Paul, Silas, and Timothy wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians. I never noticed before, but their greeting opens both books essentially the same.
“To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” It goes on to say, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love and patience in the hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1
In Acts 17, Luke tells of Paul’s first visit to Thessalonica. It was after leaving Philippi where Paul and Silas had been imprisoned, that Paul, Silas and Timothy came to Thessalonica. For three Sabbaths Paul explained the scriptures and that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. In verse 3, he explains, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” Some were persuaded and many of the devout Greeks and leading women joined Paul and Silas. Then they shared their new faith with other Macedonians.
Now Paul sends Timothy back to check how these new believers are doing. In 1 Thessalonians 1 verses 2 and 3 he says, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Isn’t that the way it is for those of us who have met many people and lived in many areas? We like to keep in touch and hear of their joys and sorrows. We like to pray for one another. In the past 3 years, Ray and I have made 8 mission trips to Africa, Jamaica and Curaçao to help the AHI (Adventist Health International) hospitals. As we have gotten to know the people, we learned of their joys and sorrows. Many are trying to run hospitals under great obstacles, and we pray for them every day. In our Church, we pray for one another as many of us have sickness and sorrow too. May God always put it on our hearts to pray for and encourage one another.
Lynette Holm
and Ray have lived in 11 different places and have many friends around the world. They love traveling, meeting new people, leaning new cultures and trying new foods (usually!). Lynette is enjoying reading her Bible through this year and the comments on each passage in the Andrews Study Bible. We look forward to Christ’s soon coming and spending an eternity with Jesus in Heaven.
The Word of Promise audio Bible is used by permission. For more information and to purchase the complete audio Bible go to https://www.wordofpromiseapp.com/.
1 Thessalonians 1
Greeting
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.
Their Good Example
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 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 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For 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, 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.
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul’s Conduct
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Their Conversion
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
Longing to See Them
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Psalm 15
The Character of Those Who May Dwell with the Lord
A Psalm of David.
1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.