1 Thessalonians 1:1

PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

1 THESS. 1

First, there is Paul's characteristic salutation and greeting (1 Thessalonians 1:1), followed by his fervent expression of thanks and appreciation for the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10).

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. (1 Thessalonians 1:1)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy ... The inclusion of Paul's distinguished helpers, Silvanus and Timothy, in this salutation was not intended as designation of them as co-authors with Paul of this letter, but rather as a mark of friendship and courtesy on the part of the apostle for these faithful workers who had so frequently labored and suffered with him on the mission field. Silas was beaten and imprisoned with Paul at Philippi (Acts 15:19), and Timothy's imprisonment is mentioned in Hebrews 13:23. Timothy's father was a Greek, and Silas was a Roman citizen.

Silvanus was chosen by Paul following the dispute with Barnabas (Acts 15:40), and Timothy was recruited from Lystra where Paul had been stoned (Acts 16:1); thus both were identified with Paul on the second missionary journey and extensively thereafter. Hendriksen pointed out that the English adjective "sylvan" and the proper name "Pennsylvania" carry remnants of the ancient name of Silvanus. "Originally, it was the name of the god of the woods."[1] Many of the primitive Christians were named after the pagan gods, as in the outstanding instance of Apollos, but there is no record that any Of them ever changed their names on this account, indicating that it was considered perfectly proper, many personal names, of course, having been handed down from family to family.

Thessalonians in God ... Other Thessalonians were in darkness, in sin, in the "world" and in a state of alienation from God, but these were in the true and Almighty God. This expression identifies "the assembly in Thessalonica as non-heathen," and the addition of "and the Lord Jesus Christ" designates them "as non-Jewish."[2] Practically all of the Thessalonian converts had been won out of paganism (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

The Lord Jesus Christ ... The name "Lord" as it appears in this compound title of Jesus Christ "is the great Old Testament word which expresses the sovereignty of God, personally and legitimately exercised over the whole universe, animate and inanimate."[3] Thus, our Saviour is recognized here as a member of the Godhead, possessing full deity and entitled to the adoration and worship of all people. Note also that being "in God" is one and the same thing with being in Christ.

Grace and peace ... This was the usual order in which Paul extended this double greeting, varying it only in the closing verses of Ephesians. They combined the highest form of both Greek and Hebrew salutations and were greatly enriched by theological implications of the highest significance. For example, "peace," which is a negative concept with us, means "the absence of strife"; whereas "The Hebrew equivalent, [shalom] (from which the word is derived), is concerned with `wholeness,' `soundness,' and signifies prosperity in the widest sense, especially prosperity in spiritual things."[4]

[1] William Hendriksen, Commentary on 1,2Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1955), p. 38.

[2] Peter E. Cousins, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 492.

[3] Ronald A. Ward, Commentary on 1,2Thessalonians (Waco: Word Book Publishers, 1973), p. 15.

[4] Leon Morris, Tyndale Commentaries, 1,2Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956), p. 33.