New Testament
1 Thessalonians 1
Overview
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy open with greeting and an outpouring of thanksgiving for the young Thessalonian church. Paul gives thanks because their lives display the famous triad — "work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope" (1:3) — visible fruit that proves God has chosen them. He recalls how the gospel came to them "not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction" (1:5), and how, despite "much affliction," they received the word "with the joy of the Holy Spirit" (1:6). As a result they became imitators of Paul and of the Lord, and then a model for believers throughout Macedonia and Achaia. The chapter ends by describing their conversion in classic terms: they "turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven" (1:9-10) — a summary that already sounds the letter's twin notes of present service and future expectation of the risen Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come.
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
4We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
5and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.
6You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
7so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not say anything.
9For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.