1 Thessalonians 1 in the early church
34 passages quote, allude to, or echo 1 Thessalonians 1, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 4 · 6 · 8 · 9 · 10
1 Thessalonians 1 as a whole
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1–1Thess:5 | Canon 60 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | ca. 343–381 |
| 1 Thess 1–1Thess:5 | Canon 47 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | 397 |
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Lines 51–60 · Anonymous | allusion, high confidence | late 2nd or 4th century (disputed) |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Homilies on Jeremiah 8.5 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 240 |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Commentary on Matthew 14.1 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Commentary on Romans 1.8 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Commentary on Romans 10.7 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Prologue to the Commentary on 1 Thessalonians · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 1:1–3 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | Letter 119.9 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | On the Holy Spirit 5.11 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 374–375 |
| 1 Thess 1:1 | On the Holy Spirit 25.59 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 374–375 |
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:2 | Prescription against Heretics 27 · Tertullian | allusion, low confidence | ca. 203 |
| 1 Thess 1:2–3 | Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:2–5 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Thess 1:2–3 | Book 1, chapter 23 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 440-450 |
1 Thessalonians 1:4
Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:4–5 | Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
1 Thessalonians 1:6
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:6–7 | Moral Rules (Moralia) 34 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-370 |
| 1 Thess 1:6–7 | Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:6–7 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
1 Thessalonians 1:8
For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:8 | 1 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 304 (1 April) |
| 1 Thess 1:8 | Oration 34.2 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| 1 Thess 1:8 | Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:8 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Thess 1:8–10 | Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Thess 1:8 | On the Complaints of Job and David 4.36 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 383-390 |
1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:9 | Apology 16 · Aristides of Athens | echo, low confidence | ca. 125–145 |
| 1 Thess 1:9–10 | Against Heresies 3.5.3 · Irenaeus of Lyons | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–190 |
| 1 Thess 1:9 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 24 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| 1 Thess 1:9 | Church History 7.11.13 · Eusebius of Caesarea | echo, medium confidence | ca. 300–325 |
| 1 Thess 1:9 | Acts of Julius the Veteran 1 · Anonymous | echo, low confidence | ca. 304 (27 May) |
| 1 Thess 1:9 | On the Holy Spirit 10.26 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 374–375 |
| 1 Thess 1:9 | Tractates 9 · Gaudentius of Brescia | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 397-410 |
1 Thessalonians 1:10
and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Thess 1:10 | On the Resurrection of the Flesh 24 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 208–212 |
| 1 Thess 1:10 | Res. 3.21 · Methodius of Olympus | allusion, high confidence | late 3rd cent. (disputed) |
| 1 Thess 1:10 | Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:6–7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| 1 Thess 1:10 | Letters 38.7 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 394–413 |