Greetings to the Thessalonians
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy greet the church with grace and peace and say that they always thank God for the Thessalonians in prayer, remembering their faith, love, and hope before God the Father. They know that this church is beloved and chosen because the gospel came not only in words but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction, as the missionaries' own conduct among them confirmed.
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.
The Thessalonians became imitators of the missionaries and of the Lord by receiving the word with the joy of the Holy Spirit amid affliction, and so they became an example throughout Macedonia and Achaia. The message of the Lord sounded out from them, and their conversion became known everywhere as they turned from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his Son from heaven, Jesus, who delivers from the coming wrath.
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.