Atomic Bible

Macedonian city, site of an early Christian church

Thessalonica

Named in 11 verses across 5 books, first in Acts 17:1.

ΘεσσαλονίκηThessalonica

ΘεσσαλονικεύςThessalonian

Also called Thessalonian.

The name means “victory against the Thessalians.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Thessalonica Written by AI

Thessalonica was a major city in Macedonia, located on the Thermaic Gulf. It was an important commercial and political center during the Roman period. The apostle Paul visited Thessalonica during his second missionary journey, accompanied by Silas and Timothy (Act.17.1-9). Paul preached in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, reasoning from the Scriptures about Jesus as the Messiah. Some Jews and a large number of God-fearing Greeks, including prominent women, believed and joined Paul and Silas. However, jealous Jews formed a mob and caused an uproar in the city, accusing Paul and Silas of defying Caesar's decrees. The believers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. Despite the opposition, a strong church was established in Thessalonica. Paul later wrote two epistles to the Thessalonian church, addressing their concerns and encouraging them in their faith (1Thess. 1:1; 2Thess. 1:1). Thessalonica is also mentioned in connection with Paul's travels and ministry (Act.20.4; 27:2; Phil. 4:16; 2Tim. 4:10).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

A large and populous city on the Thermaic bay. It was the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia, and was ruled by a praetor. It was named after Thessalonica, the wife of Cassander, who built the city. She was so called by her father, Philip, because he first heard of her birth on the day of his gaining a victory over the Thessalians. On his second missionary journey, Paul preached in the synagogue here, the chief synagogue of the Jews in that part of Macedonia, and laid the foundations of a church (Acts 17:1-4; 1 Thes. 1:9). The violence of the Jews drove him from the city, when he fled to Berea (Acts 17:5-10). The “rulers of the city” before whom the Jews “drew Jason,” with whom Paul and Silas lodged, are in the original called politarchai, an unusual word, which was found, however, inscribed on an arch in Thessalonica. This discovery confirms the accuracy of the historian. Paul visited the church here on a subsequent occasion (20:1-3). This city long retained its importance. It is the most important town of European Turkey, under the name of Saloniki, with a mixed population of about 85,000.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

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Where the Bible names it

  1. Acts 17:1

    When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

  2. Acts 17:11

    Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

  3. Acts 17:13

    But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God in Berea, they went there themselves to incite and agitate the crowds.

  4. Acts 20:4

    Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

  5. Acts 27:2

    We boarded an Adramyttian ship about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.

  6. Philippians 4:16

    For even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs again and again.

  7. 1 Thessalonians 1:1

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.

  8. 1 Thessalonians 5:28

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

  9. 2 Thessalonians 1:1

    Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

  10. 2 Thessalonians 3:18

    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

  11. 2 Timothy 4:10

    because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.