“And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8).
Macedonia was a regional area in the northern portion of Greece while Achaia was located to the south. Those who are familiar with the New Testament Scriptures may recognize the names of several congregations that met in the cities of Macedonia, including Philippi and Berea as well as Thessalonica. Two of the better-known Biblical cities in Achaia were Corinth (through its association with the New Testament letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians) and Athens.
Given the size of these areas and the limits of first-century communication, it is remarkable to see the impact that the Christians of Thessalonica had upon those who lived beyond their boundaries. This undoubtedly provided a great deal of satisfaction for Paul the Apostle as evidenced by the following comment: “…wherever we go we find people telling us about your remarkable faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep telling us…” (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 TLB).
In this, the members of the Thessalonian church community provide us with a good example to follow. Much like the work of an engraver upon the surface of a precious metal, the example of our lives often leaves an impression upon others. For instance, that impact might extend to friends, co-workers, family members, business associates, online acquaintances, and even those who are outside our direct circle of influence. In today’s era of high speed internet access, that same influence might extend well beyond traditional geographic boundaries to include thousands (or millions) of others.
Much like these members of the church at Thessalonica, every man or woman of God serves as an example to others. The question is, what kind of example do we offer? In the words of one commentary…
“Paul saw the Thessalonians as amplifiers or relay stations that not only received the gospel message but sent it farther on its way with increased power and scope. Paul’s preaching in Thessalonica had the effect of speaking into a public address microphone; his words were received and repeated by many different “speakers” in many remote places where his unaided voice could not have reached.” (1)
(1) Bible Knowledge Commentary, note on 1 Thessalonians 1:8 pg. 692