The Thessalonians’ Response to Paul’s Message

¹³ And because of this we also give thanks to God constantly, that when you^[a] received God’s word that you heard^[b] from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you became imitators, brothers, of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own people, just as they themselves did also at the hands of the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and who persecuted us, and who are not pleasing to God and are opposed to all people, ¹⁶ hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles in order that they may be saved, so that they always fill up their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the end.^[c]