1 Thessalonians 1

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church [assembly, congregation] of the Thessalonians in God [supreme deity] the Father and the Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus Christ: Grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] and peace [harmony, spiritual well-being] to you. word study 2 We always [at all times, constantly] thank [express gratitude, give praise] God [the one true deity] for all [every single one] of you, remembering [making mention, thinking about] you in our [our own, personal] prayers [to God, supplications] word study 3 and continually recalling [without ceasing, unceasingly] before our God [the supreme Creator, Father of all] and Father your work [acts, deeds] of faith [trust, confidence in God], your labor [toil, diligent effort] of love [unconditional, divine affection], and your enduring [patient, steadfast] hope [expectation, trust] in our Lord [Master, Savior] Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. word study 4 Brothers [brethren, fellow believers] who are beloved [loved, dear to God] by God [the one true deity], we know [being conscious, having spiritual awareness] that He has chosen [selected, picked out] you [as His own people], word study 5 because our gospel [good news of salvation] came to you not only in word [message, proclamation], but also in power [miraculous ability, divine energy], in the Holy Spirit [the sacred, life-giving breath of God], and with great conviction [entire confidence, assurance]—just as you know we lived among you for your sake [because of you, on your behalf]. word study 6 And you became [followers, imitators] imitators of us and of the [Lord, Master] Lord when you welcomed the message [word] with the [deep and lasting] joy of the Holy [Spirit, Breath of God] Spirit, in spite of your great [much] suffering [pressure, tribulation]. word study 7 As a result [therefore, so], you have become [been made, come to be] an example [a pattern, model] to all [every, each] the believers [those who trust, have faith] in Macedonia [a region in Greece] and [also, additionally] Achaia [a region in ancient Greece]. word study 8 For not only did the message [word of the Lord, divine proclamation] of the Lord [God, the supreme authority] ring out [sound forth, be proclaimed] from you to Macedonia [a region in Greece] and Achaia [a region in ancient Greece], but your faith [trust, confidence] in God [the one true deity] has gone out [been spread abroad, proclaimed] to every place [all locations, everywhere], so that we have no need [it is not necessary] to say anything more [speak further, add additional words]. word study 9 For they themselves report [declare, tell others] what kind of welcome [reception, entrance] you gave us, and how you turned [reverted, changed direction] to God [the living and true deity] from idols [false gods, images] to serve [be a slave, worship] the living [having life, eternal] and true [real, genuine] God word study 10 and to await [wait patiently for, expect] His Son [Jesus, the Messiah] from heaven [the spiritual realm, the sky], whom He raised [brought back to life, resurrected] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically]—Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation] our deliverer [rescuer, savior] from the coming [approaching, future] wrath [God’s strong anger, righteous judgment]. word study