Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
The Thessalonians' Faith and Example
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly remembering you in our prayers,
remembering before our God and Father your work motivated by trust, and labor prompted by love, and endurance based on hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, brothers and sisters who are loved by God, that you were chosen,
because our good news did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy spirit, and with much assurance. You know the kind of people we were among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you received the word with joy from the holy spirit, in spite of much affliction.
As a result, you became an example to all those who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your trust toward God has gone out into every place, so that we do not need to say anything,
because they themselves are reporting about us, how we conducted ourselves when we came to 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 out from the dead—Jesus—the one who rescues us from the wrath to come.