1 Thessalonians 1
10 verses
Paul's opening exuberance celebrates the Thessalonians as a model church whose gospel reception transcended mere verbal transmission—the word came not in word only but in power and the Holy Spirit and full conviction—demonstrating faith's inward transformation and persuasion by Spirit-empowered proclamation. Their turning from idols to serve the living God and to wait for his Son from heaven represents a comprehensive reorientation of allegiance from dead gods to the true God and from present orientation to eschatological hope. The designation Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath (the one who raised him from the dead) ties eschatological salvation to resurrection reality, making Jesus the sole deliverer from divine judgment anticipated in the eschaton. Paul's prayer of thanksgiving for their election and calling underscores that their faith-response participates in God's prior choice and the Holy Spirit's enablement, resolving the tension between divine sovereignty and human response through the power of the gospel working in them. Their suffering for the gospel in imitation of Paul becomes a participation in Christ's pattern, transmuting persecution into conformity to him. The chapter's eschatological excitement—their waiting (perimeno) for God's Son from heaven—sets the tone for the letter's persistent focus on Christ's parousia and the salvation it brings, establishing the Thessalonians' faithfulness under affliction as evidence of their firm hope in Christ's imminent return.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
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.
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2
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
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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;
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4
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
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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.
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6
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
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7
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
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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.
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Following God is costly, but the reward is eternal.. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative...
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;
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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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