Colossians 1
1 Thessalonians, Chapter 1 is the opening section of the letter Paul writes to the believers of the Thessalonian church. In this chapter, Paul and his co-workers (Silvanus and Timothy) express gratitude and praise for the Thessalonian believers, and they mention their faith and their transformed way of life. The beginning of this letter consists of a greeting that prays for “grace and peace,” along with thanks for the Thessalonian church’s practice of faith, love, and hope.
1versePaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2verseto the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3verseWe give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4versehaving heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
5versebecause of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News
6versewhich has come to you, even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth,
7verseeven as you learned from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on your behalf,
8versewho also declared to us your love in the Spirit.
9verseFor this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don’t cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10versethat you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God,
11versestrengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy,
12versegiving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light,
13versewho delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love,
14versein whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.
15verseHe is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16verseFor by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him.
17verseHe is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
18verseHe is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19verseFor all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him,
20verseand through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
21verseYou, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil deeds,
22verseyet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,
23verseif it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I, Paul, was made a servant.
24verseNow I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the assembly,
25verseof which I was made a servant according to the stewardship of God which was given me toward you to fulfill the word of God,
26versethe mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints,
27verseto whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28verseWe proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;
29versefor which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
The Structure and Flow of Chapter 1
- Greeting (v. 1): Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy greet the church and pray for God’s grace and peace.
- Gratitude and Praise (vv. 2-4): Paul gives thanks whenever he thinks of the church’s believers in Thessalonica, praising their work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope. He also expresses his confidence that they are clearly chosen.
- The Power of the Gospel and Transformation (vv. 5-7): It emphasizes that the gospel was delivered not merely as words, but with the power and assurance of the Holy Spirit. As a result, the people of Thessalonica received the gospel with joy by following the example of Jesus and the apostles even amid difficulties, and they became an example themselves, exerting a good influence on the surrounding regions.
- A Transformed Life and Testimony (vv. 8-10): Their faith became widely known beyond the two regions of Macedonia and Achaia, and it was reported that they turned away from idols and returned to the true God. Finally, it highlights that they live with hope in the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The Main Message of Chapter 1
This chapter shows that after the Thessalonian church believed in Jesus, a real and practical transformation emerged in their lives, and that the change influenced not only their local community but also other churches. The three key virtues of faith, love, and hope are mentioned, emphasizing inner assurance brought by the gospel, the work of the Holy Spirit, and practical change resulting from the gospel. Paul shows that true faith does not end with a change of the heart—it becomes evident in the whole of life.
Points for Reflection
- Is my faith showing itself through the fruits of faith, love, and hope?
- Is the community I belong to becoming an example of the gospel?
- How is my faith, not just my words, actually changing my life?
- How much do I live with hope for the second coming of Jesus Christ?
Applying It to My Life
Today, I reflect on what changes have taken place in my life as someone who believes in Jesus. I can examine whether I am becoming an example of faith, love, and hope to the people I meet, and if there are parts where my faith is not being shown through actions, I can decide to apply the gospel to my life again. Also, check whether you are living awake each day with hope for the Lord’s return.
As part of Coupang Partners activities, this post may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
