Free Bible Commentary
“1 Thessalonians 1:1-7”
Categories: 1 Thessalonians“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia."
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I am struck by Paul’s heart-felt love for each of these brethren individually as he gave “thanks to God always for all of” them (verse 2). He played a pivotal part in the conversion of most if not all of the Christians he wrote this letter to, and he was not about to let them fend for themselves after their new birth in Christ. He was forced to leave the city shortly after the establishment of the church there, but he sent Timothy back to help them in their spiritual growth, and he personally, continually and earnestly prayed to God on their behalf.
Paul gives mention to the blessed triad of “faith, hope and love” in verse 3. He actually lists these virtues in a more logical order here, however. Their “faith” looked back to what God had done in sending His Son to save them; their “love” was a present, positive and active (labor) response to Jesus’ sacrifice and invitation; and their “hope” looked forward to His return to take them home in glory. Their eternal hope produced in them a “steadfast” or “patient” endurance for any trial and “tribulation” (verse 6) that this world may have forced them to suffer.
Paul also pays tribute to the Holy Trinity by invoking the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in verses 3 and 5. Living in a polytheistic society, Paul regularly stressed the nature of the true God of heaven that we serve. Our God, He is one Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4), consisting of three individual personalities. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equally eternal and powerful, equal in nature and essence, and united in holiness and purpose.
The brethren in Thessalonica “received the word in much tribulation,” and yet the truth and the hope revealed by the Holy Spirit produced a “joy” within them that was both glorious and inexpressible (1 Peter 1:8). The awesome God of love that we serve in faith is the God of everlasting hope!
Please read 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 for tomorrow.
Blessings!
- Louie Taylor
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