1 T his 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.

Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, to the assembly (church) of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah): Grace (spiritual blessing and divine favor) to you and peace.

2 W e thank God for you all the time and pray for you.

We are ever giving thanks to God for all of you, continually mentioning in our prayers,

3 W hile 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.

Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

4 C hristian brothers, we know God loves you and that He has chosen you.

brethren beloved by God, we recognize and know that He has selected (chosen) you;

5 T he 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.

For our glad tidings (the Gospel) came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction and absolute certainty. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your good.

6 Y ou 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.

And you become imitators of us and of the Lord Himself, for you welcomed our message in much persecution, with joy by the Holy Spirit;

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

So that you became a pattern to all the believers (those who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Christ Jesus) in Macedonia and Achaia (most of Greece).

8 T he 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.

For not only has the Word concerning and from the Lord resounded forth from you unmistakably in Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere the report has gone forth of your faith in God '> leaning of your whole personality on Him in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. So we never need to tell people anything.

9 T he 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.

For they themselves volunteer testimony concerning us, telling what an entrance we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a God Who is alive and true and genuine,

10 T hey 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.

And look forward to and await the coming of His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, Who personally rescues and delivers us out of and from the wrath which is coming and draws us to Himself '> investing us with all the privileges and rewards of the new life in Christ, the Messiah].