1 Thessalonians 1:9 Meaning and Explanation
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →People everywhere were reporting how the Thessalonians had turned from idols to serve the living and true God.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Mean?
Others were telling the story for Paul. They described both the welcome he received in Thessalonica and the great turning that followed: these people 'turned to God from idols.' In a city full of shrines and lifeless images, they abandoned what they had always worshiped to serve 'the living and true God.'
This is conversion in its plainest terms, a turning away and a turning toward. They left behind idols that could neither hear nor act, and gave themselves to the God who is alive and real. Notice the goal of the turning: 'to serve.' They did not merely change their beliefs; they changed their masters and took up a new life of service. Every genuine return to God has this shape, a decisive break with whatever held the heart before, and a glad surrender to the One who is truly God.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 in the Original Language
eidolon (εἴδωλον), 'idols' -- an image or representation set up for worship, a likeness standing in for a god.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Thessalonians 1:9
What does 1 Thessalonians 1:9 mean?
People everywhere were reporting how the Thessalonians had turned from idols to serve the living and true God.