1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. (徒15:22; 徒17:1; 羅1:7; 林后1:19; 帖后1:1; 彼前5:12)
The Thessalonians’ Faith and Example
2We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly[1] mentioning you in our prayers, (羅1:8; 羅1:9; 弗5:20; 帖前2:13; 提后1:3)3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (约6:29; 羅8:25; 羅15:4; 加1:4; 加5:6; 西1:4; 帖后1:3; 帖后1:11; 提前1:14; 來6:10; 雅2:22; 启2:19)4For we know, brothers[2] loved by God, that he has chosen you, (帖后2:13; 彼后1:10)5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (徒20:18; 林前2:4; 林后6:6; 西2:2; 帖前2:10; 帖后2:14; 帖后3:7; 來2:3)6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, (太5:12; 徒13:52; 徒17:5; 林前4:16; 林前11:1; 加5:22; 帖前2:14; 帖后3:7; 帖后3:9)7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.8For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. (羅1:8; 羅10:18; 羅16:19; 帖后1:4; 帖后3:1)9For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (约17:3; 徒14:15; 林前12:2; 加4:8; 帖前2:1)10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (太3:7; 徒1:11; 徒2:24; 羅5:9; 林前1:7; 西1:13; 帖前2:16; 帖前4:16; 帖前5:9; 帖后1:10)