1我保羅同西拉和提摩太寫信給帖撒羅尼迦屬於父上帝和主耶穌基督的教會。
願恩典和平安歸給你們！
信徒的榜樣
2我們常常為你們眾人感謝上帝，為你們禱告， 3在我們的父上帝面前不斷地想到你們因信我們主耶穌基督而做的工作、因愛祂而受的勞苦和因祂所賜的盼望而激發的忍耐。
4上帝所愛的弟兄姊妹，我們知道上帝揀選了你們， 5因為我們傳福音給你們不只是靠言語，也靠上帝的能力、聖靈的同在和充分的確據。你們也知道，我們為了你們的緣故怎樣在你們中間行事為人。 6你們效法了我們和我們的主，儘管深受苦難，仍然懷著聖靈所賜的喜樂領受真道， 7成了馬其頓和亞該亞所有信徒的榜樣。 8主的道從你們那裡不僅傳到了馬其頓和亞該亞，還傳到了其他各地，你們對上帝的信心也廣為人知，我們無須再多說什麼。 9因為人們都在傳講你們如何接待我們，如何離棄偶像歸向上帝，事奉又真又活的上帝， 10等候祂的兒子從天降臨，就是祂使之從死裡復活、救我們脫離將來可怕審判1·10 「可怕審判」希臘文是「烈怒」。的耶穌。
1Paul, Silas1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith
2We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4For we know, brothers and sisters1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27. loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
