1Verse 1From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you!
Thanksgiving for Response to the Gospel
Verse 2We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers,Verse 3because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.Verse 4We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,Verse 5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).Verse 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.Verse 7As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.Verse 8For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.Verse 9For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true GodVerse 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.