Berean Standard Bible
1 Thessalonians 2:4
4Instead, 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.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
- English Standard Version (ESV)but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:4
2As 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. 3For 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. 5As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness! 6Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Read all of 1 Thessalonians 21 Thessalonians 2:4 word by word
ἀλλὰ καθὼς δεδοκιμάσμεθα ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ πιστευθῆναι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον, οὕτως λαλοῦμεν, οὐχ ὡς ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκοντες ἀλλὰ θεῷ τῷ δοκιμάζοντι τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν.Read the interlinear
- Insteadἀλλάalla · butG235
- ·οὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- we speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- those approvedδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
- byὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- to be entrusted withπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
- notοὐou · noG3756
- in order toὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- pleaseἀρέσκωareskō · to pleaseG700
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 2:4
- 1 Corinthians 7:25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
- Ephesians 3:8Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- 1 Timothy 1:11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
- Luke 12:42And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
- Luke 16:11So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?
- 1 Corinthians 4:1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:17If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
- Galatians 2:7On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
- 1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called “knowledge,”
- 2 Timothy 1:14Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
- 2 Timothy 2:2And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
- 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is clear to God, and I hope it is clear to your conscience as well.
- Galatians 1:10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
- Ephesians 6:6And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4But as we were allowed of God - · As we were accounted worthy to be put in trust - as God put confidence in us, and sent us on his most especial message to mankind, even so we speak, keeping the dignity of our high calling continually in view; and, acting as in the sight of God, we speak not to please or flatter men, though our doctrine is the most consolatory that can be conceived, but to please that God who searcheth the heart, and before whom all our…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel - Compare 1 Timothy 1:11-12. Since there had been committed to us an office so high and holy, and so much demanding sincerity, fidelity, and honesty, we endeavored to act in all respects in conformity to the trust reposed in us. The gospel is a system of truth and sincerity, and we evinced the same. The gospel is concerned with great realities, and we did not resort to trick and illusion…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4In the ancient world, people in public office were publicly tested and approved for their work. The Thessalonians and God served as two witnesses to the purity of Paul’s motives. (2:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. as--according as; even as. allowed--Greek, "We have been approved on trial," "deemed fit." This word corresponds to "God which trieth our hearts" below. This approval as to sincerity depends solely on the grace and mercy of God (Ac 9:15; 1Co 7:25; 2Co 3:5; 1Ti 1:11, 12). not as pleasing--not as persons who seek to please men; characteristic of false teachers (Ga 1:10).Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 2:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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