1 Thessalonians 1 · Verse 6

1 Thessalonians 1:6

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
1 Thessalonians 1:6, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 1:6 in other translations

BSBAnd you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.
WEBYou became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
ASVAnd ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;
YLTand ye--ye did become imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
DARBYand ye became our imitators, and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much tribulation with joy of the Holy Spirit,
BBEAnd you took us and the Lord as your example, after the word had come to you in much trouble, with joy in the Holy Spirit;
WebsterAnd ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit:

What does 1 Thessalonians 1:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. And ye--answering to "For our Gospel," 1Th 1:5. followers--Greek, "imitators." The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" (1Th 1:7) for others to imitate. of the Lord--who was the apostle of the Father, and taught the word, which He brought from heaven, under adversities [Bengel]. This was the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God (1Th 1:4); 1Th 1:5 is the first (see on 1Th 1:5). received the word in much affliction--(1Th 2:14; 3:2-5; Ac 17:5-10). joy of--that is, wrought by "the Holy Ghost." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was "anointed above His fellows" (Psa 45:7), is the same oil with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too (Is 61:1, 3; Ro 14:17; 1Jo 2:20, 27).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. And ye became followers of us. "You became imitators-- μιμηται of us." This does not mean that they became followers of Paul, Silas, and Timothy, in the sense that they had set themselves up as teachers, or as the head of a sect, but that they imitated their manner of living. 1Cor 4:16; 1Cor 11:1.

And of the Lord. The Lord Jesus. You also learned to imitate him. From this it is evident that the manner in which the Saviour lived was a prominent topic of their preaching, and also that it was one of the means of the conversion of the Thessalonians. It is probable that preaching on the pure and holy life of the Lord Jesus might be made a much more important means of the conversion of sinners than it is. Nothing is better adapted to show them the evil of their own guilty lives than the contrast between their lives and his; and nothing can be conceived better fitted to win them to holy living than the contemplation of his pure and holy deportment.

Having retired the word in much affliction. That is, amidst much opposition from others. See Acts 17:5-8. It was in the midst of these trials that they had become converted--and they seem to have been all the better Christians for them. In this they were imitators of the Saviour, or shared the same lot with him, and thus became his followers. Their embracing and holding fast the truths of religion amidst all this opposition, showed that they were controlled by the same principles that he was, and that they were truly his friends.

With joy of the Holy Ghost. With happiness produced by the Holy Ghost. Though they were much afflicted and persecuted, yet there was joy. There was joy in their conversion, in the evidence of pardoned sin, in the hope of heaven. Acts 8:8. However great may be the trials and persecutions experienced in receiving the gospel, or however numerous and long the sufferings of the subsequent life in consequence of having embraced it, there is a joy in religion that more than overbalances all, and that makes religion the richest of all blessings.

(e) "followers of us" 2Cor 8:5 (f) "Holy Ghost" Acts 13:52

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Ye became followers of us - Ye became imitators, μιμηται, of us-ye believed the same truths, walked in the same way, and minded the same thing; knowing that our doctrine was of the Lord, and that the way in which we walked was prescribed by himself, and that he also suffered the contradictions of ungodly men. Having received the word in much affliction - That they received the doctrine of the Gospel in the midst of much persecution we may learn from the history in general, and from Act 17:5, Act 17:6. With joy of the Holy Ghost - The consolations which they received, in consequence of believing in Christ, more than counterbalanced all the afflictions which they suffered from their persecutors.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
When careless, ignorant, and immoral persons are turned from their carnal pursuits and connexions, to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, the matter speaks for itself. The believers under the Old Testament waited for the coming of the Messiah, and believers now wait for his second coming. He is yet to come. And God had raised him from the dead, which is a full assurance unto all men that he will come to judgment. He came to purchase salvation, and will, when he comes again, bring salvation with him, full and final deliverance from that wrath which is yet to come. Let all, without delay, flee from the wrath to come, and seek refuge in Christ and his salvation.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Thessalonians 1:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
μιμηταὶmimētaiimitatorsG3402
ἡμῶνhēmōnof usG3165
ἐγενήθητεegenēthētebecameG1096
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῦtouof theG3588
κυρίουkuriouLordG2962
δεξάμενοιdexamenoihaving receivedG1209
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
ἐνeninG1722
θλίψειthlipseitribulationG2347
πολλῇpollēamuchG4183
μετὰmetawithG3326
χαρᾶςcharas[the] joyG5479
πνεύματοςpneumatosof [the] SpiritG4151
ἁγίου,hagiouHoly,G40

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 1:6

  • 1 Corinthians 11:1

    Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:16

    Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

  • Acts 13:52

    And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:9

    Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

  • 3 John 1:11

    Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

  • Ephesians 5:1

    Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

  • Romans 5:3-5

    And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

  • Romans 8:16-18

    The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

  • John 14:16-18

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

  • Matthew 16:24

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14

    For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye.
2:14; 1Co 4:16; 11:1; 2Co 8:5; Php 3:17; 2Th 3:9
and of.
Mt 16:24; Joh 8:12; 13:13-15; Eph 5:1; 1Pe 3:13; 3Jo 1:11
received.
2:13,14; 3:2-4; Ho 2:14; Mr 10:29-30; Ac 17:5; 2Co 8:1,2; 2Th 1:4
with joy.
Joh 14:16-18; Ac 5:41; 9:31; 13:52; Ro 5:3-5; 8:16-18; 15:13
Ga 5:22; Heb 10:34; 1Pe 1:6,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:5

    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.

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:6

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

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:7

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

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vosotros fuisteis hechos imitadores de nosotros, y del Señor, recibiendo la palabra con mucha tribulación, con gozo del Espíritu Santo:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et vous êtes devenus nos imitateurs et ceux du Seigneur, ayant reçu la parole, accompagnée de grandes tribulations, avec la joie de l’Esprit Saint;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ihr seid unsere Nachahmer geworden und des Herrn, indem ihr das Wort aufgenommen habt in vieler Drangsal mit Freude des Heiligen Geistes,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et vos imitatores nostri facti estis, et Domini, excipientes verbum in tribulatione multa, cum gaudio Spiritus Sancti: