Fathers

1 Thessalonians 1

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Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not to say anything. For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

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What the Fathers say

1 Thessalonians 1:1

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Wherefore then, when writing to the Ephesians, and having Timothy with him, did he not include him with himself (in his salutation), known as he was to them and admired, for he says, "Ye know the proof of him, that as a child serveth the father, so he served with me in the Gospel" (Phil. ii. 22); and again, "I have no man like-minded who will care truly for your state" (ver. 20); but here he does associate him with himself? …

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 1 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians places Timothy alongside himself. Meanwhile, in the Epistle to the Ephesians he does not do this, even though Timothy was known to them. It seems to me this is because he intended to send him to the Ephesians immediately, which is why it was unnecessary to write the epistle on behalf of someone who was to deliver it. But here the situation is different: Timothy had recently returned from Thessalonica, so he rightly places him alongside himself. …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

The Apostle wishes to strengthen the Church in the face of tribulations. First, in the face of present tribulations, and Paul does this in the first letter to the Thessalonians. Secondly, Paul warns against tribulations to come in the time of the Antichrist, and he does this in the second letter to the Thessalonians. …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗