1 Thessalonians 1:1

King James Version (KJV)

Paul, and Silvanus, 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.

Translations

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Amplified Bible

PAUL, SILVANUS (Silas), and Timothy, to the assembly (church) of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah): Grace (spiritual blessing and divine favor) to you and [heart] peace.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - American Standard Version

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Bible in Basic English

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.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Darby Bible

Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the assembly of Thessalonians in God [the] Father and [the] Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - English Standard Version

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - King James Version

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - La Biblia de las Americas

Pablo, Silvano y Timoteo, a la iglesia de los tesalonicenses en Dios Padre y en el Señor Jesucristo: Gracia a vosotros y paz.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - The Message

I, Paul, together here with Silas and Timothy, send greetings to the church at Thessalonica, Christians assembled by God the Father and by the Master, Jesus Christ. God’s amazing grace be with you! God’s robust peace!

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - New American Standard Bible

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.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Pablo, Silvano y Timoteo, a la iglesia de los Tesalonicenses en Dios Padre y en el Señor Jesucristo: Gracia a ustedes y paz.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - World English Bible

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.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Young's Living Translation

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, to the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - Additional Comments

In Paul's second missionary journey, Paul had planned to go to Asia, but was told in a vision to go to Macedonia instead, which happened to be where Thessalonica was (see notes on Acts 16:9-10).
In the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey, he visited Thessalonica for a few weeks, and established a church there (Acts 17:1-10). Since Paul has spent so little time in Thessalonica, he was concerned they did not grasp the depth of the gospel, and that their lives were not fashioned as they should be to these principles. Paul sent Timothy later to check on them (1 Thess 3:1-5), and they brought back a mostly good report. They were suffering some tribulations. And, we see in 1 Thess 4:11, 5:14 that there was some trouble.
Thessalonica was founded around 315 BC by the King Cassander of Macedon. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great. It was part of the Kingdom of Macedon. After the fall of the kingdom of Macedon in 168 BC, Thessalonica became a city of the Roman Republic. It grew to be an important trade-hub located on the Via Egnatia and facilitating trade between Europe and Asia. The city became the capital of one of the four Roman districts of Macedonia.
Thessalonica (aka Salonica) currently is the second-largest city in Greece and is the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region. It is the largest city in the wider geographical region of Macedonia. It has a population of around 360,000.
The letters to the Thessalonians were the first of Paul's letters, written in 52 AD, during his second missionary journey, when he was in Corinth for 18 months. Paul wrote this letter after Timothy had returned from Macedonia with news of the state of the church in Thessalonica (Acts 18:1-5; 1 Thess 3:6).
It is the oldest existing Christian document (the gospels were written over a decade later).
The church was composed almost exclusively of Gentiles. This reflects the ethnic and religious makeup of Thessalonica. However, there were Jews in the church, as Acts 17:1-4 states that there were Jews converted during Paul's initial preaching in Thessalonica.
Paul's main purpose in writing is to encourage and reassure the Christians there, but he also includes some doctrine, since he had spent so little time there. Paul urges them to go on working quietly while waiting in hope for the return of Christ.
This letter is from Paul, Silvanus (aka Silas), and Timothy. After Paul's split with Barnabas, Silas was Paul's partner in his journeys.
The church was "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". They were a diverse church, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, but in Christ were one.
The desire for them is for them to gave grace, for without God's grace, no gift of God can be given. Grace is God's favor to us who don't deserve it, so every gift from God is through his grace. All good is from God, and no good comes to us without His grace.
And then he wishes for them to have the peace that only God can give (Phil 4:6-7). What is more desiarable on this earth than to live in peace? Especially since they had "received the word in much affliction" (vs 6).

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