1 Thessalonians 1:4,5

Knowing, brethren beloved, &c.— This Epistle being, as we have observed, directed principally to converted Gentiles, who were once idolaters, the design of these verses is very evident, if we reflect upon the great controversy of that time, concerning the admission of the Gentiles into the Christian church, without submitting to any part of the law of Moses: in which view the verses may be thus paraphrased: "as I have had a full and undoubted revelation immediately from the Lord Jesus Christ, of God's purpose to receive you, idolatrous Gentiles, into his visible church, and all true believers among you, as his people, under the Christian dispensation; I own you as dearly beloved brethren, and have with pleasure seen this purpose of God take effect; in that our gospel, when it first appeared among you, was not an empty sound, but was attended with the plainness and energy of truth; and had also the attestation of miracles, as well as plenty of spiritual gifts."