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Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
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We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
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We continually 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.
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For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
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because our gospel came to you not simply with words,
but also with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake.
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You became imitators of us and of the Lord;
in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message
with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
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And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
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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,
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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,
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and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead -
Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.