³For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity^ac or an intent to deceive.^ad ⁴Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted^ae with the gospel,^af so we speak, not to please people, but rather God,^ag who examines our hearts.^ah

Read in Logos

1 Thessalonians 2:4: but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Cross references

ac 1Th 4:7
ad Ps 10:7
ae Lk 16:11
af Ac 15:7; Gl 2:7; 1Tm 1:11
ag Jn 5:44; 12:43; 1Co 4:5; 2Co 10:18; Gl 1:10; Php 3:19; 1Th 2:15; 1Pt 3:4
ah Ps 17:3; Pr 21:2; Rm 8:27

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

NLTNew Living Translation

So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.

For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For our exhortation is not from error or from impurity or with deceit, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts.

KJV 1900King James Version

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Public Domain