1 P aul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

This letter is from Paul and Silas and Timothy. It is to you, the church, in the city of Thessalonica. You belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May you have His loving-favor and His peace.

2 W e give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

We thank God for you all the time and pray for you.

3 r emembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;

While praying to God our Father, we always remember your work of faith and your acts of love and your hope that never gives up in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 k nowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,

Christian brothers, we know God loves you and that He has chosen you.

5 h ow that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

The Good News did not come to you by word only, but with power and through the Holy Spirit. You knew it was true. You also knew how we lived among you. It was for your good.

6 A nd ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;

You followed our way of life and the life of the Lord. You suffered from others because of listening to us. But you had the joy that came from the Holy Spirit.

7 s o that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Because of your good lives, you are showing all the Christians in the countries of Macedonia and Greece how to live.

8 F or from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

The Word of the Lord has been spoken by you in the countries of Macedonia and Greece. People everywhere know of your faith in God without our telling them.

9 F or they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

The people themselves tell us how you received us when we came to you. They talk of how you turned to God from worshiping false gods. Now you worship the true and living God.

10 a nd to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.

They tell us how you are waiting for His Son Jesus to come down from heaven. God raised Him from the dead. It is Jesus Who will save us from the anger of God that is coming.