1 Thessalonians 1:6

4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

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.

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

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

8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And 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.
KJV
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
WEB
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
ASV
And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;
DARBY
and *ye* became our imitators, and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much tribulation with joy of [the] Holy Spirit,
BLB
And you⁺ became imitators of us and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
ÅB
og dere ble etterfølgere av oss og av Herren, idet dere tok imot ordet under stor trengsel med glede i den Hellige Ånd,
OTB
Dere ble etterfølgere av oss og av Herren, etter å ha tatt imot ordet midt i stor trengsel med Den Hellige Ånds glede,
B1930
og I blev efterfølgere av oss og av Herren, idet I tok imot ordet under megen trengsel med glede i den Hellige Ånd,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references