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.
Paul. He does not add "an apostle," etc., because in their case, as in that of the Philippians (note, Philippians 1:1), his apostolic authority needed not substantiation. He writes familiarly as to faithful friends, not but that his apostleship was recognized among them (1 Thessalonians 2:6). On the other hand, in writing to the Galatians, among whom some called in question his apostleship, he strongly asserts it in the superscription. An undersigned propriety, evincing genuineness.
Silvanus - a 'chief man among his brethren' (Acts 15:22), a 'prophet' (1 Thes 4:32), and one of the deputies carried the decree of the Jerusalem council to Antioch. His age and position placed him before "Timothy," then a youth (Acts 16:1; 1 Timothy 4:12). Silvanus (the full form of "Silas") afterward joined Peter, and is called in 1 Peter 5:12, "a faithful brother" (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:19). They both aided in planting the Thessalonian church, and are therefore included in the address. This, the first of Paul's letters, being written before various evils crept into the churches, is without the censures found in other letters. So realizing was their Christian faith that they continually were looking for the Lord Jesus.
Unto the church. Not merely, as in the letters to the Romans, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, "to the saints," or "the faithful at Thessalonica." Though they probably had not yet the church-organization under permanent "bishops" and deacons, which appears in the later letters (note Php 1:1-30 :1 Timothy and 2 Timothy), yet he designates them by the honourable term "church," implying their status as not merely isolated believers, but a corporate body with spiritual rulers (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Galatians 1:2).
In - implying vital union.
God the Father - marking that they were no longer pagan.
The Lord Jesus - marking that they were not Jews, but Christians.
Grace, х charis (G5485), including chairein (G5463), 'joy,' the Greek 'greeting,' James 1:1]
Be unto you, and peace - may ye have in God that favour and peace which men withhold. The salutation in all the letters of Paul, except the three pastoral ones, which have "grace, mercy, and peace." 'Aleph (') A Delta f, Vulgate, support; B G g omit "from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." It may have crept in from 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2.