1 Thessalonians 1

Greetings 1
Our word to you came with conviction 2
Imitators of us and the Lord; example to those in other places 6
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Text Comments
 1 ¶ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.   1 - Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus Paul must have dictated this letter. He did not add the description "an apostle" because he was well known to this church. Silvanus would have been Silas. Timotheus is Timothy. The two companions had been with him in Thessalonica. See ac1704, ac1714. The city was a seaport of Macedonia. See map.
  Grace and peace This was Paul's salutation for all his epistles except for the three pastoral ones: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus..
.2 ¶ We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
.3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
 4  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
.5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
  2 - Work of faith A continuous development 1th0105-10, ja0222, 2th0111.
  5 - Not ... in word only A good point to remember. We may speak to people about Christ, but only the Holy Spirit brings conviction.
.6 ¶ And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
 7  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
 8  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
 9  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
 10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
  6 - Followers of us Paul often talks this way (although this epistle has three authors v1). The church was very young. Perhaps Paul felt like he was their doctrinal identification v7.
  6 - Affliction ... joy Consider this combination noting the source of the joy.
  8 - They felt the responsibility of mission.
  9 - Probably more convincing than the words of the apostles.
  10 - Wait for his Son More in chapter 4 1th04.
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