1 Thessalonians 1:7 Commentary and Bible Study

The eleventh mark is in verse 7 – ‘So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.’ Ensamples – do you think that is an old-fashioned way of spelling example? No it is not. The apostle does not use a word in the Greek that simply means examples. He uses a stronger word which is correctly translated ensamples, though it is not a word in current use today. It means ‘patterns’, ‘dies’. You became precise patterns for other Christians. Oh that is a mark of their true conversion, their being among God’s elect. That they were people whose lifestyle and way of behaviour was a strong example to other churches and to other Christians, and they engaged in witness. Their lifestyle supported their witness. ‘For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia,’ but all around.