1Paulo, G3972 Silvano G4610 e G2532 Timóteo, G5095 à igreja G1577 dos tessalonicenses G2331 em G1722 Deus G2316 Pai G3962 e G2532 no Senhor G2962 Jesus G2424 Cristo, G5547 graça G5485 e G2532 paz G1515 a vós outros. G5213 2Damos, G2168 sempre, G3842 graças G2168 G5719 a Deus G2316 por G4012 todos G3956 vós, G5216 mencionando-vos G4160 G5734 G3417 em G1909 nossas G2257 orações G4335 e, sem cessar, G89 3recordando-nos, G3421 G5723 diante G1715 do nosso G2257 Deus G2316 e G2532 Pai, G3962 da operosidade G2041 da vossa G5216 fé, G4102 da abnegação G2873 do vosso amor G26 e G2532 da firmeza G5281 da vossa esperança G1680 em nosso G2257 Senhor G2962 Jesus G2424 Cristo, G5547 4reconhecendo, G1492 G5761 irmãos, G80 amados G25 G5772 de G5259 Deus, G2316 a vossa G5216 eleição, G1589 5porque G3754 o nosso G2257 evangelho G2098 não G3756 chegou G1096 G5675 até G1519 vós G5209 tão-somente G3440 em G1722 palavra, G3056 mas, G235 sobretudo, G2532 em G1722 poder, G1411 no G1722 Espírito G4151 Santo G40 e G2532 em G1722 plena G4183 convicção, G4136 assim G2531 como sabeis G1492 G5758 ter sido G1096 G5675 o nosso procedimento G3634 entre G1722 vós G5213 e por amor de G1223 vós. G5209 6Com efeito, vos G5210 tornastes G1096 G5675 imitadores G3402 nossos G2257 e G2532 do Senhor, G2962 tendo recebido G1209 G5666 a palavra, G3056 posto que em G1722 meio de muita G4183 tribulação, G2347 com G3326 alegria G5479 do Espírito G4151 Santo, G40 7de sorte G5620 que vos G5209 tornastes G1096 G5635 o modelo G5179 para todos G3956 os crentes G4100 G5723 na G1722 Macedônia G3109 e G2532 na Acaia. G882 8Porque G1063 de G575 vós repercutiu G1837 G5769 a palavra G3056 do Senhor G2962 não G3756 só G3440 na G1722 Macedônia G3109 e G2532 Acaia, G882 mas G235 também G2532 por G1722 toda G3956 parte G5117 se divulgou G1831 G5758 a vossa G5216 fé G4102 para G4314 com Deus, G2316 a tal ponto G5620 de não G3361 termos G2192 G5721 necessidade G5532 de acrescentar G2980 G5721 G2248 coisa alguma; G5100 9pois G1063 eles G518 mesmos, G846 no tocante G4012 a nós, G2257 proclamam G518 G5719 que repercussão G3697 teve G2192 G5719 G5625 G2192 G5627 o nosso ingresso G1529 no G4314 vosso G5209 meio, G4314 e G2532 como, G4459 deixando G575 os ídolos, G1497 vos convertestes G1994 G5656 a G4314 Deus, G2316 para servirdes G1398 G5721 o Deus G2316 vivo G2198 G5723 e verdadeiro G228 10e G2532 para aguardardes G362 G5721 dos G1537 céus G3772 o seu G846 Filho, G5207 a quem G3739 ele ressuscitou G1453 G5656 dentre G1537 os mortos, G3498 Jesus, G2424 que G3588 nos G2248 livra G4506 G5740 da G575 ira G3709 vindoura. G2064 G5740
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 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. (
1Thess 1:1-10)
Paul--He does not add "an apostle," because in their case, as in that of the Philippians (see on
Phil 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 (
1Thess 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 the Epistles, evincing genuineness.
Silvanus--a "chief man among the brethren" (
Acts 15:22), and a "prophet" (
Acts 15:32), and one of the deputies who carried the decree of the Jerusalem council to Antioch. His age and position cause him to be placed before "Timothy," then a youth (
Acts 16:1;
1Tim 4:12). Silvanus (the Gentile expanded form of "Silas") is called in
1Pet 5:12, "a faithful brother" (compare
2Cor 1:19). They both aided in planting the Thessalonian Church, and are therefore included in the address. This, the first of Paul's Epistles, as being written before various evils crept into the churches, is without the censures found in other Epistles. So realizing was their Christian faith, that they were able hourly to look for the Lord Jesus.
unto the church--not merely as in the Epistles to Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, "to the saints," or "the faithful at Thessalonica." Though as yet they do not seem to have had the final Church organization under permanent "bishops" and deacons, which appears in the later Epistles (See on
Phil 1:1; 1 and 2 Timothy). Yet he designates them by the honorable term "Church," implying their status as not merely isolated believers, but a corporate body with spiritual rulers (
1Thess 5:12;
2Cor 1:1;
Gal 1:2).
in--implying vital union.
God the Father--This marks that they were no longer heathen.
the Lord Jesus Christ--This marks that they were not Jews, but Christians.
Grace be unto you, and peace--that ye may have in God that favor and peace which men withhold [ANSELM]. This is the salutation in all the Epistles of Paul, except the three pastoral ones, which have "grace, mercy, and peace." Some of the oldest manuscripts support, others omit the clause following, "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It may have crept in from
1Cor 1:3;
2Cor 1:2.
2 (
Rom 1:9;
2Tim 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" (
1Thess 1:3). Thus, "without ceasing," in the second clause, answers in parallelism to "always," in the first.
3 work of faith--the working reality of your faith; its alacrity in receiving the truth, and in evincing itself by its fruits. Not an otiose assent; but a realizing, working faith; not "in word only," but in one continuous chain of "work" (singular, not plural, works),
1Thess 1:5-10;
Jas 2:22. So "the work of faith" in
2Thess 1:11 implies its perfect development (compare
Jas 1:4). The other governing substantives similarly mark respectively the characteristic manifestation of the grace which follows each in the genitive. Faith, love, and hope, are the three great Christian graces (
1Thess 5:8;
1Cor 13:13).
labour of love--The Greek implies toil, or troublesome labor, which we are stimulated by love to bear (
1Thess 2:9;
Rev 2:2). For instances of self-denying labors of love, see
Acts 20:35;
Rom 16:12. Not here ministerial labors. Those who shun trouble for others, love little (compare
Heb 6:10).
patience--Translate, "endurance of hope"; the persevering endurance of trials which flows from "hope."
Rom 15:4 shows that "patience" also nourishes "hope."
hope in our Lord Jesus--literally, "hope of our Lord Jesus," namely, of His coming (
1Thess 1:10): a hope that looked forward beyond all present things for the manifestation of Christ.
in the sight of God and our Father--Your "faith, hope, and love" were not merely such as would pass for genuine before men, but "in the sight of God," the Searcher of hearts [GOMARUS]. Things are really what they are before God. BENGEL takes this clause with "remembering." Whenever we pray, we remember before God your faith, hope, and love. But its separation from "remembering" in the order, and its connection with "your . . . faith," &c., make me to prefer the former view.
and, &c.--The Greek implies, "in the sight of Him who is [at once] God and our Father."
4 Knowing--Forasmuch as we know.
your election of God--The Greek is rather, "beloved by God"; so
Rom 1:7;
2Thess 2:13. "Your election" means that God has elected you as individual believers to eternal life (
Rom 11:5,
Rom 11:7;
Col 3:12;
2Thess 2:13).
5 our gospel--namely, the Gospel which we preached.
came--Greek, "was made," namely, by God, its Author and Sender. God's having made our preaching among you to be attended with such "power," is the proof that you are "elect of God" (
1Thess 1:4).
in power--in the efficacy of the Holy Spirit clothing us with power (see end of verse;
Acts 1:8;
Acts 4:33;
Acts 6:5,
Acts 6:8) in preaching the Gospel, and making it in you the power of God unto salvation (
Rom 1:16). As "power" produces faith; so "the Holy Ghost," love; and "much assurance" (
Col 2:2, full persuasion), hope (
Heb 6:11), resting on faith (
Heb 10:22). So faith, love, and hope (
1Thess 1:3).
as ye know--answering to the "knowing," that is, as WE know (
1Thess 1:4) your character as the elect of God, so YE know ours as preachers.
for your sake--The purpose herein indicated is not so much that of the apostles, as that of God. "You know what God enabled us to be . . . how mighty in preaching the word . . . for your sakes . . . thereby proving that He had chosen (
1Thess 1:4) you for His own" [ALFORD]. I think, from
1Thess 2:10-12, that, in "what manner of men we were among you," besides the power in preaching, there is included also Paul's and his fellow missionaries' whole conduct which confirmed their preaching; and in this sense, the "for your sake" will mean "in order to win you." This, though not the sole, yet would be a strong, motive to holy circumspection, namely, so as to win those without (
Col 4:5; compare
1Cor 9:19-23).
6 And ye--answering to "For our Gospel,"
1Thess 1:5.
followers--Greek, "imitators." The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" (
1Thess 1:7) for others to imitate.
of the Lord--who was the apostle of the Father, and taught the word, which He brought from heaven, under adversities [BENGEL]. This was the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God (
1Thess 1:4);
1Thess 1:5 is the first (see on
1Thess 1:5).
received the word in much affliction-- (
1Thess 2:14;
1Thess 3:2-5;
Acts 17:5-
Acts 17:10).
joy of--that is, wrought by "the Holy Ghost." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was "anointed above His fellows" (
Ps 45:7), is the same oil with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too (
Isa 61:1,
Isa 61:3;
Rom 14:17;
1John 2:20,
1John 2:27).
7 ensamples--So some of the oldest manuscripts read. Others, "ensample" (singular), the whole Church being regarded as one. The Macedonian Church of Philippi was the only one in Europe converted before the Thessalonians. Therefore he means their past conduct is an ensample to all believers now; of whom he specifies those "in Macedonia" because he had been there since the conversion of the Thessalonians, and had left Silvanus and Timotheus there; and those in "Achaia," because he was now at Corinth in Achaia.
8 from you sounded . . . the word of the Lord--not that they actually became missionaries: but they, by the report which spread abroad of their "faith" (compare
Rom 1:8), and by Christian merchants of Thessalonica who travelled in various directions, bearing "the word of the Lord" with them, were virtually missionaries, recommending the Gospel to all within reach of their influence by word and by example (
1Thess 1:7). In "sounded," the image is that of a trumpet filling with its clear-sounding echo all the surrounding places.
to God-ward--no longer directed to idols.
so that we need not to speak any thing--to them in praise of your faith; "for (
1Thess 1:9) they themselves" (the people in Macedonia, Achaia, and in every place) know it already.
9 Strictly there should follow, "For they themselves show of you," &c.; but, instead, he substitutes that which was the instrumental cause of the Thessalonians' conversion and faith, "for they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you"; compare
1Thess 1:5, which corresponds to this former clause, as
1Thess 1:6 corresponds to the latter clause. "And how ye turned from idols to serve the living . . . God," &c. Instead of our having "to speak any thing" to them (in Macedonia and Achaia) in your praise (
1Thess 1:8), "they themselves (have the start of us in speaking of you, and) announce concerning (so the Greek of 'show of' means) us, what manner of (how effectual an) entrance we had unto you" (
1Thess 1:5;
1Thess 2:1).
the living and true God--as opposed to the dead and false gods from which they had "turned." In the English Version reading,
Acts 17:4, "of the devout Greeks a great multitude," no mention is made, as here, of the conversion of idolatrous Gentiles at Thessalonica; but the reading of some of the oldest manuscripts and Vulgate singularly coincides with the statement here: "Of the devout AND of Greeks (namely, idolaters) a great multitude"; so in
Acts 17:17, "the devout persons," that is, Gentile proselytes to Judaism, form a separate class. PALEY and LACHMANN, by distinct lines of argument, support the "AND."
10 This verse distinguishes them from the Jews, as
1Thess 1:9 from the idolatrous Gentiles. To wait for the Lord's coming is a sure characteristic of a true believer, and was prominent amidst the graces of the Thessalonians (
1Cor 1:7-8). His coming is seldom called his return (
John 14:3); because the two advents are regarded as different phases of the same coming; and the second coming shall have features altogether new connected with it, so that it will not be a mere repetition of the first, or a mere coming back again.
his Son . . . raised from the dead--the grand proof of His divine Sonship (
Rom 1:4).
delivered--rather as Greek, "who delivereth us." Christ has once for all redeemed us; He is our Deliverer ALWAYS.
wrath to come-- (
1Thess 5:9;
Col 3:6).
