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1 Thessalonians 2:17

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
1 Thessalonians 2:17 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
  • BSB Brothers, although we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), our desire to see you face to face was even more intense.
  • NKJV But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
  • NASB But we, brothers and sisters, having been orphaned from you by absence for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
  • NLT Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again.

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

Separated from them, Paul longed intensely to see them again. His forced absence only deepened his affection.

Overview

Paul describes being "bereaved" of them—language of painful separation, like that of orphaned children. Though physically apart, he remained present in heart and tried eagerly to return. This expresses the genuine bonds of love that unite Christians even across distance.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 15

  • Col 2:5For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
  • 1 Cor 5:3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
  • 1 Th 3:6But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
  • 1 Th 3:10–11Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
  • Rom 1:13Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
  • 2 Sam 13:39And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.
  • Luke 22:15And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
  • Ps 63:1O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
  • Rom 15:23But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
  • Gen 48:11And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
  • Phil 1:22–26But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
  • Gen 45:28And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
  • Acts 17:10And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
  • 2 Kgs 5:26And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
  • Gen 31:30And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

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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 2:17 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

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