New Testament Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 1

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 1 The gospel comes both in word and in power.
1 PAUL, and ^aSilvanus, and ^bTimotheus, ^cunto the ^dchurch of the ^eThessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give ^athanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of ^afaith, and ^blabour of love, and ^cpatience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren ^abeloved, your ^belection of God.
5 For our ^agospel ^bcame not unto you in ^cword only, but also in ^epower, and in the ^eHoly Ghost^a, and in much assurance; as ye know what ^fmanner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became ^afollowers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much ^baffliction, with ^cjoy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ^aensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.	5^a our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost The word of God is not to be had as a matter of academic learning in word only, it is to be received and delievered in power from God being conveyed from God by the Holy Ghost, that spirit witnessing unto our hearts, minds, spirits and very beingins in all of its facites and feelings. It is not just a mental exercise of learning, words heard and remembered. It is a spiritual experience confirmed by the power of God and the influence of the Holy Ghost, to our spirit, mind heart and very being in total.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every ^aplace your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from ^aidols to serve the ^bliving and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from ^aheaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which ^bdelivered us from the ^cwrath to come.