1 P aul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the assembly of Thessalonians in God Father and 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 at our prayers,

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

3 r emembering unceasingly your work of faith, and labour of love, and enduring constancy of hope, of 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 by God, your election.

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

5 F or our glad tidings were not with you in word only, but also in power, and in Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what we were among you for your sakes:

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 our imitators, and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much tribulation with joy of 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 models 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 the word of the Lord sounded out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith which towards God has gone abroad, so that we have no need to say 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 relate concerning us what entering in we had to you, and how ye turned to 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 await his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from among the dead, Jesus, our deliverer from the coming wrath.

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.