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1 Thessalonians 1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy open with thanks rather than instruction: the Thessalonians' "work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope" (v.3) is already known across Macedonia and Achaia. The congregation has become its own advertisement. Watch how Paul reframes their conversion as a report he keeps hearing from others (v.8-9): they turned from idols to a living God and now "wait for his Son from heaven." That waiting sets up the letter's later concern with Christ's coming.
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Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers,
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remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
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We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
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and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake.
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You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
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so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
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For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we need not to say anything.
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For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,
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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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PABLO, y Silvano, y Timoteo, á la iglesia de los Tesalonicenses que es en Dios Padre y en el Señor Jesucristo: Gracia y paz á vosotros de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo.
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Damos siempre gracias á Dios por todos vosotros, haciendo memoria de vosotros en nuestras oraciones;
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Sin cesar acordándonos delante del Dios y Padre nuestro de la obra de vuestra fe, y del trabajo de amor, y de la tolerancia de la esperanza del Señor nuestro Jesucristo:
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Sabiendo, hermanos amados de Dios, vuestra elección:
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Por cuanto nuestro evangelio no fué á vosotros en palabra solamente, mas también en potencia, y en Espíritu Santo, y en gran plenitud; como sabéis cuáles fuimos entre vosotros por amor de vosotros.
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Y vosotros fuisteis hechos imitadores de nosotros, y del Señor, recibiendo la palabra con mucha tribulación, con gozo del Espíritu Santo:
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En tal manera que habéis sido ejemplo á todos los que han creído en Macedonia y en Acaya.
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Porque de vosotros ha sido divulgada la palabra del Señor no sólo en Macedonia y en Acaya, mas aun en todo lugar vuestra fe en Dios se ha extendido; de modo que no tenemos necesidad de hablar nada.
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Porque ellos cuentan de nosotros cuál entrada tuvimos á vosotros; y cómo os convertisteis de los ídolos á Dios, para servir al Dios vivo y verdadero,
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Y esperar á su Hijo de los cielos, al cual resucitó de los muertos; á Jesús, el cual nos libró de la ira que ha de venir.
A young church under pressure
Verse 6 holds the chapter's tension in one line: they received the word "in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit." This is a recently-planted assembly, hostility and gladness arriving together, which is why Paul leans so hard on imitation and example (v.6-7) rather than correction.
The triad faith-love-hope introduced here (v.3) becomes a structural thread Paul returns to, most visibly in the breastplate-and-helmet image of chapter 5.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- FaithWhat faith means in the Bible, how it differs from vague belief, and how to read it without turning it into self-confidence.
- GraceWhat grace means in the Bible, how it differs from vague kindness, and which passages help define it clearly.
- HopeWhat biblical hope means, how it differs from optimism, and which passages show its shape most clearly.
- PeaceWhat peace means in the Bible, how it relates to reconciliation with God, and why it is more than calm feelings or conflict avoidance.
- Isaiah 52:7Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Isaiah 61:1Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Mark 1:15Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Luke 4:21Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- John 20:31Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Romans 1:16-17Key passage connected to Faith.
- Acts 8:12Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
- Matthew 4:23Related through the topic "The Good News Jesus Announced".
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