1 Thessalonians 1

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

• Papyrus 46 (c. 200)
• Papyrus 65 (3rd century)
• Codex Vaticanus (325–350)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330–360)
• Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
• Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450; extant verses 2–10)
• Codex Freerianus (c. 450; extant verses 1–2, 9–10)
• Codex Claromontanus (c. 550)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[3]

The senders are named here and also later in 1 Thessalonians 3:1–10.[2] Paul does not call himself an "apostle" here, as he does in other letters such as the Letter to the Romans.[4] Wilhelm de Wette and Henry Alford suggest that this is "because his Apostleship needed not any substantiation to the Thessalonians".[5] Some writers argue that Paul "omitted his apostolic title out of modesty", suggesting either modesty towards the Thessalonians (John Chrysostom and others), or towards Silvanus and Timothy (Huldrych Zwingli, Pott and others).[6]

The recipient is "the church" or "congregation" (Greek: τη εκκλησια, tē ekklēsia) "of the Thessalonians (which is) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". Philip Esler, a theologian who applies social identity theory in his interpretation of the New Testament writings, suggests that

With this expression, in the very first verse, Paul inaugurates the issues of identity through group-belonging which will fill this letter.[2]

The final words in this verse, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, are omitted from critical editions of the text.[7] The wording appears in the Textus Receptus; Alford argues that the words "are not yet added in this his (Paul's) first Epistle. Afterwards they became a common formula with him".[5]

²We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.[8]

• "Work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope: containing the triad of faith (Greek: pistis), love (agapé) and hope (elpis), which is common in the Pauline and later New Testament epistles (1 Thessalonians 5:8; Romans 5:1–5; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5–6; Ephesians 4:2–5; Colossians 1:4–5; Hebrews 6:10–12; 10:22–4; 1 Peter 1:3–8). These values become the characteristics of Christ's followers, not just as 'theological virtues' but also 'distinctive badges of group identity', so the Thessalonians can state themselves as the 'people characterized by faith (in Christ), love and hope'.[2]

⁹For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.[9]

• "To wait for His Son from heaven": following Paul's belief that Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, became incarnate and in the human nature suffered, and died for the sins of the people; God the Father raised him from the dead and he ascended into heaven, where he is now until the time of the restitution of all things, when he will come again and judge the world in righteousness.[10] Therefore, the believers in Thessalonica are to expect him, and wait by faith for eternal glory and happiness by him.[10]

• "Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come": John Gill notes that, because the believers are justified by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, so they are saved from all punishment in this life and in the world to come.[10]