1 Thessalonians / Chapter 1

1 Thessalonians 1

10 verses • SBL Greek New Testament

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy greet the church in Thessalonica, giving thanks for their faith, love, and hope. Paul recalls how the gospel came to them not merely in words but in power and the Holy Spirit, and how the Thessalonians became imitators of the apostles and of the Lord, receiving the word in the midst of affliction with joy from the Holy Spirit. Their faith became an example to believers throughout Macedonia and Achaia.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

This is widely considered the earliest surviving letter of Paul, and possibly the earliest document in the New Testament (c. AD 49-51). The triad of faith, love, and hope (v. 3) appears here in what may be its earliest formulation, predating 1 Corinthians 13:13. The description of conversion in verses 9-10 provides one of the clearest summaries of early Christian proclamation: turning from idols, serving the living God, and awaiting the risen Son from heaven.

Translation Friction

The phrase 'election' (eklogē, v. 4) is rendered without imposing later Calvinist-Arminian frameworks. Paul's language about the gospel coming 'in power and in the Holy Spirit' (v. 5) describes experiential reality, not abstract doctrine. The reference to 'wrath that is coming' (v. 10) is eschatological, pointing to final judgment rather than a specific historical event.

Connections

The faith-love-hope triad reappears in 1 Corinthians 13:13 and Colossians 1:4-5. The description of turning from idols echoes Old Testament prophetic calls (Ezekiel 14:6, Isaiah 44:9-20). The expectation of Jesus's return from heaven connects to the fuller parousia teaching in chapters 4-5. Paul's self-description of his manner among them is expanded in chapter 2.

1 Thessalonians 1:1

Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ, χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη.

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

KJV 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.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

ἐκκλησία ekklēsia
"church" — assembly, congregation, gathering, church

From ek ('out') + kaleō ('to call') — literally 'the called-out ones.' In secular Greek it referred to a civic assembly. Paul applies it to the gathered community of believers.

Translator Notes

  1. The SBLGNT has the shorter greeting 'Grace to you and peace' without the additional 'from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' found in some manuscripts and reflected in the KJV. We follow the critical text. The Greek charis ('grace') and eirēnē ('peace') combine a Greek greeting with the Hebrew shalom, bridging the two cultural worlds of Paul's audience.
  2. Silvanus is the Latin form of Silas, Paul's companion from Acts 15-18. The letter is co-authored, though Paul is the primary voice.
1 Thessalonians 1:2

Εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν μνείαν ποιούμενοι ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν ἡμῶν, ἀδιαλείπτως

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The adverb adialeiptōs ('constantly, without ceasing') modifies the thanksgiving and prayer, indicating habitual practice rather than unbroken activity. Paul's thanksgivings are not mere formality — they typically preview the letter's main themes.
1 Thessalonians 1:3

μνημονεύοντες ὑμῶν τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς ἡμῶν,

We continually remember before our God and Father your faithful work, your loving effort, and your patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

KJV Remembering 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;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The three genitives — 'of faith,' 'of love,' 'of hope' — are best understood as subjective genitives: faith produces the work, love motivates the labor, hope sustains the endurance. This is possibly the earliest written occurrence of the faith-love-hope triad that Paul develops more fully in 1 Corinthians 13:13.
  2. The Greek kopos ('labor') implies toil to the point of exhaustion, stronger than simple 'work' (ergon). Paul distinguishes the two: faith produces activity (ergon), but love drives costly effort (kopos).
1 Thessalonians 1:4

εἰδότες, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ, τὴν ἐκλογὴν ὑμῶν,

Knowing, brothers and sisters beloved, your election of God,.

KJV Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God,

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

ἐκλογή eklogē
"chosen" — election, selection, choosing

Paul affirms divine initiative without entering the systematic debates that later theology developed around this term. The evidence of their election is experiential (v. 5), not decretal.

Translator Notes

  1. The Greek adelphoi ('brothers') is used inclusively throughout Paul's letters to address the entire congregation, including women. We render it 'brothers and sisters' to reflect the inclusive scope. The noun eklogē ('election, choosing') denotes God's initiative in calling the Thessalonians — Paul grounds their identity in divine action, not human achievement.
1 Thessalonians 1:5

ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει καὶ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν δι' ὑμᾶς.

For our gospel arrived not to you in message only, but also in authority, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. As you know what manner of men we were in the midst of you since your sake.

KJV For 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The Greek plērophoria ('full conviction, complete certainty') could refer to the apostles' conviction in preaching or the Thessalonians' conviction in receiving. The ambiguity may be intentional — both the proclaimers and the hearers experienced deep assurance. The phrase 'our gospel' does not mean Paul invented it but that he was entrusted with proclaiming it.
1 Thessalonians 1:6

καὶ ὑμεῖς μιμηταὶ ἡμῶν ἐγενήθητε καὶ τοῦ κυρίου, δεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον ἐν θλίψει πολλῇ μετὰ χαρᾶς πνεύματος ἁγίου,

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in great affliction with joy from the Holy Spirit,

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The Greek mimētai ('imitators') is stronger than the KJV's 'followers' — it implies deliberate imitation of a pattern of life. The paradox of receiving the word 'in great affliction with joy' defines the distinctive Christian experience: suffering and joy coexist through the Holy Spirit's work. The affliction (thlipsis) likely refers to persecution from both Jewish and Gentile opponents in Thessalonica (cf. Acts 17:5-9).
1 Thessalonians 1:7

ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς τύπον πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ.

So that you were ensamples to all that trust in Macedonia and Achaia.

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

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The singular typon ('pattern, model') is used collectively — the entire church is one pattern. Macedonia and Achaia together comprise most of Roman Greece, indicating the rapid and wide spread of the Thessalonians' reputation.
1 Thessalonians 1:8

ἀφ' ὑμῶν γὰρ ἐξήχηται ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ Ἀχαΐᾳ, ἀλλ' ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐξελήλυθεν, ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι·

For the word of the Lord has sounded out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

KJV For 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.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The verb exēchētai ('has sounded out, has rung out') is onomatopoeic, suggesting a trumpet blast or the reverberation of thunder. It occurs only here in the New Testament. Paul portrays the Thessalonians' faith as an audible proclamation that reverberates outward from their city.
1 Thessalonians 1:9

αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ,

For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

KJV For 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;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The phrase 'turned to God from idols' confirms the congregation was predominantly Gentile, since Jews would not be described as turning from idols. The two-part description — turning from (idols) and turning to (God) — mirrors the Old Testament prophetic call to repentance. 'Living and true God' (theō zōnti kai alēthinō) contrasts with the dead and false nature of idols, echoing Jeremiah 10:10.
  2. [TCR Cross-Reference] Echoes Jeremiah 10:10. See the TCR's OT rendering for the Hebrew behind this passage and the translation rationale.
1 Thessalonians 1:10

καὶ ἀναμένειν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν ῥυόμενον ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐρχομένης.

To wait for his Descendant from the heavens above, whom he raised from the no longer alive, not even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

KJV And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The present participle rhyomenon ('the one rescuing') portrays deliverance as ongoing, not merely a past event. 'The coming wrath' (tēs orgēs tēs erchomenēs) refers to eschatological judgment. This verse contains a compact early Christian creed: resurrection, heavenly exaltation, expected return, and deliverance from judgment. The three infinitives — serve (v. 9), wait (v. 10), and the implied rescue — summarize the Christian life as present service, future hope, and divine deliverance.
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