Dual Panel1FROM Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.
2We always thank God for you all, and mention you in our prayers.
3We continually call to mind, before our God and Father, how your faith has shown itself in action, your love in labour, and your hope of our Lord Jesus Christ in perseverance.
4My dear friends, beloved by God, we are certain that he has chosen you,
5because when we brought you the gospel we did not bring it in mere words but in the power of the Holy Spirit and with strong conviction. You know what we were like for your sake when we were with you.
6You, in turn, followed the example set by us and by the Lord; the welcome you gave the message meant grave suffering for you, yet you rejoiced in the Holy Spirit;
7and so you have become a model for all believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8From you the word of the Lord rang out; and not in Macedonia and Achaia alone, but everywhere your faith in God has become common knowledge. No words of ours are needed;
9everyone is spreading the story of our visit to you: how you turned from idols to be servants of the true and living God,
10and to wait expectantly for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the retribution to come.