1 Thessalonians 2:5
“For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul never used flattery or hid greed behind his preaching, and he calls God to witness it.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 2:5 Mean?
Paul continues to clear his name. He never employed 'flattering words,' the smooth speech that tells people what they want to hear in order to gain an advantage. Nor did he wear 'a cloke of covetousness,' using ministry as a disguise to cover a hunger for money. For the first claim he appeals to them ('as ye know'); for the hidden matter of greed he appeals higher, 'God is witness.'
Flattery and covetousness so often travel together, the smooth word that opens the wallet. Paul kept clear of both. He could call his hearers to verify his speech because they had heard it, but motives are invisible to people, so for those he summons God Himself. This is the honesty of a man who serves an audience of One. He has nothing to gain by pretending, because the God who sees the heart is watching, and that is witness enough.
In the Original Language
kolakeia (κολακεία), 'flattering' -- flattery used as a tool to gain advantage over another.