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1 Thessalonians 1:8
8 For [gar] from [apo] you [humon] sounded out [execheomai] the word [logos] of the Lord [kurios] not [ou] only [monon] in [en] Macedonia [Makedonia] and [kai] Achaia, [Achaia] but [alla] also [kai] in [en] every [pas] place [topos] your [humon] faith [pistis] to [pros] God-ward [theos] is spread abroad; [exerchomai] so [hoste] that we [hemas] need [chreia] not [me] [echo] to speak [laleo] any thing. [tis] KJV-Interlinear
8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. NASB
Sounded forth, means the sound of a trumpet that is heard far and wide, and its sound echoes beyond the immediate place of the trumpet.
In other words, their Christian faith and daily activities were not spread abroad by means of missionary service, but simply became obvious and known as a matter of their daily activities.
Their Christian activities were voluntary in that they pursued them of their own volition. Likewise, their Christian activities were spread far and wide by involuntary means in that they were observed by travelers who came through the region, as well as observed by others when the locals traveled abroad.
So, without any attempt to bring attention to themselves, they were noticed. And thus the gospel of Christ and the message of the scriptures became known to others.
If you notice on a map, the region of Greece and Turkey were well situated for commerce and travel between Africa, Asia, Persia (Iran and India and beyond) and Europe. Tremendous traffic went through that region and as such, Christianity was spread throughout the world in a relatively short period of time.
Thessalonica became known near and far, not only for their trade, but for Christianity. And so much so that when Paul traveled, the reputation of the Thessalonians and Christianity was already known in the places he visited.
Note quickly, that this letter to the Thessalonians, may have been the first written letter of the New Testament. James may have been written in the late 40’s A.D., but that isn’t certain. Therefore, without any formal writings, other than the Old Testament scriptures. The news of Christ and the crucifixion was spread far and wide by word of mouth alone.
It was spread by the Apostles, by others who adopted Christianity as their faith, by hearsay, and general talk amongst travelers. And from that effort alone, Christianity spread rapidly. The remaining books of the New Testament were not formally assembled at the time of this writing (most did not even exist yet) and would not be assembled as a set of books for several hundred years.
By comparison, we have tremendous advantages over those folks, and certainly have no excuses with regard to our opportunity for advancement in our spiritual life.
The knowledge of doctrine and the Thessalonians preceded Pauls travels in his day. How much more so today, with regard to the awareness and availability of Christianity throughout the world. Folks today should be far more advanced in their spiritual lives than folks from the ancient world. And yet we are not. Why is that?
