Bible Commentaries
1 Thessalonians 1

Verse 1

In God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ ; a form of expression abundantly employed by the apostle Paul, and full of deep meaning. It contains the idea that the life of churches, as of individual believers, has its ground in union and communion with the Father and the Son through faith.

Verse 3

Work of faith ; work which has faith for its source, and is therefore itself an exercise of faith. So the following expression, labor of love , is to be understood.

Patience ; the steadfast endurance of trials; an endurance sustained by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ ; or, more literally, hope of our Lord Jesus Christ; that is, the hope of his second coming in glory to receive his people to himself, which is made so prominent in the two epistles to the Thessalonians: verse 1Th 1:10 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:19 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:13 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 . The piety of believers and their activity in doing good awaken fervent gratitude in the ministers of Christ, and lead them to render hearty and devout thanksgiving to God.

Verse 4

Knowing-your election ; being chosen of God, of which their reception and treatment of the gospel were evidences.

Verse 5

In power , and in the Holy Ghost , and in much assurance ; the last clause of this verse shows that the immediate reference of these words is to the apostle and his associates. Their preaching was in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in full assurance of what they uttered. But this cannot be separated from the effect on their hearers. To them also their preaching was attended with the power of the Holy Ghost; it was embraced with full conviction of its truths, and led them to break off their sins and turn to the Lord. See verse 1 Thessalonians 1:6 .

Verse 6

Joy of the Holy Ghost ; that which he imparts. A cordial reception of the gospel, and devotion of heart and life to the service of Christ, are sure evidences of being elected, and the pledge of being kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

Verse 7

Macedonia and Achaia ; mentioned together as adjoining Roman provinces, comprising the whole of Greece. Achaia comprised the southern part of Greece, of which Corinth was the capital.

Verse 8

The word of the Lord ; as manifested in your lives. Verses 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 .

Verse 9

They themselves ; the persons named in the preceding verse among whom the word of the Lord sounded out.

What manner of entering in we had ; what power attended our preaching.

Verse 10

Christ is the cause of the deliverance of believers from the wrath to come. This they feel and acknowledge, and to him they give the glory.