1 Thessalonians 2:17
in 1 Thessalonians 2Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseHere the apostle speaks of love. Above he said: "as a father his children" (v. 11) and: "as a nurse" (v. 7), and here "being separated" (in the Slavonic text – "having been orphaned"), which is characteristic of children seeking their parents. This is so …
This site's exposition
we were torn away from you
on 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18
The verb torn away speaks of being orphaned, the missionaries bereft of the church. The wish to return failed, and verse 18 names why: I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan obstructed us.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"But we, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire." He has not said "separated," but what was much more. He had spoken above of flattery, showing that he did not flatter, that he did not seek glory. He speaks here concerning love. Because he had said above, "as a father his children," "as a nurse," here he uses another expression, "being made orphans," which is said of children who have lost their fathers. And yet they were made orphans. "No"-he says-"but we. For if any one should examine our longing, even as little children without a protector, having sustained an untimely bereavement, long for their parents, not only from the feelings of nature itself, but also on account of their deserted state, so truly do we too feel." From this also he shows his own despondency on account of their separation. And this we cannot say, he says, that we have waited a long period, but "for a short time," and that "in presence, not in heart." For we always have you in our mind. See how great is his love Although having them always in his heart, he sought also their presence face to face. Tell me not of your superlative philosophy This is truly fervent love; both to see, and to hear, and speak; and this may be of much advantage. "We endeavored the more exceedingly." What is "more exceedingly"? He either means to say, "we are vehemently attached to you," or, "as was likely, being bereaved for a season, we endeavored to see your face." Observe the blessed Paul. When of himself he cannot satisfy his longing, he does it through others, as when he sends Timothy to the Philippians, and the same person again to the Corinthians, holding intercourse with them through others, when he cannot of himself. […]
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then when Paul says, but since we were bereft of you, brethren, for a short time, he shows the remedy that he proposed to apply for them, namely, that he will personally go to them. In regard to this he makes three points: first, he …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Such was the rage of his persecutors. He was unwillingly sent away by night to Berea, Acts xvii. Though he was absent in body, yet he was present in heart.
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.
But we, brethren, being taken from you,....
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The subject-matter of the apostle's preaching was not vain and idle speculations about useless niceties and foolish questions, but sound and solid truth, such as was most likely to profit his hearers. A good example this is, to be imitated by all the ministers of the gospel.
So that the apostle at least intended his absence should be but for a short time. His desire and endeavour were to return again very soon to Thessalonica. But men of business are not masters of their own time.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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}.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
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.
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, 1Th 2:7, 1Th 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.
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἡμεῖς | hemeis | We ourselves | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| δέ, | de | however, | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| ἀπορφανισθέντες | aporphanisthentes | having been bereaved | G642 → | |
| ἀφ᾽ | aph᾽ | of | G575 → | 640 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| πρὸς | pros | for | G4314 → | 700 times |
| καιρὸν | kairon | [the] time | G2540 → | |
| ὥρας | horas | of an hour | G5610 → | |
| προσώπῳ | prosopo | in face | G4383 → | 75 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| καρδίᾳ, | kardia | in heart, | G2588 → | 156 times |
| περισσοτέρως | perissoteros | more abundantly | G4056 → | |
| ἐσπουδάσαμεν | espoudasamen | were eager | G4704 → | |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πρόσωπον | prosopon | face | G4383 → | 75 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | of you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἰδεῖν | idein | to see | G1492 → | 374 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| πολλῇ | pollea | great | G4183 → | 367 times |
| ἐπιθυμίᾳ. | epithumia | desire. | G1939 → |
ἩμεῖςWe ourselves
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
δέ,however,
deG1161 →2765 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
ἀπορφανισθέντεςhaving been bereaved
aporphanisthentesG642 →
ἀφ᾽of
aph᾽G575 →640 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
πρὸςfor
prosG4314 →700 times
καιρὸν[the] time
kaironG2540 →
ὥραςof an hour
horasG5610 →
προσώπῳin face
prosopoG4383 →75 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
καρδίᾳ,in heart,
kardiaG2588 →156 times
περισσοτέρωςmore abundantly
perissoterosG4056 →
ἐσπουδάσαμενwere eager
espoudasamenG4704 →
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πρόσωπονface
prosoponG4383 →75 times
ὑμῶνof you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἰδεῖνto see
ideinG1492 →374 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
πολλῇgreat
polleaG4183 →367 times
ἐπιθυμίᾳ.desire.
epithumiaG1939 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 5:3Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
it leads to
- Colossians 2:5
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
- Colossians 2:5
Through
Colossians 2:5For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–4
Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- 1 Corinthians 5:3–4
Through
Romans 1:13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among…
it leads to
- Acts 19:21
After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as…
- Philippians 4:17
Not that I am seeking a gift, but I am looking for the fruit that may be credited to your account.
- 2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:18
For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
- Acts 19:21
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:6But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.
- 1 Corinthians 11:2
About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.