1 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy: To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be granted to you.

2 We give praise to God at all times for you, keeping you in memory in our prayers;

We continually give thanks to God because of you all, while we make mention of you in our prayers.

3 Having ever in mind your work of faith and acts of love and the strength of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

For we never fail to remember your works of faith and labours of love and your persistent and unwavering hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father;

4 Being conscious, my brothers, dear to God, that you have been marked out by God's purpose;

knowing as we do, brethren, that you are beloved by God and that He has chosen you.

5 Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.

The Good News that we brought you did not come to you in words only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, for you know the sort of men we became among you, as examples for your sakes.

6 And you took us and the Lord as your example, after the word had come to you in much trouble, with joy in the Holy Spirit;

And you followed the pattern set you by us and by the Master, after you had received the Message amid severe persecution, and yet with the joy which the Holy Spirit gives,

7 So that you became an example to all those who have faith in Christ in Macedonia and Achaia.

so that you became a pattern to all the believers throughout Macedonia and Greece.

8 For not only was the word of the Lord sounding out from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God is made clear; so that we have no need to say anything.

For it was not only from you that the Master's Message sounded forth throughout Macedonia and Greece; but everywhere your faith in God has become known, so that it is unnecessary for us to say anything about it.

9 For they themselves give the news of how we came among you; and how you were turned from images to God, to the worship of a true and living God,

For when others speak of us they report the reception we had from you, and how you turned from your idols to God, to be bondservants of the true and ever-living God,

10 Waiting for his Son from heaven, who came back from the dead, even Jesus, our Saviour from the wrath to come.

and to await the return from Heaven of His Son, whom He raised from among the dead--even Jesus, our Deliverer from God's coming anger.