1 Thessalonians 1:5

because 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.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Thessalonian believers, grounding his praise in what they themselves can verify: how the gospel actually arrived among them.

The words — ἐγενήθη (egenēthē), "came," is from γίνομαι, a verb of becoming or coming into being, not a neutral "arrived" — the gospel didn't merely reach them, it came into existence among them.

The thread — Mark 16:20 echoes the same pattern: the Lord confirmed His word by accompanying signs. 1 Corinthians 2:2 shows Paul's own method — stripping away everything except Christ crucified — which is what makes the "power" in this verse concrete rather than abstract.

Why it lands — The verse forces a distinction between receiving information and being moved by it; if the gospel came "in power" and "with great conviction," then a reader who has only heard it without being shaken has not yet encountered what Paul is describing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Cross-references

2 Thessalonians 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not undisciplined among you,
Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
Galatians 3:2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
Colossians 2:2 that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
Hebrews 6:18 Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.