1 Thessalonians 2:14

14 For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God's congregations in Y'hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua - you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who

1 Thessalonians 2:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Thessalonians 2:14

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God,
&c.] As of the Lord and of the apostle, ( 1 Thessalonians 1:6 ) so of the churches of God that were before them, who were gathered out of the world by the grace of God; and who were united in the fear of God, and assembled together for his worship, to bear a testimony to his truth and ordinances, and for the glory of his name: these they followed in the faith and order of the Gospel, and "became like" them, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions render the word; or "equal" to them, were upon an equal foot with them, as the Arabic; that is, in suffering reproach and persecution for the Gospel, as the latter part of the verse shows; and their bearing these with patience, courage, and constancy, was a proof that the word of God had a place, and wrought effectually in them; otherwise they would never have endured such things as they did, and as other churches did:

which in Judea are in Christ Jesus;
for besides the church at Jerusalem, there were many churches in Judea and Galilee; see ( Acts 9:31 ) ( Galatians 1:22 ) which shows that the primitive churches were not national, but congregational: and these were in Christ Jesus; "in the faith" of Jesus Christ, as the Arabic version renders it; which distinguishes them from the synagogues, or congregations of the Jews, which did not believe in Christ; (See Gill on 1 Thessalonians 1:1).

For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen;
the inhabitants of Thessalonica, the baser sort of them, who were stirred up by the unbelieving Jews of that place, to make an uproar in the city, and assault the house of Jason, in order to seize upon the apostles; see ( Acts 17:6 ) .

Even as they have of the Jews;
in like manner as the churches of Judea suffered by the Jews their countrymen; see ( Acts 8:1 Acts 8:3 ) ( Hebrews 10:32-34 ) .

1 Thessalonians 2:14 In-Context

12 we encouraged you and comforted you and appealed to you to lead lives worthy of God, who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.
13 Another reason we regularly thank God is that when you heard the Word of God from us, you received it not merely as a human word, but as it truly is, God's Word, which is at work in you believers.
14 For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God's congregations in Y'hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua - you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who
15 both killed the Lord Yeshua and the prophets, and chased us out too. They are displeasing God and opposing all mankind
16 by trying to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be delivered. Their object seems to be always to make their sins as bad as possible! But God's fury will catch up with them in the end.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.