The Bible — World English Bible

1 Thessalonians 1

In brief

In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul, Silvanus and Timothy thank God for the church in Thessalonica, a young community born in tribulation. They remember the faith that works, the love that labors and the hope that holds firm. The gospel came with power and by the Spirit, and the Thessalonians received it with joy. Their example spread throughout the region: they turned from idols to serve the living God and to wait for his Son who comes from heaven.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-3Greeting and thanks for faith, love and hope
  2. v. 4-5Brothers loved by God, and a gospel that came with power
  3. v. 6-8Imitators who became a model in the midst of tribulation
  4. v. 9-10Turning from idols, serving God and waiting for his Son

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly 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.

2We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,

3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

4We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,

5and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

6You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

7so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not to say anything.

9For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Key verses

Verse 3
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

Paul recalls three marks of a living Christian life: a faith that works, a love that labors and a hope that holds firm. Each is directed toward Jesus Christ.

Verse 5
and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.

The gospel did not come in words only: it came with power, by the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. The word that is preached is accompanied by an action of God.

Verse 9
For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

Paul describes conversion in two movements: turning away from idols and serving the living and true God. To be converted is a change of master, not only a change of opinion.

Verse 10
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Waiting for Jesus' return has been part of the Christian faith from the beginning. It rests on the resurrection and on deliverance from the coming wrath.

Bible verses to meditate on

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What the sermons say

Models of Faith: Three Marks of a Living BelieverThe sermon describes three marks of a believer: being loved and chosen by God, being worked on by the Spirit through the Word, and keeping the joy of salvation alive to the end.Read the summary →Slave of the Living God: True FreedomIt pauses on the verb serve in verse 9, which refers to the slave. Its teaching: you cannot serve two masters, and the Master of the one who is in Christ is good.Read the summary →The Nature and Purpose of Salvation (5): 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10It unpacks verse 10 in three points: Jesus is risen, he returns from heaven, he delivers from the coming wrath. Waiting for his return shapes a whole life.Read the summary →1 Thessalonians 5: Staying Sober-Minded in a World Fighting for Your AttentionIt sees in verses 9 and 10 a reason to live soberly: the believer awaits the return of Christ and does not simply live by the principles of the present world.Read the summary →Can Your Christian Freedom Wound Your Brother?It cites verse 9 to describe the recently converted believer, who comes out of idols and whose conscience remains fragile in the face of certain choices made by his brothers.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about 1 Thessalonians 1

What does 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 mean?

These verses sum up the conversion of the Thessalonians: they turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and they wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, who delivers them from the coming wrath. Christian faith thus combines letting go, service and a hope directed toward Jesus' return.

What do faith, love and hope in verse 3 mean?

Paul remembers the work of their faith, the labor of their love and the steadfastness of their hope. He shows that the Christian life is not passive: faith acts, love takes pains, hope holds on. These three qualities come back in other letters of Paul.

What does it mean that the Thessalonians were chosen?

In verse 4, Paul says he knows that they were chosen, that is, picked out by God. Christian traditions understand this election in different ways, particularly regarding the role of human freedom. The text stresses first of all God's love, of which believers are the beloved.

Articles quoting 1 Thessalonians 1

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World English Bible translation — public domain.