1 Thessalonians

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1 Thessalonians 1 – Skeptic's Annoted Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on 1 Thessalonians 1 in the Skeptic's Annoted Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

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;

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

"Knowing ... your election of God"
The elect and the damned are predestined by God.
The meaning of the word election in this verse is that the gospel came to them, see the next verse (verse 5). It came not only in word, but also in power, it also became effective; as we can read the word of God attempting to find mistakes, but that would not have done these Thessalonians any good.
The apostle Paul does not speak about election of the damned, and the Bible recognises no such thing: damnation follows sin and our refusal to accept the cleansing of our sins from Jesus Christ, not the other way around.

5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

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;

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.

"His Son ... whom he raised from the dead"
Who raised Jesus from the dead?
"The wrath to come"
God is planning a messy, mass murder in "the wrath to come" and only Jesus can save you from it.
See John 2:19.
What the author of the SAB calls murder is actually justice and punishment when necessary. God will do justice, and no murder and no crime will go unpunished, even when earthly judges have never known about the case.