1 Thessalonians 1:6 (DRB)

Passage

And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also: and in the Holy Ghost and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1 Thessalonians 1:7 So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and in Achaia but also in every place: your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "became", "followers", "lord", "receiving", "word", "much", "tribulation", and "holy". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "became" and "followers", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "For our gospel hath not been unto..." into verse 7's "So that you were made a pattern...", so "became" and "followers" 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 "followers" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.