I Thessalonians 1 · The Lantern

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Two made a symphony, Paul and Sosthenes, when writing the first epistle to the Corinthians. After this Paul and Timothy sang in harmony when they wrote their second letter to the same church. And even three made a symphony when Paul and Silvanus and Timothy gave instruction by letter to the Thessalonians.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians places Timothy alongside himself. Meanwhile, in the Epistle to the Ephesians he does not do this, even though Timothy was known to them. It seems to me this is because he intended to send him to the Ephesians immediately, which is why it was unnecessary to write the epistle on behalf of someone who was to deliver it.

Here he begins this letter to the Thessalonians, though mentioning three of them, but they greet this congregation as if it was coming from one writer.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,

"Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election, how that our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves among you for your sake." Knowing what? How "we showed ourselves among you"? Here he also touches upon his own good actions, but covertly.

He says, we remember you because we know that you are chosen by God: for you have been chosen for the faith preferentially over many others. But how is this evident, holy Paul? Listen, he says, to what follows next.

Then when Paul says, "For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you," he recalls their blessings in particular matters. First, he congratulates them for having received the gospel devoutly and willingly in spite of tribulations; secondly, Paul congratulates them because they did not fall away from the gospel in time of trial (2:1).

how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

In order to indicate that he showed all humility among the Thessalonians and in order to adopt a gentle approach in dealing with them, Paul makes it clear that none of the powerful means by which they have been brought to faith is lacking. His preaching was accompanied by signs and wonders and was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

For you know, he says, how you came to be chosen (that is, how you arrived at faith), for you did not believe solely by means of our words. Indeed, we not only spoke but also showed wonders, great and glorious and worked by the Spirit, by which you were strengthened with regard to the things we had spoken to you.

That is, through our preaching. has not been among you in word alone, but also in power that is, it has also come by the power of divine miracles.

And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;

Those who, eager to believe, suffer insults and injuries from their fellows, are precisely those who may be called imitators of the apostles and of the Lord himself. He suffered the same things from the Jews, as did the apostles who endured persecution as they pursued their faith in God.

He strengthens them both by praise and by reminding them that they did not fall behind him in dangers. See what praise — to become imitators of the teacher at once, and not only of him, but also of the Lord! How then did they become "imitators of the Lord"?

you became imitators of us and of the Lord Imitating, that is, in faith and morals. Or CHRYS they were imitators of the Lord because He also endured many sufferings, but rejoiced.

so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

"For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth." As a sweet-smelling ointment keeps not its fragrance shut up in itself, but diffuses it afar, and scenting the air with its perfume, so conveys it also to the senses of the neighbors; so too illustrious and admirable men do not…

Your goodness was added to this, for the word of the Lord sounded forth from you, that is, the Lord has been preached; in other words, your fame was diffused not only in Macedonia and Achaia, who are your neighbors, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, that is, a faith which God accepts, which joins you to God, and which is edifying everywhere: "Your faith is procla…

For from you, the Word of the Lord was spread Because of them the word of God has spread, so many who were previously silent from fear were made bold by their example, and preached openly and in many places. not only in Macedonia and in Achaia who are their neighboring locations

For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.

"And to wait," he says, "for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivereth us from the wrath to come." "And to wait," he says, "for His Son from heaven"; Him that was crucified, Him that was buried; to wait for Him from heaven. And how "from heaven"?

Since those who serve Him deserve a reward, and because this is the case with the Thessalonians, it remains for them to expect a reward; so Paul says to them, "to wait for his Son," that is, God, descending from heaven. "Be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the marriage feast" (Lk. 12:36). "Blessed are all those who wait for him" (Is. 30:18).

Jesus, who has rescued us from the approaching wrath that is the punishment of Gehenna.

I Thessalonians1