Matthew 28, 1 Thessalonians 1-3
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
Paul links together the idea of selection, or the elect (to put another phrase to it) in the passage. “Our gospel came to you” – note the passive voice – not “we preached the gospel”, but “Our gospel came to you”, as if Paul was only the carrier of a letter. In his view, that’s what he is. He delivers the message, and the gospel comes with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction. The Holy Spirit must be the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (i.e., speaking in other tongues, prophesying, etc.), and the deep conviction would just be an inner sense that this is the right thing and a corresponding change in lifestyle. What does it mean for the gospel to come with power (separately from the Holy Spirit and the deep conviction?) I wonder if the power he writes of here is miracle-working power – healing power.