‘So that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia, for from you has sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith towards God has gone out so that we need not speak anything.'
The word tupos (example) meant originally the mark made by a blow (see John 20:25), then an impression made by a seal or die, and then an image generally (Acts 7:43) and then a pattern (Hebrews 8:5). Here the activity of Paul and his companions through the Holy Spirit had so wrought in the Thessalonians that they themselves became ‘images' of Paul, doing his work for him and proclaiming Christ in such a way that Paul's preaching was made unnecessary.
What a scintillating picture this is. A new born church so filled with zeal that they could not keep silent, and spreading throughout their locality and beyond, in spite of persecution, boldly and effectively proclaiming ‘the word of the Lord', and thus becoming an example not only to the world, but to many of their fellow Christians as well. Not all were preachers, but all spoke about Him wherever they went.
‘Sounded out.' The word could be used of a trumpet call or a roll of thunder. It emphasises the resounding nature of their witness. Note that the verb is in the perfect, ‘sounded out and are still sounding out'.
‘The word of the Lord.' A well known Old Testament description speaking of a God-given word coming directly from Him. And that was how they saw the words and work of Christ which they proclaimed.
‘In every place.' Not only in their own region or their neighbouring region, but far afield because they could not keep silent wherever they went.
‘Your faith towards God has gone out.' These men were living testimonies to the grace and power of God, revealed not only in their words but in their lives. Their faith towards the one living God was made abundantly apparent to all in their lives and witness.