1 TH 1:5 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) The good message that we brought wasn’t just any old message, but also comes in the holy spirit with power and with full assurance of its truth. You know how we lived among you because of our concern for you all,

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance—just as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

UST We know that God chose you, because when we told you the good news, we did not just say words. Rather, the Holy Spirit also powerfully worked through us, and we were sure that the good news was true. In the same way, you remember how we acted to help you when we were with you.

BSB because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in [the] Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.

BLB because our gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with much full assurance, just as you know what we were among you on account of you.

AICNT for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and [in][fn] much assurance, just as you know what kind of men we became [among][fn] you for your sake.

1:5, in: NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR. ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. N(01) B(03)

1:5, among: NA28[] SBLGNT THGNT BYZ TR. ‖ Absent from some manuscripts. N(01) A(02) C(04)

OEB because the good news that we brought came home to you, not merely as so many words, but with a power and a fulness of conviction due to the Holy Spirit. For you know the life that we lived among you for your good.

WEBBE and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be amongst you for your sake.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, 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).

LSV because our good news did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, even as you have known of what sort we became among you for your sake,

FBV The good news we brought to you wasn't just words, but had power too, for the Holy Spirit completely convinced you. In the same way you know what kind of men we are since we demonstrated to you that we were working for your benefit.

TCNT because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. You know what sort of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

T4T We know that he chose you because when we told that message to you, we did not speak only words. The Holy Spirit helped us to speak powerfully/effectively, and he strongly assured us that he was powerfully working in you by means of the message about Christ that we told to you. You yourselves know that, because you know how we spoke and how we conducted ourselves when we were with you, in order that we might help you.

LEB because our gospel did not come to you with word only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, just as you know what sort of people we became among you for your sake.

BBE Because our good news came to you, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Spirit, so that you were completely certain of it; even as you saw what our behaviour to you was like from our love to you.

Moff for our gospel came to you not with mere words but also with power and with the holy Spirit, with ample conviction on our part (you know what we were to you, for your own good),

Wymth The Good News that we brought you did not come to you in words only, but also with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much certainty, for you know the sort of men we became among you, as examples for your sakes.

ASV how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.

DRA For our gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes.

YLT because our good news did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, even as ye have known of what sort we became among you because of you,

Drby For our glad tidings were not with you in word only, but also in power, and in [the] Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what we were among you for your sakes:

RV how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we shewed ourselves toward you for your sake.
(how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; even as ye/you_all know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake. )

SLT For our good news was not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much complete certainty; as we know what we were among you for your sake.

Wbstr For our gospel came not to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

KJB-1769 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
(For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye/you_all know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. )

KJB-1611 For our Gospel came not vnto you in word onely: but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as yee know what maner of men we were among you for your sake.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps For our Gospell came not vnto you in worde only, but also in power, and in the holy ghost, and in much certayntie, as ye knowe after what maner we were among you for your sake.
(For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy ghost, and in much certayntie, as ye/you_all know after what manner we were among you for your sake.)

Gnva For our Gospell was not vnto you in worde only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know after what maner we were among you for your sakes.
(For our Gospel was not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye/you_all know after what manner we were among you for your sakes. )

Cvdl for oure Gospell hath not bene with you in worde onely, but both in power and in the holy goost, and in moch certayntie, as ye knowe after what maner we were amonge you for youre sakes.
(for our Gospel hath/has not been with you in word only, but both in power and in the holy ghost, and in much certayntie, as ye/you_all know after what manner we were among you for your(pl) sakes.)

TNT For oure gospell came not vnto you in worde only but also in power and also in the holy gost and in moche certayntie as ye knowe after what maner we behaued oure selves amonge you for youre sakes.
(For our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and also in the holy gost and in much certayntie as ye/you_all know after what manner we behaved our selves among you for your(pl) sakes. )

Wycl for oure gospel was not at you in word oneli, but also in vertu, and in the Hooli Goost, and in myche plente; as ye witen, whiche we weren among you for you;
(for our gospel was not at you in word only, but also in virtue, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much plente; as ye/you_all perceive, which we were among you for you;)

Luth daß unser Evangelium ist bei euch gewesen nicht allein im Wort, sondern beide, in der Kraft und in dem Heiligen Geist und in großer Gewißheit; wie ihr wisset, welcherlei wir gewesen sind unter euch um euretwillen.
(that our gospel is at/in you been not alone in_the word, rather both, in the/of_the strength/power and in to_him saints/holy_ones spirit and in large Gewißheit; as/like you(pl)/their/her know, which_kind we/us been are under you around/by/for for_your_sake.)

ClVg quia Evangelium nostrum non fuit ad vos in sermone tantum, sed et in virtute, et in Spiritu Sancto, et in plenitudine multa, sicut scitis quales fuerimus in vobis propter vos.[fn]
(because the_Gospel our not/no it_was to you(pl) in/into/on speech only, but and in/into/on by_virtue, and in/into/on By_Spirit Holy, and in/into/on fullness fine, like you_know what_kind we_were in/into/on to_you(pl) because you(pl). )

1.5 In Spiritu sancto. Quia per me recepistis dona Spiritus, non parce, sed in plenitudine. Quales fuerimus, etc. Per hoc etiam quod nos passi sumus in exemplum vobis, patet quod Deus vos dilexit et elegit.

1.5 In By_Spirit holy. Because through me recepistis gifts Spirit, not/no parce, but in/into/on fullness. What_kinds we_were, etc. Per this also that us passi we_are in/into/on exemplum to_you(pl), clear that God you(pl) he_loved and chose.

UGNT ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, καὶ πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν δι’ ὑμᾶς.
(hoti to euangelion haʸmōn ouk egenaʸthaʸ eis humas en logōi monon, alla kai en dunamei, kai en Pneumati Hagiōi, kai plaʸroforia pollaʸ, kathōs oidate hoioi egenaʸthaʸmen en humin di’ humas.)

SBL-GNT ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει καὶ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ ⸀καὶ πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ⸀ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ὑμᾶς·
(hoti to euangelion haʸmōn ouk egenaʸthaʸ eis humas en logōi monon alla kai en dunamei kai en pneumati hagiōi ⸀kai plaʸroforia pollaʸ, kathōs oidate hoioi egenaʸthaʸmen ⸀en humin diʼ humas;)

RP-GNT ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, καὶ ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν δι' ὑμᾶς.
(hoti to euangelion haʸmōn ouk egenaʸthaʸ eis humas en logōi monon, alla kai en dunamei, kai en pneumati hagiōi, kai en plaʸroforia pollaʸ, kathōs oidate hoioi egenaʸthaʸmen en humin di' humas.)

TC-GNT ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, καὶ [fn]ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν [fn]ἐν ὑμῖν δι᾽ ὑμᾶς.
(hoti to euangelion haʸmōn ouk egenaʸthaʸ eis humas en logōi monon, alla kai en dunamei, kai en Pneumati Hagiōi, kai en plaʸroforia pollaʸ, kathōs oidate hoioi egenaʸthaʸmen en humin di humas. )

1:5 εν ¦ — SBL WH

1:5 εν ¦ — WH

Key for above GNTs: red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:2–10: Paul thanked God for the way that the Thessalonians had believed the gospel and continued to obey God

Paragraph 1:4–10

Paul knew that the Thessalonians to whom he wrote were people whom God had chosen to be his own people. He knew this because he saw how they had responded when he and his companions preached the gospel to them. The Thessalonians not only observed that Paul and his companions believed what they preached. They also saw that the Holy Spirit confirmed that what they said was true. The result was that some of the Thessalonians believed in Jesus, even though fellow citizens persecuted them. Other believers in the regions of Macedonia and Achaia heard about how the Thessalonians had believed the gospel. Therefore, the Thessalonians had become an example to many people in different places. The result was that wherever Paul and his companions went to preach, the people there had already heard how the Thessalonians had become believers in Christ.

1:5a

because our gospel came to you

We^(excl) know this because, when we^(excl) came to you and told you the good news concerning Jesus Christ,

because: Paul described in 1:5–9 the basis for what he stated in 1:4, that is, Paul and his companions knew that God had chosen the Thessalonians because of all the things he was about to list in 1:5–9.

our gospel: When Paul talked about “our gospel,” he meant “the gospel that we preach.” He did not mean that his gospel was different from other people’s.

gospel: In the New Testament, the term gospel refers to the good news that God has made a way to save people by means of Jesus’ death. See “gospel" in KBT and in the glossary.

came to you: Paul was referring to the fact that he and his companions came to Thessalonica and preached to the people there. The people to whom he was writing had heard and accepted the message that Paul preached.

1:5b

not only in word,

it was not just the words that we^(excl) spoke to you that caused you to believe in Christ,

not only in word: This means that when Paul and his companions told the Thessalonians the good news about Jesus, they did not only preach words to them. The singular form of word refers to words in general.

1:5c

but also in power, in the Holy Spirit,

but it was also the Holy Spirit working powerfully in us^(excl),

but also in power: Scholars do not agree about whether this means:

That Paul and his companions preached powerfully,
That the message had a powerful effect on the Thessalonians.

Although both of these options are undoubtedly true, the context of this verse suggests that the focus is on Paul’s preaching, not the response of the Thessalonians. So it is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

in the Holy Spirit: Scholars do not agree about how this phrase connects to the other phrases in this verse. There are four possibilities:

It connects to the phrase “with power” above. This means that Paul and his companions preached powerfully because the Holy Spirit was working in them. For example:
in the power of the Holy Spirit (REB)
It connects with the phrase “and with great conviction” in 1:5d. This means that it was the Holy Spirit who produced the great conviction.
It connects with both “with power” and “with great conviction.”
The phrase is simply the second item in a list of three ways that the gospel came to the Thessalonians: it came (a) with power, (b) with the Holy Spirit, and (c) with deep conviction.

Most English versions are ambiguous. However, the majority of commentators support the first option (1). If you need to select one option in your translation, it is recommended that you also follow this option.Words alone would not have been enough to persuade the Thessalonians to believe in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. It required the Holy Spirit’s power to persuade them.

1:5d

and with great conviction—

and you realised that we^(excl) strongly believed the words that we^(excl) spoke were true.

and with great conviction: The Greek words that the BSB translates as great conviction can also be translated “full assurance” or “complete certainty.” Biblical scholars do not agree to whom great conviction applied. There are two possibilities:

It applied to Paul and his companions, who were fully convinced that their message was true. (GNT, CEV, NCV, REB)
It applied to the Thessalonians, who were convinced that the message was true. (NJB, NLT)

It makes most sense to interpret this phrase in the same way as 1:5c. Not only did Paul and his companions preach powerfully because the Holy Spirit enabled them to do that, but also they were fully convinced that what they said was true. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

1:5e

just as you know we lived among you for your sake.

You know this since you know well how we^(excl) behaved among you for your benefit.
You know that, when we^(excl) were living among you, we^(excl) behaved in such a way as to help you.

just as you know we lived among you: In the Greek text 1:2–5 is one long sentence. This clause (1:5e) in the Greek begins with kathōs, which the BSB has translated as just as. The Thessalonians had seen how Paul and his companions had behaved while they were in Thessalonica. Therefore, they knew that what Paul had just said in 1:5a–d was true. See 1 Thessalonians 2:1–12 for details about Paul’s time in Thessalonica.

for your sake: That is, “for your benefit.” Paul did not specify what “benefit” he meant here. So it is recommended that you use as general an expression as you can to translate this part of the verse. Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

in order to help you (NCV)

and how we helped you (CEV)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

ὅτι

because

Here, because introduces a reason why Paul and those with him are sure about the Thessalonians’ “election” (see [1:4](../01/04.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason for a previous statement. Alternate translation: [which we are sure about because]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅτι τό εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον ἀλλά καί ἐν δυνάμει καί ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καί πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ καθώς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ὑμῖν διʼ ὑμᾶς)

Here, Paul speaks of our gospel as if it were a person who could come to you. He means that the Thessalonians heard the gospel from Paul and his fellow workers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you did not receive our gospel]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν λόγῳ

in word

Paul is using the term word to refer to speaking words. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [in speech] or [in spoken words]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, καὶ πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ

in in power in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅτι τό εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον ἀλλά καί ἐν δυνάμει καί ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ καί πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ καθώς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ὑμῖν διʼ ὑμᾶς)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of power and assurance, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [in us acting powerfully and in the Holy Spirit working and in us being fully assured]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν δυνάμει, καὶ ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ, καὶ πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ

Here Paul could mean that: (1) Paul and those with him preached the gospel with power and with the help of the Holy Spirit and with much assurance that what they preached was true. Alternate translation: [we preached with power and with the Holy Spirit and with much assurance that it is true] (2) the Thessalonians experienced power and the Holy Spirit and much assurance when they heard the gospel. Alternate translation: [you experienced its power and the presence of the Holy Spirit and much assurance that it is true]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι

Here, the phrase just as you know could introduce: (1) a basis for Paul’s claim about how the Thessalonians experienced the gospel. Alternate translation: [and you know that is true because you remember what kind of men] (2) a comparison between what Paul has said about how the Thessalonians experienced the gospel and what the Thessalonians know about Paul and his fellow workers. Alternate translation: [and that fits with what you know about what kind of men]

Parallel 1 TH 1:5