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1 Thessalonians 1-2
1 Thessalonians 1
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
4We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
5and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.
6You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
7so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything.
9For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2
1For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn't in vain,
2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
3For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.
4But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
5For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
6nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.
9For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
10You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.
11As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
13For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.
14For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews;
15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn't please God, and are contrary to all men;
16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.
17But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
18because we wanted to come to you--indeed, I, Paul, once and again--but Satan hindered us.
19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn't it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
20For you are our glory and our joy.
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Affections: should be Set Upon the People of God 1 Thessalonians 2:8
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
Agency in Salvation of Men 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
All Christians should be As Missionaries in a Holy Example 1 Thessalonians 1:7
As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Appreciation 1 Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
Approval 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
Assurance is Abundant in the Understanding of the Gospel 1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
Assurance: Saints Privileged to Have of Their Election 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
Assurance: Saints Privileged to Have, of Their Election 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
Benedictions: Apostolic, Forms of 1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
Bigotry in Persecutions 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 16
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, / hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
Breastfeeding 1 Thessalonians 2:7
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
Call: To Special Religious Duty: All Who are Called of God 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12
For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— / encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Children: Fondness and Care of Mothers For 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children. / We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
Christian Conduct: Walking: Worthy of God 1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of 1 Thessalonians 2:3–12
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. / Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. / As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
Christian Minister: Duties of 1 Thessalonians 2:4–8, 10–12
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. / As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! / Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Christian Minister: Emoluments (Benefits) of 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 6, 9
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! / Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it. / Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Christian Minister: Love of, for the Ekklesia (The Body of Christ), Exemplified by Paul 1 Thessalonians 1:2–4
We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers / and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. / Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
Christian Minister: Promises To, Joys of 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 19, 20
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe. / After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? / You are indeed our glory and our joy.
Christian Minister: Success Attending: Paul 1 Thessalonians 1:5
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
Church: Christian, Divinely Established 1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
Church: List of Congregations of Christians: Thessalonica 1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
Church: The Wicked Persecute 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 15
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews, / who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
Conversion: Through the Instrumentality of Ministers 1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
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1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 Verses 1-5
As all good comes from God, so no good can be hoped for by sinners, but from God in Christ. And the best good may be expected from God, as our Father, for the sake of Christ. We should pray, not only for ourselves, but for others also; remembering them without ceasing. Wherever there is a true faith, it will work; it will affect both the heart and life. Faith works by love; it shows itself in love to God, and love to our neighbour. And wherever there is a well-grounded hope of eternal life, this will appear by the exercise of patience; and it is a sign of sincerity, when in all we do, we seek to approve ourselves to God. By this we may know our election, if we not only speak of the things of God with out lips, but feel their power in our hearts, mortifying our lusts, weaning us from the world, and raising us up to heavenly things. Unless the Spirit of God comes with the word of God, it will be to us a dead letter. Thus they entertained it by the power of the Holy Ghost. They were fully convinced of the truth of it, so as not to be shaken in mind by objections and doubts; and they were willing to leave all for Christ, and to venture their souls and everlasting condition upon the truth of the gospel revelation.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Verses 6-10
When careless, ignorant, and immoral persons are turned from their carnal pursuits and connexions, to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, the matter speaks for itself. The believers under the Old Testament waited for the coming of the Messiah, and believers now wait for his second coming. He is yet to come. And God had raised him from the dead, which is a full assurance unto all men that he will come to judgment. He came to purchase salvation, and will, when he comes again, bring salvation with him, full and final deliverance from that wrath which is yet to come. Let all, without delay, flee from the wrath to come, and seek refuge in Christ and his salvation.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 Verses 1-6
The apostle had no wordly design in his preaching. Suffering in a good cause should sharpen holy resolution. The gospel of Christ at first met with much opposition; and it was preached with contention, with striving in preaching, and against opposition. And as the matter of the apostle's exhortation was true and pure, the manner of his speaking was without guile. The gospel of Christ is designed for mortifying corrupt affections, and that men may be brought under the power of faith. This is the great motive to sincerity, to consider that God not only sees all we do, but knows our thoughts afar off, and searches the heart. And it is from this God who trieth our hearts, that we must receive our reward. The evidences of the apostle's sincerity were, that he avoided flattery and covetousness. He avoided ambition and vain-glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 Verses 7-12
Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honour, serve, and please God, and to seek to be worthy of him.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 Verses 13-16
We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to its holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. The words of men are frail and perishing, like themselves, and sometimes false, foolish, and fickle; but God's word is holy, wise, just, and faithful. Let us receive and regard it accordingly. The word wrought in them, to make them examples to others in faith and good works, and in patience under sufferings, and in trials for the sake of the gospel. Murder and persecution are hateful to God, and no zeal for any thing in religion can excuse it. Nothing tends more to any person or people's filling up the measure of their sins, than opposing the gospel, and hindering the salvation of souls. The pure gospel of Christ is abhorred by many, and the faithful preaching of it is hindered in many ways. But those who forbid the preaching it to sinners, to men dead in sin, do not by this please God. Those have cruel hearts, and are enemies to the glory of God, and to the salvation of his people, who deny them the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 Verses 17-20
This world is not a place where we are to be always, or long together. In heaven holy souls shall meet, and never part more. And though the apostle could not come to them yet, and thought he might never be able to come, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come; nothing shall hinder that. May God give faithful ministers to all who serve him with their spirit in the gospel of his Son, and send them to all who are in darkness