1 Thessalonians 1:7
in 1 Thessalonians 1As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
KJV
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe - Examples in reference to the firmness with which you embraced the gospel, the fidelity with which you adhered to it in trials, and the zeal which you showed in spreading it abroad. These things are specified in the previous and subsequent verses as characterizing their piety. The word here rendered “ensamples” - τύπον tupon, singular - is that from which the word type is derived.
This site's exposition
followers of us, and of the Lord
on 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
The imitation ran upward, followers of us, and of the Lord, and its school was suffering: they received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost, the pairing that marked the Lord himself. The result reverses the direction: the imitators became ensamples, tupoi, the stamp others are struck from, to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. A church weeks old under persecution became the region's pattern.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"So that ye became ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia." And yet it was later that he went to them. But ye so shone, he says, that ye became teachers of those who received (the word) before you. And this is like the Apostle. For he did not say, so that ye became ensamples in regard to believing, but ye became an ensample to those who already believed; how one ought to believe in God, ye taught, who from the very beginning entered into your conflict. "And in Achaia," he says; that is, in Greece. Do you see how great a thing is zeal? that it does not require time, nor delay, nor procrastination, but it is sufficient only to venture one's self, and all is fulfilled. Thus then though coming in later to the Preaching, they became teachers of those who were before them. Let no one therefore despair, even though he has lost much time, and has done nothing. It is possible for him even in a little while to do so much, as he never has done in all his former time. For if he who before did not believe, shone so much at the beginning, how much more those who have already believed! Let no one, again, upon this consideration be remiss, because he perceives that it is possible in a short time to recover everything. For the future is uncertain, and the Day of the Lord is a thief, setting upon us suddenly when we are sleeping. But if we do not sleep, it will not set upon us as a thief, nor carry us off unprepared. For if we watch and be sober, it will not set upon us as a thief, but as a royal messenger, summoning us to the good things prepared for us. But if we sleep, it comes upon us as a thief. Let no one therefore sleep, nor be inactive in virtue, for that is sleep. Do you not know how, when we sleep, our goods are not in safety, how easy they are to be plotted against? But when we are awake, there needs not so much guarding. […]
The Medieval Church3 voices
Although Paul came to them after others, nevertheless, he says, you shone so brightly that you became teachers of those who received the faith before you. And in this too is an imitation of Paul, since he also came last but surpassed everyone. Notice that …
So have you become a pattern for all who believe that is, they were models of excellence. in Macedonia and in Achaia Those are provinces of Greece. …
And you are our imitators to such an extent that you can be imitated by others; therefore he says: "so that you become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." In making this point, Paul does three things. First, he shows …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Their faith was spread abroad. (1.) The readiness of their faith was famed abroad. These Thessalonians embraced the gospel as soon as it was preached to them; so that every body took notice what manner of entering in among them the apostles had, that there were no such delays as at Philippi, where it was a great while before much good was done.
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe,....
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Therefore he means their past conduct is an ensample to all believers now; of whom he specifies those "in Macedonia" because he had been there since the conversion of the Thessalonians, and had left Silvanus and Timotheus there; and those in "Achaia," because he was now at Corinth in Achaia.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3551: “The Gospel in Power” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
A WORKMAN likes to see that he has been doing something. It is very dispiriting if he has spent much toil and can see no result. God's workmen by faith would continue still to labor, even if they saw nothing come of it, but it is much more comforting, much more easy for them to continue in service when they see that God is blessing them.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3551: “The Gospel in Power” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
A WORKMAN likes to see that he has been doing something. It is very dispiriting if he has spent much toil and can see no result. God's workmen by faith would continue still to labor, even if they saw nothing come of it, but it is much more comforting, much more easy for them to continue in service when they see that God is blessing them. Now it is not wrong for a Christian minister to speak about the conversions that have been worked under his ministry, for Paul says that he would have done so, only that others did it so constantly that there was no need of it. Paul, however, would not, under any circumstances, have done a wrong thing and, therefore, we gather that it is sometimes most allowable that we should see what has been done and should speak of it—and the more especially because if any good is done by any ministry, it is God that has done it—and all the glory is due to Him and to Him, alone! Not to speak of what God has done would be ingratitude. It might have a semblance of humility, but in reality it would be disloyalty to the Most High. Paul, therefore, did not hesitate to speak of his converts at Thessalonica and of their good character—and of the good fruit which they had borne and the way in which they had spread abroad the Gospel. He did not boast—he gave God the glory of it, but he did speak of what had been done. And we think we may do the same in any measure in which God shall bless our work—any one of us may tell of it to the praise and glory of God and to the encouragement of our fellow laborers. Now the Apostle in this passage tells us what God had done at Thessalonica. We will proceed at once, for our text is long—we will proceed at once to the handling of it. And you will note that he tells us, first, what he had preached at Thessalonica. Then how it had come to the people. And thirdly, what had been the result of this to themselves.
Ye were ensamples - Τοπους· Types, models, or patterns; according to which all the Churches in Macedonia and Achaia formed both their creed and their conduct.
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὥστε | hoste | so as for | G5620 → | 83 times |
| γενέσθαι | genesthai | to became | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| τύπον | tupon | an example | G5179 → | |
| πᾶσιν | pasin | to all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πιστεύουσιν | pisteuousin | believing [ones] | G4100 → | 237 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Μακεδονίᾳ | makedonia | Macedonia | G3109 → | 22 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἀχαΐᾳ. | achaia | Achaia. | G882 → |
ὥστεso as for
hosteG5620 →83 times
γενέσθαιto became
genesthaiG1096 →667 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
τύπονan example
tuponG5179 →
πᾶσινto all
pasinG3956 →1235 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
πιστεύουσινbelieving [ones]
pisteuousinG4100 →237 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ΜακεδονίᾳMacedonia
makedoniaG3109 →22 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
Ἀχαΐᾳ.Achaia.
achaiaG882 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Timothy 4:12Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
it leads to
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
- 2 Peter 1:5–8
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Titus 2:7
Through
Titus 2:7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Through
1 Peter 5:3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 34:4
You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.
- Ezekiel 34:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 3551: “The Gospel in Power” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Nicholas of Lyra, Commentary (church-history corpus); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.