1 Thessalonians 1

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. \*

We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention {of you} in our prayers continually,

remembering your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father; \*

knowing, brothers loved by God, your election,

because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance—just as you know what kind {of men} we were among you for your sake. \*

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

so that you became examples to all the ones believing in Macedonia and in Achaia. \*

For from you the word of the Lord has been sounded out not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but your faith toward God has gone out into every place, so that we do not have need to say anything.

For they themselves report concerning us what kind of entrance we had to you and how you turned to God from the idols to serve the living and true God

and to wait for his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, the one rescuing us from the coming wrath. \*