Daniel Veler Supporter

Your question: What does it mean the "gospel came to you in power" (1 Thess. 1:1-10)?

In verse 5, it says this. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance."

When Christ entered this world, he spoke the words that the Father had instructed him to utter. He did not speak on his own initiative. 

John 12:49: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”

Jesus not only spoke the words of his Father but also performed numerous miracles. 

Jesus tells the people:

John 10:37: “If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”

Then, we were blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. 

All three revelations to us demonstrate that the Gospel is not only conveyed through words but also through its power and the presence of the Holy Ghost.

I hope this helps.

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Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College & Dallas Seminary graduate, Pentair

Paul meant here a number of things by "gospel came to you in power" (1 Thessalonians 1:5). 

1. He meant that this gospel was his and his associates as he specifies this as "our gospel." (v. 5) Paul's associates were "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy" (1 Th 1:1).

2. It involved word but they were powerful words -- 1 Thessalonians 1:5
English Standard Version
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

3. "The spread of the gospel for Paul was directly linked to the authenticity of Christians (1 Thess 1:8; 2:13-16; 4:11; 5:12-22; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12). His joy in their examples of Christian integrity is clear (1 Thess 1:6-7)" --Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

4. What made the gospel powerful? The gospel came and still comes "in the Holy Spirit" -- He has to be behind it. Paul also mentions that the gospel came "in much assurance" (or "full conviction"). This "full assurance" is likewise a product of the Holy Spirit's work. Without the Spirit, the gospel is merely words; with the Spirit, the gospel becomes the "power of God" (see Rom. 1:16)

5. Later in the book, this book (1 Thessalonians) Paul would call this gospel which he is calling "our gospel" "the gospel of God" (First Thessalonians 2:8). See all the references that I can think of, of the "Gospel of God," Rom. 1:1; 15:16; 1 Thess. 2:8; 1 Tim. 1:11; 1 Pet. 4:17. bible.org I love this verse:

1 Thess. 2:8 "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us."

And the second time that Paul wrote this church at Thessalonica he says this in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 -- "To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul had begun that letter (this letter, this epistle) with the greeting, "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy" (2 Thess. 1:1). "to the church of the Thessalonians in God..."

The Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament has this at 1 Thess. 1:5 --

εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion)
Strong: G2098

GK: G2295

glad tidings, good or joyful news, Mt. 4:23; 9:35; the Gospel; doctrines of the Gospel, Mt. 26:13; Mk. 8:35; meton. The preaching of, or instruction in, the Gospel, 1 Cor. 4:15; 9:14

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