1 Thessalonians 2:6
in 1 Thessalonians 2Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
KJV
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary
11 notes on this verseIt therefore follows, that every one of those who undertake to promote the good of their neighbours, ought to consider whether he has betaken himself to teaching rashly and out of rivalry to any; if his communication of the word is out of vainglory; if the only reward he reaps is the salvation of those who hear, and if he speaks not in order to win favour: if so, he who speaks by writings escapes the reproach of mercenary motives. "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know," says the apostle, "nor a cloak of covetousness.
This site's exposition
we never used words of flattery
on 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6
Two more charges fall, words of flattery and any pretext for greed. Greed was the danger of a traveling teacher living off a young church's purse. Verse 6 adds a right to support they held as apostles of Christ and left unused.
This site's exposition
as apostles of Christ we had authority
Authority to demand it can mean the right to be kept at the church's cost, which is how Adam Clarke reads it. Theophylact of Ohrid hears honor in it, since a king's envoys were received with honor. Either way, the right went unused.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness; nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burdensome, as Apostles of Christ." For "neither at any time," he says, "were we found using words of flattery"; that is, we did not flatter, which is the part of deceivers, who wish to get possession and to domineer. No one can say that we flattered in order to rule, nor that we had recourse to it for the sake of wealth. Of this, which was manifest, he afterwards calls them to be witnesses. "Whether we flattered," he says, "ye know." But as to what was uncertain, namely, whether it were in the way of covetousness, he calls God to witness. "Nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor from others, when we might have been burdensome, as Apostles of Christ"; that is, not seeking after honors either, nor boasting ourselves, nor requiring attendance of guards. And yet even if we had done this, we should have done nothing out of character. For if persons sent forth by kings are nevertheless in honor, much more might we be. And he has not said, that "we were dishonored," nor that "we did not enjoy honors," which would have been to reproach them, but "we did not seek them." We therefore, who, when we might have sought them, sought them not, even when the preaching required it, how should we do anything for the sake of glory? And yet even if we had sought them, not even in that case would there have been any blame. For it is fit that those men who are sent forth from God, as ambassadors now coming from heaven, should enjoy great honor. But with an excess of forbearance we do none of these things, that we may stop the mouths of the adversaries. And it cannot be said, that to you we act thus, but not so others.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then he rules out the other possibility when he says, nor did we seek glory from men, whether from you or from others, by reason of our teaching; although we might have been pampered, accepted favors and even been a burden to the Thessalonians, for …
He did not say: we endured dishonor, or: we did not enjoy honor, lest this seem to them a reproach, but: we did not seek honors, although preaching truly did require this. For if we deem the ambassadors of kings worthy of great honor, then …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
Nor of men sought we glory,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Nor of men sought we glory - As we preached not for worldly gain, so we preached not for popular applause; we had what we sought for-the approbation of God, and the testimony of a good conscience. When we might have been burdensome - They had a right to their maintenance while they devoted themselves wholly to the work of the Gospel for the sake of the people’s souls.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Literally, "Nor of men (have we been found, 1Th 2:5) seeking glory." The "of" here represents a different Greek word from "of" in the clause "of you . . . of others." ALFORD makes the former (Greek, "ex") express the abstract ground of the glory; the latter (apo) the concrete object from which it was to come.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Nor of men sought we glory - Or praise. The love of applause was not that which influenced them; see the notes on Col 1:10. Neither of you, nor yet of others - Nowhere has this been our object The love of fame is not that which has influenced us. The particular idea in this verse seems to be that though they had uncommon advantages, as the apostles of Christ, for setting up a dominion or securing an ascendancy over others, yet they had not availed themselves of it. As an apostle of Christ; as appointed by him to found churches; as endowed with the power of working miracles, Paul had every advantage for securing authority over others, and turning it to the purposes of ambition or gain. When we might have been burdensome - Margin, “or, used authority.” Some understand this as meaning that they might have demanded a support in virtue of their being apostles; others, as Calvin, and as it is in the margin, that they might have used authority, and have governed them wholly in that manner, exacting unqualified obedience. The Greek properly refers to that which is “weighty” - ἐν βαρέι en barei - “heavy, burdensome.” Anything that weighs down or oppresses - as a burden, sorrow, or authority, would meet the sense of the Greek. It seems probable, from the context, that the apostle did not refer either to authority or to support exclusively, but may have included both. In their circumstances it might have been somewhat burden some for them to have maintained him and his fellowlaborers, though as an apostle he might have required it; compare 1Co 9:8-15. Rather than be oppressive in this respect, he had chosen to forego his right, and to maintain himself by his own labor. As an apostle also he might have exerted his authority, and might have made use of his great office for the purpose of placing himself at the head of churches, and giving them laws. […]
The words behind it
11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὔτε | oute | nor | G3777 → | 87 times |
| ζητοῦντες | zetountes | seeking | G2212 → | |
| ἐξ | ex | from | G1537 → | 911 times |
| ἀνθρώπων | anthropon | men | G444 → | 549 times |
| δόξαν | doxan | glory | G1391 → | 165 times |
| οὔτε | oute | nor | G3777 → | 87 times |
| ἀφ᾽ | aph᾽ | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| οὔτε | oute | nor | G3777 → | 87 times |
| ἀπ᾽ | ap᾽ | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| ἄλλων, | allon | others, | G243 → |
οὔτεnor
outeG3777 →87 times
ζητοῦντεςseeking
zetountesG2212 →
ἐξfrom
exG1537 →911 times
ἀνθρώπωνmen
anthroponG444 →549 times
δόξανglory
doxanG1391 →165 times
οὔτεnor
outeG3777 →87 times
ἀφ᾽from
aph᾽G575 →640 times
ὑμῶνyou
humonG4771 →2973 times
οὔτεnor
outeG3777 →87 times
ἀπ᾽from
ap᾽G575 →640 times
ἄλλων,others,
allonG243 →
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
Galatians 1:10Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Instead, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not in order to please men but God, who examines our hearts.
- Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Ephesians 6:6
And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
- James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
- Matthew 22:16
They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Through
John 5:44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
it leads to
- John 12:43
For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
- Romans 2:29
No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come…
- John 12:43
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
it leads to
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9
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, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 2; 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.