1TH 2:1-16

Paulʼs Ministry

1For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not empty, [2:2] but though we had suffered beforehand and been treated with contempt in Philippi — as you know — we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the good news of God in the midst of much striving. [2:3] For our appeal does not come from error or from impurity or with deceit, [2:4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak — not as pleasing people but God, who tests our hearts. [2:5] For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, or with a pretext for greed — God is witness — [2:6] nor seeking glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. [2:7] But we were gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother warms her own children. [2:8] Longing for you in this way, we were pleased to share with you not only the good news of God but also our own selves, because you had become dear to us. [2:9] For you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship — working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the good news of God. [2:10] You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we conducted ourselves toward you who believe. [2:11] Just as you know how, like a father to his own children, [2:12] we were exhorting each of you and encouraging and insisting that you walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. [2:13] And for this reason also we thank God constantly that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of people but — as it truly is — the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. [2:14] For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the assemblies of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen as they did from the Jews — [2:15] who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God, and are opposed to all people, [2:16] hindering us from speaking to the nations so that they might be saved — to fill up their sins always. But the wrath has come upon them at last.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, Paul defends his ministry to a Thessalonian audience familiar with Greco-Roman rhetorical practices and Jewish ethical standards. Paul’s mention of suffering and mistreatment in Philippi would evoke the dishonor and public shame associated with such treatment in an honor-shame culture. His assertion that his exhortation was not rooted in error, impurity, or trickery directly counters accusations typical of itinerant philosophers or religious charlatans, who were often viewed with suspicion. Paul’s claim to speak boldly amid conflict aligns with the athletic or gladiatorial imagery of struggle, resonating with a Greco-Roman audience. His emphasis on being approved by God and entrusted with the gospel reflects Jewish covenantal language, contrasting with the flattery and self-interest common in Roman patronage systems. Paul’s description of himself as gentle and nurturing like a nursing mother underscores his care for the community, a stark contrast to the authoritarian models of leadership prevalent in both Roman and Jewish contexts.

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How other translations render this

1TH 2:1

KJV: For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
BSB: You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not in vain.
Koinōnos: For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not empty,

1TH 2:2

KJV: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
BSB: As you are aware, we had already endured suffering and shameful treatment in Philippi. But in the face of strong opposition, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God.
Koinōnos: but though we had suffered beforehand and been treated with contempt in Philippi — as you know — we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the good news of God in the midst of much striving.

1TH 2:3

KJV: For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
BSB: For our appeal does not arise from deceit or ulterior motives or trickery.
Koinōnos: For our appeal does not come from error or from impurity or with deceit,

1TH 2:4

KJV: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak — not as pleasing people but God, who tests our hearts.

1TH 2:5

KJV: For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
BSB: As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
Koinōnos: For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, or with a pretext for greed — God is witness —

1TH 2:6

KJV: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
BSB: Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Koinōnos: nor seeking glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

1TH 2:7

KJV: But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
BSB: On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
Koinōnos: But we were gentle in your midst, as a nursing mother warms her own children.

1TH 2:8

KJV: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: Longing for you in this way, we were pleased to share with you not only the good news of God but also our own selves, because you had become dear to us.

1TH 2:9

KJV: For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: For you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship — working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the good news of God.

1TH 2:10

KJV: Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
BSB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.
Koinōnos: You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we conducted ourselves toward you who believe.

1TH 2:11

KJV: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
BSB: For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
Koinōnos: Just as you know how, like a father to his own children,

1TH 2:12

KJV: That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
BSB: encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Koinōnos: we were exhorting each of you and encouraging and insisting that you walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

1TH 2:13

KJV: For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
BSB: 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 it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.
Koinōnos: And for this reason also we thank God constantly that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of people but — as it truly is — the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.

1TH 2:14

KJV: For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
BSB: 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,
Koinōnos: For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the assemblies of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen as they did from the Jews —

1TH 2:15

KJV: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
BSB: 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,
Koinōnos: who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God, and are opposed to all people,

1TH 2:16

KJV: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: hindering us from speaking to the nations so that they might be saved — to fill up their sins always. But the wrath has come upon them at last.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

1TH 2:2

and:The word translated 'mistreated' here implies being treated with insolence, contempt, or even violence, often stemming from arrogance or a sense of superiority.
much:The word translated 'struggle' refers to a contest, a fight, or an intense effort, often in the context of an athletic competition or a public struggle.

1TH 2:7

infants:The word translated 'gentle' here describes someone who is mild, kind, and approachable, often used to characterize a parent or a benevolent ruler.
a nursing mother:The word translated 'nursing mother' specifically refers to a woman who nourishes and cares for children, emphasizing her role as a provider of sustenance and nurture.