1 Thessalonians 2:5
in 1 Thessalonians 2As you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
KJV
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
⋯
This verse in 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary
12 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
flattering words
on 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6
Two more charges fall, flattering words and a cloke of covetousness, the second the specific danger of an itinerant teacher living off a young congregation's purse. God is witness stands over the first charge exactly as the trying of hearts stood over the last verse, an appeal no human audience can adjudicate. Nor of men sought we glory adds a third refusal, and burdensome names the currency, financial claim on the church, which the apostles as apostles of Christ had every right to make and did not.
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 Church3 voices
And Paul makes the same point with a causal analysis. For someone wishes to please men for two reasons, that is, for the sake of advantages, or for the sake of glory; however, he excludes these from consideration here. He rules out the first possibility …
Since he had praised them before this, so that the praise would not become suspicious, he says: I never flattered you (which is characteristic of deceivers), and I am not flattering you now. And not out of passion for money did we preach. That I …
as you know that is, by hearing and seeing.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
His design was not to enrich himself by preaching the gospel; so far from this, he did not stipulate with them for bread. He was not like the false apostles, who, through covetousness, with feigned words made merchandise of the people, 2 Pet. ii. (3.) He avoided ambition and vain-glory: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you nor yet of others,
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He and his fellow-labourers preached Christ and him crucified, and did not aim to gain an interest in men's affections for themselves, by glorying, and fawning and wheedling them. No, he was far from this; nor did he flatter men in their sins; nor tell them, if they would be of his party, they might live as they listed.
For neither at any time used we flattering words,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For neither at any time used we flattering words - see the Job 31:21-22 notes; and on 2Co 2:17 note. The word here rendered “flattering” - κολακείας kolakeias - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The meaning is, that the apostle did not deal in the language of adulation; he did not praise them for their beauty, wealth, talent, or accomplishments, and conceal from them the painful truths about their guilt and danger.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
used we flattering words--literally, "become (that is, have we been found) in (the use of) language of flattery"; the resource of those who try to "please men." as ye know--"Ye know" as to whether I flattered you; as to "covetousness," GOD, the Judge of the heart, alone can be "my witness." cloak of--that is, any specious guise under which I might cloak "covetousness."
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Flattering words - Though we proclaimed the Gospel or glad tidings, yet we showed that without holiness none should see the Lord. Ye know - That while we preached the whole Gospel we never gave any countenance to sin. For a cloak of covetousness - We did not seek temporal emolument; nor did we preach the Gospel for a cloak to our covetousness: God is witness that we did not; we sought you, not yours. Hear this, ye that preach the Gospel! Can ye call God to witness that in preaching it ye have no end in view by your ministry but his glory in the salvation of souls? Or do ye enter into the priesthood for a morsel of bread, or for what is ominously and impiously called a living, a benefice? In better days your place and office were called a cure of souls; what care have you for the souls of them by whose labors you are in general more than sufficiently supported? Is it your study, your earnest labor, to bring sinners to God; to preach among your heathen parishioners the unsearchable riches of Christ? But I should speak to the thousands who have no parishes, but who have their chapels, their congregations, pew and seat rents, etc., etc. Is it for the sake of these that ye have entered or continue in the Gospel ministry? Is God witness that, in all these things, ye have no cloak of covetousness? Happy is the man who can say so, whether he has the provision which the law of the land allows him, or whether he lives on the free-will offerings of the people. The faithful laborer is worthy of his hire; for the ox that treads out the corn should not be muzzled; and they that preach the Gospel should live, not riot, by the Gospel. But wo to that man who enters into the labor for the sake of the hire! he knows not Christ; and how can he preach him?
The words behind it
15 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 | Never | G3777 → | 87 times |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ποτε | pote | at any time | G4218 → | |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| λόγῳ | logo | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| κολακείας | kolakeias | of flattery | G2850 → | |
| ἐγενήθημεν, | egenethemen | were we, | G1096 → | 667 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| οἴδατε, | oidate | you know, | ||
| οὔτε | oute | nor | G3777 → | 87 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| προφάσει | prophasei | a pretext | G4392 → | |
| πλεονεξίας, | pleonexias | for greed — | G4124 → | |
| θεὸς | theos | God [is] | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| μάρτυς, | martus | witness — | G3144 → |
οὔτεNever
outeG3777 →87 times
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ποτεat any time
poteG4218 →
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
λόγῳword
logoG3056 →329 times
κολακείαςof flattery
kolakeiasG2850 →
ἐγενήθημεν,were we,
egenethemenG1096 →667 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
οἴδατε,you know,
oidate
οὔτεnor
outeG3777 →87 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
προφάσειa pretext
prophaseiG4392 →
πλεονεξίας,for greed —
pleonexiasG4124 →
θεὸςGod [is]
theosG2316 →1312 times
μάρτυς,witness —
martusG3144 →
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
Romans 1:9God, whom I serve with my spirit in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you
it leads to
- Romans 9:1
I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Ephesians 1:16–19
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
- Romans 9:1
Through
2 Peter 2:3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
- Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
- Romans 16:18
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
- 2 Corinthians 2:17
Through
Acts 20:33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:9
And when I was with you and in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have refrained from being a burden to…
- 1 Corinthians 9:12
If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of…
- 2 Corinthians 11:9
About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 11 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; Nicholas of Lyra, Commentary (church-history corpus); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.