1 Thessalonians 2:16
What does 1 Thessalonians 2:16 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 2:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 2:16 means
These opponents “forbid” the apostles to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, thereby “filling up their sins always.” The phrase “the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” signals that divine judgment rests upon persistent, active obstruction of the Gospel. Paul does not gloat; he states a sober reality: to block the message of salvation is to oppose God and to accumulate guilt. Wrath here refers to God’s settled, righteous response to sin, already operative and certain in its outcome. This warning underscores the stakes of evangelism—eternal matters are at hand when the Gospel is hindered or received.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who, to make the measure of their sins complete, kept us from giving the word of salvation to the Gentiles: but the wrath of God is about to come on them in the fullest degree.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862forbidding us to speak to the nations that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always, but the anger did come upon them--to the end!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Prohibiting us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath of God is come upon them to the end.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890forbidding us to speak to the nations that they may be saved, that they may fill up their sins always: but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
Context
Following the description of persecutors in verse 15, verse 16 specifies their sin—silencing mission to the Gentiles—and its consequence: the arrival of divine wrath. This closes the section on shared suffering (vv. 14–16) and transitions to Paul’s personal longing (vv. 17–18). The flow moves from solidarity in affliction to assurance of God’s just oversight, clearing space for Paul’s affectionate yearning for reunion with the Thessalonians.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Malachi 4:5
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.
- Acts 11:17
If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?
- Matthew 3:12
whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
- 1 Timothy 2:4
who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
- Revelation 22:11
He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
- Hebrews 6:8
but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.
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