2 Thessalonians 2:5 kjv

Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

2 Thessalonians 2:5 nkjv

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

2 Thessalonians 2:5 niv

Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?

2 Thessalonians 2:5 esv

Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

2 Thessalonians 2:5 nlt

Don't you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?

2 Thessalonians 2 verses

2 Thessalonians 2 5 Meaning

This verse serves as a rhetorical reminder from the Apostle Paul to the believers in Thessalonica, emphasizing that the crucial teachings about the "day of the Lord," the great apostasy, and the "man of lawlessness" were not new revelations but foundational truths he had previously delivered to them while he was physically present. It highlights that the current confusion and distress among the Thessalonians regarding these eschatological events were rooted in a forgetfulness or a failure to apply previously established doctrine. Paul’s intention is to gently rebuke their lack of recall and firmly ground them once again in the authoritative, prophetic instruction he had given.

2 Thessalonians 2 5 Context

2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is a crucial text addressing the Thessalonians' distress and confusion regarding the "day of the Lord." They had become unsettled, potentially thinking this great day of judgment and Christ's return had already occurred, possibly due to false teachers or a forged letter (2 Th 2:2). Paul’s immediate purpose in this chapter is to correct these misunderstandings by clarifying the events that must precede Christ's second coming: specifically, a great "rebellion" or "falling away" (apostasy) and the revelation of the "man of lawlessness" (Antichrist). Verse 5 directly ties these complex prophetic teachings back to Paul's personal ministry among them, asserting that he had already taught them "these things" – the very details that should prevent their present confusion. The historical context for the Thessalonians included recent conversion from paganism (1 Th 1:9), the receipt of Paul’s first letter to them, and the experience of persecution (1 Th 1:6; 2 Th 1:4), which might have exacerbated their fears about the Day of the Lord. Their earnestness about eschatology, likely a significant part of Paul's original preaching given their expectation of Christ's return, now needed grounding in the precise order of events to dispel false alarms and stabilize their faith.

2 Thessalonians 2 5 Word analysis

• Do you not remember (Οὐ μνημονεύετε, Ou mnēmoneúete): This is a rhetorical question, characteristic of Paul, implying the expected answer is "yes, we do remember." It functions as a gentle, yet firm, reminder or mild rebuke. It suggests an oversight or failure of recollection on their part concerning fundamental truths that Paul had imparted. The verb mnēmoneúete means to recall, bring to mind, or hold in remembrance, underscoring the expectation that these teachings should have been retained.
• that when I was still with you (ὅτι ἔτι ὢν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, hoti éti ōn pros hymás): "When I was still with you" indicates Paul's direct, personal, and physical presence during their founding as a church. It emphasizes the direct transmission of these doctrines from an apostle, granting them undeniable authority and legitimacy. The phrase highlights the prior establishment of these teachings before the present confusion arose, anchoring the instruction in a verifiable historical interaction.
• I told you (ἔλεγον ὑμῖν, élegon hýmīn): The Greek imperfect tense élegon suggests a continuous or repeated action, rather than a one-time pronouncement. This means Paul was not just casually mentioning "these things," but he was consistently, habitually, or repeatedly instructing them on these eschatological matters during his time among them. This continuous teaching underscores the importance and depth of the original instruction.
• these things? (ταῦτα, taúta): "These things" refers specifically to the detailed eschatological prophecies Paul has just described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4: the necessity of the "apostasy" (the falling away from faith) and the revelation of the "man of lawlessness" before the Day of the Lord could occur. This phrase removes ambiguity, confirming the specific prophetic timeline and figures they had already been taught.

• "Do you not remember... I told you these things?": This collective phrase functions as a profound appeal to the Thessalonians' established knowledge. It asserts the continuity of apostolic teaching and challenges the reception of any new or contrary interpretations. Paul expects his converts to retain core doctrines.
• "when I was still with you I told you": This combination highlights the foundational nature of the direct, personal teaching. It implies the teaching was sufficiently clear, comprehensive, and important to warrant remembrance, originating from the Apostle himself during his founding ministry in their midst.

2 Thessalonians 2 5 Bonus section

This verse subtly reveals the nature of early Christian instruction, heavily reliant on oral teaching from the apostles. Before widespread access to written epistles, direct, repetitive instruction was vital for catechism and equipping believers. Paul’s appeal to their memory indicates the trust he placed in the efficacy of his personal ministry and the responsibility of the believers to retain the truths given. It further establishes the authoritative framework within which apostolic letters functioned—not merely as new information, but as clarification, correction, and reinforcement of what had already been proclaimed orally. The expectation that they should remember "these things" speaks to the critical importance of specific eschatological teaching as a defense against deception, demonstrating that precise knowledge of future events can lead to stability and perseverance in the present.

2 Thessalonians 2 5 Commentary

2 Thessalonians 2:5 serves as Paul's rhetorical anchoring of his detailed eschatological discourse in prior instruction. By posing the question, "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?", Paul underscores two critical points: first, that the complex prophetic events of the Day of the Lord, the apostasy, and the man of lawlessness were not new revelations but fundamental truths consistently taught during his physical presence; and second, it's a gentle challenge to the Thessalonians’ present distress, implying their confusion stems from forgetting or misapplying what they had already received. The imperfect tense, "I was telling you," emphasizes repeated, thorough instruction, signifying the gravity and essential nature of these truths. This verse acts as a call to spiritual recollection and a safeguard against deception, reinforcing the idea that stability in faith requires a firm grasp and retention of foundational apostolic teaching. It teaches that one must remain grounded in the Word to navigate confusing times.

Practical examples:

• A believer, encountering novel or sensational end-times prophecies, reviews previously taught biblical eschatology to discern truth from error.
• A Christian leader reminds the congregation of core doctrinal truths about Christ's return to counter anxieties spread by unbiblical sensationalism.
• Individuals facing societal changes remember past lessons on the Lord's sovereignty and coming judgment, thereby remaining steadfast in hope rather than being swayed by fear or false narratives.