Chapter 1
V1 Peculiarly Paul, unlike most of his other epistles, omits the phrase ‘servant of Yeshua haMashiach called to be an apostle’. Such parlance is also omitted in his epistle to the Philippians, which is the other Macedonian ecclesia that he wrote to. The love and affection that these two congregations had for Paul, made it superfluous for him to vigorously defend such appellations, which they undoubtedly readily accepted of him. Silvanus, Latin form of the Aramaic name Silas, was of greater eminence than Timothy, being most likely older too, which explains his secondary mention as opposed to the tertiary of Timotheus cf Acts 15:22, 1 Pet 5:12 versus Acts 16:1-3, 1 Tim 4:12. Silas is Aramaic for woody, Timotheos being Greek for "honouring Elohim". In classic form, Paul delineates Elohim the Father from Master Yeshua the Messiah, Son of Elohim. They are two components of the triune Elohim-head found in the Name Yehovah, being completed by the Holy Spirit our parakletos/comforter,succourer Jn 14:16.
Grace/charis is the merciful kindness by which Elohim, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Messiah, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues. Peace/eirene is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Messiah, and so fearing nothing from Elohim and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. Grace and truth came by Yeshua Jn 1:17.
V2 The ‘we’ refers to Paul, Silas and Timothy, who in Acts chapter 17 encountered persecution together with the faithful converts at Thessalonica, and as such had become one kindred spirit, deserving of each other’s prayers for preservation from the Almighty.
V3 These three virtues of faith, hope and love enshrine Christianity. We are told however, that the greatest of these is love in 1 Cor 13:13. Also cf Rev 2:19; Jm 2:17. It is imperative to note that although the entry level into being justified is faith, one must then work out their salvation in the Christian walk by exhibiting good works. These good works are the will of Elohim, which is evidenced wholly in the keeping of Torah, as prescribed in scripture. This poignant truth is further elucidated in Gal 5:6 whereby it is categorically stated that this faith must work through love. Without love, the works of faith become a rigorous, rigid and pointless exercise of which Paul went to great lengths to outline cf Rom 3:23-30; 1 Cor 13:1-3.
Yeshua further summarised the Torah in Matt 22:35-40. Torah detractors have erroneously interpreted scripture as alluding to being saved by faith. Faith does not lead to salvation, but it does lead one onto the path of salvation. It is explicitly stated in the O.T and N.T that we are justified by faith Hab 2:4: Rom 5:1. Faith in the redemptive blood of Yeshua, is for justification of the neophyte who has been freed from the kingdom of darkness and entered the kingdom of light. To remain in the kingdom of Elohim which is synonymous with the congregation of Israel, this faith must be exercised through obedience to Elohim by keeping His commandments which is the labour of love so described by Paul cf Jn 14:15-16;15:10.
Once faith is exercised through love of Elohim and of one’s neighbour (Torah keeping), then the purpose of the Christian walk becomes meaningful, that is to say to patiently await the return of Yeshua to free us from the sting of death, and concomitantly reward us for those very works of faith exhibited in our pilgrimage on earth cf 1 Cor 15:55-58; 2 Cor 5:7-10. These three virtues were fully exercised in Spirit and in truth by the Thessalonians, these not being unnoticed in the sight of Elohim the Father and Yeshua the Son, in whom they abided with through following their commandments.
V4 Yehovah invites every human being to be partakers of His kingdom, however the majority refuse to answer this call cf Matthew 22:14. The Israelites were the first called, but after many centuries of rejecting Yehovah, the Gentiles were afforded this invitation Rom 9:25. Those who call upon the name of Yehovah are redeemed and accepted of Him, becoming His very elect cf Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21. It is through the labour of love, exhibited by works of faith that the purpose of Elohim is fulfilled, leading to the conformation of the elect unto Yeshua the Messiah for them to partake in all His promises peculiar to the divine nature cf Rom 8:28-32; 2 Pet:1:10.
It must be stressed that election, as of justification, does not guarantee salvation cf Matt 7:13-14. Many are invited/called, but few are chosen. The chosen enter the stenos/ Greek for strait, narrow. Of those chosen/elected, to attain salvation, they are to trudge through the thlibo/troubled, afflicted way that leads to eternal life cf Phil 2:12. Unfortunately, a good measure of the elect succumbs to the tribulations and few find their way to eternal life. The reality of life is that some unsettle their election whilst very few make it sure.
V5 cf 1 Cor 2:4-6. In every instance that Yeshua preached the gospel, it was accompanied by a display of the dunamis/ miraculous power of the Holy Spirit cf Lk 4:18. This applied to His disciples too cf Lk 9:6. The purpose of the gospel of salvation, is to convict one’s heart of the truth that is found in the life giver Yeshua the Messiah, in order for one to be freed from the kingdom of Satan, to experience peace cf Eph 1:3; 6:15. All false religions are filled with verbosity and all manner of concepts and theories, which do not transform into physical manifestations of miraculous doings. Preaching accompanied with Holy Spirit power is woefully absent in many a Christian church of today, and even the churchgoers themselves, largely continue living in sin, due to this lack of spiritual conviction through signs and wonders.
V6 cf Acts 17:1-5. Paul and Silas had preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, and managed to win many souls, despite great persecution from the Jewish antagonists, and subsequent resistance from the rulers of the city, once false reports had been relayed to them by the Judaizers. Although it may seem to be an oxymoron, there is indeed joy to be found in the Holy Spirit during times of affliction Jn 16:33; 2 Tim 3:12; Acts 14:22.
The narrow, troubled path that leads to eternal life is found by those who joyfully endure in the hope of receiving their eternal bounty in the Kingdom of Elohim at the bema seat judgement of 2 Cor 5:10. Mimetes translated ‘followers’ is Greek for ‘imitators’. This is irrefutable evidence that these Gentiles, who had accepted Yeshua as Messiah, imitated not only Paul, but Yeshua the Master as well, both of whom followed Torah as it is not for the Jew only but also for the Gentile cf Ex 12:49; Lev 24:22; Num 15:15-16.
V7 Macedonia and Achaia referred to all of Greece. Greece was a hotbed of extreme idolatrous worship filled with Gentiles who were perfect targets for soul winning. The Thessalonians were examples for these of how to live the Christian life walking in the Holy Spirit. As categorically stated in v6 these Gentile converts were imitating the Torah-observing ways of Paul and of Yeshua Himself. Undeniably, the Gentiles in the rest of the world were to follow this example too, unlike future converts who rejected Torah, due to the lie that was propelled by the Roman Catholic hegemony.
V8 Not only was the Logos/word sounded out from the ecclesia in Thessalonica to other ecclesia in Macedonia and Achaia, but the fame of their faith was known throughout all Christian circles. It is almost impossible to hide news of Christians suffering persecution in any quarter of the world, as their resilience in holding onto their beliefs at all cost, confounds the minds of their oppressors, and inevitably becomes somewhat legendary. It is important to bear in mind that the Word of the Master Yeshua is congruous with Torah cf Isa 1:10; 2:3; 5:24.
V9 Repentance turns the new believer away from whatever idol they worshipped before i.e. whatever vice kept them in bondage. We need to be wary of the fact that this is not limited to statues bowed down to, but to anything in one’s life that may keep them so preoccupied as to ignore the calling of Yeshua unto election. Modern day Christendom finds itself deluded and entangled in the false security of idolatry in the form of riches grossly misinterpreted as blessings cf Rev 3:17-18.
V10 This alludes to the hope mentioned in verse 3, which is that for the return of Yeshua the Messiah, who shall free us forever from the trials and tribulations exercised by Satan and his kingdom, against all true believers. Yeshua was raised from the dead by all three members of the Elohim-head:
a. By Elohim the Father Acts 2:24
b. The Holy Spirit Rom 8:11
c. Yeshua the Son Jn 2:19,21; 10:17-18
This theme of Yeshua’s second advent resonates throughout this epistle, reaching its crescendo in the fourth chapter, whereby Paul expounds his divine revelation of this subject matter.