1 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, and Silvanus, (G4609 Σίλας Silas (siy’-las)) and Timotheus, unto the church* of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

G1577 ἐκκλησία ekklesia: (concretely, of Greece) an assembly of citizens (as called out by the town crier for a specific purpose) (specially, of Jesus) the citizenry of those to be Redeemed by Yeshua.

The Septuagint translators did not recognize and grasp this Hebraic context, and they mistranslated the Hebrew and also frequently misapplied this Greek word elsewhere, obscuring and distorting its meaning and application. The word ekklesia is used only of people, not a location, building, or structure, etc. The term should only be used for those seeking the Salvation found in Yeshua.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith,¹ and labor of love,² and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1. G2041 ἔργον ergon (er’-ğon) n. work (as an effort or occupation). This is where we hear the contemporary phrase “like its my job.” This word is combined with the word G4102 πίστις pistis (piy’-stis) n. the trust in Jesus and the resulting conduct and attitudes of abiding in the Truth Himself.

• James 2:14-26 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed (take account, reckon, reason) unto him for righteousness: ( G1343 δικαιοσύνη dikaiosune (d̮iy-kai-o-sï ’-nee) n.
  equity (of character or act). and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.“
• This is the Promise: Genesis 26:4-5 “And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; [this is the adherence to the Covenant:] Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
• 2. G2873 κόπος kopos (ko’-pos) n. wearisome labor (as reducing the strength). Combined with the word G26 ἀγάπη agape (a-ğa’-pee) n. love (i.e. affection or benevolence). (specially, plural) love feasts.
• John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” This is the exact same condition as Abraham. It is through our dedication to the Torah that we example love back to God. God exampled the Torah to us as an act of love, why would we not reflect that same love back to God? Romans 3:31 “Do we destroy the Law by our faith? Not at all! We make it even more powerful.”
• Genesis 17:9 “And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.”
• John 8:39 “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. [to paraphrase: If you are a “friend of God” then you too should know what to do, how to express love to God, and what selfless love looks like.]

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, (might, ability, wonderful work) and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men (content of their character) we were among you for your sake.

In Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech, Luther says, “I have a dream that one day my four little children will NOT be judged by the color of their skin BUT by the content of their character.” It would appear the writer of Thessalonians has the very same perspective about the relationship between God and humanity. This is why Paul tells us “to work out our salvation in fear and trembling”.

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

7 So that ye were ensamples* to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

• G5179 τύπος tupos (tï ’-pos) n. a model, manner, pattern, style or resemblance. In my opinion, this is a direct reference to Romans 3:31!

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

• G1837 ἐξηχέομαι execheomai (ex-ee-che’-o-mai) v. to “echo” forth. The use of the word echo is intentional as an echo repeats the original sound. These believers are examples of the Word of God… echoing the Torah to the people…

9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

This is first and foremost the biggest problem for mankind. We see this with Adam and Eve as they saw that the temptation offered up “looked good” forgetting that it violated the command of God. This si the definition of the word “sin”.

• 1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Torah: for sin is the transgression of the Torah.

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

• Exodus 34:6-8 “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.”
• Matthew 9:2 “And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

This is the Salvation from the penalty of sin when we seek reconciliation through repentance. This statement will be echoed and the room will fill with a multitude of “Amens”…. yet the behavior or the character of men does not match this concept.

Reconciliation – The act of reconciling, or the state of being reconciled; reconcilement; restoration to harmony; renewal of friendship.

Repentance – (Greco-Roman) Remorse or contrition for past conduct or sin. (Hebrew) The word Teshuvah is usually translated as repentance and includes verbal expression of one’s regret of misdeed, decision to change, and the pursuit of righteousness.

Mankind has been offered thousands of “apples” over the millennia’s by the Devil, one of which is Antinomianism. Antinomianism is the idea that mankind is no longer “under the law” meaning we are not required to do “works” or by living out the Torah. Living out the Torah can take two very different looks and this is the squabble in Acts 15. Living it out as an act of love is the goal, a submission to YHVH’s authority. When you dismiss the sacrifice Yeshua makes you deny the power of God and defeats the sacrifice the law requires. This places you back into bondage of the sin as the “law” is no longer satisfied “in His blood”.

If mankind wants to truly be the bride of Christ then we need to understand better what that looks like!

Proverbs 31:10-12 “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.“