1 Thessalonians 1

• Ancient letters started with the author's name, the names of the recipients, and a greeting.

• Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy started this church (Acts 17:1–9).

• grace and peace: The greeting summarizes the Christian's experience of the good news about Jesus.

We always thank God for all of you: This is the first of three times the apostle Paul gives thanks for the church (see 2:13; 3:9).

The apostle Paul first thanks God for the faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian Christians (1:2–3). Then he recalls how they heard the good news about Jesus (1:4–5), and how they accepted its message (1:6–10). Paul mentions these themes again in 2:1–12 and 2:13–16.

The apostle Paul was grateful because the Thessalonians showed loyal work, deeds of love, and steady hope (see 3:6; 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4).

Brothers: The Greek word adelphoi is a general term for family members, including both males and females.

God called the Thessalonians through the announcement of the good news about Jesus (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14). The Holy Spirit convinced the listeners that the message was true (1 Corinthians 2:4–5; 1 Peter 1:12).

The Thessalonians encountered great suffering from their peers because they accepted the good news about Jesus (2:14; 3:3–4). However, by following the example of the apostles and the Lord himself, they found the joy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:11–12; Romans 8:17; 12:12; Philippians 2:17; 1 Peter 4:13–14).

The Thessalonians' strong faith and proclamation of the good news about Jesus spread through Macedonia and Achaia.

Among the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), the apostles called people to turn away from false gods and worship the living and true God, who created all things (Acts 14:11–18; 17:22–31; 19:23–41). In a society where many religions existed side by side, it was unusual to ask people to abandon the gods worshiped by their families and communities (see Jeremiah 10:8–10; 1 Corinthians 8:4–6).

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead was central to the apostles’ preaching (4:14; Acts 2:32; 3:15; 10:40; 13:29–30; 1 Corinthians 15:3–8). It formed the basis for confidence in the return of Jesus (see 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10).