New King James Version
1 Thessalonians 2:4
4But 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.
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 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 even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 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. 5For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might 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 virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.
- 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,
- 1 Timothy 1:11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.
- Luke 12:42And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?
- Luke 16:11Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
- 1 Corinthians 4:1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:17For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
- Galatians 2:7But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter
- 1 Timothy 6:20O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—
- 2 Timothy 1:14That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
- 2 Timothy 2:2And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
- 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
- Galatians 1:10For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
- Ephesians 6:6not with eyeservice, as men-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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries