1
Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy,
To
the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace
and peace to you.
Thanksgiving
for the Thessalonians’ faith
2
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your
labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus
Christ.
4
For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5
because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with
the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your
sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the
message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The
Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith
in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything
about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They
tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who
rescues us from the coming wrath.
Be thankful ... from Elim Missions
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We
always thank God for all of you ...
Have
you ever had one of those moments where you are just a little annoyed at
someone?
Though
this may not be good for my reputation I had such a moment last night! I had
what could be described as an attack of grumpiness. I know I'm sure you can
hardly believe it of me!
Then
I read this verse ahead of this morning. Hmm!
So
I did what Paul said he did. I decided to thank God for everyone I could think
of. I thanked God even for the people who are reading this today, for you.
After I had got through the thanking I had forgotten I was grumpy! It had
worked!
As
Paul thanked God for these Christians he remembered their faith, love and hope
and what these traits had accomplished.
As
Paul thanked God he remembered the past and his involvement with their lives.
As
Paul thanked God he remembered what God did for and through the people.
Now
I am hoping no one will be like I was. I hope you're not grumpy today. But
instead of whining about someone, thank God for them. In fact always thank God
for them. See what happens ...!
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Verses 2-5
I.
The apostle begins with thanksgiving to God. Being about to mention the things
that were matter of joy to him, and highly praiseworthy in them, and greatly
for their advantage, he chooses to do this by way of thanksgiving to God, who
is the author of all that good that comes to us, or is done by us, at any time.
God is the object of all religious worship, of prayer and praise. And
thanksgiving to God is a great duty, to be performed always or constantly; even
when we do not actually give thanks to God by our words, we should have a
grateful sense of God’s goodness upon our minds. Thanksgiving should be often
repeated; and not only should we be thankful for the favours we ourselves
receive, but for the benefits bestowed on others also, upon our fellow-creatures
and fellow-christians. The apostle gave thanks not only for those who were his
most intimate friends, or most eminently favoured of God, but for them all.
II.
He joined prayer with his praise or thanksgiving. When we in every thing by
prayer and supplication make our requests known to God, we should join
thanksgiving therewith, Phil. 4:6. So when we give thanks for any benefit we
receive we should join prayer. We should pray always and without ceasing, and
should pray not only for ourselves, but for others also, for our friends, and
should make mention of them in our prayers. We may sometimes mention their
names, and should make mention of their case and condition; at least, we should
have their persons and circumstances in our minds, remembering them without
ceasing. Note, As there is much that we ought to be thankful for on the behalf
of ourselves and our friends, so there is much occasion of constant prayer for
further supplies of good.
III.
He mentions the particulars for which he was so thankful to God; namely,
1.
The saving benefits bestowed on them. These were the grounds and reasons of his
thanksgiving. (1.) Their faith and their work of faith. Their faith he tells
them (1 Thess. 1:8) was very famous, and spread abroad. This is the radical
grace; and their faith was a true and living faith, because a working faith.
Note, Wherever there is a true faith, it will work: it will have an influence
upon heart and life; it will put us upon working for God and for our own
salvation. We have comfort in our own faith and the faith of others when we
perceive the work of faith. Show me thy faith by thy works, Jas. 2:18. (2.)
Their love and labour of love. Love is one of the cardinal graces; it is of
great use to us in this life and will remain and be perfected in the life to
come. Faith works by love; it shows itself in the exercise of love to God and
love to our neighbour; as love will show itself by labour, it will put us upon
taking pains in religion. (3.) Their hope and the patience of hope. We are
saved by hope. This grace is compared to the soldier’s helmet and sailor’s
anchor, and is of great use in times of danger. Wherever there is a
well-grounded hope of eternal life, it will appear by the exercise of patience;
in a patient bearing of the calamities of the present time and a patient
waiting for the glory to be revealed. For, if we hope for that we see not, then
do we with patience wait for it, Rom. 8:25.
2.
The apostle not only mentions these three cardinal graces, faith, hope and
love, but also takes notice, (1.) Of the object and efficient cause of these
graces, namely, our Lord Jesus Christ. (2.) Of the sincerity of them: being in
the sight of God even our Father. The great motive to sincerity is the
apprehension of God’s eye as always upon us; and it is a sign of sincerity when
in all we do we endeavour to approve ourselves to God, and that is right which
is so in the sight of God. Then is the work of faith, or labour of love, or
patience of hope, sincere, when it is done under the eye of God. (3.) He mentions
the fountain whence these graces flow, namely, God’s electing love: Knowing,
brethren beloved, your election of God, 1 Thess. 1:4. Thus he runs up these
streams to the fountain, and that was God’s eternal election. Some by their
election of God would understand only the temporary separation of the
Thessalonians from the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles in their conversion; but
this was according to the eternal purpose of him who worketh all things
according to the counsel of his own will, Eph. 1:11. Speaking of their
election, he calls them, brethren beloved; for the original of the brotherhood
that is between Christians and the relation wherein they stand one to another
is election. And it is a good reason why we should love one another, because we
are all beloved of God, and were beloved of him in his counsels when there was
not any thing in us to merit his love. The election of these Thessalonians was
known to the apostles, and therefore might be known to themselves, and that by
the fruits and effects thereof—their sincere faith, and hope, and love, by the
successful preaching of the gospel among them. Observe, [1.] All those who in
the fulness of time are effectually called and sanctified were from eternity
elected and chosen to salvation. [2.] The election of God is of his own good
pleasure and mere grace, not for the sake of any merit in those who are chosen.
[3.] The election of God may be known by the fruits thereof. [4.] Whenever we
are giving thanks to God for his grace either to ourselves or others, we should
run up the streams to the fountain, and give thanks to God for his electing
love, by which we are made to differ.
3.
Another ground or reason of the apostle’s thanksgiving is the success of his
ministry among them. He was thankful on his own account as well as theirs, that
he had not laboured in vain. He had the seal and evidence of his apostleship
hereby, and great encouragement in his labours and sufferings. Their ready
acceptance and entertainment of the gospel he preached to them were an evidence
of their being elected and beloved of God. It was in this way that he knew
their election. It is true he had been in the third heavens; but he had not
searched the records of eternity, and found their election there, but knew this
by the success of the gospel among them (1 Thess. 1:5), and he takes notice
with thankfulness, (1.) That the gospel came to them also not in word only, but
in power; they not only heard the sound of it, but submitted to the power of
it. It did not merely tickle the ear and please the fancy, not merely fill
their heads with notions and amuse their minds for awhile, but it affected
their hearts: a divine power went along with it for convincing their
consciences and amending their lives. Note, By this we may know our election,
if we not only speak of the things of God by rote as parrots, but feel the
influence of these things in our hearts, mortifying our lusts, weaning us from
the world, and raising us up to heavenly things. (2.) It came in the Holy
Ghost, that is, with the powerful energy of the divine Spirit. Note, Wherever
the gospel comes in power, it is to be attributed to the operation of the Holy
Ghost; and unless the Spirit of God accompany the word of God, to render it
effectual by his power, it will be to us but as a dead letter; and the letter
killeth, it is the Spirit that giveth life. (3.) The gospel came to them in
much assurance. Thus did they entertain it by the power of the Holy Ghost. They
were fully convinced of the truth of it, so as not to be easily shaken in mind
by objections and doubts; they were willing to leave all for Christ, and to
venture their souls and everlasting condition upon the verity of the gospel
revelation. The word was not to them, like the sentiments of some philosophers
about matters of opinion and doubtful speculation, but the object of their
faith and assurance. Their faith was the evidence of things not seen; and the
Thessalonians thus knew what manner of men the apostle and his fellow-labourers
were among them, and what they did for their sake, and with what good success.
The Bible Panorama
1 Thessalonians 1
V 1: GRACE Paul, along
with Silvanus and Timothy, greets the Thessalonian church. Again, he wishes
them God’s grace and peace.
V 2–3:
GRATITUDE Paul always gives thanks to God for them and prays for them. It
is the outworking of the gospel through their faith, and through their love and
patience, which causes him to thank God. Not only do they have faith, but they
have a certain hope for the future in Christ.
V 4–6:
GOSPEL The fact that they are elect is shown by the way the gospel came in
power to them through the Holy Spirit. Contributing, under God’s grace, to the
conversion of the Thessalonians was the clear testimony of Paul and his companions.
Now they follow their example, having received God’s word in difficult
circumstances though with joy given by the Holy Spirit.
V 7–10:
GODLINESS
The evidence of their conversion is that they have heralded the gospel by godly
lives and by sharing the message. Their idols have gone. They have turned from
them to God. This is widely known, as is their confidence in Christ’s second
coming, the resurrection, and deliverance from eternal wrath. Here are people
whose repentance is shown through their rejection of idolatry, evangelistic
zeal and their understanding of good doctrine.
Dictionary of Bible Themes
7760 preachers, responsibilities of
Those
entrusted with the responsibility of preaching are to discharge it faithfully,
boldly and persistently in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian
community should honour faithful preachers and challenge those who fail to
honour their responsibility.
The
responsibilities of preachers
They
must be diligent in their preaching 2Ti 2:15 See also 1Ti 4:13-16; 2Ti 4:1-5
They
must be faithful in their preaching Ac 20:20 See also Jer 26:1-2; Jer 42:4; Ac
20:25-27
They
must be persistent in their preaching 2Ti 4:1-5 See also Ac 18:4-6; Ac 20:31;
1Th 2:1-2
They
must be bold in their preaching Ac 28:31 See also Jer 26:7-15; Am 7:10-17; Ac
4:18-20; Ac 5:27-29; Ac 14:1-3
They
must be encouraging in their preaching Ac 14:21-22 See also Ac 15:32; 1Co
14:3-5; 1Th 2:11-12; 2Ti 4:2
They
must be filled with the Holy Spirit Ac 1:8; 1Co 2:4 See also Ac 4:31-33; 1Th
1:5; 1Pe 1:12
They
must be compassionate in their preaching Mk 6:34 See also Mt 9:35-38
The
responsibilities of the church towards preachers
Faithful
preachers should be honoured 1Ti 5:17 See also Mt 13:53-57 pp Mk 6:2-4; Lk
10:3-8; Heb 13:7
Unfaithful
preachers are to be exposed and will be judged Gal 1:6-9 See also Jer 14:14-16;
Eze 13:1-23; 1Ti 1:3-4; 1Ti 4:1-7; Tit 1:10-11; 2Pe 2:1-3; Rev 2:14-16,20-23
The
responsibilities of preachers
1. They must be diligent in their preaching
1
Timothy 4:13-16New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
13
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching
and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through
prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone
may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in
them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
2. They must be
faithful in their preaching
Acts
20:20-28New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
20
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to
you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to
both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in
our Lord Jesus.22 ‘And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,
not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the
Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I
consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and
complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the
good news of God’s grace.
25
‘Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom
will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent
of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the
whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the
Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God,[a] which
he bought with his own blood.[b]
3. They must be persistent in their preaching
Acts
20:32New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
32
‘Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up
and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
4. They must be
bold in their preaching
Acts
28:28-31New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
28
‘Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the
Gentiles, and they will listen!’ [a] 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there
in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed
the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness
and without hindrance!
5. They must be encouraging in their preaching
Acts
14:21-24New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
The
return to Antioch in Syria
21
They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then
they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples
and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many
hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas
appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,
committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going
through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia,
Yours
by His Grace for the sake of His Gospel, His Church and His Kingdom
Blair
Humphreys
Southport, Merseyside,
England.
