Introduction

Though "placed after the other letters" of Paul to the churches, it "is thought to have been written before them, about AD51." The letter expresses Paul's thankfulness to God "for the effectiveness of his preaching among the Thessalonians," and aims "to strengthen them in the faith, and to convince them to lead holy lives."

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2

v1: The church was the real deal.  "They believed in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ."  Within the church were Gentiles who "had turned to God from idols," and Jews who "believed Jesus to be the promised Messiah."  Whether Jew or Gentile, "all of them were devoted and dedicated to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: to God as their chief good and highest end, to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Mediator between God and humanity."

v2: Thankfulness to God "for the favours we ourselves receive but also for the benefits given to others," is what believers in Christ should be known for.  "Even when we do not actually give thanks to God by our words, we should have a grateful sense of God's goodness in our hearts."  To our thanksgiving we should pray, seeking from God for ourselves and others, more of His grace.