Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance
1 Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We ought alwaysandindeed are morally obligated [as those in debt] to give thanks to God for you,brothers and sisters, as is fitting, because your faith is growing ever greater, and the [unselfish]love of each one of you toward one another is continually increasing.
4 Therefore, we speak of you with pride among the churches of God for your steadfastness [your unflinching endurance, and patience] and your firm faith in the midst of all the persecution and [crushing] distress which you endure.
5 This isa positive proof of the righteous judgment of God [a sign of His fair verdict], so that you will be considered worthy of His kingdom, for which indeed you are suffering.
6 For after all it isonlyjust for God to repay with distress those who distress you,
7 and togiverelief to you who are so distressed and to us as well when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire,
8 dealing out [full and complete] vengeance to those who do not [seek to] know God and to those who ignoreandrefuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus [by choosing not to respond to Him].
9 These people will pay the penaltyandendure the punishment ofeverlasting destruction, banished from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day [that is, glorified through the changed lives of those who have accepted Him as Savior and have been set apart for His purpose], and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believedandtrusted [and confirmed in your lives].
11 With this in view, we constantly pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of your calling [to faith] and with [His] power fulfill every desire for goodness, and complete [your] every work of faith,
12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you [by what you do], and you in Him, according to the [precious] grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.