Greetings to the Thessalonians
(2 Thessalonians 1:1–4)

1Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 3Incessantly remembering your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father: 4knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much certainty; as ye know what sort of persons we were among you for your sakes. 6And ye became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word tho' in much affliction, yet with joy of the holy Ghost. 7So that ye became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia; but also in every place your faith towards God is spread abroad, so that we have no need to say any thing of it. 9For they themselves declare concerning us what kind of entrance we had among you, and how ye 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, even Jesus who delivereth us from the wrath to come.