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

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, who believe in God the father, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, grace and peace be with you from God our father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

2We always mention you in our prayers, and give thanks to God for you all: 3never 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. 4for we are persuaded, my brethren, that you are the peculiar objects of divine favour; 5since 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. 6and 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. 7so that you became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8for 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, 9how successful our arrival was among you, and how you renounc'd your idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to expect his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from impending ruin.