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1 Thessalonians 1 - Concise Bible - Commentary

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1 Thessalonians 1

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.

Their Work of Faith

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.

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.

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1 Thessalonians 1

REMINISCENT

For the story of the founding of this church by Paul, examine Acts 17. We call the first section of the epistle the reminiscent part, because the apostle is referring to what had taken place in Thessalonica at that time.

It opens with the usual salutation 1Th 1:1, in which Silas and Timothy are named with Paul, not as co-writers, but co-workers with him when in that city, and so known to the church.

The thanksgiving follows, 1Th 1:2-4, in which is mentioned a triad of graces (1Th 1:3) that had been produced in these young Christians, testifying assuredly to their election of God (1Th 1:4).

Next comes a testimony to the church of the deepest interest (1Th 1:5-10). Through receiving the Word of God in the Holy Ghost, they had become imitators of Paul and of the Lord (1Th 1:6) to such an extent that all the saints throughout Greece were reaping a blessing from their lives (1Th 1:7).

Travelers passing from them to other parts, were carrying the news of what God had done for them, so that Paul’s own witness was made unnecessary (1Th 1:8). It was an evidence of his ministry among them as the result of which they had “turned to God from idols” (a “work of faith”); “to serve the living and true God” (a “labor of love”); and to wait for His Son from heaven” (“patience of hope”). The explanation of it all is found in 1Th 1:5.

The testimony to the church leads to a testimony about himself (1Th 2:1-16), not for his own praise, but the magnifying of the grace of God in him. In verse 5 of the previous chapter, he had shown that the wonderful result of the gospel among them was explained by the power of the Holy Ghost, with which it had been preached; and this power, in turn, was explained by the “manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Again, in 1Th 1:9, he referred to the “manner of entering in we had unto you,” while in chapter 2, he expatiates upon it. In other words, “the manner of man” he had been was expressed: (1) by courage and devotion (compare 1Th 2:1-2 with the story in Acts 16); (2) by faithfulness and impartiality. His preaching had not been of deceit (error), uncleanness, guile, flattery, covetousness, or vainglory. The gospel had been committed to him by God, as a sacred trust; and since to God he must give account of his stewardship, he ministered it not to please men but God, “which trieth our hearts” (1Th 2:3-6). (3) by kindness and affection. His gentleness was like that of a mother nursing her children (see RV). His affection was shown in the self- denying labor of tent-making in which he engaged to earn his living, that he might “not be chargeable” to them for his support (1Th 2:7-9). (4) in holiness and consistency of life (1Th 2:10-12). No wonder therefore that they received his message as the “Word of God” and not the word of men (1Th 2:13); nor that it should have effectually wrought in them as it did “in the churches of God in Judea” (1Th 2:14-16).

QUESTIONS

1. Have you read Acts 16-17 in connection with this lesson?

2. Why is this lesson called “Reminiscent”?

3. Why are Silas and Timothy named?

4. What triad of graces was seen in these young Christians?

5. How do you explain 1:7?

6. What is the theme of chapter 2?

7. How was Paul’s Christian character exhibited among the Thessalonians?

8. What was the result?




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Rights in the Authorized (King James) Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Published by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.
Cambridge Univ. Press & BFBS
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