1 Thessalonians 1:4
New International Version
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

New Living Translation
We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

English Standard Version
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

Berean Standard Bible
Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,

Berean Literal Bible
knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election,

King James Bible
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

New King James Version
knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

New American Standard Bible
knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you;

NASB 1995
knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

NASB 1977
knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

Legacy Standard Bible
knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election,

Amplified Bible
Brothers and sisters beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you;

Christian Standard Bible
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
knowing your election, brothers loved by God.

American Standard Version
knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,

Contemporary English Version
My dear friends, God loves you, and we know he has chosen you to be his people.

English Revised Version
knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Brothers and sisters, we never forget this because we know that God loves you and has chosen you.

Good News Translation
Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.

International Standard Version
Brothers whom God loves, we know that he has chosen you,

Majority Standard Bible
Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you,

NET Bible
We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

New Heart English Bible
We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,

Webster's Bible Translation
Knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election.

Weymouth New Testament
knowing as we do, brethren, that you are beloved by God and that He has chosen you.

World English Bible
We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
having known, beloved brothers, by God, your [divine] selection,

Berean Literal Bible
knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election,

Young's Literal Translation
having known, brethren beloved, by God, your election,

Smith's Literal Translation
Knowing, brethren beloved, of God your selection.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election:

Catholic Public Domain Version
For we know, brothers, beloved of God, of your election.

New American Bible
knowing, brothers loved by God, how you were chosen.

New Revised Standard Version
For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For we know that you are the elected ones, my brethren, and beloved of God.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For we know your election, brethren, beloved of God,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
be cause we know, brethren beloved of God, your election.

Godbey New Testament
knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,

Haweis New Testament
knowing, brethren, beloved of God, your election.

Mace New Testament
for we are persuaded, my brethren, that you are the peculiar objects of divine favour;

Weymouth New Testament
knowing as we do, brethren, that you are beloved by God and that He has chosen you.

Worrell New Testament
knowing, brethren beloved by God, your election;

Worsley New Testament
knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Greetings to the Thessalonians
3and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4Brothers who are beloved by God, we know that He has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.…

Cross References
Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

Romans 8:29-30
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. / And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

2 Thessalonians 2:13
But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.

1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

John 15:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Romans 9:11-13
Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, / not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” / So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

1 Corinthians 1:27-28
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,

Deuteronomy 7:6-8
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. / The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. / But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Isaiah 41:8-9
“But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham My friend— / I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you.

Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.

Malachi 1:2-3
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.


Treasury of Scripture

Knowing, brothers beloved, your election of God.

Knowing.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Romans 8:28-30
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose…

Romans 11:5-7
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace…

beloved, your election of God.

Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 9:25
As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

Ephesians 2:4,5
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, …

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1 Thessalonians 1
1. The Thessalonians are told both how mindful of them Paul was in thanksgiving, and prayer;
5. and also how well he was persuaded of the truth and sincerity of their faith and conversion to God.














Brothers loved by God
The term "Brothers" (Greek: ἀδελφοί, adelphoi) is a term of endearment and unity, indicating a familial bond among believers. In the early church, this term was inclusive of both men and women, emphasizing the spiritual kinship that transcends biological ties. The phrase "loved by God" underscores the divine affection and grace bestowed upon the Thessalonian believers. This love is not based on human merit but is a reflection of God's character and His sovereign choice to extend grace and mercy. Historically, this assurance of being loved by God would have been a source of immense comfort and encouragement to the early Christians, who often faced persecution and societal rejection.

we know
The phrase "we know" (Greek: οἴδαμεν, oidamen) conveys a deep, confident understanding. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but is rooted in spiritual discernment and experience. Paul, along with his companions, expresses certainty about the spiritual state of the Thessalonians. This assurance comes from observing the evidence of God's work in their lives, such as their faith, love, and hope, which are mentioned earlier in the chapter. In a broader scriptural context, this kind of knowledge is often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit, who reveals and confirms spiritual truths to believers.

that He has chosen you
The concept of being "chosen" (Greek: ἐκλογή, eklogē) is central to the doctrine of election, which is a recurring theme in Paul's writings. This term indicates God's sovereign initiative in the salvation process. The Thessalonians' election is not based on their own actions or worthiness but on God's gracious will. This choice is a source of assurance and identity for believers, reminding them that their faith is part of a divine plan. Historically, the idea of being chosen by a deity was not uncommon in the ancient world, but the Christian understanding of election emphasizes God's love and grace rather than human achievement or status. This doctrine encourages believers to live in gratitude and obedience, knowing that their lives are part of God's redemptive purpose.

(4) "The reason why the sight delights us is because it proves that God loves you, and has set His heart upon you."

Beloved.--The proper translation is, knowing brethren who have been so beloved of God, your election, as in the margin: the Greek idiom cannot allow of the Authorised rendering. The tense of the word "beloved" represents not only God's attitude to them in the present, but the long continuance of it in the past, especially as proved by His election of them. (Comp. Romans 8:28-30, and 2Thessalonians 2:13.)

Election, in the language of (at any rate) St. Paul and St. Peter, seems primarily to refer to a gracious admission into religious privileges in this life. The word implies nothing as to the final condition of the person thus elected (see 2Peter 1:10, and comp. Ephesians 1:4 with Ephesians 5:5-7). God elects us to become members of the Holy Church, and all baptised persons are elect, with heaven in reversion (1Peter 1:2-5); but they may, according as they please, unsettle their election, or make it sure. St. Paul rejoices, because the continued possession of spiritual privileges, used or abused, is an assurance of God's continued "favour and goodness towards us." Of course, however, this observation does not much affect the mysterious doctrine of predestination. The question must still remain why God brings some in this life to the knowledge of His truth, and others not; but the observation, at any rate, destroys the notion of an arbitrary damnation and salvation. . . .

Verse 4. - Knowing; that is, not the Thessalonians themselves, but we, Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus; knowing, being well assured cf. Brethren beloved, your election of God; or rather, as it is in the margin and in the R.V., Knowing brethren, beloved of God, your election. By election is meant that act of free grace by which God destines individuals to become believers in Christ. Thus the Thessalonian converts were chosen or elected by God from among their heathen countrymen to become Christians. The ultimate reason of their Christianity was their election of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Brothers
ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

who are beloved
ἠγαπημένοι (ēgapēmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 25: To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.

by
ὑπὸ (hypo)
Preposition
Strong's 5259: A primary preposition; under, i.e. of place, or with verbs; of place (underneath) or where (below) or time (when).

God,
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

we know
εἰδότες (eidotes)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

[that] He has chosen
ἐκλογὴν (eklogēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1589: A choosing out, selecting, choice (by God). From eklegomai; selection.

you,
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 1:4 We know brothers loved by God that (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
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