1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5

I. The apostle begins with thanksgiving to God. Being about to mention the things that were matter of joy to him, and highly praiseworthy in them, and greatly for their advantage, he chooses to do this by way of thanksgiving to God, who is the author of all that good that comes to us, or is done by us, at any time. God is the object of all religious worship, of prayer and praise. And thanksgiving to God is a great duty, to be performed always or constantly; even when we do not actually give... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1:1-10 Paul and Silas and Timothy send this letter to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you and peace. Always we thank God for you all and always we remember you in our prayers. We never cease to remember the work inspired by your faith, the labour prompted by your love and the endurance founded on your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before God who is also our Father. For we know, brothers beloved by God, how you were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 1:2

We give thanks to God always for you all ,.... For all the members of this church, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, greater or lesser believers, officers or private Christians; for their being a church, for the gifts bestowed on them, for the graces hereafter mentioned that were wrought in them and exercised by them; the glory of all which is given to God, and thanks for the same, which shows them to be gifts of his, and not in the least owing to any merits of men: the apostle ascribes nothing... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering without ceasing ,.... The phrase "without ceasing", is, by the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, joined to the last clause of the preceding verse; and the remembrance the apostle speaks of is either a distinct thing from the mention made of them in prayer, and suggests that they bore them on their minds at other times also; or it is the same with it; or rather a reason of their mentioning of them then, because they remembered them, and the following things of theirs: ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 1:2

We give thanks - See Philemon 1:3 , Philemon 1:4 , and Colossians 1:3 ; where the same forms of speech are used. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Your work of faith - This verse contains a very high character of the believers at Thessalonica. They had Faith, not speculative and indolent, but true, sound, and operative; their faith worked. They had Love, not that gazed at and became enamoured of the perfections of God, but such a love as labored with faith to fulfill the whole will of God. Faith worked; but love, because it can do more, did more, and therefore labored - worked energetically, to promote the glory of God and the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Verse 2 2We give thanks to God. He praises, as he is wont, their faith and other virtues, not so much, however, for the purpose of praising them, as to exhort them to perseverance. For it is no small excitement to eagerness of pursuit, when we reflect that God has adorned us with signal endowments, that he may finish what he has begun, and that we have, under his guidance and direction, advanced in the right course, in order that we may reach the goal. For as a vain confidence in those virtues,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Verse 3 3Unceasingly remembering you. While the adverb unceasingly might be taken in connection with what goes before, it suits better to connect it in this manner. What follows might also be rendered in this way: Remembering your work of faith and labor of love, etc. Nor is it any objection to this that there is an article interposed between the pronoun ὑμῶν and the noun ἔργου, (492) for this manner of expression is frequently made use of by Paul. I state this, lest any one should charge the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2

The character of Christians. 1. They are converted ; they turn to God from idols. As the heathen turned from material idols, so do believers from spiritual idols. A change is effected in their disposition; their chief affection is now fixed on God and Christ; they serve the living and true God. 2. They wait for the Lord Jesus Christ ; they expect salvation from him, and look forward to his second craning. 3. They live a holy life ; they possess the three cardinal... read more