1 Thessalonians 1-2

For some good background on 1 Thess., click here.

Paul's visit to Thessalonica is detailed in Acts 17:1-9 and took place directly after the events in Phillippi (Acts 16:11-40).  Phillippi and Thessalonica were both major cities of Macedonia (northern Greece), with Thessalonica located on the Aegean coast about 70 miles to the west of Phillippi.  Acts 16:6-10 tells us that Paul and his companions (Silas, Timothy and Luke) went to Macedonia to preach the gospel in direct response to a vision from the Lord.

1 Thess. 1:3   This is one of our memory verses down the road.  The faith, hope and love triad recalls 1 Cor. 13:13
1:4-5   There is an emphasis here on God's power and sovereignty.  Paul is saying that not only was the gospel preached, it was accompanied by an outpouring of His Spirit.  Reminds me of 1 Cor. 3:6-7, where Paul talks about planting the seed but God making it grow.
1:7   Achaia refers to southern Greece; this is where Athens and Corinth are located.
2:2   Paul refers to his and Silas' imprisonment in Phillippi.
2:3-6   I like how Paul's top goal was to please God.  His sincerity and passion for the message with which God had entrusted him are so evident.
2:8-9   Imparting spiritual blessings was apparently not enough for Paul and his companions.  They had a sincere love for the people they were ministering to and physically labored among them; it's a reminder of the work so many are doing currently in Haiti.
2:10-12   Wouldn't it be nice to be able to know with certainty that your words and actions are blameless?  So much so that you can tell someone else that and they could only agree with you?
2:18   Apparently Satan's opposition is not always ineffective.  God does allow him a short leash, but ultimately it is His purposes that will prevail.