4We know, dear brothers and sisters,1:4 Greek brothers. that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

5For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance1:5 Or with the power of the Holy Spirit, so you can have full assurance. that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.

6So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.

7As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.1:7 Macedonia and Achaia were the northern and southern regions of Greece.

8And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,

9for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.

10And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.