 1 From Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. To the assembly+ of the Thessalonians in God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We always give thanks to God for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 3 We remember without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patient hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of our Father God. 4 We know, beloved family+, that you were chosen+ by God. 5 For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of people we were among you for your sake. 6 You became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word with joy in the Holy Spirit, even in much suffering+, 7 so that you became+ examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For it was from you that the Word of the Lord sounded forth+, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place where your faith toward God was widely+ spread, so that we did not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declared+ to us what an entrance+ we had to you and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead: Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.
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