Passage Explorer

1 Thessalonians 1

Setting the scene
Who wrote it
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy
Who it was for
The church in Thessalonica
What was happening
Thanks for a young church whose faith is known everywhere, and what changed when they turned from idols
Read the full background in the book overview

What’s happening

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy write to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace and peace. They always give thanks to God for all of them, mentioning them in their prayers, "remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our God and Father." They know, brothers loved by God, that God chose them, because the gospel did not come to them "in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance," as they know what kind of men Paul and his friends were among them for their sake. They became imitators of Paul and of the Lord, receiving the word "in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit," so that they became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. From them the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place their faith toward God has gone out, so that Paul does not need to say anything: people themselves report what kind of welcome Paul had among them, and how they turned to God from idols, "to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come."

Why the setting matters

Thessalonica was the capital of Macedonia and a busy port on the Via Egnatia, the main road from Rome to the east, so news traveled quickly through it, which explains how their faith "sounded forth" (the word means a trumpet blast or echo). The church was young, perhaps only months old, and almost entirely made up of Gentiles who had worshipped the many gods of the city, including the emperor, which is why "turned to God from idols" is the heart of the summary. The three marks, "work of faith, labor of love, perseverance of hope," are Paul's early version of faith, hope, and love (also 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13). "Wait for his Son from heaven" introduces a theme that returns in every chapter: the Lord's return. The phrase "the wrath to come" is not described in detail, only that Jesus rescues from it. Notice that Paul speaks of God choosing them ("election"), based on how the gospel came with power, rather than as a puzzle to solve. Silvanus is the Silas of Acts, who was with Paul in Philippi and Thessalonica.

Read 1 Thessalonians 1 (World English Bible)

Who’s in this chapter

Paul

Writes with Silvanus and Timothy, giving thanks for them.

Silvanus

Named in the greeting; helped found the church.

Timothy

Named in the greeting.

The believers in Thessalonica

Known across Macedonia and Achaia for their faith.

The Lord Jesus

Raised from the dead, expected from heaven.

Talk it through

  1. Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians' "work of faith, labor of love, and perseverance of hope." What does each of the three look like in daily life?
  2. The gospel came "not in word only, but in power." What do you think Paul means by that?
  3. They turned to God "from idols, to serve a living and true God." What are the idols in a modern city?
  4. Paul says the Thessalonians welcomed the word "in much affliction, with joy." How can joy and affliction go together?

Read 1 Thessalonians 1

World English Bible

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 perseverance 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.

Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources