He gives thanks for the grace bestowed on the Thessalonians.
1:1. Paul and Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians:
in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:2. Grace be to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you
all: making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing,
1:3. Being mindful of the work of your faith and labour and charity: and
of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our
Father.
1:4. Knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election:
1:5. For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power
also: and in the Holy Ghost and in much fulness, as you know what manner
of men we have been among you for your sakes.
1:6. And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word
in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
1:7. So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia
and in Achaia.
1:8. For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and in Achaia but also in every place: your faith which is
towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing.
1:9. For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had
unto you: and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and
true God.
1:10. And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the
dead), Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.