(1Th 1:4 KJV) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
(Cambridge Bible) 1 Thessalonians 1:4
knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God] Better, following the A. V. margin and R. V., knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election: comp. 2Th_2:13, “brethren beloved by the Lord.”
The Apostle thinks of his readers as brethren, for he has just been carrying them in his thoughts in prayer “before our God and Father.” The knowledge that God their Father loves them and has chosen them for His own, gives confidence to the Apostle’s prayers for them and inexpressible joy to his thanksgivings. Comp. 2Th_2:13: “We are bound to give thanks always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you,” &c.; and Eph_1:3-5, “Blessed be God …, Who blessed us in every spiritual blessing, … according as He chose us in Christ,” &c.
The participle “beloved” is not however present in tense, as though the Thessalonians were simply loved now, in consequence of their newly-acquired Christian worth; it is in the Greek perfect tense, signifying a love existing in the past and realised in the present, the antecedent and foundation of their goodness. So in 1Jn_3:1: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath given us, that we should be called sons of God!”
The Christian excellence of the Thessalonians, therefore, moved the Apostle and his companions to thanksgiving (1Th_1:2-3), not simply on its own account, but because it marked them out as the objects of God’s loving choice. The word election, here occurring for the first time in St Paul’s Epistles, and expressing one of his most important doctrines, needs to be carefully studied. The N. T. use of the word originates in the O. T. idea of Israel as God’s “peculiar possession,” “the people whom He chose for His inheritance” (see Psa_33:12; Psa_135:4; Deu_14:2; Isa_43:1-7; &c.). Such “election” implies two things—(1) selection out of others, nations or men, who are not thus chosen—“the rest” (ch. 1Th_4:13, 1Th_5:6); and (2) appropriation by God for His own love and service. Since Israel as a people now rejected Christ, St Paul was compelled to distinguish between national Israel and the true “election,” the spiritual kernel of the chosen people, who were the real objects of God’s favour: “the election obtained what Israel seeks after, but the rest were hardened” (Rom_11:7). With this true election, through Christ all believing Gentiles are identified—“wild olive shoots, grafted into the good olive-tree” (Rom_11:17-24). So the national gives place to a spiritual election—the “Israel of God” (Gal_6:16); and the Apostle Paul applies the term, as in this place, to Jewish and Gentile members of the Church indiscriminately. This transference is strikingly expressed in 1Pe_2:9: “You (who believe in Christ) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” God’s election no longer marks out a nation or body of men as such, but it concerns individuals, each believer in Christ being the personal object of this loving choice—the “election of grace” (Rom_11:5). The end for which God in His grace so chooses men, appears in 2Th_2:13, “God chose yon unto salvation,” i.e. final deliverance from death and all evil, to be brought about by the return of Christ from heaven (1Th_1:10): the same end is set forth in the words of 1Th_2:12; 1Th_5:9-10—“God calleth you to His own kingdom and glory;” He “appointed you not to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” And the means toward this end are stated in 2Th_2:13,—“in sanctification of spirit and faith in the truth” (see note ad loc.). Similarly in Eph_1:4, “He chose us to be holy and without blemish before Him.” In later Epistles (Rom_8:28-30; Eph_1:4-5) St Paul’s teaching on this subject receives two further extensions: (1) it is to sonship toward God that Christian believers are predestined; and (2) their election is carried back to eternity, “before the foundation of the world.” It is questionable whether “from the beginning” in 2Th_2:13 points back so far as this (see note ad loc.) The “election” of Thessalonian believers goes back at any rate as far as the Divine love of which they are the objects—“beloved by God.” But the Apostle’s mind is occupied with the event of the conversion of his readers, when God’s love to them and choice of them were practically manifest.
God’s choice of men for His purposes must, of course, precede their choice of Him and of His salvation; but it in no way precludes human choice and freedom of will—nay rather anticipates and prepares for our free volition (comp. Rom_8:28-30), and invites us to be “workers together” with it for our salvation: “work out your own salvation, … for it is God that worketh in you” (Php_2:12-13). It rests on the Divine foreknowledge of men (“whom He foreknew, He foreordained”), and seeks from their coming into life its destined objects (see Gal_1:15-16). But “Prescience, as prescience, hath in itself no causing efficacy” (Hooker). Observe that Scripture does not speak of any choice of men to believe in Christ, but of the choice of (assumed) believers to receive salvation. The consistency of man’s free-will with God’s sovereignty forms an insoluble mystery, which does not belong to the doctrine of election alone, but runs through the whole of life and religion.
The Apostle writes “knowing your election,” not that he is absolutely sure of the final salvation of every one to whom he writes—ch. 1Th_3:5 speaks otherwise; but from what he knows and remembers of them, he is practically certain that the circle of his readers belongs to God’s elect and that they will attain Christ’s heavenly kingdom (see ch. 1Th_2:12; 1Th_5:8-11; 1Th_5:24).
The evidence of this to his mind was twofold, lying (1) in the power given to himself and his companions in preaching at Thessalonica (1Th_1:5), and (2) in the zeal and devotion with which the Thessalonians had embraced the gospel (1Th_1:6).
(Vincent's Word Studies) 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Election of God
Incorrect. Const. of or by (ὑπὸ) God with beloved. Ἑκλογὴ election, in N.T., mostly by Paul. Elsewhere only Act_9:15, and 2Pe_1:10. This, and the kindred words, ἐκλέγειν to choose, and ἐκλεκτὸς chosen or elect, are used of God's selection of men or agencies for special missions or attainments; but neither here nor elsewhere in the N.T. is there any warrant for the revolting doctrine that God has predestined a definite number of mankind to eternal life, and the rest to eternal destruction. The sense in this passage appears to be defined by the succeeding context. The Thessalonians had been chosen to be members of the Christian church, and their conduct had justified the choice. See 1Th_1:5-10.
(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Knowing — Forasmuch as we know.
your election of God — The Greek is rather, “beloved by God”; so Rom_1:7; 2Th_2:13. “Your election” means that God has elected you as individual believers to eternal life (Rom_11:5, Rom_11:7; Col_3:12; 2Th_2:13).
Synopsis of 1st Thessalonians 1:1-10
Contents: The model church. Three tenses of the Christian life.
Characters: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Silvanus, Timothy.
Conclusion: 1Those who have embraced the full Gospel, as proclaimed by the apostles will manifest it by separation from worldly idols, 2present service to men in the power of the living God, and 3expectation of the return of the Lord Jesus. Where true faith is, it will work by love and in the patience of the blessed hope.
Key Word: Our Gospel, 1Th_1:5.
Strong Verses: 1Th_1:9, 1Th_1:10.
Striking Facts: 1Th_1:9-10. Past, present and future salvation in Christ is seen here. Note that the hope of Christ’s return is made an integral part of the Gospel and Christian faith. If conscious of a lack of steadiness in the life or power in the testimony, make sure you possess these three aspects of salvation. [The One True Gospel Of GRACE by THE RISEN CHRIST 1st Corinthians 15:1 through 4 is Paul’s Gospel given him by the Risen Living Christ The Head of Our Body The One and Only Church for the here and NOW in this Dispensation of the Grace of God Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:]
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Eph 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Eph 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As stated in the letter to the Thessalonians’ which is also to all Gentiles in the here and NOW so take heed.
Greeting
1Th 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: [this is our possession in God and Christ for all BELIEVERS of the Grace Gospel from Paul our Apostle to the BODY of CHRIST His Church of which Christ is our HEAD, not king.] Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers are Baptized into the Body of Christ the very moment they Believe and it is accomplished by THE HOLY SPIRIT also at that action God the Father seals the BELIEVER with the HOLY Spirit as EARNEST. Therefore you (as a Believer) have been Signed (in the book of life), Sealed (by the Holy Spirit as a down payment) and delivered from all sin (through the Blood of Christ) separated permanently from the nature of ADAM by circumcision made without hands of the Heart in Christ. Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
To the Gentiles, The Thessalonians' Faith and Example
1Th 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Th 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
(You’ve been sealed/branded as HIS by the Holy Spirit which was given you and as a believer He is on the inside of you>>> Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now {At this present time} if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)
(Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) 1 Thessalonians 1:4
Knowing — Forasmuch as we know.
your election of God — The Greek is rather, “beloved by God”; so Rom_1:7; 2Th_2:13. “Your election” means that God has elected you as individual believers to eternal life (Rom_11:5, Rom_11:7; Col_3:12; 2Th_2:13).
(Cambridge Bible) 1 Thessalonians 1:4
knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God] Better, following the A. V. margin and R. V., knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election: comp. 2Th_2:13, “brethren beloved by the Lord.”
The Apostle thinks of his readers as brethren, for he has just been carrying them in his thoughts in prayer “before our God and Father.” The knowledge that God their Father loves them and has chosen them for His own, gives confidence to the Apostle’s prayers for them and inexpressible joy to his thanksgivings. Comp. 2Th_2:13: “We are bound to give thanks always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you,” &c.; and Eph_1:3-5, “Blessed be God …, Who blessed us in every spiritual blessing, … according as He chose us in Christ,” &c.
The participle “beloved” is not however present in tense, as though the Thessalonians were simply loved now, in consequence of their newly-acquired Christian worth; it is in the Greek perfect tense, signifying a love existing in the past and realised in the present, the antecedent and foundation of their goodness. So in 1Jn_3:1: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath given us, that we should be called sons of God!”
The Christian excellence of the Thessalonians, therefore, moved the Apostle and his companions to thanksgiving (1Th_1:2-3), not simply on its own account, but because it marked them out as the objects of God’s loving choice. The word election, here occurring for the first time in St Paul’s Epistles, and expressing one of his most important doctrines, needs to be carefully studied. The N. T. use of the word originates in the O. T. idea of Israel as God’s “peculiar possession,” “the people whom He chose for His inheritance” (see Psa_33:12; Psa_135:4; Deu_14:2; Isa_43:1-7; &c.). Such “election” implies two things—(1) selection out of others, nations or men, who are not thus chosen—“the rest” (ch. 1Th_4:13, 1Th_5:6); and (2) appropriation by God for His own love and service. Since Israel as a people now rejected Christ, St Paul was compelled to distinguish between national Israel and the true “election,” the spiritual kernel of the chosen people, who were the real objects of God’s favour: “the election obtained what Israel seeks after, but the rest were hardened” (Rom_11:7). With this true election, through Christ all believing Gentiles are identified—“wild olive shoots, grafted into the good olive-tree” (Rom_11:17-24). So the national gives place to a spiritual election—the “Israel of God” (Gal_6:16); and the Apostle Paul applies the term, as in this place, to Jewish and Gentile members of the Church indiscriminately. This transference is strikingly expressed in 1Pe_2:9: “You (who believe in Christ) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.” God’s election no longer marks out a nation or body of men as such, but it concerns individuals, each believer in Christ being the personal object of this loving choice—the “election of grace” (Rom_11:5). The end for which God in His grace so chooses men, appears in 2Th_2:13, “God chose yon unto salvation,” i.e. final deliverance from death and all evil, to be brought about by the return of Christ from heaven (1Th_1:10): the same end is set forth in the words of 1Th_2:12; 1Th_5:9-10—“God calleth you to His own kingdom and glory;” He “appointed you not to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” And the means toward this end are stated in 2Th_2:13,—“in sanctification of spirit and faith in the truth” (see note ad loc.). Similarly in Eph_1:4, “He chose us to be holy and without blemish before Him.” In later Epistles (Rom_8:28-30; Eph_1:4-5) St Paul’s teaching on this subject receives two further extensions: (1) it is to sonship toward God that Christian believers are predestined; and (2) their election is carried back to eternity, “before the foundation of the world.” It is questionable whether “from the beginning” in 2Th_2:13 points back so far as this (see note ad loc.) The “election” of Thessalonian believers goes back at any rate as far as the Divine love of which they are the objects—“beloved by God.” But the Apostle’s mind is occupied with the event of the conversion of his readers, when God’s love to them and choice of them were practically manifest.
God’s choice of men for His purposes must, of course, precede their choice of Him and of His salvation; but it in no way precludes human choice and freedom of will—nay rather anticipates and prepares for our free volition (comp. Rom_8:28-30), and invites us to be “workers together” with it for our salvation: “work out your own salvation, … for it is God that worketh in you” (Php_2:12-13). It rests on the Divine foreknowledge of men (“whom He foreknew, He foreordained”), and seeks from their coming into life its destined objects (see Gal_1:15-16). But “Prescience, as prescience, hath in itself no causing efficacy” (Hooker). Observe that Scripture does not speak of any choice of men to believe in Christ, but of the choice of (assumed) believers to receive salvation. The consistency of man’s free-will with God’s sovereignty forms an insoluble mystery, which does not belong to the doctrine of election alone, but runs through the whole of life and religion.
The Apostle writes “knowing your election,” not that he is absolutely sure of the final salvation of every one to whom he writes—ch. 1Th_3:5 speaks otherwise; but from what he knows and remembers of them, he is practically certain that the circle of his readers belongs to God’s elect and that they will attain Christ’s heavenly kingdom (see ch. 1Th_2:12; 1Th_5:8-11; 1Th_5:24).
The evidence of this to his mind was twofold, lying (1) in the power given to himself and his companions in preaching at Thessalonica (1Th_1:5), and (2) in the zeal and devotion with which the Thessalonians had embraced the gospel (1Th_1:6).
1Th 1:9 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; (Their FAITH into Love The Love of God.)
1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (hope)
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Faith)
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Love)
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (HOPE)
fith, love, hoped
How do you know what denomination is the TRUE salvation fellowship Church that will Grow you into the maturity that god wills for you?????
If they only teach you the doctrin of romans through philemon then you have found The body of christ church but if you are in a church that don’t thewn run from it god is not pleased with you because you are receiving a mixture and god will spew you out for being luke warm your on the brod road to destruction they are teaching a corrupt gospel and god hates it.
No Denomination is the TRUE CHURCH That Church IS THE BODY OF CHRIST and that is the only CHURCH which CHRIST is going to remove before The TRIBULATION of the Jew’s are poured upon them as well as the WRATH of Christ being poured out on all the WORLD for rejecting Him dispensationally
The Gospel for this Dispensation
The Death, Burial and Resurrection of Christ
1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
This is the only Gospel that has to be Believed if one is to be SAVED from Destruction and Damnation.
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