1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 - Thanksgiving For The Thessalonian Believers

² We always mention you in our prayers, and give thanks to God for you all: ³ never forgetting the effects of your faith, your charitable offices, and the constancy of your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ; of which God is our witness. ⁴ for we are persuaded, my brethren, that you are the peculiar objects of divine favour; ⁵ since the gospel we preach'd, did not consist only of words, but was fully confirm'd by miracles and gifts of the holy spirit, you yourselves being witnesses, what we did among you and for you. ⁶ and you imitated us, and were imitators of the Lord, having receiv'd the word, notwithstanding all your afflictions, with that alacrity, which the holy spirit inspires. ⁷ so that you became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ for the gospel has made so favourable a progress not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every other place, where the reputation of your divine faith has spread, that 'tis needless to mention any thing of it; since they all relate of us, ⁹ how successful our arrival was among you, and how you renounc'd your idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to expect his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from impending ruin.

³ We are oblig'd, my brethren, to render thanks to God continually upon your account, as it is but just; since your faith still improves, and your mutual love is always increasing. ⁴ so that you are the subject of our glorying in the churches of God, for the constancy of your faith, under all the persecutions and afflictions you endure from men, ⁵ by which you may be assur'd, that they will be punish'd by the divine justice, and that you shall be rewarded with the kingdom of God, for which you suffer; ⁶ since it is agreeable to his justice to afflict those in their turn, who afflict you: ⁷ and that you, who are distress'd, should obtain your repose, together with us, when the Lord Jesus, with his angels, the ministers of his power, shall descend from heaven, ⁸ in flaming fire, to take vengeance on those, who know not God, and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: ⁹ the Lord shall punish them with everlasting destruction, when he shall appear in the glory of his power, ¹⁰ and come to be glorified by his saints, and to be the object of admiration to all who believed, that the testimony we gave you, would be justified in that day. ¹¹ Wherefore we continually pray, that our God would by his power effect all the gracious designs of his goodness, and accomplish the work of faith in you; ¹² that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified by you, and you by him, by the favour of our God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ.