1
Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη.
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace.
Letter openingasyndetonThe epistolary superscription: three named senders, the addressee church identified by city, its existence located 'in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,' and the briefest of Paul's grace-and-peace greetings.
ΠαῦλοςPaulNominativesubject (nominative of address/superscription)Παῦλος: the apostle's Roman cognomen; named first as principal author, though notably without his apostolic title here — a warm, peer-level address to a beloved church.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΣιλουανὸςSilvanusNominativesubject (coordinate)Σιλουανός: Silvanus (the Silas of Acts), Paul's co-worker on the second missionary journey and co-founder of the Thessalonian church.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΤιμόθεοςTimothyNominativesubject (coordinate)Τιμόθεος: Timothy, Paul's young associate (cf. Acts 16–17); the three together evangelized Thessalonica, hence the plural verbs of thanksgiving that follow.
τῇto theDativearticle
ἐκκλησίᾳchurchDativeindirect object (addressee)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly, gathering'; the called-out congregation — the local body of believers gathered in one city.
Θεσσαλονικέωνof the ThessaloniansGenitivegenitive of identification/relationshipΘεσσαλονικεύς: 'a Thessalonian'; the inhabitants of Thessalonica, capital of the Roman province of Macedonia — Paul addresses the believing community among them.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
θεῷGodDativedat. of sphere (locus of existence)θεός: God; the church's distinctive sphere of being — it exists 'in' God and the Lord, not merely as a civic assembly.
πατρὶFatherDativeapposition to θεῷπατήρ: 'Father'; the relational name for God characteristic of the new-covenant family.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κυρίῳthe LordDativedat. of sphere (coordinate w/ θεῷ)κύριος: 'Lord'; the LXX rendering of YHWH, here set in parallel with the Father as the joint sphere of the church's life — an implicit high Christology.
ἸησοῦJesusDativeapposition to κυρίῳ
ΧριστῷChristDativeappositionΧριστός: 'Anointed,' Messiah; here functionally a name-title for Jesus.
χάριςgraceNominativesubject (nom. in greeting formula)χάρις: 'grace'; Paul reshapes the conventional Greek χαίρειν greeting into 'grace' — God's unmerited favor.
ὑμῖνto youDativedat. of recipient
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (coordinate)εἰρήνη: 'peace'; the Hebrew šālôm — wholeness and well-being; the second half of the doubled blessing. This earliest letter gives the greeting in its barest form, later expanded with 'from God our Father.'
2
Εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν μνείαν ποιούμενοι ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν ἡμῶν, ἀδιαλείπτως
We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, unceasingly
ThanksgivingasyndetonThe thanksgiving period opens the letter body: the plural 'we give thanks' embraces all three senders, gratitude is constant and inclusive ('always … for all'), and it is woven into ongoing intercession.
Εὐχαριστοῦμενwe give thanksPres Act Indic 1 Pl · εὐχαριστέωmain verb→ customary presentεὐχαριστέω: 'give thanks'; the standard verb opening a Pauline thanksgiving period — the plural here voices all three named senders.
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeindirect object (recipient of thanks)θεός: God; the one to whom thanksgiving is directed — the source of all that is praised in the church.
πάντοτεalwaysadverb (frequency)πάντοτε: 'always, at all times'; the constancy of Paul's gratitude — a recurring note in the letter (cf. 2:13; 5:16–18).
περὶforpreposition + genitive (reference)
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'all, every'; the gratitude is undifferentiated — for every member, not a favored few.
ὑμῶνof youGenitiveobject of περί
μνείανmention/remembranceAccusativedirect object (cognate w/ ποιούμενοι)μνεία: 'remembrance, mention'; μνείαν ποιοῦμαι is an idiom, 'I make mention / remember (in prayer).'
ποιούμενοιmakingPres Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ποιέωadverbial ptc. (manner/attendant circ.)→ present (concurrent)ποιέω (mid.): in the idiom μνείαν ποιούμενοι, 'making mention'; the thanksgiving is enacted within their praying.
ἐπὶin/atpreposition + genitive (occasion)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
προσευχῶνprayersGenitiveobject of ἐπί (occasion)προσευχή: 'prayer'; the regular occasions of intercession in which the remembrance occurs.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possession
ἀδιαλείπτωςunceasinglyadverb (manner) — taken with the v.3 participleἀδιαλείπτως: 'without intermission, unceasingly'; positioned to lead into v.3 ('unceasingly remembering'), it underscores the steady constancy of their intercession (cf. 5:17).
3
μνημονεύοντες ὑμῶν τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς ἡμῶν,
remembering your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father,
Ground of thanksgivingasyndetonA second participle subordinate to v.2's thanksgiving, supplying its content: the celebrated triad of faith, love, and hope — each genitive naming both the virtue and the activity it produces — held up before God.
μνημονεύοντεςrememberingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · μνημονεύωadverbial ptc. (manner) parallel to ποιούμενοι→ present (concurrent)μνημονεύω: 'remember, call to mind, mention'; here the active recollection of the Thessalonians' visible Christian life before God.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession (governs the triad)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
ἔργουworkGenitiveobject of μνημονεύοντες (1st member)ἔργον: 'work, deed'; faith is not idle — it produces action. The genitive τῆς πίστεως specifies the work that faith does.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
πίστεωςof faithGenitivesubjective/source genitive (faith's work)πίστις: 'faith, trust'; the first member of the triad — faith expressing itself in concrete work (cf. Gal 5:6).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
κόπουlaborGenitiveobject of μνημονεύοντες (2nd member)κόπος: 'toil, wearisome labor'; stronger than ἔργον — effort to the point of fatigue. Love does not merely act but spends itself.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
ἀγάπηςof loveGenitivesubjective/source genitive (love's labor)ἀγάπη: 'love'; the second member — self-giving love that labors to the point of toil for others.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὑπομονῆςenduranceGenitiveobject of μνημονεύοντες (3rd member)ὑπομονή: 'steadfast endurance' (lit. 'remaining under'); active perseverance under pressure, not passive resignation.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
ἐλπίδοςof hopeGenitivesubjective/source genitive (hope's endurance)ἐλπίς: 'hope'; the third member — confident expectation of Christ's return that sustains endurance. The triad faith-love-hope recurs in Paul (1 Cor 13:13).
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitiveobjective genitive (hope set on the Lord)κύριος: 'Lord'; the object and ground of the hope — their endurance is anchored in the returning Christ.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
ἔμπροσθενbeforeimproper preposition + genitive (place)ἔμπροσθεν: 'in front of, before'; the triad of virtues is recalled 'before God' — either as the place of Paul's remembering (coram Deo) or the audience before whom their works are displayed.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἔμπροσθεν
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (one referent)
πατρὸςFatherGenitiveapposition to θεοῦ (single article)πατήρ: 'Father'; 'our God and Father' under one article — a single referent named twice for relational warmth.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
4
εἰδότες, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ θεοῦ, τὴν ἐκλογὴν ὑμῶν,
knowing, brothers loved by God, your election,
Ground of thanksgiving (cause)asyndetonA third participle (causal) extending the thanksgiving: Paul gives thanks because he knows their election — and the direct address 'brothers loved by God' itself voices the assurance of that electing love.
εἰδότεςknowingPerf Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · οἶδαcausal adverbial participle→ intensive perfect (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present force); a confident, settled knowledge — Paul is certain of their election, not merely hopeful.
ἀδελφοὶbrothersVocativevocative of direct addressἀδελφός: 'brother'; the family term for fellow believers — Paul's most frequent address in this affectionate letter (cf. 2:1, 9, 14).
ἠγαπημένοιlovedPerf Pass Ptc · Voc Pl Masc · ἀγαπάωattributive ptc. modifying ἀδελφοί→ intensive perfect (abiding state)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; the perfect passive marks a love already bestowed and abiding — 'having been (and remaining) loved by God,' the ground of election.
ὑπὸbypreposition + genitive (agency)
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of agency (the one who loves)θεός: God; the agent of the love — their belovedness originates wholly in God, prior to and underlying their election.
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
ἐκλογὴνelectionAccusativedirect object of εἰδότεςἐκλογή: 'choosing, election' (from ἐκλέγομαι, 'pick out'); God's gracious selection of them — known here by the gospel's effect (v.5).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
5
ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει καὶ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν δι' ὑμᾶς.
because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much full conviction — just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Evidence (basis of knowledge)ὅτιThe ground of Paul's certainty of their election: the gospel arrived not as bare words but with divine power, the Spirit, and deep conviction — confirmed by the missionaries' own conduct among them.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (grounds εἰδότες)ὅτι: 'because, that'; here giving the evidential ground on which Paul knows their election — the manner of the gospel's coming.
τὸtheNominativearticle
εὐαγγέλιονgospelNominativesubjectεὐαγγέλιον: 'good news'; 'our gospel' = the gospel we preached — not a different message but the apostolic proclamation as it came through them.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship (preached by us)
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἐγενήθηcame/proved to beAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become, come to be'; the aorist passive (deponent in sense) — the gospel 'came to be / arrived' among them in a particular manner.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction/goal)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of εἰς (recipients)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/sphere)
λόγῳwordDativedat. of manner (mere speech)λόγος: 'word, speech'; the gospel was not mere rhetoric or empty talk — the οὐ … μόνον concedes it came in word, but not only so.
μόνονonlyadverb (restrictive)μόνον: 'only'; the limiting adverb — 'not in word only,' setting up the climactic 'but also.'
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction (strong contrast)ἀλλά: 'but'; the strong adversative introducing the positive triad that follows.
καὶalsoadverbial/ascensive conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/means)
δυνάμειpowerDativedat. of manner/meansδύναμις: 'power, might'; the effective force accompanying the preaching — possibly miraculous, certainly transformative.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/agency)
πνεύματιSpiritDativedat. of agency/sphereπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the Holy Spirit as the agent who made the word effective — the divine power was personal and present.
ἁγίῳHolyDativeattributive adjectiveἅγιος: 'holy'; qualifying πνεῦμα — the Holy Spirit, not merely an inward enthusiasm.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
πληροφορίᾳfull convictionDativedat. of mannerπληροφορία: 'full assurance, complete conviction' (from πληροφορέω, 'fill fully'); the settled certainty with which the gospel was preached and received.
πολλῇmuchDativeattributive adjectiveπολύς: 'much, great'; intensifying the assurance — not a tentative but a deeply confident proclamation.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθώς: 'just as, even as'; appealing to the readers' own knowledge as corroborating witnesses.
οἴδατεyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαmain verb (comparative clause)→ intensive perfect (present knowledge)οἶδα: 'know'; the recurrent appeal of the letter to what the Thessalonians themselves remember and can verify (cf. 2:1–2, 5, 11).
οἷοιwhat kind of menNominativepredicate (qualitative rel. pronoun)οἷος: 'of what sort'; introducing an indirect question about the missionaries' character — their conduct authenticated their message.
ἐγενήθημενwe proved to beAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (indir. question)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become, prove to be'; the same verb as of the gospel (v.5a) — the messengers' manner of life matched the manner of the message.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (place/association)
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of ἐν (sphere)
δι'for the sake ofpreposition + accusative (cause/advantage)διά (+ acc.): 'on account of, for the sake of'; the missionaries' self-giving conduct was directed to the Thessalonians' benefit.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of διά (advantage)
6
καὶ ὑμεῖς μιμηταὶ ἡμῶν ἐγενήθητε καὶ τοῦ κυρίου, δεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον ἐν θλίψει πολλῇ μετὰ χαρᾶς πνεύματος ἁγίου,
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
Result / responseκαὶThe Thessalonians' answering response to the gospel's powerful coming: they became imitators of the missionaries and of the Lord himself, the imitation realized in receiving the word joyfully despite affliction.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (continuative)
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)the emphatic 'you' shifts the focus from the missionaries (v.5) to the readers' own response.
μιμηταὶimitatorsNominativepredicate nominativeμιμητής: 'imitator' (cf. 'mimic'); Paul's pattern of discipleship — imitate me as I imitate Christ (1 Cor 11:1). Here the imitation reaches past Paul to the Lord.
ἡμῶνof usGenitiveobjective genitive (object of imitation)
ἐγενήθητεyou becameAor Pass Indic 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb→ constative aorist (point of conversion)γίνομαι: 'become'; once more the keyword of the chapter — the gospel 'became' (v.5), the missionaries 'became' (v.5), and now the converts 'became' imitators.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (ascensive)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
κυρίουof the LordGenitiveobjective genitive (coordinate w/ ἡμῶν)κύριος: 'Lord'; the climax — imitation of the apostles leads through to imitation of Christ himself, supremely in suffering with joy.
δεξάμενοιhaving receivedAor Mid Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · δέχομαιadverbial ptc. (means/manner of imitating)→ constative aorist (concurrent)δέχομαι: 'receive, welcome'; the welcoming reception of the word — the act in which their imitation consisted (cf. 2:13).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
λόγονwordAccusativedirect object of δεξάμενοιλόγος: 'word, message'; the gospel word — received not as human discourse but, as 2:13 makes explicit, as the word of God.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (attendant circ.)
θλίψειafflictionDativedat. of attendant circumstanceθλῖψις: 'pressure, tribulation' (lit. 'a crushing'); the persecution that attended their conversion (cf. Acts 17:5–9) — yet not quenching their joy.
πολλῇmuchDativeattributive adjectiveπολύς: 'much, great'; the affliction was severe, sharpening the paradox of joy-in-suffering.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)
χαρᾶςjoyGenitiveobject of μετά (accompaniment)χαρά: 'joy'; the supernatural gladness that coexists with affliction — a mark of the Spirit, mirroring the Lord they imitate.
πνεύματοςof the SpiritGenitivegenitive of source (joy from the Spirit)πνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the joy's source — 'joy of the Holy Spirit,' a fruit the Spirit produces (cf. Gal 5:22).
ἁγίουHolyGenitiveattributive adjectiveἅγιος: 'holy'; identifying the Spirit who gives the joy.
7
ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς τύπον πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ.
so that you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
ResultὥστεThe outcome of their joyful, persevering reception of the word: they themselves became a pattern for every believing community across the two southern Greek provinces.
ὥστεso thatconjunction introducing result (+ inf.)ὥστε: 'so that, with the result that'; with the infinitive it marks actual result — their conduct's far-reaching effect.
γενέσθαιto becomeAor Mid Inf · γίνομαιinfinitive of result (after ὥστε)→ constative aoristγίνομαι: 'become'; the chapter's keyword again — the imitators 'became' themselves a model to imitate.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive
τύπονmodel/exampleAccusativepredicate accusativeτύπος: 'type, pattern, mold' (lit. an impression left by a strike); a model to be reproduced — the converts have themselves become a die from which others are stamped. The singular (vs. plural τύπους in some witnesses) views the church as one pattern.
πᾶσινto allDativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'all'; the model's reach is comprehensive — every believing community.
τοῖςtheDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πιστεύουσινwho believePres Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle (dat. of reference)→ present (ongoing characteristic)πιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; the substantival participle 'the believing ones' = believers — the model is for fellow Christians, not the world at large.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῇtheDativearticle
ΜακεδονίᾳMacedoniaDativedat. of placeΜακεδονία: Macedonia, the northern Roman province of Greece (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) — Thessalonica was its capital.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἈχαΐᾳAchaiaDativedat. of placeἈχαΐα: Achaia, the southern Roman province of Greece (Athens, Corinth) — together the two provinces span the whole of Greece.
8
ἀφ' ὑμῶν γὰρ ἐξήχηται ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ, ἀλλ' ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐξελήλυθεν, ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι·
For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything;
Ground / explanationγάρWhy they became a model: the message rang out from them like a trumpet, and their faith's report has traveled so widely that Paul finds nothing left to add — the perfects stress the abiding effect.
ἀφ'frompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπό: 'from'; the Thessalonians are the source point from which the word resounded outward.
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)
γὰρforexplanatory conjunctionγάρ: 'for'; grounding v.7 — they are a model because their witness has spread so far.
ἐξήχηταιhas sounded forthPerf Pass Indic 3 Sg · ἐξηχέωmain verb→ intensive perfect (abiding result)ἐξηχέω: 'sound forth, ring out' (ἐκ + ἠχέω, 'echo'); a vivid term — the word pealed out like a trumpet or thunderclap, and the perfect stresses the sound still reverberating.
ὁtheNominativearticle
λόγοςwordNominativesubjectλόγος: 'word, message'; 'the word of the Lord' — the gospel proclamation, now propagated by the Thessalonians themselves.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivegenitive of source/content (word from/about the Lord)κύριος: 'Lord'; 'the word of the Lord' — an OT prophetic phrase (cf. Isa 2:3) applied to the gospel message.
οὐnotnegative particle
μόνονonlyadverb (restrictive)μόνον: 'only'; the οὐ μόνον … ἀλλά construction widens the scope from the two provinces to 'every place.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῇtheDativearticle
ΜακεδονίᾳMacedoniaDativedat. of place
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἈχαΐᾳAchaiaDativedat. of place
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but'; the strong contrast widening the scope to universality.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
παντὶeveryDativeattributive adjectiveπᾶς: 'every, all'; 'in every place' — a hyperbole of wide renown, like Rom 1:8.
τόπῳplaceDativedat. of placeτόπος: 'place, region'; the locus to which the report of their faith has spread.
ἡtheNominativearticle
πίστιςfaithNominativesubject (of ἐξελήλυθεν)πίστις: 'faith'; here their faith as a reported reality — the news of it, more than the word they preached, is what travels.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἡthe (one)Nominativearticle (attributive position)
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction/relation)πρός (+ acc.): 'toward'; the article ἡ … πρός makes 'your faith toward God' an attributive phrase — faith directed Godward.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativeobject of πρόςθεός: God; the object toward whom their faith is directed — anticipating the turn from idols to the living God in v.9.
ἐξελήλυθενhas gone outPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξέρχομαιmain verb (second clause)→ intensive perfect (abiding result)ἐξέρχομαι: 'go out, go forth'; the perfect again — the report has gone out and stands as common knowledge.
ὥστεso thatconjunction introducing result (+ inf.)ὥστε: 'so that'; result — the renown is so great that Paul need add nothing.
μὴnotnegative particle (with infinitive)μή: 'not'; the negative proper to the infinitive in the result clause.
χρείανneedAccusativedirect object (idiom χρείαν ἔχειν)χρεία: 'need'; χρείαν ἔχειν = 'to have need' — Paul has no need to publicize their faith, for it is already known.
ἔχεινto havePres Act Inf · ἔχωinfinitive of result (after ὥστε)→ present (general)ἔχω: 'have, hold'; in the idiom χρείαν ἔχειν, 'to have need.'
ἡμᾶςwe/usAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive
λαλεῖνto sayPres Act Inf · λαλέωcomplementary infinitive (of χρείαν ἔχειν)→ present (general)λαλέω: 'speak, say'; what there is no need to do — Paul need not report their faith, since it precedes him everywhere.
τιanythingAccusativedirect object of λαλεῖν (indefinite)τις: 'anyone, anything'; the indefinite pronoun — 'to say anything (at all).'
9
αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ,
for they themselves report concerning us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
Ground / evidenceγάρThe proof that nothing need be said: others spontaneously report two things — the missionaries' fruitful welcome, and the Thessalonians' decisive conversion from idolatry to the living God.
αὐτοὶthey themselvesNominativesubject (emphatic / intensive pronoun)αὐτός: 'they themselves'; emphatic — the very people elsewhere, unprompted, are the ones telling the story.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunctionγάρ: 'for'; substantiating v.8 — Paul need say nothing because others are already reporting it.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
ἡμῶνusGenitiveobject of περί (reference)
ἀπαγγέλλουσινthey reportPres Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαγγέλλωmain verb→ customary present (ongoing report)ἀπαγγέλλω: 'report, announce, bring back word'; the present pictures the report as continually circulating.
ὁποίανwhat kind ofAccusativeinterrogative adj. (indir. question)ὁποῖος: 'of what sort'; introducing the first object of the report — the quality of the missionaries' reception.
εἴσοδονentrance/welcomeAccusativedirect object of ἔσχομενεἴσοδος: 'entrance, coming in' (εἰς + ὁδός, 'way in'); the missionaries' access to and reception among the Thessalonians (cf. 2:1).
ἔσχομενwe hadAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ἔχωmain verb (indir. question)→ constative aoristἔχω: 'have'; here 'had (a welcome)' — the historical fact of their reception.
πρὸςamong/topreposition + accusative (relation)
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of πρός
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (indir. question)πῶς: 'how'; introducing the second object of the report — the manner of their conversion.
ἐπεστρέψατεyou turnedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐπιστρέφωmain verb (indir. question)→ constative aorist (the conversion event)ἐπιστρέφω: 'turn, turn back, convert'; the standard term for conversion (cf. Acts 14:15) — a decisive about-face from idols to God.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativeobject of πρός (the goal of conversion)θεός: God; the destination of the turning — the one true God, in contrast to the idols left behind.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
εἰδώλωνidolsGenitiveobject of ἀπό (point of departure)εἴδωλον: 'image, idol'; the false gods abandoned — marking the Thessalonians as predominantly Gentile converts from paganism (cf. 1 Cor 12:2).
δουλεύεινto servePres Act Inf · δουλεύωinfinitive of purpose (aim of turning)→ present (ongoing service)δουλεύω: 'serve as a slave, be enslaved to' (from δοῦλος); the purpose of conversion — wholehearted bond-service to God, the present tense marking it as continuous.
θεῷa GodDativedat. of the verb δουλεύω (object served)θεός: God; the master now served — the anarthrous noun stresses his character, drawn out by the two qualifying adjectives.
ζῶντιlivingPres Act Ptc · Dat Sg Masc · ζάωattributive participle modifying θεῷ→ present (characteristic)ζάω: 'live, be alive'; 'the living God' — an OT contrast-formula (Jer 10:10) against dead, lifeless idols.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀληθινῷtrueDativeattributive adjective modifying θεῷἀληθινός: 'real, genuine, true'; the God who is the reality the idols only counterfeit — true as opposed to false/unreal.
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καὶ ἀναμένειν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν ῥυόμενον ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐρχομένης.
and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Purpose (coordinate)καὶThe second and forward-looking purpose of conversion, balancing present service (v.9): to await the risen Son from heaven — the eschatological hope that the letter will develop, with Jesus named as the deliverer from the wrath to come.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (links infinitives)καί: 'and'; joining ἀναμένειν to δουλεύειν — service now and expectation of the Son together define the converted life.
ἀναμένεινto awaitPres Act Inf · ἀναμένωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate w/ δουλεύειν)→ present (ongoing expectation)ἀναμένω: 'wait for, await' (ἀνά + μένω); a NT hapax — patient, expectant waiting for one whose coming is sure; the present tense marks it as the abiding posture of the church.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
υἱὸνSonAccusativedirect object of ἀναμένεινυἱός: 'Son'; the object of expectation — 'his Son,' identified as Jesus, awaited from heaven (cf. the parousia, 4:16).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship (God's Son)
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/separation)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
οὐρανῶνheavensGenitiveobject of ἐκ (place of origin)οὐρανός: 'heaven, sky'; the plural reflects Semitic usage — from heaven the Son will descend (cf. 4:16).
ὃνwhomAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἤγειρεν)
ἤγειρενhe raisedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐγείρωmain verb (rel. clause)→ constative aorist (the resurrection event)ἐγείρω: 'raise, wake'; God the Father is the subject — the resurrection grounds the hope that the awaited Son truly lives and will come.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῶνtheGenitivearticle
νεκρῶνdeadGenitiveobject of ἐκ (substantival adj.)νεκρός: 'dead (one)'; 'from the dead' = from among the dead — bodily resurrection, the surety of the believers' own (cf. 4:14).
ἸησοῦνJesusAccusativeapposition to υἱόνἸησοῦς: Jesus; the personal name in apposition — the awaited Son is none other than the historical, risen Jesus.
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ῥυόμενονwho deliversPres Mid Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · ῥύομαιattributive participle modifying Ἰησοῦν→ futuristic/timeless present (sure deliverance)ῥύομαι: 'rescue, deliver, draw to oneself'; the present participle presents Jesus as the deliverer by character — the rescue at his coming is so certain it is stated as a present reality.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ῥυόμενον
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation/rescue)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὀργῆςwrathGenitiveobject of ἐκ (that delivered from)ὀργή: 'wrath, anger'; God's coming eschatological judgment — the wrath from which Jesus rescues the believer (cf. 5:9; Rom 5:9).
τῆςthe (one)Genitivearticle (attributive, substantizes ptc.)
ἐρχομένηςcomingPres Mid Ptc · Gen Sg Fem · ἔρχομαιattributive participle modifying ὀργῆς→ futuristic present (impending)ἔρχομαι: 'come'; 'the coming wrath' — the present participle of certain, impending arrival; the letter ends as it began oriented to the day of the Lord.