BibleWord.ai›Bible›1 Thessalonians›Chapter 1

1 Thessalonians Chapter 1

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) 10 Verses

What is 1 Thessalonians 1 about?

Encouragement on Christian living, sanctification, and the coming of the Lord for his people. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;
3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;
4knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,
5how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and [in] much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.
6And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;
7so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.
9For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.
1 Thessalonians 2 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, etc.] These are the persons concerned in this epistle, and who send their greetings and salutations to this church; Paul was the inspired writer of it, and who is called by his bare name, without any additional epithet to it, as elsewhere in his other epistles; where he is either styled the servant, or apostle, or prisoner of Christ, but here only Paul: the reason for it is variously conjectured; either because he was well known by this church, having been lately with them; or lest these young converts should be offended and stumble at any pompous title, which they might imagine…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“ADDRESS: SALUTATION: HIS PRAYERFUL THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. THEIR FIRST RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL, AND THEIR GOOD INFLUENCE ON ALL AROUND. (Th1 1:1-10) Paul--He does not add "an apostle," because in their case, as in that of the Philippians (see on Phi 1:1), his apostolic authority needs not any substantiation. He writes familiarly as to faithful friends, not but that his apostleship was recognized among them (Th1 2:6). On the other hand, in writing to the Galatians, among whom some had called in question his apostleship, he strongly asserts it in the superscription. An undesigned propriety in…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus - On the reasons why Paul associated other names with his in his epistles, see the 1 Corinthians 1:1 note, and 2 Corinthians 2:1 note. Silvanus, or Silas, and Timothy were properly united with him on this occasion, because they had been with him when the church was founded there, Acts 17:0, and because Timothy had been sent by the apostle to visit them after he had himself been driven away; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2. Silas is first mentioned in the New Testament as one who was sent by the church at Jerusalem with Paul to Antioch (notes, Acts 15:22); and he afterward became his…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Paul - In this epistle St. Paul neither uses the title of an apostle, nor any other, as writing to pious and simple - hearted men, with the utmost familiarity. There is a peculiar sweetness in this epistle, unmixed with any sharpness or reproof: those evils which the apostles afterward reproved having not yet crept into the church. 1 Thessalonians 1:3”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“1:1 Ancient letters began with the name of the author, the name of the recipients, and a salutation. • Paul, Silas, and Timothy were the founders of this church (Acts 17:1-9). • The greeting grace and peace summarizes the believer’s experience of the Good News.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Silvanus: Act 15:27, Act 15:32, Act 15:34, Act 15:40, Act 16:19, Act 16:25, Act 16:29, Act 17:4, Act 17:15, Act 18:5, Silas, Co2 1:19; Th2 1:1; Pe1 5:12 Timotheus: Act 16:1-3, Act 17:14, Act 17:15, Act 18:5, Act 19:22, Act 20:4; Co2 1:1; Phi 1:1; Col 1:1; Ti1 1:2; Ti2 1:2; Heb 13:23 unto the: Co1 1:2; Gal 1:2 Thessalonians: Act 17:1-9, Act 17:11, Act 17:13 in God: Gal 1:22; Th2 1:1; Jo1 1:3; Jde 1:1 Grace: Rom 1:7; Eph 1:2 1 Thessalonians 1:2”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

1 Thessalonians overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

Sources and verification