Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on 1 Thessalonians 1:6

6. And ye--answering to "For our Gospel," 1Th 1:5.

followers--Greek, "imitators." The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" (1Th 1:7) for others to imitate.

of the Lord--who was the apostle of the Father, and taught the word, which He brought from heaven, under adversities [Bengel]. This was the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God (1Th 1:4); 1Th 1:5 is the first (see on 1Th 1:5).

received the word in much affliction--(1Th 2:14; 3:2-5; Ac 17:5-10).

joy of--that is, wrought by "the Holy Ghost." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was "anointed above His fellows" (Psa 45:7), is the same oil with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too (Is 61:1, 3; Ro 14:17; 1Jo 2:20, 27).