1 Thessalonians 2:14

Text (1 Thessalonians 2:14)

14 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews;

Translation and Paraphrase

14.

(It is obvious that you truly received the gospel as the word of God,) for you became imitators, brethren, of the churches of God which are in (the land of) Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things from your own people as they also (did) from the Jews.

Notes (1 Thessalonians 2:14)

1.

There is no more painful hurt that a person can endure than for his own friends and relatives to turn against him because he has received Jesus Christ as his Lord. The unkindest cut of all is one from the sword of our own people, those with whom we have pleasant memories and blood kinship.

2.

The Thessalonians endured such anguish when the Jews set their whole city on an uproar against the Christians. Acts 17:5-9.

3.

But this very experience, and others like it that followed, marked them as truly one with the children of God everywhere. For by their sufferings, they became followers (or, more accurately, imitators, as in 1 Thessalonians 1:6) of the Christians in Judea.

4.

Judea was the main homeland of the Jews, with Jerusalem being its capital. It was there that the church of Christ was started, Churches were soon in existence in many of the villages of Judea. Paul calls these churches, the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. Note that you cannot be of God and not be also in Christ Jesus. (These churches were also called the churches of Judaea which were in Christ. Galatians 1:22.)

5.

The churches in Judea soon suffered persecution. Stephen was killed. Acts 7:59-60. A great persecution followed his death. Acts 8:1; Acts 8:3. Many of the Hebrew Christians lost their homes and property. Hebrews 10:32-34. The unbelieving Jews tried to exterminate the followers of Christ, just as they had sought to kill Christ himself.

6.

Paul could well have written the same words to the Thessalonians that he wrote to the Philippians: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Philippians 1:29.