1 Thessalonians 2:14 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Here observe, I. The apostle makes mention of the success of his ministry among these Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:13), which is expressed, 1. By the manner of their receiving the word of God: When you received the word of God, which you heard of us, you received it, not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God. Where note, (1.) The word of the gospel is preached by men like ourselves, men of like passions and infirmities with others: We have this treasure in earthen vessels.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

2:13-16 And for this, too, we thank God, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but--as in truth it is--as the word of God, who also works in you who believe. For, brothers, you became imitators of the Churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus, for you too suffered the same things at the hands of your own fellow-countrymen as they did at the hands of the Jews; for they killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:14

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God ,.... As of the Lord and of the apostle, 1 Thessalonians 1:6 so of the churches of God that were before them, who were gathered out of the world by the grace of God; and who were united in the fear of God, and assembled together for his worship, to bear a testimony to his truth and ordinances, and for the glory of his name: these they followed in the faith and order of the Gospel, and "became like" them, as the Syriac and Ethiopic... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 2:14

Ye - became followers of the Churches of God - There is not a word here of the Church of Rome being the model after which the other Churches were to be formed; it had no such pre-eminence: this honor belonged to the Churches of Judea; it was according to them, not the Church at Rome, that the Asiatic Churches were modelled. The purest of all the apostolic Churches was that of the Thessalonians, and this was formed after the Christian Churches in Judea. Had any pre-eminence or authority... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 2:14

Verse 14 14For ye became imitators. If you are inclined to restrict this to the clause in immediate connection with it, the meaning will be, that the power of God, or of his word, shews itself in their patient endurance, while they sustain persecutions with magnanimity and undaunted courage. I prefer, however, to view it as extending to the whole of the foregoing statement, for he confirms what he has stated, that the Thessalonians had in good earnest embraced the gospel, as being presented to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:14

For ye, brethren, became followers ; or rather, imitators, namely, in the endurance of suffering for the sake of the gospel, not in intention only, but in reality. Of the Churches Of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus. These Churches arc mentioned as being at this early period the most prominent. The special mention of persecution by the Jews has its origin in the fact that it was by the unbelieving Jews that Paul was persecuted at Thessalonica. For ye also have suffered like... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 2:14

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus - Which are united to the Lord Jesus, or which are founded on his truth: that is, which are true churches. Of those churches they became “imitators” - μιμηταὶ mimētai - to wit, in their sufferings. This does not mean that they were founded on the same model; or that they professed to be the followers of those churches, but that they had been treated in the same way, and thus were like them. They had... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16. For this cause Or, on this account also; thank we God without ceasing See on 1 Thessalonians 1:2; that is, we not only thank him that we have been enabled to conduct ourselves, and to discharge our duty, in the manner above described, but that, when ye received the word of God which ye heard, &c. Greek, λογον ακοης του Θεου , literally, the word of hearing of God; the word which God hath appointed to be heard through our preaching. Accordingly, the same... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Paul’s work in Thessalonica (2:1-16)In Paul’s day there were some travelling preachers whose main aim was to make money, usually by crafty or dishonest methods. Certain people in the Thessalonian church, apparently angry that Paul had left them suddenly, accused him of being one of these untrustworthy travelling preachers. They said he was concerned only for himself, not for them. Paul replies that he has never used smooth words to deceive people or gain a following. His readers know that in... read more