We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
Parallel translations
- KJV Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
- 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 always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
- Titus 3:4–5But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
- 2 Pet 1:10Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
- Rom 9:25As he says also in Hosea, “I will call them ‘my people,’ which were not my people; and her ‘beloved,’ who was not beloved.”
- Col 3:12Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
- Eph 1:4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;
- Eph 2:4–5But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,
- Rom 8:28–30We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- Rom 1:7to all who are 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 who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Pet 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
- 2 Tim 1:9–10who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
- 1 Th 1:3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
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.