1Thessalonians pt 2 - 1:1-5

1Thessalonians Part 2 – 1:1-5 Verse 1 • “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus” – found together in Acts 17:10-14 Act 18:5, 2Cor 1:19. i. Paul – Formally Saul, was saved on the road to Damascus – Act 7:58, 9:1-8 ii. Silvanus = Silas – Came from Peters group – 1Pet 5:12, Acts 15:22. iii. Timotheous – From Lystra - Acts 16:1-3 • “Church of the Thessalonians” – Started in Acts 17:1-9 • “Grace and peace” – Paul begins all of his epistles with this greeting. Gods if offering these I’m this dispensation “From God our father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” i. 18 times in NT – 14 from Paul, the first appearance in scripture is Romans. Verse 2 • “We give thanks to God always for you” – 2Thess 1:3 – A pattern of Paul – Rom 1:8, Phil 1:3. • “making mention of you in our prayers” – Thanksgiving unto God is a function of prayer. Verse 3-5 • “Remembering without ceasing” – 1Thess 2:13 – They were constant upon their minds. • “faith, love, hope” – 1Cor 13:13. i. “Work of faith” – Believing the word of God – 1Thess 2:13, Acts 17:4 ii. “Labor of love” – 1Thess 4:9-10 – Paul likely experienced it himself (Acts 17:5-10) but also was reported from Timothy – 1Thess 3:6. iii. “Patience of hope” – The Thessalonians we’re going through persecution, Hope give patience and allows us to endure – Rom 8:18-25. • “knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God” – The Thessalonians had faith (1:8, 2:13, 3:6, Rom 10:17) they made a choice to believe the gospel after hearing it – Acts 17:2-4, Eph 1:13, 2Thess 2:13-14. i. 2 Thess 2:13/election – They were chosen to hear the gospel (Acts 16:9-10) but that was unique to them – Col 1:5-6. You also had some who didn’t believe – Acts 17:5. ii. Christ was elect – Isa 42:1 – They were in Christ – Eph 1:4-7, Col 3:10-12. iii. Christ is the beloved son of God (Matt 3:17, 12:18) and you are accepted in him – Eph 1:6, Eph 4:32. iv. You can be elect and know your election by being in Christ which comes by faith in the Gospel of his death and resurrection. • “For our gospel” – Acts 17:3 • “came not in word only” – All we read about in Acts 17 • “in power…… in the Holy Ghost…… much assurance” – Spirit gifts – this was to verify Paul’s message was of God – 1Cor 2:1-4, Gal 2:7-8, Rom 15:19. i. We can make a contrast here in verse 3&5 between the Thessalonians and the Corinthians. The Thessalonians are praised while the Corinthians are rebuked – 1Cor 3:1, 12-14. • “as ye know what manner of men we were among you” – Apostles that were no burdensome - 1Thess 2:6.