17But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you for a season — in person, not in heart — were all the more eagerly striving with great desire to see your face. [2:18] Because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, both once and again — and Satan hindered us. [2:19] For what is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? [2:20] For you are our glory and our joy.
1TH 2:17-20
Paulʼs Longing to Visit
In the world it was spoken into
In this passage, Paul expresses a deep emotional and relational connection with the Thessalonian believers, using language that would resonate strongly in a 1st-century Greco-Roman context. The term ('having been bereaved') evokes the pain of familial separation, a concept familiar in a society where familial bonds were central to identity and stability. Paul’s longing to see them 'face to face' reflects the cultural importance of physical presence in maintaining relationships, as letters were a poor substitute for personal interaction. His mention of being hindered by 'Satan' aligns with Jewish and early Christian views of spiritual opposition to God’s work. The phrase 'crown of boasting' draws on the imagery of athletic or civic honors, where crowns symbolized achievement and pride. For Paul, the Thessalonian believers themselves are his 'glory and joy,' a claim that subverts Roman notions of honor by locating his pride not in personal accomplishments but in the faithfulness of others. This passage underscores the communal and relational nature of early Christian identity.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
1TH 2:17
- KJV
- But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
- BSB
- Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
- Koinōnos
- But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you for a season — in person, not in heart — were all the more eagerly striving with great desire to see your face.
1TH 2:18
- KJV
- Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
- BSB
- For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
- Koinōnos
- Because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, both once and again — and Satan hindered us.
1TH 2:19
- KJV
- For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
- BSB
- 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?
- Koinōnos
- For what is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
1TH 2:20
- KJV
- For ye are our glory and joy.
- BSB
- You are indeed our glory and our joy.
- Koinōnos
- For you are our glory and our joy.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1TH 2:17
- having been bereaved:The word translated 'having been bereaved' here literally means to be orphaned. It conveys a strong sense of loss and separation, like a child losing its parents.
- [the] time:The term used here for 'time' refers not just to chronological time, but to a specific, opportune, or appointed moment. It's about the right time for something to happen.
- desire.:The word translated 'desire' can refer to any strong longing, whether good or bad. Here, it simply indicates a powerful yearning or passion.
1TH 2:19
- of boasting?:The word translated 'boasting' can refer to a source of pride or a reason for exultation, not necessarily an arrogant or self-aggrandizing act.