Post 9. Explanation of the Text. The Introduction. ch.1.1,2

1.1 (Weymouth New Testament) Paul, Silas, and Timothy: To the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be granted to you.

Notes : Paul named the Sender and the Recipients. This was the usual formula for a letter in the First Century, AD.  Silas = Silvanus (Greek); Silas is just a variant reading (NIV margin).
Paul and Silvanus had Latin names as they were Roman Citizens.Read acts 16 37 -38.  Heb. Saul and Silas. Silvanus was a prophet and a member of the Jerusalem church who had been sent to Antioch in Syria.Acts 15:27,30, 32,40

Timothy had joined the Evangelistic church planting band en route at Derbe.

Grace and Peace be granted to you. v.1c

For Grace compare (hesed) Hebrew for kindness/loving-kindness
Exodus 43:6 "Yahweh abounds in (love and kindness).
Note there is a prayer for God's grace at the end of all Pauline Letters
eg. Heb 13:25; Rom 16:23 1 Cor 16:23; 2 Cor 13:14.

To the Church in Thessaloniki which is in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the relationship in which the Church dwells. Shogren in = ('Ev). The church is grounded in (en with locative case) It exists in the sphere of and the power of, God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Acts 13:23 Paul preached " From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel the Saviour Jesus, ...." In the Sermon in Antiochine Pisidia Paul proved that God had fulfilled His Promise to Israel in raising up 'Jesus as Saviour,' Christ comes from christos = the Anointed'; (chrio = to anoint) Jesus Christ is His Proper Name while Lord (Kurios) is His Title. Ps 32: 2; Romans 4:8 and 1 Cor 3:5.

The Place of Grace and Peace is only found in that vital attachment to God and His Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

II Thanksgiving to God for His saving intervention.

v.2. We continually give thanks to God because of you all, while we make mention of you in our prayers

Notes:  Thanksgiving

1. Thanksgiving is expansive in its character not just for personal gifts. It displays a nobler generosity to be thankful for the good of others.
2. making mention of you in our prayers.Paul had a huge prayer list as he prayed each day. Just think of all the churches and believers he had to pray for. It always included THANKSGIVING.

 Many great praying believers have a note book in which they write out the list for each day. My mother had a list which included a city on the Yangsi Kiang River where she prayed for souls to be saved up and down that river. What revival God worked in that Land in answer to prayer.

 Related image
Picture of people praying. Joshuafund.com




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