tiles. It was at Tarsus, the rival of Ath ens in culture, that the Apostle pre pared for his mission to the Gentiles. This period of preparation was ended when Barnabas came and summoned him to Antioch to assist in a revival which was taking place among those of the Gentile community of that city. Somewhere around the year 45 A.D., Paul and Barnabas were ordained as missionaries and set apart to the great Call of God! "Rest"
the Gospel (Acts 17:4). A great multi tude of Greeks also embraced the faith and a strong church was founded. The phases of experience of this little church, in relation to the world, are given in detail in the Epistle. The phas es are: the birth of the church, the growth of the church, the testimony of the church, the detractions of the church, the church and anti-Semitism, the sufferings of the church, the Lord’s return for His Church, prayer for the church, and the holiness of the church. These subjects we will follow in the studies ahead. We have made this choice of study with the basic conviction that these Epistles have a tremendous contribu tion to make to the modern church when understood, and when their mean ing is appropriated. Our text describes the birth of that church — “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance . . .” Here we see the entrance of the Gospel into Thessaloni- ca, the experience of the Gospel by the Thessalonians, and the effect of the Gospel upon them. The fact that the Gospel had entrance to the Thessalonians is the important thing, for it is the event which trans formed that city and gave habitation to the Church of God. When did this occur? We have al ready stated that it occurred on the second missionary journey. Stevens, in ■his Studies On The Epistles, des cribes the events which preceded this in the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul must have been over thirty years of age when he was converted on the Damascus Road, or he would not have been entrusted with so important a mission by the Sanhedrin. Following his conversion, he sojourned for three years in Arabia, clarifying his • own thinking under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and making his beginnings in preaching. He returned to Jerusalem for a few days before leaving for Tar sus. It is interesting to note that Paul was oalled to be an Apostle to the Gen
Does the Gospel-word proclaim Rest for those who weary be? Then, my soul, put in thy claim, Sure that promise speaks to thee: Marks of grace I cannot show, All polluted is my best; Yet, I weary am, I know, And the weary long for res*. In the ark the weary dove Found a welcome resting place; Thus my spirit longs to prove Rest in Christ, the Ark of Grace. Tempest-tossed I long have been, And the flood increases fast; Open, Lord, and take me in. Till the storm be overpast. Safely lodged within Thy breast. What a wondrous change I find! Now I know Thy promised rest Can compose a troubled mind. You that weary are like me, Hearken to the Gospel call; To the ark for refuge flee, Jesus will receive you all!
— John Newton The First Journey through Cyprus, Pamphylia, and lower Asia Minor, pro bably took several years. After this journey, they participated in the Jeru salem Council to clarify the content of the Gospel. Almost immediately after that, Paul began his Second Missionary Journey— accompanied by Silas, a Hebrew Chris tian —*which took him through Gala tia, where he added Timothy to his party. Then Paul went westward to Troas, where apparently Luke joined his party. From there, the little group, in answer to the Macedonian call, went (Continued on next page) 19
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