Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

1:1 Opening. Paul makes no mention of his apostolic status, perhaps because there are no false teachers challenging it within the Thessalonian church. Silvanus and Timothy were coworkers with Paul during his second missionary journey. Silvanus, or Silas, was a Judean Christian (Acts 15:22) who joined Paul after he separated from Barnabas (Acts 15:39-40). Timothy, of Lystra in south Galatia, was a son of a Jewish mother and Greek father and became partners with Paul when Paul passed through his hometown early on his second journey (see Acts 16:1-4; Introduction to 1 Timothy). Timothy had just returned from a visit to the Thessalonian church (1 Thess. 3:6), and his report is Paul's major source of information as he writes. While Silas and Timothy are included as co-senders, Paul was clearly the main author (see 2:18; 3:5; 5:27). in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers enjoy a mysterious union with both the Father and the Son and hence are supremely secure and safe from spiritual harm. Grace . . . and peace. See note on Rom. 1:7.