11 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy , To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ : Grace to you and peace .
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers ; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and [1] steadfastness of hope [2]in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father , 4 knowing , brethren beloved by God , His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only , but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction ; just as you know what kind of men we [3]proved to be among you for your sake .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
(Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5)
As all good comes from God, so no good can be hoped for by sinners, but from God in Christ. And the best good may be expected from God, as our Father, for the sake of Christ. We should pray, not only for ourselves, but for others also; remembering them without ceasing. Wherever there is a true faith, it will work; it will affect both the heart and life. Faith works by love; it shows itself in love to God, and love to our neighbour. And wherever there is a well-grounded hope of eternal life, this will appear by the exercise of patience; and it is a sign of sincerity, when in all we do, we seek to approve ourselves to God. By this we may know our election, if we not only speak of the things of God with out lips, but feel their power in our hearts, mortifying our lusts, weaning us from the world, and raising us up to heavenly things. Unless the Spirit of God comes with the word of God, it will be to us a dead letter. Thus they entertained it by the power of the Holy Ghost. They were fully convinced of the truth of it, so as not to be shaken in mind by objections and doubts; and they were willing to leave all for Christ, and to venture their souls and everlasting condition upon the truth of the gospel revelation.