Background
Background
On his 2nd missionary journey, Paul crossed from Troas of Asia Minor to Macedonia out of the vision given by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 16:9) In Macedonia, he went to Philippi and was imprisoned for one night. After being discharged, he went to the neighboring Thessalonica. There he reasoned with the Jews with the scriptures for three Sabbath days in a Jewish synagogue. Some Jews believed, together with a great multitude of devout Greeks. “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort (市井匪類), and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar.” They sought for Paul and Silas but were in vain, crying before the rulers of the city, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also…and these do all contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” (Acts 17:5-7) “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea (庇哩亞).” (Acts 17:10)
As Paul went into the synagogue in Berea and preached the gospel as usual, he found that the people of Berea “were more noble (賢於)(NRSV, ‘more receptive’) 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. Therefore many of them believed…” “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. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea, but Silas and Timothy abode there still.” From there Paul went down to Athens. (Acts 17:10-15)
Judging from the above incident, Paul encountered strong opposition with the Jews in his gospel ministry, especially the Jews from Thessalonica. As mentioned in this epistle, the Thessalonian believers also experienced hardship in their faith. (1:6, “having received the word in much affliction”)