Greeting

Paul, Silvanus,[a](A) and Timothy:(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace to you and peace.[b]

Thanksgiving

We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,(D) your work of faith,(E) labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,(F) knowing your election,(G) brothers loved(H) by God.(I) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit,(J) and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you(K) for your benefit, and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message(L) with joy from the Holy Spirit. As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia(M) and Achaia.(N) For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith[c](O) in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, for they themselves report[d] what kind of reception(P) we had from you: how you turned(Q) to God from idols(R) to serve the living(S) and true(T) God 10 and to wait(U) for His Son(V) from heaven, whom He raised from the dead(W)—Jesus, who rescues us(X) from the coming wrath.(Y)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Or Silas; Ac 15:22-32; 16:19-40; 17:1-16
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Other mss add from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
  3. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 Or in every place news of your faith
  4. 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Lit report about us

Paul, Silas[a](A) and Timothy,(B)

To the church of the Thessalonians(C) in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.(D)

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

We always thank God for all of you(E) and continually mention you in our prayers.(F) We remember before our God and Father(G) your work produced by faith,(H) your labor prompted by love,(I) and your endurance inspired by hope(J) in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God,(K) that he has chosen you, because our gospel(L) came to you not simply with words but also with power,(M) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know(N) how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us(O) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering(P) with the joy(Q) given by the Holy Spirit.(R) And so you became a model(S) to all the believers in Macedonia(T) and Achaia.(U) The Lord’s message(V) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.(W) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned(X) to God from idols(Y) to serve the living and true God,(Z) 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven,(AA) whom he raised from the dead(AB)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.(AC)

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
  2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.