We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;
One outstanding reason for this growth can be attributed to the character of their initial faith: they turned completely to God and in so doing turned completely away from their idols, "to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven." James tells us "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20) The faith of the Thessalonians is genuine, and they exercise that faith not only in turning to God from idols, but also in service. They demonstrated a "work of faith" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Persecution also has increased their faith. If faith is not genuine, trials, persecutions, heartache, heartbreaks, and warfare will destroy it; if faith is the faith once delivered to the saints (Judges 1:3), persecution will serve only to strengthen it.