1 Thessalonians 1:2 (ASV)

Passage

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;

1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

1 Thessalonians 1:4 knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "give", "thanks", "always", "making", "mention", and "prayers". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "give" and "thanks", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 1's "Paul and Silvanus and Timothy unto the..." into verse 3's "remembering without ceasing your work of faith...", so "give" and "thanks" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "give" and "thanks" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.