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Jesus Christ, for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.” The record in Acts, having to do only with Paul, states that the Jews set the whole city in an uproar on account of the apostles. But after the mob once became aroused, we cannot suppose that they would quietly settle down without proceeding to acts of violence against those who received the apostles’ doctrine. In this case, as in others, the Jews were the instigators of the persecution, but took no active part in carrying it on.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.7

We are not left in doubt as to what doctrine Paul preached to the Thessalonians. From Acts 17:2, 3 we learn that he preached only Scripture doctrine. He was not content with mere assertions, but he reasoned. A reasoning sermon is a good sermon; but the reasoning must be Scriptural reasoning. The trouble with too many sermons of the present day is that human reason enters into them too largely. Paul preached “that Christ must needs have suffered and risen from the dead,” but did not leave his hearers with this. He also taught them to wait for his coming from Heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Without this last part, his preaching would be incomplete. Any preaching of the gospel that leaves out Christ’s second advent, is not Scriptural preaching. The death and resurrection of Christ afford the Christian a strong ground for hope of salvation; but since that salvation is to be revealed only at Christ’s second coming, John 14:1-3; Colossians 3:4; 1 Peter 1:5; Hebrews 9:28, etc., if that coming should be studiously concealed, the hope aroused by the knowledge of the resurrection of Christ would be turned into despair. Should Christ not come, then the plan of salvation would be as much a failure as it would have been had he never risen from the dead. But Christ is coming again, and this thought should be to us an ever-present blessed hope.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.8

Inexperienced Christians are liable to be misled by the statement of their teachers that the Christian life is one of peace and joy, and that happiness can be found nowhere else. This is true, but some think that therefore they should have no trials, but should find everything easy and pleasant. When afflictions come they think that God must certainly be displeased with them, or has forsaken them. The trouble is that they do not realize that the Christian finds joy and happiness in a far different matter from what the worldling does. Paul feared that the Thessalonians might become discouraged by their persecutions, so he sent Timothy to comfort them, “That no man should be moved by these affliction; for yourselves know that we are appointed there unto.” Chap. 3:3. He would have them learn to “glory in tribulation;” to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. When they come for this cause we may rejoice; but no one should feel elated over trials that are brought on by his own perverseness. Shame is called for in such a case. E. J. W.SITI October 11, 1883, page 449.9

October 4, 1883

October 25, 1883