ASV
1 Thessalonians 2
1For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain:
2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict.
3For our exhortation [is] not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.
5For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
6nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
7But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:
8even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us.
9For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
10Ye are witnesses, and God [also], how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:
11as ye know how we [dealt with] each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging [you], and testifying,
12to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.
13And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
14For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews;
15who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;
16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:
18because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us.
19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
20For ye are our glory and our joy.
Study This Passage
Key Words and Topics
These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.
Key Words in This Passage
Select a word to open the full concordance search.
Related Topics
Affections: should be Set Upon the People of God 1 Thessalonians 2:8
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
Agency in Salvation of Men 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
Approval 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
Bigotry in Persecutions 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 16
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men, / hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
Breastfeeding 1 Thessalonians 2:7
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
Call: To Special Religious Duty: All Who are Called of God 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12
For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— / encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Children: Fondness and Care of Mothers For 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8
On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children. / We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.
Christian Conduct: Walking: Worthy of God 1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of 1 Thessalonians 2:3–12
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery. / Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. / As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
Christian Minister: Duties of 1 Thessalonians 2:4–8, 10–12
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. / As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! / Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Christian Minister: Emoluments (Benefits) of 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 6, 9
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! / Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it. / Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Christian Minister: Love of, for the Ekklesia (The Body of Christ), Exemplified by Paul 1 Thessalonians 2:8, 11
We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us. / For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
Christian Minister: Promises To, Joys of 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 19, 20
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe. / After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? / You are indeed our glory and our joy.
Church: The Wicked Persecute 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 15
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews, / who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out as well. They are displeasing to God and hostile to all men,
Covetousness: General Scriptures Concerning 1 Thessalonians 2:5
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
Deceit: Ministers should Lay Aside 1 Thessalonians 2:3
For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
Devotedness to God: Grounded Upon: The Call of God 1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Devotedness to God: Walking Worthy of God 1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Diligence: Paul 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Faith: General Scriptures Concerning 1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
Faith: The Gospel Effectual in Those Who Have 1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.
Flattery: General Scriptures Concerning 1 Thessalonians 2:4–6
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts. / As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! / Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Flattery: Ministers should not Use 1 Thessalonians 2:5
As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
Gentiles: Conversion of 1 Thessalonians 2:16
hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
Select a topic to open the full topical search.
Bible Dictionary
Related Dictionary Terms
Explore people, places, themes, and biblical terms connected to this passage.
Commentary Insights
Study and Reflection
Explore devotional and study commentary connected to this passage.
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 Verses 1-6
The apostle had no wordly design in his preaching. Suffering in a good cause should sharpen holy resolution. The gospel of Christ at first met with much opposition; and it was preached with contention, with striving in preaching, and against opposition. And as the matter of the apostle's exhortation was true and pure, the manner of his speaking was without guile. The gospel of Christ is designed for mortifying corrupt affections, and that men may be brought under the power of faith. This is the great motive to sincerity, to consider that God not only sees all we do, but knows our thoughts afar off, and searches the heart. And it is from this God who trieth our hearts, that we must receive our reward. The evidences of the apostle's sincerity were, that he avoided flattery and covetousness. He avoided ambition and vain-glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 Verses 7-12
Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honour, serve, and please God, and to seek to be worthy of him.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 Verses 13-16
We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to its holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. The words of men are frail and perishing, like themselves, and sometimes false, foolish, and fickle; but God's word is holy, wise, just, and faithful. Let us receive and regard it accordingly. The word wrought in them, to make them examples to others in faith and good works, and in patience under sufferings, and in trials for the sake of the gospel. Murder and persecution are hateful to God, and no zeal for any thing in religion can excuse it. Nothing tends more to any person or people's filling up the measure of their sins, than opposing the gospel, and hindering the salvation of souls. The pure gospel of Christ is abhorred by many, and the faithful preaching of it is hindered in many ways. But those who forbid the preaching it to sinners, to men dead in sin, do not by this please God. Those have cruel hearts, and are enemies to the glory of God, and to the salvation of his people, who deny them the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 Verses 17-20
This world is not a place where we are to be always, or long together. In heaven holy souls shall meet, and never part more. And though the apostle could not come to them yet, and thought he might never be able to come, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come; nothing shall hinder that. May God give faithful ministers to all who serve him with their spirit in the gospel of his Son, and send them to all who are in darkness