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Selected Verse: 1 Thessalonians 2:17 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Th 2:17 |
Strong Concordance |
But [1161] we [2249], brethren [80], being taken [642] from [575] you [5216] for [4314] a short [5610] time [2540] in presence [4383], not [3756] in heart [2588], endeavoured [4704] the more abundantly [4056] to see [1492] your [5216] face [4383] with [1722] great [4183] desire [1939]. |
| |
King James |
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
But we--resumed from Th1 2:13; in contrast to the Jews, Th1 2:15-16.
taken--rather as Greek, "severed (violently, Act 17:7-10) from you," as parents bereft of their children. So "I will not leave you comfortless," Greek, "orphanized" (Joh 14:18).
for a short time--literally, "for the space of an hour." "When we had been severed from you but a very short time (perhaps alluding to the suddenness of his unexpected departure), we the more abundantly (the shorter was our separation; for the desire of meeting again is the more vivid, the more recent has been the parting) endeavored," &c. (Compare Ti2 1:4). He does not hereby, as many explain, anticipate a short separation from them, which would be a false anticipation; for he did not soon revisit them. The Greek past participle also forbids their view. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
But we, brethren, being taken from you - There is more implied in the Greek word here rendered, "being taken from you " - ἀπορφανισθέντες aporphanisthentes - than appears from our translation. It properly has relation to the condition of an orphan (compare notes on Joh 14:18), or one who is bereaved of parents, or one who is bereaved of parents}}. Then it is used in a more general sense, denoting to be bereaved of; and in this place it does not mean merely that he was "taken from them," but there is included the idea that it was like a painful bereavement. It was such a state as that of one who had lost a parent. No word, perhaps, could have expressed stranger attachment for them.
For a short time - Greek, "For the time of an hour;" that is, for a brief period. The meaning is, that when he left them he supposed it would be only for a short time. The fact seems to have been Act 17:10, that it was supposed, when Paul was sent to Berea, that things would soon be in such a state that he could safely return to Thessalonica. He was "sent" there by those who thought it was necessary for the safety of some of his friends at Thessalonica, and he evidently purposed to return as soon as it could properly be done. It had, in fact, however, turned out to be a long and painful absence.
In presence, not in heart - My heart was still with you. This is an elegant and touching expression, which we still use to denote affection for an absent friend.
Endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face - Made every endeavor possible. It was from no want of affection that I have not done it, but from causes beyond my control.
With great desire - Compare the notes at Luk 22:15. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Being taken from you (ἀπορφανισθέντες)
N.T.o. olxx. Rev. better, being bereaved of you. From ὀρφανός bereft. See Mar 12:40, Joh 14:18; Jam 1:27. The word suggests the intimate personal fellowship of the writer with his readers. The separation was like that between parents and children. Comp. Th1 2:7, Th1 2:8.
For a short time (πρὸς καιρὸν ὥρας)
N.T.o. Lit. for the season of an hour. Comp. Lat. horae momentum. Stronger than the usual phrase πρὸς ὥραν for an hour: see Co2 7:8; Gal 2:5; Plm 1:15. Comp. πρὸς καιρὸν for a season, Luk 8:13; Co1 7:5.
The more abundantly (περισσοτέρως)
Rev. the more exceedingly. Paul uses this adverb very freely, and outside of his letters it appears only Heb 2:1; Heb 13:19. He is much given to the use of comparatives, and sometimes heaps them together: see Rom 8:37; Co2 7:13; Co2 4:17; Eph 3:20; Phi 1:23. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| In this verse we have a remarkable instance, not so much of the transient affections of holy grief, desire, or joy, as of that abiding tenderness, that loving temper, which is so apparent in all St. Paul's writings, towards those he styles his children in the faith. This is the more carefully to be observed, because the passions occasionally exercising themselves, and flowing like a torrent, in the apostle, are observable to every reader; whereas it requires a nicer attention to discern those calm standing tempers, that fixed posture of his soul, from whence the others only flow out, and which more peculiarly distinguish his character. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Being taken from you for a short time - Through the persecution raised by the Jews, see Acts 17, he was obliged to leave Thessalonica, and yield to a storm that it would have been useless for him to have withstood.
Being taken from you - in presence, not in heart - The apostle had compared himself to a parent or nurse, Th1 2:7, Th1 2:11; and the people he considered as his most beloved children; here he represents himself as feeling what an affectionate father must feel when torn from his children; for this is the import of the word απορφανισθεντες, bereft of children, which we tamely translate being taken from you.
Endeavoured the more abundantly - His separation from them did not destroy his parental feelings, and the manner in which he was obliged to leave them increased his desire to visit them as soon as possible. |
4 Greatly desiring [1971] to see [1492] thee [4571], being mindful [3415] of thy [4675] tears [1144], that [2443] I may be filled [4137] with joy [5479];
18 I will [863] not [3756] leave [863] you [5209] comfortless [3737]: I will come [2064] to [4314] you [5209].
7 Whom [3739] Jason [2394] hath received [5264]: and [2532] these [3778] all [3956] do [4238] contrary [561] to the decrees [1378] of Caesar [2541], saying [3004] that there is [1511] another [2087] king [935], one Jesus [2424].
8 And [1161] they troubled [5015] the people [3793] and [2532] the rulers of the city [4173], when they heard [191] these things [5023].
9 And [2532] when they had taken [2983] security [2425] of [3844] Jason [2394], and [2532] of the other [3062], they let [630] them [846] go [630].
10 And [1161] the brethren [80] immediately [2112] sent away [1599] [5037] Paul [3972] and [2532] Silas [4609] by [1223] night [3571] unto [1519] Berea [960]: who [3748] coming [3854] thither went [549] into [1519] the synagogue [4864] of the Jews [2453].
15 Who both [2532] killed [615] the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424], and [2532] their own [2398] prophets [4396], and [2532] have persecuted [1559] us [2248]; and [2532] they please [700] not [3361] God [2316], and [2532] are contrary [1727] to all [3956] men [444]:
16 Forbidding [2967] us [2248] to speak [2980] to the Gentiles [1484] that [2443] they might be saved [4982], to [1519] fill up [378] their [846] sins [266] alway [3842]: for [1161] the wrath [3709] is come [5348] upon [1909] them [846] to [1519] the uttermost [5056].
13 For this [5124] cause [1223] also [2532] thank [2168] we [2249] God [2316] without ceasing [89], because [3754], when ye received [3880] the word [3056] of God [2316] which ye heard [189] of [3844] us [2257], ye received [1209] it not [3756] as the word [3056] of men [444], but [235] as [2531] it is [2076] in truth [230], the word [3056] of God [2316], which [3739] effectually worketh [1754] also [2532] in [1722] you [5213] that believe [4100].
15 And [2532] he said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], With desire [1939] I have desired [1937] to eat [5315] this [5124] passover [3957] with [3326] you [5216] before [4253] I [3165] suffer [3958]:
10 And [1161] the brethren [80] immediately [2112] sent away [1599] [5037] Paul [3972] and [2532] Silas [4609] by [1223] night [3571] unto [1519] Berea [960]: who [3748] coming [3854] thither went [549] into [1519] the synagogue [4864] of the Jews [2453].
18 I will [863] not [3756] leave [863] you [5209] comfortless [3737]: I will come [2064] to [4314] you [5209].
23 For [1063] I am in a strait [4912] betwixt [1537] two [1417], having [2192] a desire [1939] to [1519] depart [360], and [2532] to be [1511] with [4862] Christ [5547]; which is far [4183] [3123] better [2908]:
20 Now [1161] unto him that is able [1410] to do [4160] exceeding [5228] abundantly [1537] [4053] above [5228] all [3956] that [3739] we ask [154] or [2228] think [3539], according to [2596] the power [1411] that worketh [1754] in [1722] us [2254],
17 For [1063] our [2257] light [1645] affliction [2347], which [3588] is but for a moment [3910], worketh [2716] for us [2254] a far [2596] [5236] more exceeding [1519] [5236] and eternal [166] weight [922] of glory [1391];
13 Therefore [1223] [5124] we were comforted [3870] in [1909] your [5216] comfort [3874]: yea, and [1161] exceedingly [4056] the more [3123] joyed we [5463] for [1909] the joy [5479] of Titus [5103], because [3754] his [846] spirit [4151] was refreshed [373] by [575] you [5216] all [3956].
37 Nay [235], in [1722] all [3956] these things [5125] we are more than conquerors [5245] through [1223] him that loved [25] us [2248].
19 But [1161] I beseech [3870] you the rather [4056] to do [4160] this [5124], that [2443] I may be restored [600] to you [5213] the sooner [5032].
1 Therefore [1223] [5124] we [2248] ought [1163] to give the more earnest [4056] heed [4337] to the things which we have heard [191], lest at any time [3379] we should let them slip [3901].
5 Defraud ye [650] not [3361] one the other [240], except [1509] [302] it be [5100] with [1537] consent [4859] for [4314] a time [2540], that [2443] ye may give yourselves [4980] to fasting [3521] and [2532] prayer [4335]; and [2532] come [4905] together [1909] [846] again [3825], that [3363] Satan [4567] tempt [3985] you [5209] not [3363] for [1223] your [5216] incontinency [192].
13 [1161] They on [1909] the rock [4073] are they, which [3739], when [3752] they hear [191], receive [1209] the word [3056] with [3326] joy [5479]; and [2532] these [3778] have [2192] no [3756] root [4491], which [3739] for [4314] a while [2540] believe [4100], and [2532] in [1722] time [2540] of temptation [3986] fall away [868].
15 For [1063] [1223] perhaps [5029] he [5563] therefore [5124] departed [5563] for [4314] a season [5610], that [2443] thou shouldest receive [568] him [846] for ever [166];
5 To whom [3739] we gave place [1502] by subjection [5292], no, not [3761] for [4314] an hour [5610]; that [2443] the truth [225] of the gospel [2098] might continue [1265] with [4314] you [5209].
8 For [3754] though [1499] I made [3076] you [5209] sorry [3076] with [1722] a letter [1992], I do [3338] not [3756] repent [3338], though [1499] I did repent [3338]: for [1063] I perceive [991] that [3754] the same [1565] epistle [1992] hath made [3076] you [5209] sorry [3076], though it were but [1499] for [4314] a season [5610].
8 So [3779] being affectionately desirous [2442] of you [5216], we were willing [2106] to have imparted [3330] unto you [5213], not [3756] the gospel [2098] of God [2316] only [3440], but [235] also [2532] our own [1438] souls [5590], because [1360] ye were [1096] dear [27] unto us [2254].
7 But [235] we were [1096] gentle [2261] among [1722] [3319] you [5216], even as [5613] a nurse [5162] cherisheth [302] [2282] her [1438] children [5043]:
27 Pure [2513] religion [2356] and [2532] undefiled [283] before [3844] God [2316] and [2532] the Father [3962] is [2076] this [3778], To visit [1980] the fatherless [3737] and [2532] widows [5503] in [1722] their [846] affliction [2347], and to keep [5083] himself [1438] unspotted [784] from [575] the world [2889].
18 I will [863] not [3756] leave [863] you [5209] comfortless [3737]: I will come [2064] to [4314] you [5209].
40 Which devour [2719] widows [5503]' houses [3614], and [2532] for a pretence [4392] make [4336] long [3117] prayers [4336]: these [3778] shall receive [2983] greater [4055] damnation [2917].
11 As [2509] ye know [1492] how [5613] we exhorted [3870] and [2532] comforted [3888] and charged [3140] every [1538] one [1520] of you [5209] [5216], as [5613] a father [3962] doth his [1438] children [5043],
7 But [235] we were [1096] gentle [2261] among [1722] [3319] you [5216], even as [5613] a nurse [5162] cherisheth [302] [2282] her [1438] children [5043]: