1 From Paul, Silas, and Timothy—To the people of the church in Thessalonica, who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:May grace and peace be yours.
2 We always thank God for you all and always mention you in our prayers.
3 For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.
4 Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.
5 For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.
6 You imitated us and the Lord; and even though you suffered much, you received the message with the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit.
7 So you became an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia.