1 Thessalonians 1

1Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus the Messiah: grace to you and peace.

2We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers unceasingly,

3remembering your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus the Messiah before our God and Father,

4For we know, brothers loved by God, your election,

5because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction, just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit,

7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.

9For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.