1 Thessalonians 1:2

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Thessalonians 1:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;
1 Thessalonians 1:2 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Thessalonians 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“We give thanks to God always for you all, etc.] For all the members of this church, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, greater or lesser believers, officers or private Christians; for their being a church, for the gifts bestowed on them, for the graces hereafter mentioned that were wrought in them and exercised by them; the glory of all which is given to God, and thanks for the same, which shows them to be gifts of his, and not in the least owing to any merits of men: the apostle ascribes nothing to their free will, previous dispositions and qualifications, diligence and industry; nor does he attribute anything to himself and to his companions, who were only ministers by whom these believed; but…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“(Rom 1:9; Ti2 1:3.) The structure of the sentences in this and the following verses, each successive sentence repeating with greater fulness the preceding, characteristically marks Paul's abounding love and thankfulness in respect to his converts, as if he were seeking by words heaped on words to convey some idea of his exuberant feelings towards them. We--I, Silvanus, and Timotheus. Rom 1:9 supports ALFORD in translating, "making mention of you in our prayers without ceasing" (Th1 1:3). Thus, "without ceasing," in the second clause, answers in parallelism to "always," in the first.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“We give thanks to God always for you all - see the notes, Romans 1:9. Making mention of you in our prayers - See the notes at Ephesians 1:16. It may be observed here: (1) That the apostle was in the habit of constant prayer. (2) That he was accustomed to extemporary prayer, and not to written prayer. It is not credible that “forms” of prayer had been framed for the churches at Thessalonica and Ephesus, and the other churches for which Paul says he prayed, nor would it have been possible to have adapted such forms to the varying circumstances attending the organization of new churches. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:2-10 After thanking God for the faith, love, and hope of the Thessalonian believers (1:2-3), Paul recalls how the Good News was proclaimed to them (1:4-5) and how they accepted its message (1:6-10). Paul returns to these themes in 2:1-12 and 2:13-16. 1:2 We always thank God for all of you is the first of three thanksgivings for the church (see 2:13; 3:9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Rom 1:8, Rom 1:9, Rom 6:17; Co1 1:4; Eph 1:15, Eph 1:16; Phi 1:3, Phi 1:4; Col 1:3; Plm 1:4 1 Thessalonians 1:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification