NOTES for Th1 1:1-10

Thus faith, brotherly love, and perseverance are growing in the community at Thessalonica. Wonderful! Surely Paul will praise the faithful? But no. Yes, he acknowledges that all is well in the community. Yet the believers themselves deserve relatively little credit for this. Above all, Paul considers it necessary to thank God; indeed, he emphasizes that this is only just. Thus, when we forget to thank Him and attribute all the credit to ourselves, or even to someone else—to a human being rather than to God—we act unjustly.