1 Thessalonians 2 1

1 Thessalonians 2:1 kjv

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

1 Thessalonians 2:1 nkjv

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 niv

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 esv

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 nlt

You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.

1 Thessalonians 2 verses

1 Thessalonians 2 1 Meaning

The Apostle Paul initiates his defense of his ministry in Thessalonica by appealing to the Thessalonians' personal knowledge. He asserts that his initial visit and work among them, leading to their conversion, was not without purpose, power, or genuine results. It directly counters any accusations that his evangelism was insincere, unproductive, or motivated by selfish gain, setting the stage for his detailed vindication of his conduct and intentions in the subsequent verses.

1 Thessalonians 2 1 Context

1 Thessalonians 2:1 transitions from Paul's recollection of the Thessalonians' exemplary conversion (1 Thess 1:2-10) to a vigorous defense and explanation of his apostolic conduct among them. The preceding chapter establishes the genuineness of their faith, directly linked to Paul's ministry. In Acts 17, Paul's ministry in Thessalonica was remarkably short due to persecution, yet profoundly impactful, resulting in a thriving church. It is likely that false accusations followed Paul's hurried departure, suggesting his ministry was motivated by greed, deceit, or flattery, or that he was insincere in his suffering for the gospel. Verse 1 sets the stage by affirming that their shared experience and knowledge refute these slanders. It lays the groundwork for Paul to articulate the purity of his motives, the integrity of his methods, and the true source of his message.

1 Thessalonians 2 1 Word analysis

• For (γὰρ - gar): A strong connective particle indicating cause, explanation, or transition. Here, it signifies that what follows ("you yourselves know") serves as the reason or proof for the statements in Chapter 1 about their faith and his ministry's efficacy. It links the proven spiritual reality in Thessalonica back to the genuine character of Paul's initial mission.
• you yourselves (αὐτοὶ - autoi): The pronoun emphasizes personal, direct, and intimate knowledge on the part of the Thessalonians. Paul appeals to their own firsthand experience, implying they were witnesses and participants in the events, thereby validating his claims without external testimony needed. This underscores the irrefutable nature of the evidence.
• know (οἴδατε - oidate): Implies a settled, factual knowledge derived from personal experience and observation, not merely speculative belief or second-hand information. It speaks of a deep, intuitive understanding or realization that the Thessalonians possessed about Paul's arrival and work among them.
• brethren (ἀδελφοί - adelphoi): An affectionate and inclusive term common in Paul's letters, underscoring the strong familial bond within the Christian community. It sets a tone of trust and shared identity, essential when appealing to their common knowledge and shared experience.
• our entrance (ἡ εἴσοδος ἡμῶν - hē eisodos hēmōn): Literally "the coming in of us" or "our access/admission." It refers specifically to the beginning of Paul, Silas, and Timothy's missionary activity in Thessalonica—their initial arrival, teaching, and establishment of the gospel. It encompasses their methods, their demeanor, and the very initial reception of their message.
• among you (πρὸς ὑμᾶς - pros hymas): "Towards you" or "in your midst." Highlights the direct, personal, and tangible presence of Paul's team among the Thessalonians.
• was not (οὐκ ἐγένετο - ouk egeneto): A definitive negation. "Did not come to pass," or "did not prove to be." This asserts a clear and absolute counter-statement to any suggestion otherwise.
• in vain (κενὴ - kenē): Meaning "empty," "hollow," "futile," "without purpose," or "without result." This term covers multiple accusations Paul seeks to refute. It could imply their mission lacked substance (deceit), purpose (self-serving), or effect (failed). By declaring their entrance "not in vain," Paul affirms its truthfulness, integrity, effectiveness, and divine backing.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For you yourselves know, brethren": This phrase serves as Paul's foundation. He doesn't assert a new truth but reminds them of a shared, evident reality. This rhetorical strategy empowers the Thessalonians as co-witnesses, validating his argument from their own experience, fostering unity, and subtly dismantling potential accusations by appeal to a known fact.
• "that our entrance among you": Specifies the particular event under discussion—the beginning of their missionary work in Thessalonica. The focus is on the manner and character of this initial engagement, which later verses will elaborate upon (e.g., suffering, boldness, integrity).
• "was not in vain": This is the core declaration, summarizing the purity and effectiveness of their initial gospel presentation. It preemptively addresses potential charges of their ministry being baseless, deceitful, fruitless, or driven by improper motives, establishing a framework for his subsequent defense of genuine, Spirit-empowered apostleship. It links their positive reception of the gospel (1 Thess 1) directly to the authenticity of the messengers.

1 Thessalonians 2 1 Bonus section

The appeal to the audience's direct knowledge ("you yourselves know") is a strong rhetorical device common in ancient literature and Pauline epistles. It shifts the burden of proof, not onto Paul, but implies that the Thessalonians would confirm his integrity, strengthening the bonds of trust and refuting external critics through shared witness. This rhetorical approach anticipates and disarms criticisms by relying on empirical evidence available to his readers. Furthermore, the "in vain" aspect implies not only the effectiveness of the ministry in terms of converts but more fundamentally the authenticity of the apostles themselves, that they were not charlatans performing an "empty" show. The quality of their disciples was a direct reflection of the quality of the apostles' entrance.

1 Thessalonians 2 1 Commentary

First Thessalonians 2:1 is a critical transitional verse, pivoting from the previous chapter's celebration of the Thessalonians' vibrant faith to Paul's robust defense of his apostolic integrity. It acts as an anchor for the ensuing discussion by appealing directly to the recipients' own undeniable experience and shared history with Paul, Silas, and Timothy. By declaring, "our entrance among you was not in vain," Paul is emphatically stating that his arrival and ministry were neither empty of purpose nor fruitless in outcome, nor were they characterized by deception or selfish gain. This statement effectively refutes implied or explicit slanders that likely followed their hurried departure from Thessalonica (due to persecution as noted in Acts 17). The subsequent verses will detail the specific aspects of their ministry—boldness despite suffering, purity of motive, gentle care, diligent work—all serving as evidence for the genuine nature of their "entrance." The verse also subtly celebrates the Thessalonian church itself, as their existence and faith are the primary proofs that Paul's labor was far from "in vain."