1 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, to the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

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!

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

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

3 unceasingly remembering your work of faith, and the labor of the love, and the endurance of the hope, of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the presence of our God and Father,

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.

4 having known, beloved brothers, by God, your [divine] selection,

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

5 because our good news did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, even as you have known of what sort we became among you for your sake,

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.

6 and you became imitators of us and of the LORD, having received the word in much tribulation with joy of the Holy Spirit,

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

7 so that you became patterns to all those believing in Macedonia and Achaia,

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

8 for from you has sounded forth the word of the LORD, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God went forth, so that we have no need to say anything,

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!

9 for they themselves declare concerning us what entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from the idols, to serve a living and true God,

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,

10 and to wait for His Son from the heavens, whom He raised out of the dead—Jesus, who is rescuing us from the anger that is coming.

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.