The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians, chapter 1.
Paul in Silvanus, in 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.
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father,
knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
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.
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word
in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost, so that ye were in samples to all
that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia,
but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad, so that we need
not to speak any thing.
For they themselves show 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,
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus,
which delivered us from the wrath to come.