(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2003) De Villiers, P. G. R.
English: In this article the author analyses 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 in order to illuminate missiological
activities of Pauline Christianity. Paul is often regarded as the zealous
missionary who took the rural, Palestinian gospel of Jesus to key cities in the Roman
Empire and thus contributed decisively to the founding of Christianity. Information
in this passage gives a more balanced picture of Pauline mission, illuminating its
corporate nature, its outward nature and its expectations that converts should become
actively involved in spreading the word in a life-embracing manner.