1 Thessalonians 1:2
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul tells the Thessalonians that he constantly thanks God for them and holds them up in prayer.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 1:2 Mean?
Before Paul instructs or corrects, he gives thanks. This was his habit at the start of nearly every letter, and here the gratitude is warm and unguarded. He thanks God 'always' and 'for you all,' leaving no one out of his affection or his prayers.
Thanksgiving like this is more than a courtesy. Paul sees the faith of this church as God's work, so his first response is praise directed to God rather than flattery aimed at them. And his gratitude turns at once into intercession: he names them before the Lord. To be remembered in someone's prayers is a quiet, powerful form of love. Paul models a life in which other believers are carried to God continually, their growth becoming a reason for ongoing thanks.