Consider how blasphemous it would be to write in God the Father and Paul the apostle,
which would place Paul on a level with the Father. By naming Christ alongside God as objects of the same preposition (in
), Paul indicates that Christ shares in the Father’s power and work. This point is reinforced by the frequent mention of Christ alongside the Father in the Thessalonian letters (see 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:5).1,2
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.