⁴ For we know, ^(A)brothers^[a] loved by God, ^(B)that he has chosen you, ⁵ because ^(C)our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and ^(D)in the Holy Spirit and with full ^(E)conviction. You know ^(F)what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶ And ^(G)you became imitators of us ^(H)and of the Lord, for ^(I)you received the word in much affliction, ^(J)with the ^(K)joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord ^(L)sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth ^(M)everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of ^(N)reception we had among you, and how ^(O)you turned to God ^(P)from idols to serve the living and ^(Q)true God, ¹⁰ and ^(R)to wait for his Son ^(S)from heaven, ^(T)whom he raised from the dead, Jesus ^(U)who delivers us from ^(V)the wrath to come.

¹³ And ^(A)we also thank God constantly^[a] for this, that when you received ^(B)the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it ^(C)not as the word of men^[b] but as what it really is, the word of God, ^(D)which is at work in you believers.