Topical Bible: Unbelief: The Thessalonian Jews

◄ Unbelief: The Thessalonian Jews ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The account of the Thessalonian Jews' unbelief is primarily found in the New Testament book of Acts, specifically in Acts 17:1-9. This passage provides insight into the response of the Jewish community in Thessalonica to the apostolic preaching of Paul and Silas.

Context and Background

Thessalonica was a significant city in Macedonia, strategically located on the Via Egnatia, a major Roman road. It was a bustling hub of commerce and culture, with a diverse population that included a substantial Jewish community. The presence of a synagogue indicates an established Jewish presence, which provided Paul and Silas with an initial audience for their message.

Paul's Preaching in Thessalonica

According to Acts 17:2-3 , "As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. 'This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,' he declared." Paul utilized the Hebrew Scriptures to demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled the Messianic prophecies, emphasizing the necessity of the Messiah's suffering and resurrection.

The Response of the Thessalonian Jews

The reaction of the Thessalonian Jews was mixed. Acts 17:4 notes that "some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few leading women." However, the majority of the Jewish community did not accept Paul's message. Acts 17:5 describes their response: "But the Jews became jealous, so they brought in some troublemakers from the marketplace, formed a mob, and set the city in an uproar. They attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring Paul and Silas out to the people."

Motivations for Unbelief

The unbelief of the Thessalonian Jews can be attributed to several factors:

1. Jealousy: The success of Paul's preaching among the God-fearing Greeks and prominent women likely incited jealousy among the Jewish leaders, as they perceived a threat to their religious and social influence.

2. Cultural and Religious Preconceptions: The Jewish expectation of a triumphant, political Messiah clashed with the message of a suffering and resurrected Christ. This theological divergence made it difficult for many Jews to accept Jesus as the Messiah.

3. Social and Political Concerns: The accusation brought against Paul and Silas, as recorded in Acts 17:6-7 , was that "These men who have turned the world upside down have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, named Jesus." This charge of sedition against Roman authority would have been alarming to both Jews and local authorities, further fueling opposition.

Consequences of Unbelief

The unbelief of the Thessalonian Jews led to significant consequences. The uproar they incited forced Paul and Silas to leave the city prematurely, as noted in Acts 17:10 : "As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea." Despite their departure, the seeds of the Gospel had been planted, and a church was established in Thessalonica, as evidenced by Paul's later letters to the Thessalonians.

The unbelief of the Thessalonian Jews serves as a poignant example of the challenges faced by the early Christian missionaries. It highlights the complex interplay of religious, cultural, and political factors that influenced the reception of the Gospel message in the first-century Mediterranean world.

Nave's Topical Index

Acts 17:5
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took to them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Acts XVII
... But Paul begins his argument with the Thessalonian Jews, by showing ... was exceedingly
mortifying to those Jews who obstinately remained in unbelief. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xvii.htm

A Work of Reform.
... by similar arguments that the Jews endeavored to ... When the Thessalonian church received
erroneous views concerning ... enter in because of unbelief."(769) Because ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /26 a work of reform.htm

A Work of Reform
... by similar arguments that the Jews endeavored to ... When the Thessalonian church received
erroneous views concerning ... not enter in because of unbelief." Hebrews 3 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 26 a work of.htm

Heralds of the Morning.
... was the "blessed hope." When the Thessalonian Christians were ... The Jews were building
monuments for the slain ... How it rebukes our unbelief, our pride and self ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /17 heralds of the morning.htm

Heralds of the Morning
... was the "blessed hope." When the Thessalonian Christians were ... The Jews were building
monuments for the slain ... How it rebukes our unbelief, our pride and self ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 17 heralds of the.htm

General Index.
... failure of Jews to understand, 313-316, 344-346. ... Thessalonian church, Paul's
advice to, 456, 457. ... Unbelief, result of cherishing, 527, 528. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /general index.htm