Silas

1This letter is from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. We write to the church in the city of Thessalonica. A church is a group of people who follow Jesus. You belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus give you kindness and peace.

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.

NotePaul, Silvanus, and Timothy were friends who traveled together. They went from city to city telling people about Jesus. Thessalonica was a busy city by the sea in Greece. Paul had visited there, then wrote this letter to his friends. A letter was the only way to send news that far.

2We always thank God for every one of you. We talk about you when we pray.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

NoteTo pray means to talk to God.

3We keep remembering you as we stand before God our Father. Your trust in God shows up in your work. Your love makes you work hard. Your hope in our Lord Jesus keeps you going.

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;

4Brothers and sisters, God loves you. We know that God chose you to be his.

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

Note"Brothers and sisters" does not mean people from one family. Paul means everyone who follows Jesus together.

5We brought you the good news about Jesus. It came with more than words. It came with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with strong certainty. You saw how we lived while we were with you. We lived that way to help you.

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.

NoteThe good news is the story of Jesus and what he did. The Holy Spirit is God with us, helping people from the inside.

6You began to live the way we live, and the way the Lord lives. You took in the message even while you were hurting badly. The Holy Spirit filled you with joy.

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

NoteThese friends were treated badly for following Jesus. Some people made fun of them. Some hurt them. They kept trusting God anyway.

7So you became an example for everyone who believes in Macedonia and Achaia.

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

NoteMacedonia and Achaia were two big parts of Greece. Think of them like two large states side by side.

8The Lord's message rang out from you into Macedonia and Achaia. News of your trust in God has spread to every place. So we do not need to say anything more.

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.

Note"Rang out" is like the sound of a bell. People far away heard the news, the way a bell is heard across a town.

9People themselves talk about us. They tell what our coming to you was like. They tell how you turned away from idols and turned to God. Idols are statues that people bow down to. Now you serve the God who is alive and real.

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;

NoteAn idol is a statue made of stone, wood, or metal. People bowed to idols and asked them for help. A statue cannot see or hear or move.

10You are waiting for God's Son to come from heaven. God raised him from the dead. He is Jesus. He saves us from the anger that is coming.

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Note"Wrath" is an old word for anger. It means God is angry at all the wrong and cruel things people do. The verse says a day is coming when God will deal with them.

1This letter is from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy. They write to the church in Thessalonica, the group of people there who follow Jesus. That group belongs to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

NotePaul traveled to many cities and told people about Jesus. Silvanus and Timothy were his friends and helpers. Thessalonica was a big city by the sea. Here the word church means a group of people, not a building.

2We pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you. We pray they will give you peace.

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NoteLetters long ago started with a hello like this one. Paul is wishing them good things from God.

3We should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. It is the right thing to do. Your trust in God is growing more and more. And every one of you loves the others more and more.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

NotePaul calls them brothers and sisters. They did not share one mom and dad. People who followed Jesus called each other that.

4So we tell other churches good things about you. We tell how you keep going and keep trusting God. You keep trusting even when people hurt you and make life hard.

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

NoteSome people did not like followers of Jesus. They said mean things to them and hurt them. That is what Paul means by making life hard.

12Silvanus helped me get this short letter to you. I count him as a brother I can trust. I wrote to cheer you on. I wanted to tell you that this is God's real kindness. Stand strong in it.

By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

NoteThere was no mail back then. A friend had to carry a letter by boat or on foot. Silvanus carried this one. He is called Silas in other parts of the Bible.

13The believers in the city of Babylon say hello to you. God chose them, just as he chose you. Mark, who is like a son to me, says hello too.

The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

NoteBabylon was a famous old city far away to the east. Many people think Peter really meant Rome. Rome was the huge city that ruled everyone then. Using a different name helped keep his friends safe.

14Say hello to each other with a kiss that shows love. Peace to all of you who belong to Christ Jesus. Amen.

Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.