και 2532 CONJ υμεις 5210 P-2NP μιμηται 3402 N-NPM ημων 2257 P-1GP εγενηθητε 1096 5675 V-AOI-2P και 2532 CONJ του 3588 T-GSM κυριου 2962 N-GSM δεξαμενοι 1209 5666 V-ADP-NPM τον 3588 T-ASM λογον 3056 N-ASM εν 1722 PREP θλιψει 2347 N-DSF πολλη 4183 A-DSF μετα 3326 PREP χαρας 5479 N-GSF πνευματος 4151 N-GSN αγιου 40 A-GSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Followers (mimhtai). More literally and better, imitators. Only once outside of Paul's writings, Heb. vi. 12. Comp. 1 Thess. iii. 9; 2 Thessalonians 7; 1 Cor. iv. 16; xi. 1; Gal. iv. 12; Philippians iii. 17; iv. 9.And of the Lord. Guarding against any possible imputation of self-assertion or conceit. Comp. 1 Cor. xi. 1.
Tribulation (qliyei). See on Matt. xiii. 21. Referring especially to persecutions at the hands of the Jews (Acts xvii. 5 ff.), which probably continued after Paul's departure from Thessalonica.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:6 {Imitators of us and of the Lord} (mimetai hemwn kai tou kuriou). mimetes (-tes expresses the agent) is from mimeomai, to imitate and that from mimos (mimic, actor). Old word, more than "followers," in the N.T. only six times (#1Th 1:6; 2:14; 1Co 4:16; 11:1; Eph 5:1; Heb 6:12). Again Paul uses ginomai, to become, not eimi, to be. It is a daring thing to expect people to "imitate" the preacher, but Paul adds "and of the Lord," for he only expected or desired "imitation" as he himself imitated the Lord Jesus, as he expressly says in #1Co 11:1. The peril of it all is that people so easily and so readily imitate the preacher when he does not imitate the Lord. The fact of the "election" of the Thessalonians was shown by the character of the message given them and by this sincere acceptance of it (Lightfoot). {Having received the word} (dexamenoi ton logon). First aorist middle participle of decomai, probably simultaneous action (receiving), not antecedent. {In much affliction} (en qliyei pollei). Late word, pressure. Tribulation (Latin _tribulum_) from qlibw, to press hard on. Christianity has glorified this word. It occurs in some Christian papyrus letters in this same sense. Runs all through the N.T. (#2Th 1:4; Ro 5:3). Paul had his share of them (#Col 1:24; 2Co 2:4) and so he understands how to sympathize with the Thessalonians (#1Th 3:3f.). They suffered after Paul left Thessalonica (#1Th 2:14). {With joy of the Holy Spirit} (meta caras pneumatos hagiou). The Holy Spirit gives the joy in the midst of the tribulations as Paul learned (#Ro 5:3). " this paradox of experience" (Moffatt) shines along the pathway of martyrs and saints of Christ.
