1 Thessalonians 1

1 This letter comes from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May you have grace and peace!

Paul, and Sylvanus, and Timothy, to the congregation of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Favor to you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We are always thanking God for all of you, never forgetting you in our prayers.

We give thanks to God at all times for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3 We remember you before our God and Father—how you put your trust in him into practice, how you work hard in love, and how you patiently wait in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.

incessantly remembering your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, even our Father;

4 Brothers and sisters, we already know that you are loved by God and are very special to him.

knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election:

5 The good news we brought to you wasn't just words, but had power too, for the Holy Spirit completely convinced you. In the same way you know what kind of men we are since we demonstrated to you that we were working for your benefit.

for our gospel came not to you in word only, but also with power, and with the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance: as you know what sort of men we were among you.

6 You were imitating us and the Lord when you received the message, for despite your troubles you experienced the joy the Holy Spirit gives.

And you became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having embraced the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.

7 So you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Greece!

So that you become patterns to all who believe, in Macedonia and Achaia.

8 You have broadcast the Lord's message, not only in Macedonia and Greece, but everywhere people have heard of your trust in God—so there's no need for us to tell anybody about it!

Besides, from you the word of the Lord has resounded, not only in Macedonia and Achaia; but also in every place your faith in God is spread abroad, so that we have no need to speak anything.

9 In fact they talk about what a marvelous welcome you gave us, how you abandoned idols and turned to God, how you serve the true and living God,

For they themselves publish concerning us, what sort of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God;

10 as you look forward to the coming of his Son from heaven—Jesus, the one God raised from the dead, who will save us from the judgment to come.

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he has raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath which is to come.