Year of the Bible
1 Thessalonians 1
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Commentary on the First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, Chapter 1:
What we’re about to read is likely the oldest piece of writing in the entire New Testament, and within the first five verses all persons of the Trinity and what will later be known as the “theological virtues” are mentioned--a testament to the living transmission of faith in the early Church. In this letter written about two decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, we get a snapshot view of Jesus’ followers in the middle of the 1st century. The letter is written from three missionaries--Paul, Silvanus (also called Silas), and Timothy (vs. 1)--to the Church, meaning those who profess Jesus as Lord (both Gentiles and Jews) in the city of Thessalonica (modern-day Greece). Notice that this small group of believers does not stand alone, they are “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 1). This community of believers traces its origins to the events described in Acts 17 and are bearing fruits, enduring persecution and evangelizing (vs. 6-8).
The First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, Chapter 1:
Salutation
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the Church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brethren beloved by God, that he has chosen you; 5 for our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit; 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
9 For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
*Daily Lectio Divina Question:
This is a prayer of thanksgiving and encouragement of the community's faith, acknowledging the past from which they came. Holy Spirit, help me reflect in gratitude on the past from which you've brought me from my idols to greater levels of faith and life in Jesus. Help me have a grateful heart this day.
Biblical Commentary provided by the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan. Join a Catholic Biblical School of Michigan class this September at Holy Family in Grand Blanc or online.
Revised Standard Version; Second Catholic Edition. (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006).
Permission to use the RSV-2CE given for Bishop's Year of the Bible by Ignatius Press. Many thanks to Ignatius for this.
If you're looking for a good Catholic edition of the Bible, look no further.
1 Pablo, Silvano y Timoteo, a la iglesia de
los tesalonicenses, en Dios Padre y en
el Señor Jesucristo: la gracia y la paz estén
con vosotros.
2 Damos continuamente gracias a
Dios por todos vosotros, teniéndoos
presentes en nuestras oraciones. 3 Sin cesar
recordamos ante nuestro Dios y Padre
vuestra fe operativa, vuestra caridad
esforzada y vuestra constante esperanza
en nuestro Señor Jesucristo.
4 Sabemos, hermanos amados por
Dios, que habéis sido elegidos; 5 porque
nuestro evangelio no se os predicó sólo
con palabras, sino con poder, con el Espíritu
Santo y con plena convicción. Bien
sabéis cómo nos hemos comportado entre
vosotros para vuestro provecho.
6 Ciertamente os hicisteis imitadores
nuestros y del Señor, acogiendo la
palabra con el gozo del Espíritu Santo,
aun en medio de grandes tribulaciones;
7 hasta el punto de que os habéis convertido
en modelo para todos los creyentes
de Macedonia y de Acaya. 8 Porque
a partir de vosotros se ha difundido la
palabra del Señor, no sólo en Macedonia
y en Acaya, sino que por todas partes
se ha propagado vuestra fe en Dios,
de modo que nosotros no tenemos necesidad
de decir nada. 9 Ellos mismos
cuentan qué acogida nos dispensasteis
y cómo os convertisteis a Dios abandonando
los ídolos, para servir al Dios
vivo y verdadero 10 y esperar desde los
cielos a su Hijo Jesús –a quien resucitó
de entre los muertos– que nos libra de
la ira venidera.
Pregunta de Lectio Divina del día de hoy
Esta es una oración de agradecimiento y de estímulo de la fe de la comunidad, reconociendo el pasado del que proceden. Espíritu Santo, ayúdame a reflexionar con gratitud sobre el pasado del que me has sacado de mis idolatrías a un mayor nivel de fe y vida en Jesús. Ayúdame a tener un corazón de gratitud en este día.
La Biblia de Navarra
Permiso para usar esta versión de la primera edición de la Biblia de Navarra
para el Año de la Biblia del Obispo
dado por Ediciones Universidad de Navarra, S.A. (EUNSA).