1 Thessalonians 2:16

1 Thessalonians 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
• English Standard Version (ESV)by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
• New Living Translation (NLT)as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.

Context of 1 Thessalonians 2:16

14For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. 17But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.

1 Thessalonians 2:16 word by word

κωλυόντων ἡμᾶς τοῖς ἔθνεσιν λαλῆσαι ἵνα σωθῶσιν, εἰς τὸ ἀναπληρῶσαι αὐτῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας πάντοτε· ἔφθασεν δὲ ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς ἡ ὀργὴ εἰς τέλος.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forbiddingκωλύωkōluō · to preventG2967
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• to speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• to the Gentilesἔθνοςethnos · GentilesG1484
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• they might be savedσῴζωsōzō · to saveG4982
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• fill upἀναπληρόωanaplēroō · to fulfilG378
• theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
• alwayπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• forδέde · thenG1161
• the wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
• is comeφθάνωphthanō · to precede/arriveG5348
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the uttermostτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056

Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 2:16

• Acts 11:2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
• Acts 13:50But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.
• Acts 14:5And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them,
• Acts 17:5But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
• Acts 18:12When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat,
• Acts 19:9But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
• Acts 21:27Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,
• Acts 22:21Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”
• Galatians 5:11And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
• Ephesians 3:8To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
• Isaiah 45:22“Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
• Mark 16:16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
• Acts 4:12Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
• Romans 10:13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
• 1 Timothy 2:4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 2:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles - see Acts 17:5, Acts 17:13. No particular instance is mentioned in the life of Paul previous to this, when they had formally commanded him not to preach to the pagan, but no one can doubt that this was one of the leading points of difference between him and them. Paul maintained that the Jews and Gentiles were now on a level with regard to salvation; that the wall of partition was broken down; that the Jew had no…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-16Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16The mission to the Gentiles was one of the most important issues in the early church (Acts 11:18; 13:46–49; 28:28; Romans 1:16). Judgment comes when sins increase to full capacity (Genesis 15:16; Daniel 8:23; compare Matthew 23:31–36).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Forbidding--Greek, "Hindering us from speaking," &c. to fill up their sins alway--Tending thus "to the filling up (the full measure of, Ge 15:16; Da 8:23; Mt 23:32) their sins at all times," that is, now as at all former times. Their hindrance of the Gospel preaching to the Gentiles was the last measure added to their continually accumulating iniquity, which made them fully ripe for vengeance. for--Greek, "but." "But," they shall proceed no further…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 2:16

• Bigotry
• Gentiles

In the dictionaries

• Affectionately
• Bold
• Chargeable
• Cherish
• Desire
• Joy
• Paul, the Apostle
• Retribution
• Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the
• Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the

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