1Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. [1:2] We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers, [1:3] remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of exhausting toil and steadfast endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [1:4] We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, your election, [1:5] because our good news came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in full certainty — just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. [1:6] And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit, [1:7] so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [1:8] For the word of the Lord has sounded out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place — your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. [1:9] For they themselves report concerning us what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God [1:10] and to wait for his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
1TH 1:1-10
Greetings to the Thessalonians
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, an (church) was not a religious institution but a civic assembly, often summoned for political or communal purposes. For the Thessalonian believers, this term would have evoked a sense of being called out as a distinct community under God’s authority. The mention of 'work of faith,' 'labor of love,' and 'endurance of hope' reflects the intense (toil) and (steadfastness) expected in a society where honor was earned through perseverance and public virtue. Thessalonica, a bustling Roman colony, valued civic loyalty and public piety, making the Thessalonians’ allegiance to Jesus Christ a radical departure from societal norms. The reference to their election by God would have resonated with Jewish ideas of divine choice, while the Gentile converts would have understood it in the context of Roman patronage, where favor was bestowed by a superior. The gospel’s proclamation with (full conviction) underscored the certainty of their message in a culture rife with competing philosophies and imperial propaganda.
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How other translations render this
1TH 1:1
- KJV
- Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- BSB
- Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
- Koinōnos
- Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
1TH 1:2
- KJV
- We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
- BSB
- We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
- Koinōnos
- We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers,
1TH 1:3
- KJV
- Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
- BSB
- and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Koinōnos
- remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of exhausting toil and steadfast endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1TH 1:4
- KJV
- Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
- BSB
- Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
- Koinōnos
- We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, your election,
1TH 1:5
- KJV
- For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
- BSB
- because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- Koinōnos
- because our good news came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in full certainty — just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake.
1TH 1:6
- KJV
- And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
- BSB
- And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
- Koinōnos
- And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy from the Holy Spirit,
1TH 1:7
- KJV
- So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
- BSB
- As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
- Koinōnos
- so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
1TH 1:8
- KJV
- For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
- BSB
- For not only did the message of the Lord ring out from you to Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone out to every place, so that we have no need to say anything more.
- Koinōnos
- For the word of the Lord has sounded out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place — your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything.
1TH 1:9
- KJV
- For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
- BSB
- For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God
- Koinōnos
- For they themselves report concerning us what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God
1TH 1:10
- KJV
- And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
- BSB
- and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.
- Koinōnos
- and to wait for his Son from the heavens, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1TH 1:1
- church:The word translated 'church' referred to a formally summoned assembly of citizens, not a building or a religious organization. It emphasized the gathering of people called out for a specific purpose.
1TH 1:3
- labor:The word translated 'labor' here implies strenuous, exhausting effort, often to the point of weariness or trouble. It suggests a deep, personal investment of energy.
- endurance:The word translated 'endurance' carried the sense of steadfast perseverance and patient continuance, especially in the face of difficulties or suffering, rather than simply 'putting up with' something.
1TH 1:5
- with:The word translated 'with' in this context is part of a phrase meaning 'full assurance' or 'complete conviction.' It describes a state of absolute certainty and confidence.