1 Thessalonians 1
| 1 Thessalonians 1 | |
|---|---|
 Fragments showing First Epistle to the Thessalonians 1:3-2:1 and 2:6-13 on Papyrus 65, from the third century. | |
| Book | First Epistle to the Thessalonians |
| Category | Pauline epistles |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 13 |
1 Thessalonians 1 is the first chapter of the First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul of Tarsus, Silvanus, and Timothy.[1][2]
Text
- The original text is written in Koine Greek.
- Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:
- Papyrus 46 (ca. AD 200)
- Papyrus 65 (3rd century)
- Codex Vaticanus (AD 325-350)
- Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330-360)
- Codex Alexandrinus (ca. AD 400-440)
- Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (ca. AD 450; extant: verses 2-10)
- Codex Freerianus (ca. AD 450; extant: verses 1-2, 9-10)
- Codex Claromontanus (ca. AD 550)
- This chapter is divided into 10 verses.
Structure
This chapter can be grouped (with cross references to other parts of the Bible):
- 1 Thessalonians 1:1 = Greeting
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2–10 = Their Good Example
Verse 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 from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[3]
- To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Verse 3
- remembering 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,[4]
Verse 10
- and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.[5]
- And to wait for His Son from heaven
The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the natural, essential, and eternal Son of God; and whoever is truly converted, is not only turned to God the Father, and believes in him; but also believes in, receives, embraces, and professes his Son Jesus Christ; who became incarnate, and, in the human nature he assumed, obeyed, suffered, and died and rose again, and ascended into heaven, where he now is, and will be till the time of the restitution of all things; when he will descend from thence, and come and judge the world in righteousness; and from thence the saints expect him, and look and wait by faith for eternal glory and happiness by him, and with him at his appearance and kingdom; so that many articles of faith are contained in this expression, which these Thessalonians were acquainted with, believed, and acted upon: and Christ the Son of God is further described as that person[6]
- whom He raised from the dead;
that is, God the Father raised from the dead, and whereby he was declared to be the Son of God; and which supposes his dying for the sins of his people, as it expresses his rising again for their justification; things which the faith of these believers was led unto, and in which light they viewed him:[6]
- even Jesus, which delivered us from wrath to come;
which is revealed from heaven against sin, and comes upon the children of disobedience; which all men are deserving of, even God's elect themselves, but shall not partake of, because they are not appointed to it, but to salvation; and because they are justified by the blood and righteousness of Christ, and so are saved from it; not from all fears about it, and apprehensions of it, which they are filled with, especially under first awakenings, and sometimes afterwards when under afflictive providences; but they are delivered from the thing itself, by which is meant vindictive punishment, even from all punishment in this life, for there is no wrath mixed with any of their mercies or their chastisements; and from all punishment in the world to come, which will fall heavy on others; and that because Christ has bore their sins, and the wrath of God and curse of the law, due unto them, in their room and stead.[6]
See also
- Achaia
- Jesus Christ
- Macedonia
- Paul of Tarsus
- Silvanus
- Thessalonica
- Timothy
- Other related Bible parts: Matthew 3, Acts 1, Acts 4, Revelation 3
References
- ^ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
- ^ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
- ^ 1 Thessalonians 1:1
- ^ 1 Thessalonians 1:3
- ^ 1 Thessalonians 1:10
- ^ a b c John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, - 1 Thessalonians 1:10