Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?
- BSB Do you not remember that I told you these things while I was still with you?
- NKJV Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
- NASB Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?
- NLT Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you?
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 reminds them he had already taught these things in person. Their alarm came from forgetting instruction they had already received.
Overview
This brief rebuke shows that Paul had given the Thessalonians substantial teaching about the end during his short stay (Acts 17). It also explains why his words here are compressed, since he is recalling rather than fully re-explaining. The verse underscores the value of remembering sound teaching as a safeguard against deception and panic.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gal 5:21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Matt 16:9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
- John 16:4But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
- 2 Pet 1:15Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
- 2 Th 3:10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
- 1 Th 2:11As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
- Luke 24:6–7He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
- Acts 20:31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
- Mark 8:18Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ will be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, glorified in his saints, overthrowing the lawless one — the certain hope that steadies the suffering church.
How 2 Thessalonians 2:5 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.