1 Thessalonians 1-5

1 THESSALONIANS 1-5 (NASB) (notes care of biblegateway.com)

Giving Thanks for These Believers

CHAPTER 1:1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

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

3 constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and [a]perseverance of hope [b]in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, WE NEED TO PERSEVERE.

4 knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you; VS. FREEWILL

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;

just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. I PRAY WE HAVE THE POWER OF

THE SPIRIT MOVING HERE.

6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ARE WE IMITATING JESUS?

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

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

THE MACEDONIAN CALL REFERS TO ACTS 16.

9 For they themselves report about us [c]as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God

from [d]idols to serve [e]a living and true God,

10 and to wait for His Son from [f]heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come. THIS IS A HINT OF JESUS’ 2ND RETURN.

Footnotes

a. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Or steadfastness

b. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Lit of

c. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Lit what kind of

d. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Or the idols

e. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Or the

f. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Lit the heavens

Paul’s Ministry

CHAPTER 2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our [a]reception among you was not in vain,

2 but after we had already suffered and been treated abusively in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God [b]amid much [c]opposition.

3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or [d]by way of deceit;

4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who [e]examines our hearts.

5 For we never came [f]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext [g]for greed—God is our witness— BE CAREFUL OF THOSE WHO FLATTER US.

6 nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though [h]we could have [i]asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. VS. HUMILITY

7 But we [j]proved to be [k]gentle [l]among you. As a nursing mother [m]tenderly cares for her own children,

8 in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own [n]lives, because you had become [o]very dear to us. AS WE SHARE OUR LIVES, JESUS MAY SHINE THROUGH US.

9 For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

PAUL WAS A TENTMAKER. IT’S LIKE ME WORKING 3 DAYS WITH MANY TO HAVE 2 DAYS OF CHRISTIAN SERVICES / BAND PRACTICE / CLASSES

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we [p]behaved toward you [q]believers; ARE WE A CHRISTLY EXAMPLE?

11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,

12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. ARE WE “WALKING THE TALK?”

13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. ALWAYS GIVE THANKS.

14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, SAMARIA AND THE END OF THE WORLD