A New Tribe (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4)

Welcome back to the pod! In our new series, we'll explore two of the earliest letters in the New Testament—written by the Apostle Paul to a young church facing pressure, persecution, and cultural confusion. Tune in as we unpack the first few verses of Thessalonians.

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A New Identity in Christ: Kicking Off the Thessalonians Series

Today we launch a powerful new series on the letters to the Thessalonians. These two short New Testament books—1 and 2 Thessalonians—were written to one of the earliest churches planted by the Apostle Paul. Before jumping into the rich theology and encouragement in these letters, it’s helpful to explore the background: Who was Paul writing to? Why did he write? And how can these ancient letters speak directly to us today?

Understanding the Timeline of Paul’s Letters

Before diving into 1 Thessalonians, let’s take a quick detour through the New Testament table of contents. The Apostle Paul wrote 13 letters (or epistles), and they weren't written in the order they appear in your Bible. Understanding their timeline helps us grasp the historical and spiritual context of each one.

1 Thessalonians was written around AD 50, making it one of Paul’s earliest writings—possibly his second after Galatians. Here’s a simplified overview of Paul’s epistles in chronological order:

• Galatians (AD 48) – After Paul’s first missionary journey
• 1 Thessalonians (AD 50) – Written from Corinth after Timothy’s encouraging report
• 2 Thessalonians (AD 51) – Soon after 1 Thessalonians to clarify teaching on Christ’s return
• 1 & 2 Corinthians (AD 55–56) – To address division and reconciliation
• Romans (AD 57) – A theological masterpiece written before a trip to Jerusalem
• Prison Epistles (AD 60) – Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians from Rome
• Pastoral Epistles (AD 63–67) – 1 Timothy, Titus, and finally 2 Timothy before Paul’s death

The City of Thessalonica and the Church’s Birth

Paul planted the church in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey (see Acts 17). But his time there was brief. After just three weeks of preaching in the synagogue, persecution forced Paul and his team to flee the city. This sudden departure left the young church without strong leadership during a time of growing hostility.

Later, while Paul was in Corinth (see Acts 18), he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check in. Timothy’s report was encouraging, so Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to strengthen, teach, and affirm the faith of these new believers.

Importantly, this letter was written before any of the four Gospels had been completed. The early church relied on the oral tradition of eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It wasn’t until decades later, as those eyewitnesses began to pass away, that the written Gospels were compiled (see Luke 1:1–4).

Competing “Tribes” in Ancient Thessalonica

Paul’s opening words to the church are deeply theological and culturally subversive:

“We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1 NLT)

That word “church” in Greek is ekklesia, and in the Greco-Roman world, it didn’t originally mean a religious group. It referred to a political or civic assembly—like a town hall meeting. Thessalonica had many such groups:

1. Civic Assemblies – Free male citizens met to vote on laws and policies, aligned with Rome’s authority.
2. Pagan Mystery Cults – Groups worshiped deities like Cabirus (a local messianic figure) and Dionysus (god of wine and ecstasy), often through secret rituals.
3. Imperial Assemblies – Citizens gathered to declare loyalty to Caesar, who was worshiped as “lord” and “savior.”
4. Jewish Synagogues – Paul first preached here, and some Jews and God-fearing Greeks joined the Christian faith. (See Acts 17:2–4.)

In this context, Paul redefined ekklesia to mean a new kind of people—not gathered around a king or philosophy, but around Jesus Christ as Lord.

A New Kind of Tribe: God’s People

Paul’s main point in 1 Thessalonians 1 is that the believers now have a new identity:

“You belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1 NLT)

Their former “tribes” no longer define them. They now belong to God’s people—those who have responded to the gospel through faith.

Paul continues:

“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 NLT)

This “trifecta” of faith, love, and hope becomes a recurring theme in Paul’s writing. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, he calls these the three things that last forever.

Who Gets the Credit?

Finally, Paul reminds them of one crucial truth:

“We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4 NLT)

This verse introduces the concept of being “chosen”—a powerful biblical idea that Paul expands later, especially in Romans. For now, the message is clear: God gets all the credit for our salvation. We didn’t earn our way into God’s tribe. He brought us in because of His love.

So What? Identity Matters

In today’s world, people still form tribes—political, cultural, ideological. But Paul’s message remains: Your primary identity must be in Christ. If you’ve trusted Jesus, then you belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ above all.

That identity should shape your views on politics, sexuality, family, money, and everything else. And for those still considering, the invitation is open: God loves you. He has made a way for you to belong to His eternal tribe.