1 Thessalonians

Chapter 1

Chosen in Power and Turned toward Hope

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy open with grace and peace and then give thanks for the Thessalonians' work of faith, labor of love, and steadfast hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. They say the gospel came to this church not only in words but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and that the Thessalonians became imitators of the Lord in joyful suffering. The chapter ends by showing how their witness has become widely known through their turning from idols to serve the living God and to wait for his Son from heaven.

This opening chapter sets the letter's warm tone of gratitude and confidence. It presents the Thessalonian church as a young but vivid example of conversion, endurance, and expectant hope in Jesus.

1 section·218 words·~1 min read

Begin reading Zoom into first section

Reader

1 Thessalonians 1

A continuous BSB reading flow. Turn on the guide when you want authored orientation; leave it off when you simply want the text.

vv. 1-10

Greetings to the Thessalonians

Open section

P¹aul, Silvanus, and Timothy, ²We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers ³and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction — just as you know we lived among you for your sake.

⁶And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering. ⁷As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more. ⁹For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God ¹⁰and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead — Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

Section map

Open the closer view when you want it.

Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

01vv. 1-10Greetings to the ThessaloniansPaul, Silvanus, and Timothy write to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, speaking grace and peace over them. They then thank God continually for this church, remembering its faith, love, and hope, and they describe how the gospel came to it in power so that the Thessalonians became examples to others through joyful endurance, public witness, and a decisive turn from idols to the living God while awaiting Jesus from heaven.