1Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.

Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith

2We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.

3We 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.

4For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

5because our gospel came 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.

6You 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.

7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

8The 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,

9for 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,

10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

2We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.

3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

4On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.

6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.

7Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,

8so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

9Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we