Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
Parallel translations
- WEB We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
- BSB Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,
- 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 are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
- Titus 3:4–5But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
- 2 Pet 1:10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
- Rom 9:25As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
- Col 3:12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
- Eph 1:4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
- Eph 2:4–5But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
- Rom 8:28–30And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Rom 1:7To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Rom 11:5–7Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
- Phil 1:6–7Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
- 1 Pet 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
- 2 Tim 1:9–10Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
- 1 Th 1:3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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.