WE COME NOW to an important emphasis: “Paul, Silva´nus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalo´nians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:1). The greetings in 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians are the same—and unique. The greetings to the churches in Paul’s Epistles are varied and revealing. Romans: “To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints” (1:7); 1 Corinthians: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus” (1:2); 2 Corinthians: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Acha´ia” (1:1); Galatians: “To the churches of Galatia” (1:2); Ephesians: “To the saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus” (1:1); Philippians: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (1:1); and Colossians: “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colos´sae” (1:2). The greetings to Timothy and Titus are personal.
It is obvious that Paul never intended to give a name to the churches—a name which should be used for all, everywhere—for he varied the name and the greeting. The attempt to get one scriptural name for a church is doomed to disappointment. If, however, one name is selected which covers the widest range of fact, then this one to the Thessalonians probably is that one: “To the church [universal] of the Thessalo´nians [particular] in God the Father [the Ultimate Ground] and [in] the Lord Jesus Christ” (the revelation of the kind of fellowship—a Christlike fellowship).
If it is the church of God, the emphasis on Christ is dimmed; if it is the church of Christ, the emphasis on God is dimmed. In this greeting the emphasis on both God and Christ is maintained. Both have to be maintained, for God without Christ is a question mark and Christ without God is a question mark. The two together make an exclamation point. When we are in Christ we are in God, and when we are in God we are in Christ.
O God, in Thee I see Christ, and O Christ, in Thee I see God. The vision I see is so satisfying that I go no further. This is it. There is nothing further. Thou art the real God; Thou art the real Christ. Thou art both reality. I thank Thee. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Jesus puts a face on God and I need a God with a face, for God as energy and power leaves me cold.
