Thessalonians 1

Read background from my Spirit-Filled Bible

Greeting

1 Thess 1:1-

1 Thessalonians 1:1–3 NKJV

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church 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. 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, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

1 Thessalonians 1:1–2 NKJV

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church 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. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

I want to highlight the word “church” here. I’ve repeatedly said that the word used for church, ekklesia was a governmental body, a gathering of generals and citizens of legal age that decided on laws and courses of military action for city-states, a “socio-political entity based upon citizenship in a city-state” or a “political national assembly.” But what I discovered in starting this study is that it referred to a group of Christians that had “INTERACTING MEMBERSHIP” and an “assembly of persons constituted by a well-defined membership.” It’s also important to note that it could apply to house churches.

Interact means “to act upon one another.” This implies that our lives as individuals is to be so connected to one another that we influence one another, comfort one another, challenge one another, and are so interactive that for one to be “out of commission” feels like our family isn’t complete. There’s a distinct feeling of “being incomplete.”

Belonging to an ekklesia locally isn’t a passive exercise once a week; it’s a knitting together of hearts.

And this is why church-hopping isn’t Biblical. God designed the ekklesia to be a family of believers centered around God. Our interaction with God was never meant to be apart from interaction with one another.

Thanks Always and Making Mention

The idea of thanks is gratitude for the benefits and blessings one gives. In this case, Paul is very grateful for the Thessalonica church and so at every occasion (always), he expresses his gratitude for them to God.

He also “makes mention” of them in his prayers. The word “makes” is the same idea of “making something a practice.” Mention according to the NT understanding “is bound up with a specific proclamation and action” meaning it’s always tied to someone or something that evokes an action and proclamation. In other words, it’s not a passive thinking of someone; it’s a thinking of someone and then specific action and proclamation.

Here it refers to the fact that Paul mentions their names before God while he’s interceding every time he thinks of his congregations as part of his calling as an apostle. It also “sets all human relations under the grace of God” meaning that because he prays for them, his interactions with them will be infused with grace or the empowerment for change. It also keeps him as a minister from operating in human understanding or out of the soul.

“Our prayers” is referring to the fact that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy prayed together. Remember, they wrote this letter as a group not just Paul. I love this. Even though, Paul is the main apostle and founder of this church, he relies heavily on his companions in the ministry. He sees the three of them as a church-planting team. Ministry was never intended to be a one-man show. It takes a group, even if just two or three, to fulfill the purposes of God in ministry.

Prayers means “to speak to or to make requests of God.” It does not mean “to recite.” It can encompass anything that is God’s will like material blessing, spiritual help and transformation, intercession for others, thanksgiving and praise. The main idea is that you’re speaking to not at a Person. And this of and in itself requires listening for His response.

Listen to these two verses in TPT:

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 1

From Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We send our greetings to you, the congregation of believers in Thessalonica, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God’s delightful grace and peace rest upon you.

2 We are grateful to God for your lives and we always pray for you.

First, let’s visit the word “church” again. TPT says:

“The Greek word ekklēsia is best translated in this context as “congregation.” It means “called-out ones.” In Greek culture the ekklēsia were members of society who were given the duties of legislating on behalf of a city, similar to a city council. They were both “called out” and “called together” to function as those who have the responsibilities of shaping societal norms and the morality of culture.”

Simmons, B. (Trans.). (2017). The Passion Translation: New Testament. BroadStreet Publishing.

The Mirror Bible refers to “those who disocvered their original indentity redeemed in Christ.” Ek is “out of” and kaleo is “to surname.” We are those identified by His name and we are to “persuade the world of their true sonship: the son of man is the son of God!”

Second the word grace is charis and “the usage of charis (grace) in ancient classical Greek carries the connotation of something that awakens joy and pleasure. The Greek concept of grace imparts delight, often attached to a strong emotional element. Paul uses the term grace as a joyous delight that rests upon the people of God (Thomas F. Torrance, The Doctrine of Grace in the Apostolic Fathers, 1–2).”

The usage of charis (grace) in ancient classical Greek carries the connotation of something that awakens joy and pleasure. The Greek concept of grace imparts delight, often attached to a strong emotional element. Paul uses the term grace as a joyous delight that rests upon the people of God (Thomas F. Torrance, The Doctrine of Grace in the Apostolic Fathers, 1–2).

Simmons, B. (Trans.). (2017). The Passion Translation: New Testament. BroadStreet Publishing.

His joyous delight rests on us, and we give Him joyous delight when we’re living in pursuit of Him and His will. It’s also true that for the minister, those who are pursuing the Lord always give delight to the minister.

1 Thessalonians 1:3–4 NKJV

3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 NKJV

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

There were three things that created a constant recalling and mentioning of this church in conversation and prayer (similar to “making mention” above):

Your work of faith. The word “work” denotes ACTION OR ACTIVE ZEAL IN CONTRAST TO IDLENESS. It’s also “USEFUL activity in contrast to useless busy-ness.” He calls this work “of faith.” , “…This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” You can sum this up as “how you put your faith into practice.” Their faith in Jesus motived them to USEFUL ACTION that was impacting each other and their community.

Labor of love. Labor is “to engage in hard work, implying difficulties and trouble—hard work, toil, to work hard, to toil, to labor.” In secular Greek it meant “beating, weariness as though one had been beaten, and the exertion or trouble which causes this state.” It referred to “physical tiredness induced by work, exertion, and heat. It’s tense or strenuous effort like a soldier in battle. In the Biblical idea it referred “the physical and spiritual weariness of the afflicted” and “the confessing community which has not fainted under assault.” Remember that Paul was ran out of Thessalonica by the Jews. I’m sure the believers also experienced persecution and yet out of their love for Jesus and active zeal in Him, they did not faint. The Passion states “…how your love motives you to serve others.”

Patience of hope. Patience is one of two Greek words that refers “to standing still under difficult circumstances.” It’s to endure, to stand firm against hostile attacks, to remain first.” You’re not just sitting there passively waiting for attacks but actively resisting discouragement and defying evil. One definition is “active and energetic resistance to hostile power.” How were they able to actively resist? Hope. It means “to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial.” It is an expectation. We know that persecution for one’s faith will never cease until the return of the Lord; therefore, our hope is in His future return but also effectiveness here on earth until then.

The Passion Translation: New Testament

Paul mentions the three invaluable qualities of a believer’s life: faith, love, and hope. The Thessalonians put their faith into practice by turning away from all that was false (v. 9). They demonstrated their motive of love by serving God and others (v. 9). And they lived with undying hope that was centered upon the future appearing of Christ (v. 10).

I want to dig further into the power of hope, but before that, listen to this last bit in the Mirror Bible, “…in whom we enjoy the immediate presence of our Papa God.” As Holy Spirit instructed us, we must know that Father is GOOD all of the time. He withholds nothing good from us. He gives us every good and perfect gift. He delights in us. This is an anchor for us in difficult times. If we doubt that, we can become offended, discouraged, and pull away from our faith.

DIG FURTHER INTO HOPE.