For we know, brothers and sisters[a] loved by God,(A) that he has chosen you, because our gospel(B) came to you not simply with words but also with power,(C) with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know(D) how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us(E) and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering(F) with the joy(G) given by the Holy Spirit.(H) And so you became a model(I) to all the believers in Macedonia(J) and Achaia.(K) The Lord’s message(L) rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.(M) Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned(N) to God from idols(O) to serve the living and true God,(P) 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven,(Q) whom he raised from the dead(R)—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.

We know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance[b] that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.[c]

And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. 10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:4 Greek brothers.
  2. 1:5 Or with the power of the Holy Spirit, so you can have full assurance.
  3. 1:7 Macedonia and Achaia were the northern and southern regions of Greece.

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

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