Grow With MeBible
Grow With Me

1 Thessalonians 2:4

“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who tests our hearts.”

1 Thessalonians 2:4 · direct translation from the Greek
Study it in the app

With the Greek beneath

4

Allusion · Jeremiah 11:20

Go to Jeremiah 11:20

Both texts say that God tests hearts.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • δεδοκιμάσμεθαdedokimasmethaG1381בֹּחֵןbojenH974“test, approve, examine”
  • θεοῦtheouG2316יהוָהyhvaH3068“God”
  • καρδίαςkardiasG2588לֵבlevH3820“heart”

1 Thessalonians 2:4, word by word

we have been approvedδεδοκιμάσμεθαdedokimasmetha

approve

To accept something after checking it.

Where else “dedokimasmetha” appears
Godθεοῦtheou

God

The Creator and Lord of all, the one God of Israel.

Where else “theou” appears
to be entrusted withπιστευθῆναιpisteuthēnai

entrust

To place something valuable in another's hands, because one relies on him.

Where else “pisteuthēnai” appears
the good newsεὐαγγέλιονeuangelion

good news

Good news: an announcement of victory or of joy. It is the word usually translated "gospel".

Where else “euangelion” appears
we speakλαλοῦμενlaloumen

speak

To use voice and words to communicate with others.

Where else “laloumen” appears
pleasingἀρέσκοντεςareskontes

please

Please.

Where else “areskontes” appears
peopleἀνθρώποιςanthrōpois

person

A person, man or woman.

Where else “anthrōpois” appears
our heartsκαρδίαςkardias

heart

Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.

Where else “kardias” appears

Translation note

“Who tests our hearts” recalls Jeremiah 11:20.

The context

3For our encouragement did not come from error or from impurity, nor was it in deceit,

4 · This verse (above)

5For neither did we ever come with a word of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed (God is witness),

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 2

How to use it