Who wrote 1 Thessalonians and who is included in the greeting?

The letter opens with the names “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy” as the senders (1 Thessalonians 1:1). It is addressed to “the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Passage context

In 1 Thessalonians 1:1, the letter opens by naming its senders—Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy—and identifying its recipients as the Thessalonians’ assembly. The group is described as belonging “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” setting the relationship framework for everything that follows. This single verse functions as the letter’s front door: it states who is writing, who is being addressed, and what posture the writers take toward the readers.

Why it matters

This verse introduces the letter by naming the senders (Paul, Silvanus, Timothy) and the recipients (“the assembly of the Thessalonians”). It assumes the Thessalonians are not just individuals but a recognizable local community.

Read carefully

A common mistake is to treat this as trivia. Names, places, numbers, and sequence details often carry memory, covenant identity, or narrative movement in the biblical story.

Keep reading

Start with 1 Thessalonians 1:1, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.