1 THESSALONIANS 1 (NIV)
- Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
- We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
- We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
- because our gospel 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.
- 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.
- And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
- 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,
- 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,
- and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom be raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues fromm the coming wrath.
