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Selected Verse: 1 Thessalonians 2:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Th 2:1	Strong Concordance	For [1063] yourselves [846], brethren [80], know [1492] our [2257] entrance in [1529] unto [4314] you [5209], that [3754] it was [1096] not [3756] in vain [2756]:
	King James	For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
HIS MANNER OF PREACHING, AND THEIRS OF RECEIVING, THE GOSPEL; HIS DESIRE TO HAVE REVISITED THEM FRUSTRATED BY SATAN. (1Th. 2:1-20) For--confirming Th1 1:9. He discusses the manner of his fellow missionaries' preaching among them (Th1 1:5, and former part of Th1 2:9) at Th1 2:1-12; and the Thessalonians' reception of the word (compare Th1 1:6-7, and latter part of Th1 2:9) at Th1 2:13-16. yourselves--Not only do strangers report it, but you know it to be true [ALFORD] "yourselves." not in vain--Greek, "not vain," that is, it was full of "power" (Th1 1:5). The Greek for "was," expresses rather "hath been and is," implying the permanent and continuing character of his preaching.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

HIS MANNER OF PREACHING, AND THEIRS OF RECEIVING, THE GOSPEL; HIS DESIRE TO HAVE REVISITED THEM FRUSTRATED BY SATAN. (1Th. 2:1-20)

For--confirming Th1 1:9. He discusses the manner of his fellow missionaries' preaching among them (Th1 1:5, and former part of Th1 2:9) at Th1 2:1-12; and the Thessalonians' reception of the word (compare Th1 1:6-7, and latter part of Th1 2:9) at Th1 2:13-16.

yourselves--Not only do strangers report it, but you know it to be true [ALFORD] "yourselves."

not in vain--Greek, "not vain," that is, it was full of "power" (Th1 1:5). The Greek for "was," expresses rather "hath been and is," implying the permanent and continuing character of his preaching.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you - notes, Th1 1:9. Paul appeals to themselves for proof that they had not come among them as impostors. They had had a full opportunity to see them, and to know what influenced them. Paul frequently appeals to his own life, and to what they, among whom he labored, knew of it, as a full refutation of the slanderous accusations of his enemies; compare notes, Co1 4:10-16; Co1 9:19-27; Co2 6:3-10. Every minister of the gospel ought so to live as to be able, when slanderously attacked, to make such an appeal to his people. That it was not in vain - κενὴ kenē This word means: (1) "empty, vain, fruitless," or without success; (2) that in which there is no truth or reality - "false, fallacious;" Eph 5:6; Col 2:8. Here it seems, from the connection Th1 2:3-5, to be used in the latter sense, as denoting that they were not deceivers. The object does not appear to be so much to show that their ministry was successful, as to meet a charge of their adversaries that they were impostors. Paul tells them that from their own observation they knew that this was not so.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Was not in vain (οὐ κενὴ γέγονεν) More accurately, hath not proved vain. Κενὴ is empty. Ματαία, also rendered vain, is fruitless.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
What was proposed, Th1 1:5-6, is now more largely treated of: concerning Paul and his fellowlabourers, Th1 2:1-12; concerning the Thessalonians, Th1 2:13-16.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Our entrance in unto you - His first coming to preach the Gospel was particularly owned of the Lord, many of them having been converted under his ministry. This consideration gave him a right to deliver all the following exhortations.

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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].
¹⁴ For [1063] ye [5210], brethren [80], became [1096] followers [3402] of the churches [1577] of God [2316] which [3588] in [1722] Judaea [2449] are [5607] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424]: for [3754] ye [5210] also [2532] have suffered [3958] like things [5024] of [5259] your own [2398] countrymen [4853], even [2532] as [2531] they have [846] of [5259] 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].

⁹ For [1063] ye remember [3421], brethren [80], our [2257] labour [2873] and [2532] travail [3449]: for [1063] labouring [2038] night [3571] and [2532] day [2250], because [4314] we would [1912] not [3361] be chargeable [1912] unto any [5100] of you [5216], we preached [2784] unto [1519] you [5209] the gospel [2098] of God [2316].

⁶ And [2532] ye [5210] became [1096] followers [3402] of us [2257], and [2532] of the Lord [2962], having received [1209] the word [3056] in [1722] much [4183] affliction [2347], with [3326] joy [5479] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]:
⁷ So [5620] that ye [5209] were [1096] ensamples [5179] to all [3956] that believe [4100] in [1722] Macedonia [3109] and [2532] Achaia [882].

¹ For [1063] yourselves [846], brethren [80], know [1492] our [2257] entrance in [1529] unto [4314] you [5209], that [3754] it was [1096] not [3756] in vain [2756]:
² But [235] even [2532] after that we had suffered before [4310], and [2532] were shamefully entreated [5195], as [2531] ye know [1492], at [1722] Philippi [5375], we were bold [3955] in [1722] our [2257] God [2316] to speak [2980] unto [4314] you [5209] the gospel [2098] of God [2316] with [1722] much [4183] contention [73].
³ For [1063] our [2257] exhortation [3874] was not [3756] of [1537] deceit [4106], nor [3761] of [1537] uncleanness [167], nor [3777] in [1722] guile [1388]:
⁴ But [235] as [2531] we were allowed [1381] of [5259] God [2316] to be put in trust [4100] with the gospel [2098], even so [3779] we speak [2980]; not [3756] as [5613] pleasing [700] men [444], but [235] God [2316], which trieth [1381] our [2257] hearts [2588].
⁵ For [1063] neither [3777] at any time [4218] used we [1096] flattering [2850] words [1722] [3056], as [2531] ye know [1492], nor [3777] a cloke [1722] [4392] of covetousness [4124]; God [2316] is witness [3144]:
⁶ Nor [3777] of [1537] men [444] sought [2212] we glory [1391], neither [3777] of [575] you [5216], nor [3777] yet of [575] others [243], when we might [1410] have been [1511] burdensome [1722] [922], as [5613] the apostles [652] of Christ [5547].
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]:
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].
⁹ For [1063] ye remember [3421], brethren [80], our [2257] labour [2873] and [2532] travail [3449]: for [1063] labouring [2038] night [3571] and [2532] day [2250], because [4314] we would [1912] not [3361] be chargeable [1912] unto any [5100] of you [5216], we preached [2784] unto [1519] you [5209] the gospel [2098] of God [2316].
¹⁰ Ye [5210] are witnesses [3144], and [2532] God [2316] also, how [5613] holily [3743] and [2532] justly [1346] and [2532] unblameably [274] we behaved ourselves [1096] among you [5213] that believe [4100]:
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],
¹² [2532] That [1519] ye [5209] would walk [4043] worthy [516] of God [2316], who hath called [2564] you [5209] unto [1519] his [1438] kingdom [932] and [2532] glory [1391].

⁹ For [1063] they [518] themselves [846] shew [518] of [4012] us [2257] what manner [3697] of entering in [1529] we had [2192] [2192] unto [4314] you [5209], and [2532] how [4459] ye turned [1994] to [4314] God [2316] from [575] idols [1497] to serve [1398] the living [2198] and [2532] true [228] God [2316];

³ For [1063] our [2257] exhortation [3874] was not [3756] of [1537] deceit [4106], nor [3761] of [1537] uncleanness [167], nor [3777] in [1722] guile [1388]:
⁴ But [235] as [2531] we were allowed [1381] of [5259] God [2316] to be put in trust [4100] with the gospel [2098], even so [3779] we speak [2980]; not [3756] as [5613] pleasing [700] men [444], but [235] God [2316], which trieth [1381] our [2257] hearts [2588].
⁵ For [1063] neither [3777] at any time [4218] used we [1096] flattering [2850] words [1722] [3056], as [2531] ye know [1492], nor [3777] a cloke [1722] [4392] of covetousness [4124]; God [2316] is witness [3144]:

⁸ Beware [991] lest [3361] any man [5100] spoil [2071] [4812] you [5209] through [1223] philosophy [5385] and [2532] vain [2756] deceit [539], after [2596] the tradition [3862] of men [444], after [2596] the rudiments [4747] of the world [2889], and [2532] not [3756] after [2596] Christ [5547].

⁶ Let [538] no man [3367] deceive [538] you [5209] with vain [2756] words [3056]: for [1063] because [1223] of these things [5023] cometh [2064] the wrath [3709] of God [2316] upon [1909] the children [5207] of disobedience [543].

³ Giving [1325] no [3367] offence [4349] in [1722] any thing [3367], that [3363] the ministry [1248] be [3469] not [3363] blamed [3469]:
⁴ But [235] in [1722] all [3956] things approving [4921] ourselves [1438] as [5613] the ministers [1249] of God [2316], in [1722] much [4183] patience [5281], in [1722] afflictions [2347], in [1722] necessities [318], in [1722] distresses [4730],
⁵ In [1722] stripes [4127], in [1722] imprisonments [5438], in [1722] tumults [181], in [1722] labours [2873], in [1722] watchings [70], in [1722] fastings [3521];
⁶ By [1722] pureness [54], by [1722] knowledge [1108], by [1722] longsuffering [3115], by [1722] kindness [5544], by [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], by [1722] love [26] unfeigned [505],
⁷ By [1722] the word [3056] of truth [225], by [1722] the power [1411] of God [2316], by [1223] the armour [3696] of righteousness [1343] on the right hand [1188] and [2532] on the left [710],
⁸ By [1223] honour [1391] and [2532] dishonour [819], by [1223] evil report [1426] and [2532] good report [2162]: as [5613] deceivers [4108], and [2532] yet true [227];
⁹ As [5613] unknown [50], and [2532] yet well known [1921]; as [5613] dying [599], and [2532], behold [2400], we live [2198]; as [5613] chastened [3811], and [2532] not [3361] killed [2289];
¹⁰ As [5613] sorrowful [3076], yet [1161] alway [104] rejoicing [5463]; as [5613] poor [4434], yet [1161] making [4148] many [4183] rich [4148]; as [5613] having [2192] nothing [3367], and [2532] yet possessing [2722] all things [3956].

¹⁹ For [1063] though I be [5607] free [1658] from [1537] all [3956] men, yet have I made [1402] myself [1683] servant [1402] unto all [3956], that [2443] I might gain [2770] the more [4119].
²⁰ And [2532] unto the Jews [2453] I became [1096] as [5613] a Jew [2453], that [2443] I might gain [2770] the Jews [2453]; to them that are under [5259] the law [3551], as [5613] under [5259] the law [3551], that [2443] I might gain [2770] them that are under [5259] the law [3551];
²¹ To them that are without law [459], as [5613] without law [459], (being [5607] not [3361] without law [459] to God [2316], but [235] under the law [1772] to Christ [5547],) that [2443] I might gain [2770] them that are without law [459].
²² To the weak [772] became I [1096] as [5613] weak [772], that [2443] I might gain [2770] the weak [772]: I am made [1096] all things [3956] to all [3956] men, that [2443] I might [4982] by all means [3843] save [4982] some [5100].
²³ And [1161] this [5124] I do [4160] for [1223] the gospel's [2098] sake [1223], that [2443] I might be [1096] partaker [4791] thereof [846] with [4791] you.
²⁴ Know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] they which run [5143] in [1722] a race [4712] run [5143] all [3956] [3303], but [1161] one [1520] receiveth [2983] the prize [1017]? So [3779] run [5143], that [2443] ye may obtain [2638].
²⁵ And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].
²⁶ I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:
²⁷ But [235] I keep under [5299] my [3450] body [4983], and [2532] bring it into subjection [1396]: lest that by any means [3381] [4458], when I have preached [2784] to others [243], I myself [846] should be [1096] a castaway [96].

¹⁰ We [2249] are fools [3474] for [1223] Christ's [5547] sake [1223], but [1161] ye [5210] are wise [5429] in [1722] Christ [5547]; we [2249] are weak [772], but [1161] ye [5210] are strong [2478]; ye [5210] are honourable [1741], but [1161] we [2249] are despised [820].
¹¹ Even [891] unto this present [737] hour [5610] we [3983] both [2532] hunger [3983], and [2532] thirst [1372], and [2532] are naked [1130], and [2532] are buffeted [2852], and [2532] have no certain dwellingplace [790];
¹² And [2532] labour [2872], working [2038] with our own [2398] hands [5495]: being reviled [3058], we bless [2127]; being persecuted [1377], we suffer it [430]:
¹³ Being defamed [987], we intreat [3870]: we are made [1096] as [5613] the filth [4027] of the world [2889], and are the offscouring [4067] of all things [3956] unto [2193] this day [737].
¹⁴ I write [1125] not [3756] these things [5023] to shame [1788] you [5209], but [235] as [5613] my [3450] beloved [27] sons [5043] I warn [3560] you.
¹⁵ For [1063] though [1437] ye have [2192] ten thousand [3463] instructors [3807] in [1722] Christ [5547], yet [235] have ye not [3756] many [4183] fathers [3962]: for [1063] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] I [1473] have begotten [1080] you [5209] through [1223] the gospel [2098].
¹⁶ Wherefore [3767] I beseech [3870] you [5209], be ye [1096] followers [3402] of me [3450].

⁵ For [3754] our [2257] gospel [2098] came [1096] not [3756] unto [1519] you [5209] in [1722] word [3056] only [3440], but [235] also [2532] in [1722] power [1411], and [2532] in [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] in [1722] much [4183] assurance [4136]; as [2531] ye know [1492] what manner of men [3634] we were [1096] among [1722] you [5213] for [1223] your [5209] sake.
⁶ And [2532] ye [5210] became [1096] followers [3402] of us [2257], and [2532] of the Lord [2962], having received [1209] the word [3056] in [1722] much [4183] affliction [2347], with [3326] joy [5479] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]: