The Church of Thessalonica and the Man of Sin

Acts 17

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto 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.

6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Cæsar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.

9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.

10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.

14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21 ( For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

The church of Thessalonica was located in the populous mercantile city of Thessalonica, which was the most important town of European Turkey after ConstantinopleSBD Thessalonica.2. It was situated on the Macedonian shore on the Thermaic Gulf and served as a central hub with direct communication to Rome, Ephesus, Alexandria, and AntiochSBD Thessalonica.2+2.

🏛️ The City and Its Context

Thessalonica was originally named Therma and was later rebuilt and enlarged by Cassander, who named it after his wife, the sister of Alexander the GreatSBD Thessalonica.2. In the first century, it was known as the most populous city in MacedoniaSBD Thessalonica.2. Due to its strategic location and access by land or water, the city provided an excellent opportunity for the spread of the gospel to all parts of the worldLP 98.3+1.

📜 The Origin of the Church

The church was established during Paul's second missionary journey when he, along with Silas and Timothy, arrived from PhilippiARSH January 28, 1862, page 67.3+2. Paul's entry into the city was bold, despite having just suffered shameful treatment and imprisonment in PhilippiARSH January 28, 1862, page 67.3+2. As was his custom, Paul began his work at the synagogue of the Jews, where he reasoned from the Scriptures for three successive Sabbath days Acts 17:1-2SOSL 113.3+2.

• Diverse Membership: The foundation of the church consisted of a few Jews, a great multitude of "devout Greeks" (Gentiles who already worshiped God on the Sabbath), and many leading women Acts 17:4HSFD 173.1+2.

• Sabbath Observance: The church began as an assembly of Sabbath-keepers who followed the example of the Sabbath-keeping churches in Judea 1 Thessalonians 2:14HSFD 173.1+2.

• Paul's Labor: While establishing the church, Paul worked with his own hands as a tentmaker to support himself, laboring night and day so he would not be a financial burden to the new believers 1 Thessalonians 2:9+1GW 234.2+2.

⚔️ Trials and Growth

The young church quickly faced severe trials and opposition from unbelieving Jews who were jealous of the apostles' successLP 110.1+2. These opposers stirred up "lewd fellows of the baser sort" and assaulted the house of Jason, where they hoped to find Paul and Silas Acts 17:5AA 229.4. Despite these afflictions, the Thessalonian believers received the word with the joy of the Holy Spirit and became examples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7COOD 27.3+1.

✉️ Apostolic Guidance

Paul maintained a deep affection for the church and wrote two inspired epistles to them from Corinth to correct errors and provide comfortLP 110.2+3. He specifically addressed:

• The State of the Dead: Providing hope that those who "sleep in Jesus" will be raised at the second coming 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16ARSH April 22, 1858, page 178.17+2.

• The Timing of Christ's Return: Warning them that the Day of Christ would not come until after a great falling away and the revelation of the "man of sin" 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4SITI November 10, 1887, page 681.1+2.

• Order and Industry: Rebuking those who were living in idleness and acting as busybodies 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12TT 139.3+2.

Even long after its founding, the city remained a point of interest, as individuals like Demas later departed for Thessalonica after forsaking Paul 2 Timothy 4:10SITI March 30, 1888, page 201.18.

The man of sin originated within the Christian church itself, developing from a falling away among those who once held the true faithGC 49.1+1. This power, also known as the son of perdition or the mystery of iniquity, did not arise from outside the church but was the result of errors and a great apostasy that crept into the congregation early in its history 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 7GC 49.1+1.

🏛️ Origin Within the Temple of God

The scriptures specify that the man of sin sits in the "temple of God," which refers specifically to the Christian church 2 Thessalonians 2:4DAR1909 598.1+1. This usurper was not an external pagan force but an internal power that claimed divine honors and authority within the society of believersSITI October 25, 1883, page 473.10.

• A Gradual Development: Even in the days of the apostle Paul, the "mystery of iniquity" was already at work, preparing the way for the eventual establishment of the papacy 2 Thessalonians 2:7GC 49.1+1.

• From Faithful to Apostate: The church was once the dwelling place of God’s Spirit, but through the harboring of sin and worldly ambitions, it was defiled and became the seat of the man of sinSITI November 15, 1883, page 509.8+1.

• Replacement of Authority: Instead of looking to God, the church was led to look to a human leader who exalted himself above all that is worshipedDAR1909 598.1+1.

⚔️ The Nature of the Falling Away

The development of this power was marked by a departure from the purity of the gospel and a move toward worldly honor and political controlEVRR263+1.

• Amalgamation with the World: During the time of Constantine, the church began to secure control of civil power, compelling men to conform to its dogmasARSH August 9, 1892, page 497.2+1.

• Compromise of Truth: Religious declension and the desire for worldly riches caused the light of truth to grow dim, leading the majority of Christians into apostasyEVRR263+1.

• Changing the Law: To demonstrate his supposed supremacy over God, the man of sin sought to change the very laws of the Most High, specifically substituting the Bible Sabbath with the Sunday festival Daniel 7:25DAR1909 598.1+1.

⚖️ Two Opposing Heads

History reveals two distinct leaders standing at the head of two antagonistic bodiesARSH January 10, 1856, page 118.8+1.

• The Man Christ Jesus: He is the true head of the Christian church, who came to magnify the law and reveal the Father 1 Timothy 2:5+1ARSH January 10, 1856, page 118.8+1.

• The Man of Sin: He is the head of the antichristian or papal church, characterized by his opposition to God's law and his claim to sit as God in the church 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4ARSH January 10, 1856, page 118.8+1.

Individual members of the church are warned that by cherishing sin and inconsistent practices, they too can defile the temple of God and bring weakness upon His people 1 Corinthians 3:16-17PP 497.2+1. The only safeguard is an individual acceptance of the life of Christ and a departure from all iniquity 2 Timothy 3:5PTUK January 19, 1899, page 34.7+1.