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1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
New King James Version
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
New King James Version
3 (A)For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as (B)we have been approved by God (C)to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, (D)not as pleasing men, but God (E)who tests our hearts. 5 For (F)neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a [a]cloak for covetousness—(G)God is witness.
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- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 pretext for greed
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
New International Version
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
New International Version
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives,(A) nor are we trying to trick you.(B) 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.(C) We are not trying to please people(D) but God, who tests our hearts.(E) 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed(F)—God is our witness.(G)
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
English Standard Version
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
English Standard Version
3 For (A)our appeal does not spring from (B)error or (C)impurity or (D)any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God (E)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not (F)to please man, but to please God (G)who tests our hearts. 5 (H)For we never came with words of flattery,[a] as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—(I)God is witness.
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- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Or with a flattering speech
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
New American Standard Bible
1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
New American Standard Bible
3 For our (A)exhortation does not come from (B)error or (C)impurity or [a]by way of (D)deceit; 4 (E)but just as we have been approved by God to be (F)entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, (G)not intending to please people, but to please God, who [b](H)examines our hearts. 5 For we never came [c]with flattering speech, as you know, nor with (I)a pretext [d]for greed—(J)God is our witness—
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:3 Lit in deceit
- 1 Thessalonians 2:4 Or approves
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Lit in a word of flattery
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 I.e., to conceal greed
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.