Faith Sounded in Every Place 1 Thessalonians 1:8

Paul the apostle commended the Thessalonian church members for “following” them and “the Lord” even while they “received the word in much affliction”, and they did so “with joy of the Holy Ghost” in such a manner that they were “ensamples” to everyone who believed in the surrounding cities of “Macedonia and Achaia”. In chapter one and verse eight of his letter, Paul added to the influence of the Thessalonians as “the word of the Lord” and their “faith” spread “in every place” where we read:

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; so that we need not to speak any thing.

The verse begins, “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;” Paul began with the words, “For from you sounded out” which means “because, since, truly and therefore a separation from the origin emitted, resounded and echoed” “the word” or “speech and utterance by a living voice which embodies a conception or idea” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding who is the master and a title given to God, the messiah” “not only in Macedonia” or “extended land which was a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia” “and Achaia” which means “trouble and the maritime region of northern Peloponnesus and a Roman province embracing all Greece except Thessaly” “but also in every place” or “each, every, any, all, the whole inhabited place, portion, space, city, village and district” “your faith” which means “conviction of the truth of anything and belief and conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things and the bestower of eternal salvation through Christ” “to God-ward” which refers to “the Godhead trinity composed of God the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit” “is spread abroad” or “goes or comes forth from the point from which one departs”. The “faith” of the Thessalonians was spread beyond their boarders where “everyone” heard about them.

The verse goes on to say, “ so that we need not to speak any thing.” Paul continued his commentary by writing, “so that we need not” or “without necessity, duty or business” “to speak” which means “utter a voice or emit a sound, talk, tell or use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts” “any thing” or “some, certain or any portion or part”. The “faith” of the people within the church at Thessalonica was so powerful, Paul and his entourage did not have to declare the gospel to “any” of their neighbors.

When we meditate upon Paul's words, we see the powerful affect of the church in Thessalonica. Not only had their faith been heard of and followed in “Macedonia and Achaia”, but also “in every place” which was around them. When the believers in Jesus Christ really receive and take hold of His gospel, they cannot be hidden. Their testimony and witness was declared, announced and talked about in places everywhere. In light of this, it is good that we ask ourselves concerning our own “testimony” and “witness”. Do others hear about us? Is our faith in Jesus so strong that people we do not know are affected by what we believe? Perhaps we should examine our trust in Jesus Christ and our walk with Him to determine if our lives are being lived in such a manner that our “faith” is “sounded out everywhere”, and may the Lord help us to imitate Him to that degree.

Next time Paul shares how the church members in Thessalonica “turned from idols to serve the living and true God;”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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