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Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
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For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
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because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
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You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
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And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
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The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,
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for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
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and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
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Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.
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We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.
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For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
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On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
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so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
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Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
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You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
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For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews
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in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
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Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians
But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.
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For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
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So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
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We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
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so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
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For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
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Timothy’s Encouraging Report
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.
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Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
