The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

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- Chapter 1 -

(2 Thessalonians 1:1–4)

Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace to you. We give thanks to God always for all of you, keeping the memory of you in our prayers without ceasing,

remembering your work of faith, and hardship, and charity, and enduring hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ, before God our Father.(a)

For we know, brothers, beloved of God, of your election.

For our Gospel has not been among you in word alone, but also in virtue, and in the Holy Spirit, and with a great fullness, in the same manner as you know we have acted among you for your sake.

And so, you became imitators of us and of the Lord, accepting the Word in the midst of great tribulation, but with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

So have you become a pattern for all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For from you, the Word of the Lord was spread, not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith, which is toward God, has advanced so much so that we do not need to speak to you about anything.

For others are reporting among us of the kind of acceptance we had among you, and how you were converted from idols to God, to the service of the living and true God,

and to the expectation of his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead), Jesus, who has rescued us from the approaching wrath.

Footnotes

(a)1:3 The word ‘laboris’ is often best translated as ‘hardship’ or ‘difficulties,’ as in the sufferings that accompany living according to Christ, rather than translating it as ‘labor,’ which seems in English to refer to work or employment in general.(Conte)

(2 Thessalonians 1:1–4)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:(a) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,

remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.

We know, brothers(b) loved by God, that you are chosen,

and 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.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

For 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 to say anything.

For 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,

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)1:4 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”