1 Thessalonians 1:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV: We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

NASB: constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,

CSB: We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

NLT: As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

KJV: Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

NKJV: remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

Paul remembered the Thessalonian believers as he prayed to God the Father. Jesus taught us to address God as "Father" (Luke 11:2). The name "Father" reflects God's love and care, and encourages us to trust Him. Paul remembered three supreme qualities his readers exhibited. They were faith, love, and hope, and are cited in 1 Corinthians 13:13 as enduring and highly commendable. The Christians at Thessalonica demonstrated faith that worked. It had resulted in repentance (see 1 Thessalonians 1:9). Their love for Jesus had caused them to toil for Him. Their hope in Christ's return had produced steadfast endurance of persecution.

First Thessalonians 1:1–3 identifies the writer as Paul, along with two missionary companions, Silvanus and Timothy, as he addresses the church at Thessalonica. Paul sends his greetings and expresses his gratitude for the way his readers were responding to the gospel. He specifically mentions three excellent qualities his readers exhibited: their work of faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness of hope. The believers demonstrated the pattern of grace that Paul describes in Ephesians 2:8–10. God's grace had saved them when they put their faith in Christ instead of endeavoring to be saved by their own efforts, and the same grace had produced in them the good works God had intended to produce in their lives.

First Thessalonians 1 records the apostle Paul's greetings to the Christians at Thessalonica. Thessalonica was the second city Paul preached in, after receiving a call to present the gospel in Macedonia. Philippi was the first city in Europe to receive the gospel from Paul. Both churches received a letter from Paul, but 1 Thessalonians, written around AD 51, was among the earliest of Paul's New Testament letters. In the first chapter, he expresses his gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and gives a brief background of what had happened during his visit to their city. He commends them for their spread of the gospel, their exemplary faith, and their turning from idols to serve the true God and to wait for Jesus' return.

The first chapter of 1 Thessalonians is mostly praise for these believers, from the apostle Paul. Paul is clearly delighted to hear that they have grown in their faith and begun to spread the gospel. Chapter two will continue reminding the Thessalonians about their prior experiences with Paul, and it includes more of his praise for their excellent efforts. Later chapters will address the questions lingering in the minds of these passionate Christians. Of particular interest, among these, are concerns related to the return of Christ. Paul will also address some areas where the church needs to improve, spiritually.

The apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. This stood alongside a major land route and boasted a busy seaport. A number of individuals believed Paul's message (Acts 17:1–4), but an angry mob forced Paul to leave the city after his brief stay. Later, while in Athens, Paul received a glowing report: the believers at Thessalonica were growing spiritually and serving God fervently. However, they had questions about the Lord's return, including what happens to a believer who dies before that day. And, as all churches do, they had some areas in which they were falling short. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, written about AD 51, he addresses these developments. Paul expresses gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and frequently makes references to Christ's impending return.