Chapter One
1 Thess. 1:1. Paul and Silvanus and Timothy –
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. But here the situation is different: Timothy had recently returned from Thessalonica, so he rightly places him alongside himself. But before Timothy he places Silvanus, probably because Timothy himself, out of humility, requested this, imitating his teacher Paul, who includes his disciples alongside himself. Here Paul does not call himself either an apostle or a servant, as he usually does in other epistles, because the Thessalonians were newly converted and had not yet come to know him closely. Therefore, it was not fitting to remind them of his dignity.
1 Thess. 1:1. Church of the Thessalonians
Though the Thessalonians were few in number and had not yet been closely united among themselves, he nevertheless calls them a church, encouraging them by the very name itself: since the name "church" for the most part signifies a multitude.
1 Thess. 1:1. In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Since there were both Greek and Jewish churches, he, distinguishing this church from those, says, which is "in God the Father." It is a great dignity to be "in God." For if someone is a slave of sin, he is not "in God." Note: the preposition "in" (εν) applies both to the Father and to the Son.
1 Thess. 1:1. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
He wishes for them that more and more they would advance in the gifts of God, but would also have peace, not being prideful before one another.
1 Thess. 1:2. We always thank God for all of you,
Immediately after the praise follows glory to God. For by thanking God for them, he shows that they have fulfilled everything by which God is glorified. But at the same time he also teaches humility, since everything is accomplished by God.
1 Thess. 1:2. remembering you in our prayers,
That he thanks God is a consequence of their virtues; and that he remembers them in his prayers is due to his love for them.
1 Thess. 1:3. Unceasingly remembering
Not only, he says, do I remember you in prayers, but also at every other time. This is proof of his fervent love.
1 Thess. 1:3. your work of faith
That is, your steadfastness. For the essence of faith is to stand firm, and not merely to boast of faith in words.
1 Thess. 1:3. and the labor of love
What labor is it to love? Simply to love is no labor; but to love truly is a great labor. For if someone endures all things for the sake of a beloved person, how is this not labor? And the Thessalonians indeed suffered much out of love for Paul, as can be seen from the book of Acts (Acts 17:5).
1 Thess. 1:3. and the patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
Much, he says, you endured in prolonged trials, and you endured, sustained by hope. For with full conviction you believed in the rewards prepared: since God allowed them at the beginning to undergo trials so that no one would say that the preaching was established simply and by flattery, but so that it would be evident that what was at work here was not human persuasion, but the power of God, subduing souls.
1 Thess. 1:3. before God and our Father,
One can understand this in two ways: either remembering before God and our Father; or understanding "the work of faith" which is before God. So do not think that you labor in vain; on the contrary, everything is before God, and He will render the reward.
1 Thess. 1:4. Knowing your election, brothers beloved by God;
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.