In his first Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul says, “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; so that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”{LP 86.1}

I sit første brev til tessalokinerne siger Paulus: "Thi vort evangelium kom ikke til jer i ord alene, men i kraft og i Helligånd og fuld vished; I ved jo også, hvordan vi for jeres skyld optrådte iblandt jer. Og I blev vore efterfølgere, ja Herrens, da I under stor trængsel tog imod ordet med glæde i Helligånden. Derved er I blevet forbillede for alle de troende i Makedonien og Akaja."