Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
Parallel translations
- WEB We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
- KJV Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
- NKJV knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
- NASB knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you;
- NLT We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul is confident the Thessalonians are loved and chosen by God. Their changed lives confirm God's electing grace toward them.
Overview
Paul addresses them as "brothers loved by God" and speaks plainly of their election. While Christians have long discussed how election and human response fit together, Paul's point is pastoral assurance: he knows they are chosen because the gospel bore fruit among them (vv. 5-6). Election is presented not as cold speculation but as the ground of confidence and comfort, rooted in God's free love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Th 2:13But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
- Titus 3:4–5But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
- 2 Pet 1:10Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- Rom 9:25As He says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘My People’ who are not My people, and I will call her ‘My Beloved’ who is not My beloved,”
- Col 3:12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Eph 1:4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
- Eph 2:4–5But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
- Rom 8:28–30And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Rom 1:7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Rom 11:5–7In the same way, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
- Phil 1:6–7being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
- 1 Pet 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
- 2 Tim 1:9–10He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- 1 Th 1:3and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 1:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.