Grace and Peace to Thessalonica
Paul’s warm encouragement to a young church, and his teaching on the return of the Lord.
1 1Paul, Silas, and Timothy, to the Thessalonian church in our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace.
2We always give thanks to our Father for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
Grateful for Their Faith and Love
3We continually remember before our Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters loved by our Father, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not only in words but also in power, the Holy Spirit, and complete conviction. You know what we were like among you for your sake. 6You imitated us and the Lord, welcoming the message amid great suffering, with joy from the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For the Lord's word rang out from you—not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in our Father has reached everywhere—so we need say nothing. 9For they themselves report about us how we were welcomed among you, and how you turned to our Father from idols to serve the living and true Father, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom our Father raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. a a v10 Paul names the whole gospel in one breath: the Father raised his Son Jesus, who rescues us from the coming judgment — the Father and the Son working together for our deliverance.
