1 Thessalonians 2:4

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Gal 1:10 : 10 Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!
  • Gal 2:7 : 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised just as Peter was entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised
  • Rom 8:27 : 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.
  • 1 Cor 4:1-2 : 1 The Apostles’ Ministry One should think about us this way– as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.
  • Jer 32:19 : 19 You plan great things and you do mighty deeds. You see everything people do. You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do.
  • 1 Chr 29:17 : 17 I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you.
  • Ps 17:3 : 3 You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.
  • 1 Cor 9:17 : 17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.
  • Col 3:22 : 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching– like those who are strictly people-pleasers– but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.
  • Titus 1:3 : 3 But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior.
  • Heb 4:13 : 13 And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
  • Rev 2:23 : 23 Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.
  • 1 Tim 1:11-13 : 11 This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me. 12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief,
  • 1 Tim 6:20 : 20 Conclusion O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called“knowledge.”
  • 2 Tim 1:14 : 14 Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
  • 2 Tim 2:2 : 2 And what you heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.
  • 2 Cor 4:2 : 2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.
  • 2 Cor 5:11 : 11 The Message of Reconciliation Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.
  • 2 Cor 5:16 : 16 So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.
  • Eph 3:8 : 8 To me– less than the least of all the saints– this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ
  • Eph 6:6 : 6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching– as people-pleasers– but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.
  • Ps 44:21 : 21 would not God discover it, for he knows one’s thoughts?
  • Ps 139:1-2 : 1 For the music director, a psalm of David. O LORD, you examine me and know. 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.
  • Prov 17:3 : 3 The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.
  • Jer 17:10 : 10 I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.
  • Ps 7:9 : 9 May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!
  • Num 27:16 : 16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community,
  • 1 Kgs 8:39 : 39 then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives.(Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)
  • Luke 12:42 : 42 The Lord replied,“Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?
  • Luke 16:11 : 11 If then you haven’t been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches?
  • John 2:24-25 : 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people. 25 He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.
  • John 21:17 : 17 Jesus said a third time,“Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time,“Do you love me?” and said,“Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied,“Feed my sheep.
  • 1 Cor 7:25 : 25 Remaining Unmarried With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.
  • 1 Cor 2:4-5 : 4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 1 Thess 2:5-10
    6 verses
    82%

    5For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed– God is our witness–

    6nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,

    7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,

    8with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

    9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

    10You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.

  • 2 Cor 4:1-2
    2 verses
    80%

    1Paul’s Perseverance in Ministry Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.

    2But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.

  • 2 Cor 2:17
    79%

    17For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.

  • 1 Thess 2:1-3
    3 verses
    79%

    1Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you– it has not proven to be purposeless.

    2But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition.

    3For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,

  • 1 Thess 1:5
    78%

    5in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction(surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).

  • 2 Cor 3:2-4
    3 verses
    78%

    2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone,

    3revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.

    4Now we have such confidence in God through Christ.

  • 2 Cor 5:11-12
    2 verses
    76%

    11The Message of Reconciliation Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too.

    12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

  • 2 Cor 1:12-13
    2 verses
    76%

    12Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.

    13For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely

  • 1 Tim 1:11
    76%

    11This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.

  • 2 Cor 4:5-7
    3 verses
    75%

    5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

    6For God, who said“Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.

    7An Eternal Weight of Glory But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

  • 1 Cor 4:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1The Apostles’ Ministry One should think about us this way– as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

    2Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.

  • 1 Thess 2:13
    75%

    13And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.

  • 2 Cor 8:4-5
    2 verses
    74%

    4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints.

    5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

  • 2 Thess 3:8-9
    2 verses
    74%

    8and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you.

    9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.

  • 2 Cor 8:19-21
    3 verses
    74%

    19In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.

    20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering.

    21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.

  • 2 Cor 1:18
    74%

    18But as God is faithful, our message to you is not“Yes” and“No.”

  • 2 Cor 6:3-4
    2 verses
    73%

    3We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

    4But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,

  • 2 Cor 7:2
    73%

    2Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.

  • Gal 2:5
    73%

    5But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

  • Gal 1:10-11
    2 verses
    73%

    10Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

    11Paul’s Vindication of His Apostleship Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.

  • 2 Cor 1:24
    73%

    24I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.

  • Acts 15:8
    72%

    8And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,

  • 2 Cor 10:16
    72%

    16so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person’s area.

  • 1 Cor 9:12
    72%

    12If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving?But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

  • 2 Cor 13:7
    72%

    7Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.

  • 1 Thess 1:8
    72%

    8For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything.

  • 2 Cor 1:9
    72%

    9Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

  • 2 Cor 1:22
    72%

    22who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

  • 2 Thess 1:4
    72%

    4As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.