1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye 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, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Paul and Siluanus, and Timotheus, vnto the Church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Iesus Christ: grace be vnto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.

2We giue thankes to God alwaies for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

3Remembring without ceasing your worke of faith, and labour of loue, and patience of hope in our Lord Iesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father:

4Knowing, brethren beloued, your election of God.

5For our Gospel came not vnto you in word onely: but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as yee know what maner of men we were among you for your sake.

6And yee became followers of vs, and of the Lord, hauing receiued the word in much affliction, with ioy of the holy Ghost:

7So that ye were ensamples to all that beleeue in Macedonia and Achaia.

8For from you sounded out the Word of the Lord, not onely in Macedonia & Achaia, but also in euery place your faith to Godward is spred abroad, so that we need not to speak any thing.

9For they themselues shew of vs, what maner of entring in we had vnto you, and how yee turned to God from idols, to serue the liuing, and true God,

10And to waite for his sonne from heauen whom he raised from the dead, euen Iesus which deliuered vs from the wrath to come.

1:1==2nd THESS 1:1 ; 2nd COR 1:19 ; ACTS 16:1 , 17:1 ; ROM 1:7

1:2==2nd THESS 1:3 ; 2:13 ; ROM 1:9

1: 3==2nd THESS 1:11 , 1:3 ; ROM 8:25 ; 15:4 ; GAL 1:4

1:4==2nd THESS 2:13 ; ROM 1:7

1:5==2nd THESS 2:14 ; ROM 15:19

1:6==COL 2:2 ; 1st THESS 2:10 ; 1st COR 4:16 ; 11:1 ; ACTS 13:52 ; 17:5-10

1:7== ROM 15:21 ; ACTS 18:12

1:8==2nd THESS 3:1 ; ROM 1:8

1:10==MT 3:7

1 Paul, 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, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly 3 calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, 4 knowing, brothers loved by God, how you were chosen. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the holy Spirit and (with) much conviction. You know what sort of people we were (among) you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the holy Spirit, 7 so that you became a model for all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and (in) Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves openly declare about us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from (the) dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.

1. Opening Address (1:1)
2. Memories of the Past ( 1:2-3:13)
A. Thanksgiving ( 1: 2-10)
B. Paul' Thessalonians Ministry (2:1-16)
C. The Mission and Report of Timothy ( 2:17-3:10)
D. Prayer for Sanctification ( 3:11-13)
3. Instruction for the Future ( 4:1-5:22)
A. An appeal for Purity ( 4: 1-8)
B. An appeal for Love and Labor ( 4:9-12)
C. The Return of Jesus ( 4:13-18)
D. The Day of the Lord (5:1-11)
E. Final Exhortations ( 5:12-22)
4. Conclusion ( 5:23-28)

Paul is the author and it being one of his oldest letters, from Corinth, It is believed to be written in the winter months of late A.D. 50 or early A.D. 51. on Paul's second missionary trips (Act 17:1-9) with Silvanus and Timothy refoined him in Corinth. (Acts 18:5) shortly after escaping from Thessalonica (& Berea) Berea was about 50 miles to the west, for his personal safety. Paul conversion of the Jew, Greek, and woman see Acts 17:4. Jews from the city incited riots to force the missionaries out. He had preached in the synagogue there three successive Sabbaths and later in some other places, on his second missionary journey. Paul and Timothy found the Thessalonian's Church, Paul wasn't there long enough to fully instruct the church (Philippian 4:16 Ist Thessalonier 2:9 II Thesslonian 3:8 inplies that Paul was in this area longer than Acts 17:2 does. Acts 17:1-10; 18:1) When Paul was driven out of this area he left Silas and Timothy there and upon Paul arriving in Athens 200 miles to the south he sent word back to Silas and Timothy to come as fast as possibe ( Act 17:14, 15 ) Because of the time period a few weeks to possibley a couple of monthes upon their departure they left behind new Christians that was targeted for local persecution. (1st Thess 1:6 , 2:14 2nd Thess 1:4)

Athens was the chief sea port of Macedonia as well as being on the Egnation Way, the main Roman road to the Orient via modern Istanbul. The population was from 70,000 to 200,000. Maps are deceiving, but is actually about 100 miles from Philippi. Thessalonica was a bustling commercail city founded in B.C. 316 B.C. established by the Romans provincial capital of Macedonia (Northen Greec) in 146 B.C. Having a port into the aegean Sea and positioned on the Egnatian way which was then an over land highway that linked the easter and westen parts of the Mediettanean. It cantain one Jewish Colony with one Synagogue with Paganism and Idolatry dominating the rest of the city.

Some purposes of the letter: 

a. To express joy over their progression in the Lord. b. Exhort believers who had erroneously quit working to wait for the lord’s return.        

b. Comfort  believers that those who had fallen asleep in Jesus would not suffer loss.

v 1,2. Paul’s usual salutation of divine favor and heart peace, which might be considered prayer for a peace that passes understanding, coupled with regular prayer in their behalf. They were all on his prayer list. He mentions Silas and Timothy because they had been with him on the missionary journey when he established the church at Thessalonica.

v 3. He reflects that their work is energized by faith, their service is motivated by love, and they have an steadfast hope in the return of Christ.

v 4. He has the assurance that they are chosen of God.

v 5. Paul didn’t just preach words, but with the assurance he had the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. He had already proven himself before them.

v 6. They imitated Paul as he imitated Christ, and though he was persecuted there, the Holy Spirit imparted joy.

v 7. Thus they too became a pattern for all in the area who were aware of them.
CHRIST <<<<< Paul (v.5) <<<<< Thessalonians (v.6) <<<<< Others (v.7)

v 8. “Sounded out” a statement of fact, not that of a trumpet as in Revelation. They were such faithful witnesses that knowledge of their faith spread to wherever people might hear about them, so Paul need not add anything to it.

v 9. Others who knew of them told Paul they had turned to God from their idols and were serving the one true God. Paul’s manner or attitude was of compassion.

v 10. He had also been told how they were waiting for the return of Christ, with assurance they had escaped eternal damnation. The ideal Christian walk is:
a. The work of faith is to turn to God from idols, believing Christ for salvation. 
b. The labor of love is to serve the living and true God. Even as Christ laid down His life for us, we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren, Jn. 15:13, and keep His commandments, 2 Jn. 6.
c. The patience of hope is to wait for His Son from heaven, Titus 2:13; Jam. 5:7,8. Every chapter in 1 Thess. mentions the Lord’s return, 1:10; 2:19; 3
b. Examples to all that believed.
c. They were a witnessing church.
d. Speaks of unity among themselves, all waiting for Christ’s return, not fighting and quarreling.:13’ 4:16; 5:23.

The strength of the Thessalonian church as a local church:
a. Established in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus.