1. The Evaluation of Paul. 1:1-4 V.1 a) Grace and peace From God - I. It was Paul and Silas (Silvanus) that had established the Church and Timothy was sent to them later to bring them further in the Lord. II. 1 and 2 Thessalonians are the only epistles of Paul without any further explanations about himself or his workers in the intro. (Hebrews also has no intro) III. Grace is the Greek way of saluting and Peace is the Hebrew way of saluting. V.2 b) Prayer To God - I. Paul begins the letter with thanksgiving and prayer. II. Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians: 1. Work of Faith, Labour of love, patience of hope. v.3 2. Followers, examples and preaching. v.6-8 3. Receiving the Word of God. 2:13 4. For the joy Paul, Silas and Timothy had for them. 3:9 V.3 c) Works in the sight Of God - I. Faith, hope and love. 1.Cor.13:13 II. He begins with these 3 virtues but he also ends with them. 5:8 III. Here they are described as Acts but in 5:8 they are Armour. V.4 d) Elected By God - They were beloved brethren, this letter describes the family aspect of the church. 15 times brethren occurs in this letter (¼ of N.T) and 60 times in N.T. God was their Father 1:1 and Paul was their father and mother 2:7, 11 and they were children. 2:7