Thanksgiving for Their Faith and Witness
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
1Thess.1.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Σιλουανος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Τιμοθεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εκκλησια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- Θεσσαλονικεων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- εν: PREP
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- πατρι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστω·χαρις: NOUN,dat,sg,m;NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- ειρηνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 1:1 (structural): Identical opening authorship and address: 'Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy' to the Thessalonian church—same greeting formula and co-senders.
- Philippians 1:2 (verbal): Close verbal parallel: the blessing 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' matches the twofold source of blessing in 1 Thess 1:1.
- Romans 1:7 (verbal): Similar greeting formula addressing a local church with the phrase 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,' linking divine source and salutary blessing.
- 1 Corinthians 1:2 (structural): Same epistolary structure—Paul (with a co-worker) addresses 'the church of God' at a particular city—typical Pauline salutation pattern reflected in 1 Thess 1:1.
- Colossians 1:2 (verbal): Parallel in address and blessing: recipients are 'saints/faithful brothers' in a specific locale and the salutation invokes grace and peace from God the Father (and Christ), echoing 1 Thess 1:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
- Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace and peace to you.
1Thess.1.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ευχαριστουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- παντοτε: ADV
- περι: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- μνειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ποιουμενοι: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- προσευχων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- αδιαλειπτως: ADV
Parallels
- Romans 1:9 (verbal): Paul says he 'without ceasing' makes mention of the recipients in his prayers—nearly identical language about continual prayer for believers.
- 1 Corinthians 1:4 (verbal): 'I give thanks to my God always for you'—same thanksgiving formula used by Paul in opening his letter.
- Philippians 1:3 (verbal): 'I thank my God upon every remembrance of you'—closely parallels the theme of thankful remembrance in prayer.
- Colossians 1:3 (verbal): 'We give thanks to God... praying always for you'—combines thanksgiving and continual prayer language very similar to 1 Thessalonians 1:2.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (thematic): 'We ought to give thanks to God always for you'—repeats Paul’s recurring practice/theme of constant gratitude for the Thessalonian believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- We always give thanks to God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers,
- We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers,
1Thess.1.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μνημονευοντες: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- εργου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πιστεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αγαπης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- υπομονης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ελπιδος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εμπροσθεν: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 (thematic): Expresses the central triad of faith, hope, and love, paralleling Paul’s emphasis on these virtues in the Thessalonian thanksgiving.
- Galatians 5:6 (verbal): Speaks of ‘faith working through love’ (πίστις ἐνεργουμένη διὰ ἀγάπης), echoing the linked concepts ‘work of faith’ and ‘labor of love’ in 1 Thess 1:3.
- Colossians 1:4-5 (verbal): Paul thanks God for the Colossians’ faith and love and connects both to the hope laid up for them, closely mirroring the faith–love–hope formula of 1 Thess 1:3.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (structural): A near‑parallel thanksgiving in the companion letter that likewise praises growth in faith, love, and steadfastness/endurance, showing Paul’s characteristic thanksgiving pattern.
- Romans 5:3-5 (thematic): Links suffering, perseverance (ὑπομονή), and hope—the theme of endurance leading to hope resonates with the ‘steadfastness of hope’ mentioned in 1 Thess 1:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- constantly recalling your work of faith, your labor of love, and your steadfast hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- remembering your work of faith, the labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father,
1Thess.1.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειδοτες: PTCP,perf,act,nom,pl,m
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ηγαπημενοι: VERB,perf,pass,part,nom,pl,m
- υπο: PREP
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εκλογην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
Parallels
- Eph.1.4-5 (verbal): Paul speaks of believers as 'chosen'/'elect' by God (ἐκλεκτοί), echoing the language of divine election and adoption used here.
- Rom.8.29-30 (thematic): Develops the theological sequence of foreknowledge, predestination, calling and glorification—parallel to the affirmation that God has chosen believers.
- John 15.16 (thematic): Jesus' declaration 'you did not choose me, but I chose you' parallels the idea that the community are recipients of God's initiative in election.
- 1 Pet.2.9 (verbal): Believers are described as a 'chosen/ elect race' and 'beloved'—language closely related to 'beloved by God' and 'your election' in 1 Thessalonians.
- Acts 13.48 (structural): The narrative formula 'as many as were appointed/ordained to eternal life believed' echoes the working out of divine election seen in Paul's commendation of the Thessalonian believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that God has chosen you;
- for we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you;
1Thess.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ευαγγελιον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εγενηθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μονον: ADV
- αλλα: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αγιω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- πληροφορια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πολλη: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- καθως: CONJ
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- οιοι: PRON,nom,pl,m
- εγενηθημεν: VERB,aor,mid,ind,1,pl
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- δι᾽υμας·: PREP
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (verbal): Paul contrasts mere persuasive speech with 'demonstration of the Spirit and of power'—language closely parallel to 1 Thess 1:5's 'not in word only but in power and in the Holy Spirit.'
- Romans 1:16 (thematic): The gospel is described as 'the power of God for salvation,' echoing 1 Thess 1:5's emphasis that the gospel came with power, not merely as words.
- Acts 1:8 (thematic): Jesus promises that the coming Holy Spirit will grant power and enable witness—linking the presence of the Spirit and empowering effect of proclamation found in 1 Thess 1:5.
- Acts 4:31 (thematic): After the believers prayed they were 'filled with the Holy Spirit' and spoke the word of God with boldness—an instance where proclamation is accompanied by Spirit-power, paralleling the experience described in 1 Thess 1:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction; as you yourselves know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
- for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
1Thess.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- μιμηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- εγενηθητε: VERB,aor,pass,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- δεξαμενοι: PART,aor,mid,nom,pl,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- θλιψει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πολλη: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- μετα: PREP
- χαρας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αγιου: ADJ,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 (verbal): Paul's explicit call to imitation: 'Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ' parallels 1 Thess 1:6's 'you became imitators of us and of the Lord.'
- Ephesians 5:1 (thematic): The injunction to 'be imitators of God' reflects the same ethical-theological motif of believers modeled after divine or apostolic example.
- Philippians 1:29 (thematic): Paul's remark that it has been granted to believers 'to suffer for Christ' connects with 1 Thess 1:6's note that they received the word amid much affliction.
- James 1:2–3 (thematic): James' command to 'count it all joy when you meet trials' resonates with the Thessalonians' reception of the word 'in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.'
- Acts 5:41 (structural): The early Christians' rejoicing 'that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name' parallels the combination of suffering and joy found in 1 Thess 1:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the message in the midst of great affliction, with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
- And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the message in the midst of much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
1Thess.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ωστε: CONJ
- γενεσθαι: VERB,aor,mid,inf
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- τυπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πιστευουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Μακεδονια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Αχαια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Titus 2:7 (verbal): Paul (or the pastoral instruction) uses the same language of 'setting an example'—explicitly calling leaders to be an example in word and deed, paralleling the Thessalonians’ role as a model to other believers.
- Philippians 3:17 (verbal): Paul exhorts believers to 'join in following my example' and to observe those who live according to the pattern in him, echoing the idea of believers serving as an example or pattern for others.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (structural): Immediate literary parallel within the same chapter: verse 6 speaks of the Thessalonians becoming 'imitators of us and of the Lord,' which explains and leads into verse 7’s claim that they became an example to believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
- Matthew 5:16 (thematic): Jesus’ instruction to let your light shine through good works so others may see and glorify God parallels the theme of visible Christian witness—believers acting as an example to others by their conduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- So that you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
- So that you became a pattern to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
1Thess.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αφ᾽υμων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,2
- γαρ: PART
- εξηχηται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λογος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μονον: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Μακεδονια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- Αχαια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αλλ᾽εν: CONJ
- παντι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- τοπω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- πιστις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εξεληλυθεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ωστε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- λαλειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τι·: PRON,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Romans 10:18 (verbal): Speaks of the message/'voice' going out to all the earth—verbal parallel to 1 Thess 1:8's claim that the word of the Lord has 'sounded out' from the Thessalonians. (Romans 10:18 quotes Psalm 19:4 but functions similarly.)
- Colossians 1:6-7 (thematic): Describes the gospel's spread and bearing fruit 'in the whole world' after it came to a local church—thematic parallel to faith from Thessalonica spreading to every place.
- Acts 8:4 (thematic): Reports that those scattered preached the word everywhere, providing an early Christian example of how the message spread from a local community, as 1 Thess 1:8 describes.
- Acts 17:6 (thematic): Neighbors describe the Thessalonian believers as those 'turning the world upside down,' a thematic echo of rapid, disruptive spread of the Christian message originating in Thessalonica.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (verbal): Paul asks that 'the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be glorified,' language that echoes and complements 1 Thess 1:8's observation that the word has already gone forth from the Thessalonians.
Alternative generated candidates
- For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and Achaia; your faith toward God has gone out everywhere, so that we have no need to say anything.
- For from you the report concerning us has gone out everywhere; not only in Macedonia and Achaia has the word of the Lord sounded forth, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not say anything.
1Thess.1.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- γαρ: PART
- περι: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- απαγγελλουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οποιαν: PRON,acc,sg,f
- εισοδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εσχομεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- προς: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- πως: ADV
- επεστρεψατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ειδωλων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- δουλευειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ζωντι: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αληθινω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 14:15 (verbal): Paul and Barnabas urge Gentile listeners to 'turn from these worthless things to the living God,' language closely echoing the Thessalonians' turning from idols to serve the living God.
- Acts 26:18 (thematic): Paul's commission to 'turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God' parallels the conversion motif of turning away from idolatry toward God.
- Romans 1:25 (thematic): Describes people exchanging the truth of God for idols—this provides a contrasting background to the Thessalonians' positive turning away from such exchange toward the true God.
- Jeremiah 10:10 (verbal): The Old Testament declaration that 'the LORD is the true God; he is the living God' echoes the phraseology used in 1 Thessalonians to describe the God now served by the converts.
- 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 (thematic): Paul's teaching that idols are nothing and that there is one God whom believers ultimately serve complements the Thessalonian theme of abandoning idol worship to serve the living, true God.
Alternative generated candidates
- For they themselves report concerning us what kind of reception we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
- For they themselves report concerning us what sort of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
1Thess.1.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αναμενειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ηγειρεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- Ιησουν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ρυομενον: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,sg,m
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- οργης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ερχομενης: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Titus 2:13 (thematic): Speaks of awaiting the 'blessed hope'—the appearing/coming of Jesus—paralleling the Thessalonians' expectation of the Son from heaven.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (structural): Within the same letter this passage unfolds the coming of the Lord from heaven and the resurrection/raising of the dead—an expanded treatment of the same eschatological hope.
- Acts 2:32 (verbal): Peter's proclamation that 'God raised Jesus from the dead' echoes the wording and theological claim that God raised Jesus, which the Thessalonian confession recounts.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (thematic): Affirms the theme that believers are not destined for God's wrath but are saved/kept from the coming wrath—directly parallel to 'who rescues us from the coming wrath.'
- Acts 17:31 (allusion): Links the resurrection as divine attestation with the coming judgment (God 'fixed a day' and 'proved' it by raising Jesus)—connecting resurrection and the eschatological accountability implied by 'coming wrath.'
Alternative generated candidates
- and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead—Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
- and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who is of the line of David—who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly remembering you in our prayers,
remembering without ceasing your work of faith, the labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father,
for we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you;
for our gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, receiving the word in the midst of much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit. So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, and your faith toward God has gone out everywhere; therefore we have no need to say anything.
For they themselves report concerning us what kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.