1 Thessalonians 1 – A Church That Became an Example
Paul thanks God for a church known for faith, love, and patient hope.
1 Thessalonians 1 opens Paul's letter with thanksgiving for a young church already known for its work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope, themes unpacked further in the 1 Thessalonians overview.
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
We know, brothers{The word for \"brothers\" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated \"brothers and sisters\" or \"siblings.\"} loved by God, that you are chosen,
and that our Gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.
You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
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 has gone forth; so that we need not to say anything.
For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.