1 Thessalonians 2 · Verse 5

1 Thessalonians 2:5

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
1 Thessalonians 2:5, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 2:5 in other translations

BSBAs you know, we never used words of flattery or any pretext for greed. God is our witness!
WEBFor neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
ASVFor neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
YLTfor at no time did we come with speech of flattery, (as ye have known,) nor in a pretext for covetousness, (God is witness!)
DARBYFor we have not at any time been among you with flattering discourse, even as ye know, nor with a pretext for covetousness,God is witness;
BBEFor it is common knowledge among you that we never made use of smooth-sounding false words, and God is witness that at no time were we secretly desiring profit for ourselves,
WebsterFor neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

What does 1 Thessalonians 2:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. used we flattering words--literally, "become (that is, have we been found) in (the use of) language of flattery"; the resource of those who try to "please men." as ye know--"Ye know" as to whether I flattered you; as to "covetousness," God, the Judge of the heart, alone can be "my witness." cloak of--that is, any specious guise under which I might cloak "covetousness."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. For neither at any time used we flattering words. Job 32:21; Job 32:22; 2Cor 2:17. The word here rendered "flattering"--κολακεια--occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The meaning is, that the apostle did not deal in the language of adulation; he did not praise them for their beauty, wealth, talent, or accomplishments, and conceal from them the painful truths about their guilt and danger, He stated simple truth--not refusing to commend men if truth would admit of it, and never hesitating to declare his honest convictions about their guilt and danger. One of the principal arts of the deceiver on all subjects is flattery; and Paul says, that when preaching to the Thessalonians he had carefully avoided it. He now appeals to that fact as a proof of his own integrity. They knew that he had been faithful to their souls.

Nor a cloke of covetousness. The word rendered "cloke" here-- προφασις--means, properly, "what is shown or appears before any one;" i.e., show, pretence, pretext, put forth in order to cover one's real intent, Mt 23:14, Mk 12:40, Lk 20:47. The meaning here is, that he did not put on a pretence or appearance of piety for the sake of promoting the schemes of covetousness. The evidence of that was not only what their observed of the general spirit of the apostle, but also the fact that when with them he had actually laboured with his own hands for a support, 1Thes 2:9. It is obvious that there were those there, as sometimes there are now, who, under the pretence of great zeal for religion, were really seeking wealth; and it is possible that it may have been alleged against Paul and his fellow-labourers that they were such persons.

God is witness. This is a solemn appeal to God for the truth of what he had said. He refers not only to their own observation, but he calls God himself to witness his sincerity. God knew the truth in the case. There could have been no imposing on him; and the appeal, therefore, is to one who was intimately acquainted with the truth. Learn hence,

(1.) that it is right, on important occasions, to appeal to God for the truth of what we say.

(2.) We should always so live that we can properly make such an appeal to him.

(b) "neither at any time" 2Cor 2:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Flattering words - Though we proclaimed the Gospel or glad tidings, yet we showed that without holiness none should see the Lord. Ye know - That while we preached the whole Gospel we never gave any countenance to sin. For a cloak of covetousness - We did not seek temporal emolument; nor did we preach the Gospel for a cloak to our covetousness: God is witness that we did not; we sought you, not yours. Hear this, ye that preach the Gospel! Can ye call God to witness that in preaching it ye have no end in view by your ministry but his glory in the salvation of souls? Or do ye enter into the priesthood for a morsel of bread, or for what is ominously and impiously called a living, a benefice? In better days your place and office were called a cure of souls; what care have you for the souls of them by whose labors you are in general more than sufficiently supported? Is it your study, your earnest labor, to bring sinners to God; to preach among your heathen parishioners the unsearchable riches of Christ? But I should speak to the thousands who have no parishes, but who have their chapels, their congregations, pew and seat rents, etc., etc. Is it for the sake of these that ye have entered or continue in the Gospel ministry? Is God witness that, in all these things, ye have no cloak of covetousness? Happy is the man who can say so, whether he has the provision which the law of the land allows him, or whether he lives on the free-will offerings of the people. The faithful laborer is worthy of his hire; for the ox that treads out the corn should not be muzzled; and they that preach the Gospel should live, not riot, by the Gospel. But wo to that man who enters into the labor for the sake of the hire! he knows not Christ; and how can he preach him?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

The apostle had no wordly design in his preaching. Suffering in a good cause should sharpen holy resolution. The gospel of Christ at first met with much opposition; and it was preached with contention, with striving in preaching, and against opposition. And as the matter of the apostle's exhortation was true and pure, the manner of his speaking was without guile. The gospel of Christ is designed for mortifying…

Read the full comment on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 →

1 Thessalonians 2:5 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὔτεouteNeverG3777
γάρgarforG1063
ποτεpoteat any timeG4218
ἐνenwithG1722
λόγῳlogōwordG3056
κολακείαςkolakeiasof flatteryG2850
ἐγενήθημεν,egenēthēmenwere we,G1096
καθὼςkathōseven asG2531
οἴδατε,oidateyou know,
οὔτεoutenorG3777
ἐνenwithG1722
προφάσειprophaseia pretextG4392
πλεονεξίας,pleonexiasfor greed —G4124
θεὸςtheosGod [is]G2316
μάρτυς,martuswitness —G3144

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 2:5

  • Romans 1:9

    For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

  • 2 Corinthians 12:17

    Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

  • Acts 20:33

    I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.

  • Galatians 1:20

    Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Revelation 18:12-13

    The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:2

    Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

  • Titus 1:7

    For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

  • 1 Peter 5:2

    Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:10

    Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

  • 2 Peter 2:14-15

    Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

  • Isaiah 56:11

    Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
used.
Job 17:5; 32:21,22; Ps 12:2,3; Pr 20:19; 26:28; 28:23; Isa 30:10
Mt 22:16; 2Pe 2:18
a cloke.
Isa 56:11; Jer 6:13; 8:10; Mic 3:5; Mal 1:10; Mt 23:14; Ac 20:33
Ro 16:18; 2Co 2:17; 4:2; 7:2; 12:17; 1Ti 3:3,8; Tit 1:7; 1Pe 5:2
2Pe 2:3,14,15; Jude 1:11; Re 18:12,13
God.
Ro 1:9; 9:1; Ga 1:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:4

    But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:5

    For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:6

    Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque nunca fuimos lisonjeros en la palabra, como sabéis, ni tocados de avaricia; Dios es testigo;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car aussi nous n’avons jamais usé de parole de flatterie, comme vous le savez, ni de prétexte de cupidité, Dieu en est témoin;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn niemals sind wir mit einschmeichelnder Rede umgegangen, wie ihr wisset, noch mit einem Vorwande für Habsucht, Gott ist Zeuge;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Neque enim aliquando fuimus in sermone adulationis, sicut scitis: neque in occasione avaritiæ: Deus testis est: