1 Thessalonians 1:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

NIV: For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

NASB: knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you;

CSB: For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

NLT: We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

KJV: Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

NKJV: knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

Paul refers to the believers at Thessalonica as "brothers." He and his readers had believed in Jesus as Savior and thereby had become members of God's family. God was their Father, and they were brothers. God loved the Thessalonian Christians and had selected them to belong to Him.

In the New Testament, the term "brothers" is a common designation for believers. When Jesus was teaching a crowd, a man told Him His mother and brothers wanted to speak to Him. He asked: "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" (Matthew 12:48). Then He gestured toward His disciples and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother" (Matthew 12:49–50).

When the Twelve addressed their fellow believers to elect seven administrators of the daily distribution, they called the believers "brothers" (Acts 6:3). The believers in Judea who were recipients of a relief offering are called "brothers" (Acts 11:29). Paul addressed the believers at Rome as "brothers" (Romans 1:13; 7:1; 8:12; 10:1; 12:1; 15:30; 16:17). He called the Corinthian believers, Galatian believers, Ephesian believers, and Colossian believers "brothers" (1 Corinthians 1:26; Galatians 4:12; Ephesians 6:23; Colossians 1:2).

First Thessalonians 1:4–10 expresses Paul's confidence in the fact that God had saved his readers. He presents convincing evidence that they belong to God. He recalls how they had responded when they first heard the gospel, what kind of individuals they had become as a result of believing the gospel, and how effectively they had spread the gospel. He sums up their experience as having left paganism behind to serve God and to look forward to Jesus' return.

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.