Peter Barnes | 1 Thessalonians 1:1-4
SERMON NOTES: A CHURCH OF GOD (1 Thessalonians 1:1-4)
On his second missionary journey, Paul reached Thessalonica in northern Greece (Macedonia). See Acts 17:1-10. From Corinth, about the year A.D. 50 or perhaps 51, he wrote to Thessalonica after hearing news from Timothy (1 Thess.3:6; Acts 18:5). It was probably Paul’s second epistle, after that to the Galatians.
- Paul’s thankful prayers for the Thessalonian church.
– 1:1. Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy were with Paul on his second missionary journey, but clearly Paul was the main author – 5:27.
– the church is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. There is one preposition, and it covers the Father and Christ. B. B. Warfield wrote of Paul: ‘God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are not to him two objects of worship, two sources or blessing, but one object of worship, one source of blessing.’
– 1:2-3a; Col.1:3-5; Phil.1:3-5. Heidelberg Catechism Q.116: ‘prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness God requires of us’.
- The church is exhibit faith, love and hope.
– 1:3. Calvin calls this ‘a brief definition of true Christianity’.
(a) ‘your work of faith’. The NIV has ‘work produced by faith’.
(b) ‘your labour of love’. The NIV is helpful: ‘labour prompted by love’. Hence 2 Cor.11:24-28 and 1 John 3:17-18.
(c) ‘your steadfastness of hope’. Or, ‘endurance inspired by hope’ (NIV). Without Christian hope, we give up – 2 Cor.4:9, 16-17. I
John Eadie: ‘Faith is child-like, hope is saint-like, but love is God-like.’
- The church is elect.
– 1:4. The NKJV has ‘knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God’, but the ‘beloved’ is in the wrong place. Eph.1:4-5; Col.3:12.