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1 Thessalonians Chapter 1:1–10 Greetings, Thanksgiving & Prayer 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. Paul visited Thessalonica with Timothy and Silas on his second missionary journey and according to his custom went to the synagogue to preach the gospel. Some of the Jews believed and many Greeks responded, among them a number of prominent women (Acts 17:1–4). Paul first met up with Timothy and his family when he had fled to Derbe and Lystra and from then on he became one of his faithful travelling companions (Acts 16:1–3). It was when the contention broke out between Barnabas and Paul over taking John Mark along with them that Paul chose Silvanus (or Silas) to be his fellow worker (Acts 15:38–40). In his usual manner Paul commences his letter by praying that the believers would continue to know God's grace (undeserved favour) and true heart peace (‘wholeness of life’ - W. Barclay). These blessings of grace and peace come from God alone and we only receive them through the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul rightly refers to the church at Thessalonica as being in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for they had become part of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) along with every believer they had a personal relationship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ (John 17:23; 1 John 1:3)
1:2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly . Paul always gave thanks to God for all those who were in Christ as he does here for the Thessalonians and in other places (Romans 1:8; Colossians 1:4). He assures them that he does not forget them but continually prays for them.
Growing in Grace and Knowledge 1:3 Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Thessalonians had not remained as babes in Christ but had continually grown in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and had completely given themselves to serve him fervently and faithfully, being motivated by their love for Him. They remained steadfast in the hope that they had in the Lord Jesus Christ in spite of opposition and persecution.
1:4 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, The fact that they were continuing to go on with Christ and the work of regeneration was being done in their lives by the Holy Spirit confirmed that God had chosen them (Titus 3:5)
1:5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. Paul’s certainty of their salvation and the work being done in them came about because when he and those with him had preached the gospel message in Thessalonica it was accompanied with power, conviction and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Being first convicted of sin, and then having believed, receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, they received the full assurance of salvation. Yet it was not only the word of the gospel that brought such a response, but also the way that Paul and his companions lived amongst them according to the teachings and standards of that gospel.
1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit. The apostles’ example of sincere and godly living was now being followed by all who had received Christ as Saviour, and this was so despite the fact that it meant fierce persecution. By their sufferings, the believers at Thessalonica were following in the footsteps of the apostles and prophets who suffered for their faith (Hebrews 11:36–40), and of the Lord Jesus Christ himself who by his suffering left an example that we might follow in his steps (1 Pet 2:21). Jesus had warned His disciples that they would be persecuted for His name sake (Matthew 5:11; John 15: 20) and Paul always taught new converts that they would suffer trouble for their faith (Acts 14:22).
1:7 So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. By their faithfulness, courage, and patience in the face of persecution the Thessalonian believers had become an example to all the other believers throughout Greece.
The Powerful Effect of a Fervent Witness 1:8–9 For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything. For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God Such was the dramatic change brought about by the gospel in the lives of these Thessalonian believers, and such was their sincere commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, that their faith was being spoken of throughout all Macedonia and Achaia; indeed it seemed that wherever Paul went the new faith of the Thessalonians had become so well known that he had no need to inform people about it. The people in these regions kept talking about how the Thessalonians had received Paul and his companions but more importantly how they received
salvation through Jesus Christ, turning from the empty rituals of idol worship to serve the true and living God.
1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming. There was no half measure with these believers at all. They had believed the full gospel message and they preached that full gospel message: that Jesus Christ died for their sins and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day, he ascended into heaven and that he is coming back again. They were eagerly waiting for Christ’s return (Titus 2:13). This was always the message that Paul preached (1 Corinthians 15:3–4) and it is our responsibility as Christians to preach the same full gospel message as we wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come again.