Salutation (1:1)
Three people are addressing the Thessalonians, but it appears that Paul is authoring the letter since his name appears first.ἐκκλησία is the Greek noun that is rendered as church in English. It derives from the preposition ἐκ (out) and the verb καλέω (I call, summon). Thus, ἐκκλησία can be translated as those who are called out or summoned forth. It is also often translated as assembly to give it a secular connotation. In Ancient Athens (ca. 500 BCE), the ἐκκλησία was the principal assembly of the democracy.
The ἐκκλησία in Thessalonica is grounded in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This ἐκκλησία, then, is established as a religious body and not a governmental one, as in the classical Greek sense.
It is interesting that the relationships are grounded in two beings: God the Father, obviously a divine being, and Jesus Christ (Χριστός), whom Paul considers his lord. Χριστός is the Greek translation of the Biblical Hebrew word מָשִׁיחַ (messiah) and means the anointed one.
Paul wishes the Thessalonians grace (χάρις) and peace (εἰρήνη). χάρις can also be translated as favor or goodwill. Jerome, in his Latin translation of the New Testament (ca. 400 CE), uses the word gratia (favor). This is where the English word grace is derived from. Gratia comes from gratus, which means pleasing or thankful. Grace is perhaps the preferred English translation because of Jerome's gratia.
Minuscule 699, Folio 18 has additional text which does not show up in English translations or Jerome's Vulgate. In Greek, Paul's wish for grace and peace reads "χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πατρὸς ἡμῶν καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ." So, Paul is not simply wishing the community grace and peace, but wishing it from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here are the questions that this short greeting already brings forth:
- Who are Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus?
- Why is Paul writing to the Christian community in Thessalonica?
- Who is Jesus?
- Why is Jesus anointed, i.e., chosen? What is he chosen for?
- Why does Paul consider Jesus his lord?
- What does it mean that God is Father?
The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example (1:2-10)
Paul visited Thessalonica sometime in the past and shared with the Thessalonians a message that seems to have become the reason for their formation as an ἐκκλησία. How long before this letter Paul first visited is uncertain, but it seems that Paul developed a very close relationship with the Thessalonians.
Paul remembers the Thessalonians in his daily prayers to God. The Greek word for prayer is προσευχή. It derives from the verb εὔχομαι, which means to pray, wish for, promise, or profess. In English, we associate the word prayer as communicating with God, but at its root prayer means to beg, request, or entreat. Paul then is constantly communicating with God and asking God for divine favor.
Paul points out three attributes of the Thessalonians: work (ἔργον) of faith (πίστις), labor (κόπος) of love (ἀγάπη), and steadfastness (ὑπομονή) of hope (ἐλπίς). These attributes are grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, they have a trust and love that guides their endeavors, and they have an expectation of a future event or state of affairs, for which they are patiently enduring their present circumstances.
Paul states that God chose those particular Thessalonians--it is not clear what for, yet. Paul's evidence for this is that the message that he shared with the Thessalonians was not only verbally given but seems to have been enthusiastically received. The message Paul shares he calls the εὐαγγέλιον (gospel), that is, the good news. It is not certain what exactly the good news is yet, but it has something to do with being chosen by God.
The Thessalonians seemed to have received Paul's εὐαγγέλιον with enthusiasm because his message came to them in "in word (λόγος)... in power (δύναμις)... in the Holy Spirit (ἅγιον πνεῦμα)... with full conviction (πολλή πληροφορία)" (1:5). What follows is a brief analysis of each of the prepositional phrases in 1:5.
In word: λόγος can mean word, reason, narrative, among other meanings. Here it is clear that Paul means the message he gave came verbally, but we can also dig into the rich philosophical tradition of the Greeks to find a deeper reason to Paul's use of λόγος. The pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus is credited with stating that the λόγος structures reality. Therefore, there is a rational underpinning to Paul's message; the λόγος structures the meaning of the good news.
In power: δύναμις can also mean authority or influence. It derives from the verb δύναμαι, which means I am able. Paul's message, then, swayed the hearers by its authority. The gospel had power over them via its influence.
In the Holy Spirit: πνεῦμα (spirit) can be translated as wind or breath. The Holy Spirit, then, has some sort of influence over the message and its hearers.
With full conviction: πληροφορία can be translated as conviction, confidence, or certitude. Here it seems that Paul is certain of the message he is professing. His certitude ties into the authority of the message.
Paul remembers the Thessalonians in his daily prayers to God. The Greek word for prayer is προσευχή. It derives from the verb εὔχομαι, which means to pray, wish for, promise, or profess. In English, we associate the word prayer as communicating with God, but at its root prayer means to beg, request, or entreat. Paul then is constantly communicating with God and asking God for divine favor.
Paul points out three attributes of the Thessalonians: work (ἔργον) of faith (πίστις), labor (κόπος) of love (ἀγάπη), and steadfastness (ὑπομονή) of hope (ἐλπίς). These attributes are grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. So, they have a trust and love that guides their endeavors, and they have an expectation of a future event or state of affairs, for which they are patiently enduring their present circumstances.
Paul states that God chose those particular Thessalonians--it is not clear what for, yet. Paul's evidence for this is that the message that he shared with the Thessalonians was not only verbally given but seems to have been enthusiastically received. The message Paul shares he calls the εὐαγγέλιον (gospel), that is, the good news. It is not certain what exactly the good news is yet, but it has something to do with being chosen by God.
The Thessalonians seemed to have received Paul's εὐαγγέλιον with enthusiasm because his message came to them in "in word (λόγος)... in power (δύναμις)... in the Holy Spirit (ἅγιον πνεῦμα)... with full conviction (πολλή πληροφορία)" (1:5). What follows is a brief analysis of each of the prepositional phrases in 1:5.
In word: λόγος can mean word, reason, narrative, among other meanings. Here it is clear that Paul means the message he gave came verbally, but we can also dig into the rich philosophical tradition of the Greeks to find a deeper reason to Paul's use of λόγος. The pre-Socratic philosopher Heraclitus is credited with stating that the λόγος structures reality. Therefore, there is a rational underpinning to Paul's message; the λόγος structures the meaning of the good news.
In power: δύναμις can also mean authority or influence. It derives from the verb δύναμαι, which means I am able. Paul's message, then, swayed the hearers by its authority. The gospel had power over them via its influence.
In the Holy Spirit: πνεῦμα (spirit) can be translated as wind or breath. The Holy Spirit, then, has some sort of influence over the message and its hearers.
With full conviction: πληροφορία can be translated as conviction, confidence, or certitude. Here it seems that Paul is certain of the message he is professing. His certitude ties into the authority of the message.
You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedo′nia and in Acha′ia. 8For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedo′nia and Acha′ia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica (2:1-16)
Paul’s Desire to Visit the Thessalonians Again (2:17-3:5)
Timothy’s Good Report (3:6-13)
A Life Pleasing to God (4:1-12)
The Coming of the Lord (4:13-5:11)
Final Exhortation, Greetings, and Benediction (5:12-28)
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