A reversible thermosensitive coloring composition including an electron donating coloring agent and an electron accepting color developer, wherein the composition achieves a colored state when heated at a temperature not lower than a coloring temperature and then cooled at a cooling speed (a), and the composition in the colored state achieves a non-colored state when heated at a temperature lower than the coloring temperature and not lower than an erasing temperature, or when heated at a temperature not lower than the coloring temperature and then cooled relatively slowly compared to the cooling speed (a), and wherein the electron accepting color developer includes a phenolic compound having the following formula (1): wherein n is an integer of from 1 to 3; m is an integer of from 1 to 20; r is 0 or an integer of from 1 to 3; X and Y independently represent a divalent group including a hetero atom; R1 represents a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and R2 represents a hydrocarbon group having from 2 to 20 carbon atoms. A reversible thermosensitive recording material having a recording layer including the composition is also provided. In addition, a reversible thermal recording method using the reversible thermosensitive recording material is also provided.