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Verse
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1 Thessalonians 1:6
ESV And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
NIV You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
NASB You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
CSB and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.
NLT So 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.
KJV And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

What does 1 Thessalonians 1:6 mean?

After receiving the gospel, the Thessalonian believers patterned their lives after the lives of Paul and his fellow missionaries. They also patterned their lives after the life of the Lord. Just as Paul, his companions, and the Lord knew firsthand what suffering was, so the believers at Thessalonica experienced firsthand what it meant to suffer at the hands of unbelievers.

When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He did not hide from them the fact that they would suffer trials and persecution. He told them: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18). Later, He told them: "… In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit imparted His supernatural joy to them.

After being stoned at Lystra and left for dead there, Paul revived and later returned to the city, where he strengthened the believers and told them that "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). The Thessalonians believers were suffering persecution, but maintained a resolute hope for a better time when Jesus would return.
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