The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Explained

1 Thessalonians 2:15

KJV: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

YLT: who did both put to death the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and did persecute us, and God they are not pleasing, and to all men are contrary,

Darby: who have both slain the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and have driven us out by persecution, and do not please God, and are against all men,

ASV: who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who both  killed  the Lord  Jesus,  and  their own  prophets,  and  have persecuted  us;  and  they please  not  God,  and  are contrary  to all  men: 

What does 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 - The Apostle's Glory And Joy
The Christian worker always should wait on God till he gets the word of the message. There is an essential difference between delivering a sermon or an address and delivering a message. The latter is direct, eager; you wait to be sure it is understood; you expect an answer. A gospel message works in those who believe. That its ultimate effect will be to bring us into collision with the world-spirit goes without saying. For this conflict the Christian must be prepared in advance.
The separation between this true, strong, loving soul and his converts was a bereavement, though only for an hour, r.v. margin, and his heart longed to be with them again. He clung to them the more tenaciously because he had been cast out by his Jewish brethren, and also because he looked for a great revenue of joy and glory to accrue to the Savior's name. His one purpose seems to have been to accumulate garlands of saved souls, as children make garlands of flowers in spring, that he might lay them at the feet of the Redeemer. Satan hinders, but Jesus helps and smiles His benediction. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 2

1  In what manner the gospel was brought and preached to the Thessalonians
18  A reason is rendered both why Paul was so long absent from them, and also so desirous to see them

Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 2:15

Who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets [των και τον Κυριον αποκτειναντων Ιησουν και τους προπητας]
First aorist active participle of αποκτεινω — apokteinō Vivid justification of his praise of the churches in Judea. The Jews killed the prophets before the Lord Jesus who reminded them of their guilt (Matthew 23:29). Paul, as Peter (Acts 2:23), lays the guilt of the death of Christ on the Jews. [source]
And drove us out [και ημας εκδιωχαντων]
An old verb to drive out or banish, to chase out as if a wild beast. Only here in N.T. It is Paul‘s vivid description of the scene told in Acts 17:5. when the rabbis and the hoodlums from the agora chased him out of Thessalonica by the help of the politarchs. Please not God (Τεωι μη αρεσκοντων — Theōi mē areskontōn). The rabbis and Jews thought that they were pleasing God by so doing as Paul did when he ravaged the young church in Jerusalem. But Paul knows better now. And are contrary to all men Dative case with the adjective εναντιων — enantiōn (old and common word, face to face, opposite). It seems like a bitter word about Paul‘s countrymen whom he really loved (Romans 9:1-5; Romans 10:1-6), but Paul knew only too well the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile as he shows in Ephesians 2 and which only the Cross of Christ can break down. Tacitus (Hist. V. 5) says that the Jews are adversus omnes alios hostile odium. [source]
Please not God [Τεωι μη αρεσκοντων]
The rabbis and Jews thought that they were pleasing God by so doing as Paul did when he ravaged the young church in Jerusalem. But Paul knows better now. [source]
And are contrary to all men [και πασιν αντρωποις εναντιων]
Dative case with the adjective εναντιων — enantiōn (old and common word, face to face, opposite). It seems like a bitter word about Paul‘s countrymen whom he really loved (Romans 9:1-5; Romans 10:1-6), but Paul knew only too well the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile as he shows in Ephesians 2 and which only the Cross of Christ can break down. Tacitus (Hist. V. 5) says that the Jews are adversus omnes alios hostile odium. [source]
Persecuted [ἐκδιωξάντων]
Rev. more literally and correctly, drave out. The word only here, though it occurs as an alternative reading, Luke 11:49. Probably with special reference to his own expulsion from Thessalonica. Acts 17:5-10. [source]
Contrary to all men []
Tacitus (Hist. v. 5) describes the Jews as stubborn in their faith, prompt in kindly offices to each other, but bitterly hostile toward everybody else: Juvenal (Sat. xiv. 102 f.) says that they observe and respect whatever Moses has taught in his mystical volume; not to show the way except to one who practices the same rites, and to show the well only to the circumcised. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 2:15

Romans 9:22 His power [το δυνατον αυτου]
Neuter singular of the verbal adjective rather than the substantive δυναμιν — dunamin Endured (ηνεγκεν — ēnegken). Constative second aorist active indicative of the old defective verb περω — pherō to bear. Vessels of wrath The words occur in Jeremiah 50:25 (lxx Jer 27:25), but not in the sense here (objective genitive like τεκνα οργης — tekna orgēs Ephesians 2:3, the objects of God‘s wrath). Fitted (κατηρτισμενα — katērtismena). Perfect passive participle of καταρτιζω — katartizō old verb to equip (see note on Matthew 4:21 and see 2 Corinthians 13:11), state of readiness. Paul does not say here that God did it or that they did it. That they are responsible may be seen from 1 Thessalonians 2:15. Unto destruction Endless perdition (Matthew 7:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Philemon 3:19), not annihilation. [source]
Romans 9:22 Vessels of wrath [σκευη οργης]
The words occur in Jeremiah 50:25 (lxx Jer 27:25), but not in the sense here (objective genitive like τεκνα οργης — tekna orgēs Ephesians 2:3, the objects of God‘s wrath). Fitted (κατηρτισμενα — katērtismena). Perfect passive participle of καταρτιζω — katartizō old verb to equip (see note on Matthew 4:21 and see 2 Corinthians 13:11), state of readiness. Paul does not say here that God did it or that they did it. That they are responsible may be seen from 1 Thessalonians 2:15. Unto destruction Endless perdition (Matthew 7:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; Philemon 3:19), not annihilation. [source]
Romans 9:22 Fitted [κατηρτισμενα]
Perfect passive participle of καταρτιζω — katartizō old verb to equip (see note on Matthew 4:21 and see 2 Corinthians 13:11), state of readiness. Paul does not say here that God did it or that they did it. That they are responsible may be seen from 1 Thessalonians 2:15. [source]
Romans 9:22 Fitted [κατηρτισμένα]
Lit., adjusted. See on mending, Matthew 4:21; perfect, see on Matthew 21:16; see on Luke 6:40; see on 1 Peter 5:10. Not fitted by God for destruction, but in an adjectival sense, ready, ripe for destruction, the participle denoting a present state previously formed, but giving no hint of how it has been formed. An agency of some kind must be assumed. That the objects of final wrath had themselves a hand in the matter may be seen from 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:16. That the hand of God is also operative may be inferred from the whole drift of the chapter. “The apostle has probably chosen this form because the being ready certainly arises from a continual reciprocal action between human sin and the divine judgment of blindness and hardness. Every development of sin is a net-work of human offenses and divine judgments” (Lange). [source]
Galatians 4:29 So now [ουτος και νυν]
(ουτος και νυν — houtos kai nun) the Jews were persecuting Paul and all Christians (1 Thessalonians 2:15.). [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ [εν ονοματι του κυριου Ιησου Χριστου]
Name (ονομα — onoma) here for authority of Jesus Christ with which compare through the Lord Jesus (δια του κυριου Ιησου — dia tou kuriou Iēsou) in 1 Thessalonians 4:2. For a full discussion of the phrase see the monograph of W. Heitmuller, Im Namen Jesu. Paul wishes his readers to realize the responsibility on them for their obedience to his command. That ye withdraw yourselves Present middle (direct) infinitive of στελλω — stellō old verb to place, arrange, make compact or shorten as sails, to move oneself from or to withdraw oneself from (with απο — apo and the ablative). In 2 Corinthians 8:20 the middle voice He calls him “brother” still. The adverb ατακτως — ataktōs is common in Plato and is here and 2 Thessalonians 3:11 alone in the N.T., though the adjective ατακτος — ataktos equally common in Plato we had in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 which see. Military term, out of ranks. And not after the tradition See note on 1 Thessalonians 2:15 for παραδοσιν — paradosin Which they received of us (ην παρελαβοσαν παρ ημων — hēn parelabosan par hēmōn). Westcott and Hort put this form of the verb (second aorist indicative third person plural of παραλαμβανω — paralambanō the οσαν — ̇osan form instead of ον — ̇on with slight support from the papyri, but in the lxx and the Boeotian dialect, Robertson, Grammar, pp. 335f.) in the margin with παρελαβετε — parelabete (ye received) in the text. There are five different readings of the verb here, the others being παρελαβον παρελαβε ελαβοσαν — parelabonparelabeelabosan f0). [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:6 That ye withdraw yourselves [στελλεσται υμας]
Present middle (direct) infinitive of στελλω — stellō old verb to place, arrange, make compact or shorten as sails, to move oneself from or to withdraw oneself from (with απο — apo and the ablative). In 2 Corinthians 8:20 the middle voice He calls him “brother” still. The adverb ατακτως — ataktōs is common in Plato and is here and 2 Thessalonians 3:11 alone in the N.T., though the adjective ατακτος — ataktos equally common in Plato we had in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 which see. Military term, out of ranks. And not after the tradition See note on 1 Thessalonians 2:15 for παραδοσιν — paradosin Which they received of us (ην παρελαβοσαν παρ ημων — hēn parelabosan par hēmōn). Westcott and Hort put this form of the verb (second aorist indicative third person plural of παραλαμβανω — paralambanō the οσαν — ̇osan form instead of ον — ̇on with slight support from the papyri, but in the lxx and the Boeotian dialect, Robertson, Grammar, pp. 335f.) in the margin with παρελαβετε — parelabete (ye received) in the text. There are five different readings of the verb here, the others being παρελαβον παρελαβε ελαβοσαν — parelabonparelabeelabosan f0). [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:6 And not after the tradition [και μη κατα την παραδοσιν]
See note on 1 Thessalonians 2:15 for παραδοσιν — paradosin Which they received of us (ην παρελαβοσαν παρ ημων — hēn parelabosan par hēmōn). Westcott and Hort put this form of the verb (second aorist indicative third person plural of παραλαμβανω — paralambanō the οσαν — ̇osan form instead of ον — ̇on with slight support from the papyri, but in the lxx and the Boeotian dialect, Robertson, Grammar, pp. 335f.) in the margin with παρελαβετε — parelabete (ye received) in the text. There are five different readings of the verb here, the others being παρελαβον παρελαβε ελαβοσαν — parelabonparelabeelabosan f0). [source]
Titus 2:8 That cannot be condemned [ἀκατάγνωστον]
N.T.ooClass. See Mark href="/desk/?q=mr+15:39&sr=1">Mark 15:39. The heathen opposer is meant. Comp. blasphemed, Titus 2:5, and 1 Timothy 6:1. Ἑναντίος contraryin Paul only 1 Thessalonians 2:15. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 2:15 mean?

who both the Lord having killed Jesus and their own prophets us having driven out God not pleasing all men [who are] set against
τῶν καὶ τὸν Κύριον ἀποκτεινάντων Ἰησοῦν καὶ τοὺς προφήτας ἡμᾶς ἐκδιωξάντων Θεῷ μὴ ἀρεσκόντων πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ἐναντίων

καὶ  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
Κύριον  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἀποκτεινάντων  having  killed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀποκτείνω 
Sense: to kill in any way whatever.
Ἰησοῦν  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
τοὺς  their  own 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
προφήτας  prophets 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
ἡμᾶς  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐκδιωξάντων  having  driven  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἐκδιώκω  
Sense: to drive out, banish.
Θεῷ  God 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἀρεσκόντων  pleasing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρέσκω  
Sense: to please.
ἀνθρώποις  men 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἐναντίων  [who  are]  set  against 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἐναντίος  
Sense: over against, opposite.