1 Thessalonians 1:1-5

1: Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2: We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

3: constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 
4: knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
5: for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

*** 

Paul wrote this letter to the Thessalonians with Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy. These three were the founders of the church at Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4). Even though the account in Acts says the “reasoned” with the Jews for three Sabbaths, they must have stayed in Thessalonica for a while when they founded the church because we read that Paul worked for his own support (1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8) and received supplies more than once from Philippi (Philippians 4:16). The letter was written from Corinth during the winter 52-early 53.

They gave greetings and let them know of their thanks to God for them and their prayers for them. They did this while remembering their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfast hope in the Lord, knowing God’s choice of them. God chooses according to His foreknowledge. His desire is for all to be saved for He has predestined us to be conformed to the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29). He sanctifies those who respond to His call through the gospel (1 Peter 1:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)—the preaching of the Word accompanied with the drawing of the Father (John 6:44) and conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Paul and Co. knew of God’s love and desire for the Thessalonians because the gospel they preached was not just in word, but in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction. The power and conviction of the Holy Spirit accompanied the gospel preached to the Thessalonians. They received the Word joyfully and the church was established, though not without persecution.

Just as Paul knew God’s plan for them for salvation, the Thessalonians knew what kind of men they proved to be. Men that God moved through mightily for their sake, so they could hear the Word of God, experience the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit, believe, and be saved. Paul recounted this here in the opening statement, reminding them of how God moved to establish their church.



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