1 Thessalonians - Chapter 1

As we begin the study of chapter one, we should recognize first the terms Paul uses so favorably to describe the believers at Thessalonica, “beloved brethren” and “elect” (“… your election by God”). Our study guide provides an opening paragraph dwelling upon the doctrine of election, under the sovereign plan of God, unknowable by man but always effective and unfolding among mankind.

Let us not overlook, as we begin, the beauty of the words of Christ in John 6:44:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day”

God’s call requires faith and repentance. Paul has seen evidence of both in this church. It is refreshing to hear the apostle speak to commend the assembly and to further encourage them as they continue to seek the Lord’s will and to do it, being both hearers and doers of the Word.

Paul reflects upon these things as he begins his letter and he describes in these first ten verses ten virtues of Christian faith that are evident within this church. As we view these ten virtues, let us also reflect on them for our own lives and within our own church for these virtues are as important today for believers as they were the moment Paul wrote them.

1-3:

Paul and Silas and Timothy send greetings to the church of the Thessalonians beginning with the very strong commendation that the church is in God the Father AND in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because they were of the elect, these followers were living for the honor of Christ. Paul immediately gives his thanks for that fact and advises that these believers are in the prayers of all three teachers (“… in our prayers”.) Notice how Paul uses not just the name of Jesus but the royal title for Him, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul begins his discussion of the ten virtues as evidence of salvation, he sends strong praise for their faith that worked, their labor that loved, and their hope that endured.

The first of the ten virtues is the work of faith displayed by the Thessalonians. A true saving belief in Jesus Christ will always result in a mighty work of God that produces changes in the nature and future of the saved. The work of faith is action brought by the transforming power of salvation. The elect were engaged in holy and righteous deeds to honor the Lord. Their faith allowed the authentic saving Grace of God to produce fruit in their lives.

Paul sounds very positive when he writes that he is “… constantly bearing in mind your work of faith…”. 

We must remember that scripture stresses this active side. Salvation is by Grace through faith alone, but from that moment forward we live a life in which we are progressively sanctified by honoring our salvation by works of faith. Our study of James (especially chapter 2) has well taught us this lesson.

The second virtue is their labor of love. This love is part of the fruit of the Spirit of those who are now led by the Spirit. This refers to the highest form of love, spiritual love, also known as agape. Believers live to advance the truth of the gospel through their love, for fellow believers, for strangers, and even for their enemies. 

Let’s recall the strong teaching of Jesus in John 13:35 which shows us that we are to be known as His people by the love we show one for another. Also 1 John 2:10 teaches us “The one who loves his brother abides in the light…”.

The third virtue is the steadfastness of hope. This means a persevering anticipation of future glory as our inheritance is received. Titus 2 teaches clearly of this virtue when it says, “… looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory…”.

Here steadfastness means enduring while under pressure. Christians should hold fast to their hope until the end. Remember all those who are mentioned in the roll call of heroes in Hebrews who died without seeing the promise, steadfast until their end. Jesus taught in Matthew 24:13 that “The one who endures to the end will be saved”.

4-5:

Paul now gives a powerful assurance to this church that he himself knows they have been chosen of God. 

Jesus used similar words to describe His own disciples in John 15:16 when He teaches them that they did not choose Him but rather He had done the choosing. Paul is confirming the completion of the salvation election by teaching that he knows these believers have heard the call, repented in faith, and accepted the gospel.

Now Paul provides the fourth virtue that is the divine power of God having been revealed in them by their full conviction under the gospel. He says the gospel came not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit. Paul further says that he and Silas and Timothy share such conviction and that these people know what kind of men they are.

While we remember that faith does come from the hearing of the Word, the true transforming work of salvation is a work in the heart from above. This is the power Paul is talking about and he teaches it again and again, especially in Ephesians when he teaches that it is the quickening of those in trespass and sin that brings salvation. 

1:6

The fifth virtue Paul reveals is that the believers in this church became imitators of Paul & Silas & Timothy, and more importantly of the Lord. As they follow these teachers and Christ, they confirm the truth of salvation because they are now new creations, no longer following those things of the past. Their past worship of pagan gods is gone. They seek to become more righteous to properly follow the examples given them and to bear spiritual fruit. 

Paul has written of this matter also in 1 Cor 11:1:

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Jesus Christ”.

The sixth virtue is also given by Paul as he confirms that the Thessalonians were truly elect as seen by their JOY in the middle of suffering and hardship. There were those who wanted to defeat the gospel, and they worked hard to dishonor the Word, as well as the ministry of Paul, as we will study in chapter two.

As the Thessalonians responded to these trials with the joy of the Holy Spirit there is a reminder of the suffering we see in Acts 5, where after being beaten for preaching, those beaten rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer for the Lord.

Joy is a divine benefit of salvation and even if human joy can be stopped by death under persecution, the joy of the Spirit never dies.

1:7

The seventh virtue, which is an extension of the first six, is the very good conduct of the believers of this church. The behavior of these followers was so excellent that they became examples to all other believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Paul even used the church at Thessalonica as a later example to the church at Corinth. He said that even though the church was poor and persecuted, they gave much to help the needy believers in Jerusalem (2 Cor 8). This church demonstrated a pattern of godliness in their conduct, clearly showing evidence of true salvation & conversion to the gospel.

1:8-9

The eighth virtue shown is how faithful these believers were to proclaim the gospel. The word of the Lord, the divine truth, sounded forth from the church at Thessalonica. This phrase, found nowhere else in the NT, means literally “blasting forth” or “sounded forcefully or intensely”. It sounds as if Paul sees this sound as moving outward in larger and larger circles and he says that this sound was so powerful and effective that he and his helpers needed to say nothing after it is heard. 

The ninth virtue, sure evidence of conversion, is that these believers had turned to God, away from false gods, and had submitted themselves to a new Master. Repentance means a full turning away from past things and placing them away from ourselves completely, and turning to a new Master, the Lord. Paul teaches that they have now chosen to serve a new Master, and the word he uses for serve is “douleuein” meaning serve as a bond slave, the most demanding type of servitude.

1:10

Paul’s tenth and final virtue is that the members of this church now waited for His son from heaven. Those who love Christ long for and patiently await His promised return. These believers accepted that position and fulfilled its requirements well. This waiting for the promise to be kept is a virtue of the heart, and each believer is dedicated to persevere in patience, even if mortal death brings us to Him before He comes back for us.

Notice the last portion of verse 10 and Paul’s description of Jesus, which will preview chapter 5. Paul teaches that Jesus is our deliverance from the wrath to come.

These ten virtues reflect the proper Christian life of every follower of Jesus. Each virtue listed is as important today as it was 2,000 years ago and should speak loudly to our hearts as to how we are to respond in our lives to the love of the Lord, and to His glorious election of each of us.