English Standard Version
1 Thessalonians 2:4
4but 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:4
2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 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. 5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butἀλλάalla · butG235
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- we were allowedδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- to be put in trust withπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
- even soοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- we speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- notοὐou · noG3756
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- pleasingἀρέσκωareskō · to pleaseG700
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- heartsκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 2:4
- 1 Corinthians 7:25Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
- Ephesians 3:8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
- 1 Timothy 1:11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
- Luke 12:42And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?
- Luke 16:11If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
- 1 Corinthians 4:1This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
- Galatians 2:7On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
- 1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge,"
- 2 Timothy 1:14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
- 2 Timothy 2:2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
- 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
- Galatians 1:10For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
- Ephesians 6:6not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the 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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