Lesson 2
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the ministry of the word. We come before You with soft, receptive, hungry, teachable, and obedient hearts, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10, Salutation and prayer
V 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 from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy sent greetings to the Christians of the Thessalonians church. Silvanus is the Roman name for Silas. Paul pronounced a greeting of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Grace precedes peace. Hebrews for peace us “shalom”. Justification by grace precedes reconciliation and peace with God. Greek for church is “ekklesia”, which means, congregation. Greek for Lord is “Kurios”, which means master. Greek for Jesus is “Joshua”, which means God saves. Geek for Christ is “Christo”. Hebrews for Christ is “Messiah”, which means Anointed One. Lord Jesus Christ means Master, God the Saviour, the Anointed One.
VV 2-3, 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
Paul thanked God for his audience in prayer, mentioning them personally by name. He remembered unceasingly their work of faith, labor of love, and hope in God, the Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ.
VV 4-5, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
Greek for election is “eklektos”, which means chosen by God. The Thessalonians Christians are chosen by God. Paul preached the good news of the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit with honesty and integrity.
VV 6-8, And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
The Thessalonians Christians received the gospel of God with faith in the joy of the Holy Spirit despite persecutions by the hostile Jews. They were good role models in the faith and they evangelized the gospel throughout Macedonia, Achaia, and beyond.
VV 9-10, 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
The Thessalonian Christians turned from idolatry to the true and living God, who resurrected Jesus Christ, the Son from the dead, and delivered them from God’s wrath. They waited expectantly for the second coming of Christ.
Application:
We must pray for our Christian friends and associates personally upholding them in prayers before God by names unceasingly and remembering their ministry and personal needs.
The gospel is God’s power of God for the salvation of lost souls. We must practice communicating the gospel to non-believers faithfully, accurately, and correctly.
The Thessalonian Christians were good role models who received the gospel with joy and evangelized to others in their community. We should emulate the Thessalonians in their work of faith and labor of love for the gospel.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for walking with us through 1 Thessalonians on a verse-by-verse basis. We pray for an enriched and challenging spiritual journey of faith. We pray for the impartation of truth, maturity in faith, conviction of hearts, renewal of minds, and transformation of attitudes, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
