1 Tesalonika 1:4

1:4 We know, ¹  brothers and sisters ²  loved by God, that he has chosen you, ³ 

1 Tesalonika 4:2

4:2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

1 Tesalonika 2:1

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, ⁴  about our coming to you – it has not proven to be purposeless. ⁵ 

1 Tesalonika 5:2

5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord ⁶  will come in the same way as a thief in the night. ⁷ 

1 Tesalonika 3:3

3:3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

1 Tesalonika 4:4

4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body ⁸  in holiness and honor,

1 Tesalonika 2:11

2:11 As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,

1 Tesalonika 2:5

2:5 For we never appeared ⁹  with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is our witness –

1 Tesalonika 4:13

The Lord Returns for Believers

4:13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, ¹⁰  brothers and sisters, ¹¹  about those who are asleep, ¹²  so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.

1 Tesalonika 1:5

1:5 in that ¹³  our gospel did not come to you merely in words, ¹⁴  but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you). ¹⁵ 

1 Tesalonika 3:4

3:4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. ¹⁶ 

1 Tesalonika 2:2

2:2 But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, ¹⁷  as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God ¹⁸  in spite of much opposition.

1 Tesalonika 3:5

3:5 So ¹⁹  when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.

1 Tesalonika 5:12

Final Instructions

5:12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, ²⁰  to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,

1 Tesalonika 5:21

5:21 But examine all things; hold fast to what is good.

1 Tesalonika 3:8

3:8 For now we are alive again, ²¹  if you stand firm in the Lord.

1 Tesalonika 4:5

4:5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.

1 Tesalonika 4:1

A Life Pleasing to God

4:1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, ²²  we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how ²³  you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) ²⁴  that you do so more and more.

1 Tesalonika 3:7

3:7 So ²⁵  in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, ²⁶  through your faith.

[1:4]  ¹ tn Grk “knowing.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, the participle εἰδότες (eidotes) has been translated as a finite verb and a new sentence started here in the translation.

[1:4]  ² tn Grk “brothers,” but the Greek word may be used for “brothers and sisters” or “fellow Christians” as here (cf. BDAG 18 s.v. ἀδελφός 1, where considerable nonbiblical evidence for the plural ἀδελφοί [adelfoi] meaning “brothers and sisters” is cited).

[1:4]  ³ tn Grk “your election.”

[2:1]  ⁴ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “has not become empty.” Paul is defending himself against the charge that he lacked earnestness and personal concern for them, but appeared in their city out of greed or egotism. In his defense he appeals to what they recall of his ministry and what has become of it since he left, all of which demonstrates his God-given earnestness and effectiveness.

[5:2]  ⁶ sn The day of the Lord is the period of time in the future when the Lord will intervene in the events of this earth to consummate his redemption and his judgment (Isa 2:11-12; 13:6-13; Ezek 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:32; 3:18; Amos 5:18-20; Obad 15-17; Zeph 1:7-18; 2:2-3; Zech 14:1, 13, 20-21; Mal 4:1, 5; 1 Cor 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor 1:14; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Pet 3:10). It includes both blessings and curses, though the latter is emphasized here.

[5:2]  ⁷ sn Jesus used a thief coming at night as an illustration of the unexpected and hostile nature of the coming of God’s judgment in the future. This is repeated in various ways in v. 4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15.

[4:4]  ⁸ tn Grk “to gain [or possess] his own vessel.” “Vessel” is most likely used figuratively for “body” (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Some take it to mean “wife” (thus, “to take a wife for himself” or “to live with his wife”), but this is less likely. See J. Smith, “1 Thess 4:4 – Breaking the Impasse,” BBR 10 (Fall 2000), who argues that “vessel” in this context is very likely a euphemism for the sexual organs.

[2:5]  ⁹ tn Or “came on the scene,” “came.”

[4:13]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “ignorant.”

[4:13]  ¹¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[4:13]  ¹² tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaw) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for death when speaking of believers. This metaphorical usage by its very nature emphasizes the hope of resurrection: Believers will one day “wake up” out of death. Here the term refers to death, but “sleep” was used in the translation to emphasize the metaphorical, rhetorical usage of the term. This word also occurs in vv. 14 and 15.

[1:5]  ¹³ tn Or “because.”

[1:5]  ¹⁴ tn Or “speech,” or “an act of speaking.”

[1:5]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “just as you know what sort of people we were among you for your sakes.” Verse 5 reflects on the experience of Paul and his fellow preachers; v. 6 begins to describe the Thessalonians’ response.

[3:4]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “just as it also occurred and you know.”

[2:2]  ¹⁷ map For location see JP1 C1; JP2 C1; JP3 C1; JP4 C1.

[2:2]  ¹⁸ tn The genitive in the phrase τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ (to euangelion tou qeou, “the gospel of God”) could be translated as either a subjective genitive (“the gospel which God brings”) or an objective genitive (“the gospel about God”). Either is grammatically possible. This is possibly an instance of a plenary genitive (see ExSyn 119-21; M. Zerwick, Biblical Greek, §§36-39). If so, an interplay between the two concepts is intended: The gospel which God brings is in fact the gospel about himself. This same phrase occurs in vv. 8 and 9 as well.

[3:5]  ¹⁹ tn Or “for this reason.”

[5:12]  ²⁰ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[3:8]  ²¹ tn Grk “because now we live,” in comparison with his feelings of dread in not knowing how they were doing (cf. 2:17-3:5).

[4:1]  ²² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[4:1]  ²³ sn As you received instruction from us about how (Grk “as you received from us how”). The Greek word translated received is used for accepting instructions passed on as fixed traditions from teacher to follower. Paul speaks in these terms about doctrinal traditions as well as ethical instruction that he passes on to his converts and expects them to keep (cf. 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1-3; Gal 1:9; Phil 4:9; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6).

[4:1]  ²⁴ tc This parenthetical clause is absent in several later witnesses (D² Ψ Ï), but it may have been expunged for sounding redundant. The longer text, in this instance, is solidly supported by א A B D* F G 0183^vid 0278 33 81 104 326 365 629 al co and should be unquestionably preferred.

[3:7]  ²⁵ tn Or “for this reason.”

[3:7]  ²⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.