1 Thessalonians 1:7 (ASV)

Passage

so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 1:5 how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and [in] much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;

1 Thessalonians 1:7 so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "became", "ensample", "believe", "macedonia", and "achaia". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "became" and "ensample", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 6's "And ye became imitators of us and..." into verse 8's "For from you hath sounded forth the...", so "became" and "ensample" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "became" and "ensample" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.