1 Thessalonians 1:1

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace”

“Paul”: Unlike other letters he does not assert his apostleship because that was not being questioned by this congregation (Galatians 1:1). Even though Silvanus and Timothy are mentioned with him in the greeting, it is clear that Paul is the author of the letter (1 Thessalonians 2:18; 1 Thessalonians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:27). “Silvanus”: “Silvanus is the Latin form of the name of the man known in Acts as Silas (the Aramic form of Saul)”. [Note:. The New Century Bible Commentary.. and. Thessalonians. I. Howard Marshall. p. 48.] The name Silas means “person of the woods” (cf. our adjective 'sylvan', and cf. Pennsylvania: Penn's woods). We first find Silas at the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:22; Acts 15:27; Acts 15:32). He then joins Paul on the second journey (1 Thessalonians 15:40); and had helped Paul establish the church in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 17:1). “Timothy”: Many speculate that he is mentioned last in this greeting, probably because he was the younger of all three men (1 Timothy 4:12). He may have been in his late teens or early twenties when this letter was written. He had joined Paul and Silas before they had crossed over into Europe (Acts 16:1).

When this letter was written from Corinth, all three men were together (Acts 18:5). Hendriksen notes, “Associated with him, fully endorsing everything he says, are Silvanus and Timothy” (p. 38). Erdman notes, “He is intending to express feelings and sentiments and beliefs in which he unites with his companions, Silvanus and Timothy” (p. 30). Here we see the "likemindedness" of the early Christians.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Unto the church of the Thessalonians”: The church in Thessalonica or the church composed of Thessalonians. “In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”: The church is that body of people who have. favorable relationship with God (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 2:19; Ephesians 5:23; 1 Timothy 3:15). Notice carefully the "and" between God the Father "and" the Lord Jesus Christ. They are. package deal. One cannot have. right relationship with the Father and yet reject the Son (1 John 4:15; 1 John 5:10; John 14:6). In this verse we learn three things about Jesus: (a) He is Divine. The word "Lord" that is used in connection with His name is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Jehovah". “This is the regular word for Jehovah in the Septuagint” (Morris p. 48). Marshall notes, “Significantly Paul places Jesus Christ alongside God the Father without any sense of doing anything strange. They are placed on the same level” (p. 49). (b) The name Jesus which is derived from the Latin, which in turn is from the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew "Joshua", meaning "Jehovah is our salvation". Hence He is our Savior (Matthew 1:21). (c) "Christ" is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah". Thus in Jesus all the Messianic prophecies find their fulfillment (Luke 24:44).

1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Grace”: More than kindness or favor, rather God's kindness as expressed to men in the abundant spiritual blessings that He bestows upon Christians (Ephesians 1:3). “Peace”: “Peace among the Greeks meant much the same as it does with us, namely the absence of war or strife. But among the Hebrews it was. positive concept. When. Hebrew said, ‘Peace be to you,' he did not mean, ‘I hope you won't get into. fight', but rather, ‘I pray that you may prosper'. The root is concerned with ‘wholeness'. The man who enjoys peace is thus the one whose life is well rounded. Paul's greeting, then, reminds his friends that all is owed to God” (Morris p. 49).