Cause to Be Thankful. 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4.
Dear Family,
Paul gave thanks to God for the Thessalonians in the previous passage. He now states why he is grateful. The three words he uses here, faith, love,e and hope are characteristic of Paul (see also 5:8; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5-6). They are a way of saying that the Christians are
Committed (v. 3). The commitment is demonstrated in the _Work of Faith_Another way to say this would be “work produced by faith.” Faith results in constructive action. When one claims to believe but one’s faith is not backed by actions that testify to that faith, we have reason to have doubts.
Labour of Love. Another way to paraphrase this would be to say “effort motivated by love.” This is most probably related to the fact that the Thessalonians had sent Paul a financial gift. This is implied in Acts 18:5 where Paul devoted himself entirely to the preaching of the word, meaning that he did not at this time apply his trade, again most probably because Silas and Timothy had brought a gift from the Thessalonians that enabled him to meet his expenses and those of his fellow evangelists.
Steadfastness of Hope. The Thessalonians had faced trying times. The Jewish mob in their city was rowdy and fervid in its opposition to the preaching of the gospel (Acts 17:5-8). Yet the Thessalonian Christians held on unwavering to the hope promised in the gospel and endured persecution.
Chosen (v. 4). Paul makes the emphatic statement that he knows God has “chosen” the Thessalonians. He says that they are loved by God and the word translated chosen is elsewhere translated “elect.” An election is God’s sovereign act of choosing some for eternal life. How this works we do not understand. All we know is that God in his infinite wisdom has appointed some to inherit eternal life and the riches of heaven. Why some and not others are not ours to say. Paul rejoices in this knowledge and gives thanks, so should we, if we are in Christ.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.