1 Thessalonians 2:9
What does 1 Thessalonians 2:9 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 2:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 2:9 means
Paul calls them to remember the heavy labor—“night and day”—by which they supported themselves so as not to burden the church while preaching “the gospel of God.” This likely involved manual work alongside evangelism and teaching. Such diligence refutes any claim that they were exploiting new converts. It also demonstrates a principle: ministers may yield their rights for the sake of the Gospel’s advance and others’ good. Their toil was both practical and pastoral, clearing away suspicion and modeling a work ethic consistent with the message. The Thessalonians saw that the Gospel came to them free of charge, yet at great personal cost to its messengers.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For you have the memory, my brothers, of our trouble and care; how, working night and day, so that we might not be a trouble to any of you, we gave you the good news of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail, for, night and day working not to be a burden upon any of you, we did preach to you the good news of God;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For ye remember, brethren, our labour and toil: working night and day, not to be chargeable to any one of you, we have preached to you the glad tidings ofGod.
Context
After confessing deep affection (v. 8), Paul points to a concrete expression of that love: tireless labor to avoid financial burden (v. 9). This supports his broader defense against greed and self-promotion in verses 5–6. Verse 10 will add moral credibility—holy, righteous, and blameless conduct. The flow presents a comprehensive picture: sacrificial work, ethical integrity, and parental care together authenticate the apostles’ ministry among them.
v.8even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us.
v.9This passage
v.10Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and righteously and unblamably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;
- Psalms 32:4
For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed as with the drought of summer. [Selah
- Romans 15:19
in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ;
- 1 Timothy 5:5
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
- Luke 18:7
And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and yet he is longsuffering over them?
- Nehemiah 5:15
But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
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