1 Thessalonians 1:1- 1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. NASU A. Paul and Silvanus and Timothy - It is notable that Paul does not identify himself as an Apostle in his greeting in 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Typically Paul’s greeting includes a reference to his position as an Apostle.

1 Corinthians 1:1 - 1by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, NASB Galatians 1:1 - 1, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), NASB

Ephesians 1:1 - 1, to the saints who are at Ephesus,

and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: NASB It appears that his status as an Apostle was not in question by this church, or even in this entire region where Paul had established so many churches. Additionally, he adds the names of Silvanus and Timothy, his travelling companions on his second missionary journey and fellow laborers in the Gospel. Silas, likely a Hellenistic Jew (note the Greek name Silvanus), was a prominent member in the early church establishing churches with Paul in the Gentile world and later acting as a scribe for Peter as is stated in 1 Peter 5:12. Timothy was Paul’s “son in the faith” and faithful companion and worker through much of Paul’s Apostolic ministry. Timothy worked tirelessly in the ministry as pastor, evangelist and missionary. He is the subject of Paul’s Pastoral Letters 1 & 2 Timothy. Even though both Silas and Timothy are included in the greeting, this is simply a consolation of grace on Paul’s part to include them as they were fellow workers with him in the church’s conversion and ongoing health. This was a frequent practice by Paul, who’s authorship of the Thessalonians letters is rarely questioned noting the use of the personal pronoun “I” in 2:18, 3:5, 5:27. Paul the Apostle is the author of both 1 & 2 Thessalonians. B. To the church of the Thessalonians – Paul’s inclusion of the word “church” is the common word for gathered Christians which is the English translation of the word “ekklesia” meaning “the called out ones” or “the chosen ones.” No doubt this remarkably healthy church is among the true elect people of God as is evidenced by their fruitful life and Paul’s statement in verse 4.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 - 4 knowing,; NASU Now Thessalonica was no small city but was in fact the capitol city in the entire province of Macedonia. Therefore God’s establishment of such a prominent and healthy church here, in spite of strong Satanic opposition, was a very strategic matter in regards to the evangelization of this region of the Roman World. William Burkitt comments; “Thessalonica was the metropolis, or mother city of Macedonia, where a Christian church was planted by the ministry of St. Paul and Silas, but with great opposition from the Jews, who forced Paul to fly to Berea for his own safety, Acts 17, and Jason, with others that entertained him, had like to have been sacrificed in their own houses; yet there, in despite of the devil's rage, and persecutor's malice, doth God erect a glorious church, a Christian church, in honor of his son, who purchased it with his blood.” Wouldn’t it be something if we could see ourselves as such a strategic and fruitful ministry in our region of the world and point in history as this glorious Thessalonian church. C. in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – It is a marvelous truth to understand the relation that we now have with God through Christ. Just like the greeting in 2 Thessalonians Paul states that the church is “in God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is no small statement but one which describes our union with God and also with Christ. We are “in” Him. That is, we participate in the very life of God because of the unique position we now hold because of our redemption by Christ. Having been sanctified by the blood of Christ in the atonement, we have now become the very dwelling place of God, who lives in us by the presence of His Holy Spirit. As Paul states elsewhere, we are the very “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19). But even