1 Thessalonians 1:2

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

“We give thanks to God always for you all”: Paul was very grateful for those who had obeyed the gospel. The only letter which omits such. thanksgiving is the letter to the Galatians. The phrase for you all indicates that Paul is thankful for every Christian, because every child of God is valuable. Paul practices what he will later stress (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There was much to be thankful about. Morris notes, “One of the main themes of the letter is Paul's joy at knowing that the members of the Thessalonian church were continuing to live as Christians during his forced absence from them and despite every outward obstacle. The same people who had succeeded in making Paul leave Thessalonica doubtless continued to harass the friends whom he left there; yet despite it all, Paul's fears for their faith had proved groundless” (p. 50). “ Give thanks is in the present tense, which indicates continuous action” (Fields p. 30). “Always" qualifies "give thanks", and indicates that the thanksgiving is constant, not sporadic” (Morris p. 50).