Greeting
1 From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Congregation in Thessalonica, united with God the Father and Master Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you all.
Gratitude for living out their faith
2 We always thank God for you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We never stop remembering your faithful work, your loving efforts, and your enduring hope from our Master Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. 4 We can plainly see God’s selection of you, brothers and sisters, 5 because the good news from us came to you not only in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full assurance. And as you know, we were like that among you for your benefit.
6 You also imitated us and the Master by accepting the Word with the joy of the Holy Spirit in spite of great oppression. 7 In turn, you became models for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 Not only that, the Word of the Master has sounded out from you everywhere that your faith toward God has gone. So we really don’t need you to tell us anything 9 because they all report the kind of effect we had on you, how you turned toward God and away from idols to be genuine living slaves to God, 10 and how you wait for his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, the One who rescues us from God’s rage that will come.