Verses 1-2: Paul
denies his adversaries’ accusation that his ministry in
Thessalonica had been in vain, that is, “empty” of proper motive.
That he had been physically abused (suffered) and insulted
(shamefully entreated) previously at Philippi, yet was bold in our
God to speak unto you the gospel, verify the purity of his
ministerial motives.
Otherwise,
persecution for the gospel would probably have prevented his
courageous preaching. There was no impure incentive of any kind in
his ministry (verse 3).
1 Thessalonians
2:1
"For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you,
that it was not in vain:"
“Not in vain”:
Paul’s ministry among the Thessalonians was so fruitful that not
only were people saved and a vibrant, reproducing church planted, but
the church also grew and flourished even after Paul left (1:5-8).
Paul says you know
that the message we brought was Truth and you received it unto
yourself. It was empowered by the Spirit of God and now you received
it so fully that you are empowered with that same Spirit to minister.
Paul had asked
nothing from them in return for bringing the gospel to them. His
reward was in knowing that they received the True Word of God and
were transformed into servants of the Most High God.
1 Thessalonians
2:2
"But even after that we had suffered before, and were
shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our
God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention."
“Entreated … at
Philippi”: Paul and Silas had been brutalized in Philippi before
coming to Thessalonica (Acts 16:19-24, 37). They suffered physically
when beaten (Acts 16:22-23) and incarcerated (Acts 16:24). They were
arrogantly mistreated with false accusations (Acts 16:20-21) and
illegally punished in spite of their Roman citizenship (Acts 16:37).
“Much contention”:
Like their treatment in Philippi, Paul’s team was falsely accused
of civil treason in Thessalonica (Acts 17:7) and suffered physical
intimidation (Acts 17:5-6).
Paul never allowed a
little persecution to keep him from bringing the gospel message to
all who would receive it. Contention, in this verse means conflict or
fight. Everywhere Paul went, there seemed to be conflict. Most of his
problems came from the Jews.
He had been a
Pharisee of the Pharisees, before he came in close contact with the
Light of the world on the road to Damascus. It seemed the conflict at
Philippi had been so great that he had left there and come to
Thessalonica. He did not stop preaching because of the conflict, he
just moved locations.
Paul counted it a pleasure to be able to suffer for Christ and the gospel message. The message that Paul had brought to Thessalonica was not made milder by the conflict, but if anything was even bolder and surer. Paul's boldness seemed to increase with every persecution.
1 Thessalonians
2:3
"For our exhortation [was] not of deceit, nor of
uncleanness, nor in guile:"
Paul used 3
distinctly different words to affirm the truthfulness of his
ministry, each expressing a contrast with what was characteristic of
false teachers. He first asserts that “his message” was true and
not erroneously false. His “manner of life” was pure, not
sexually wicked. His “method of ministry” was authentic, not
deceptive.
Paul was not a man
of untruths. He spoke the message of God, exactly the way the Lord
had given it to him. He did not alter the message to please man.
Guile, in this verse would possibly mean trick.
Paul had not tried
to trick anyone. He knew the Jews were caught up in the outward
cleanness of a man. He explains that he was not an unclean man.
Paul's message was straightforward. He never varied to the right or
the left. He spoke Truth.
1 Thessalonians
2:4
"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."
“Allowed of God”:
It could be that some false teachers came into the church to
discredit Paul’s ministry. This would account for his emphasis in
verse 1-12 on his divine appointment, approval, integrity, and
devotion to them. (Acts 9:15; 16:9-10).
Allowed and trieth
translates the same Greek verb dokimazo differently because it has
two different meanings in this same verse. “Allowed”, means that
God had carefully examined Paul and found him to be fit for the
ministry, thus entrusting the apostle with this responsibility.
“Trieth” means
that the Lord examines him daily to see whether he remains fit and
can continue in the ministry. This habitual divine scrutiny is the
reason Paul seeks to please God rather than men. God, then, is the
ultimate cause and motive of Paul’s ministry, not impurity (verse
3) or covetousness (verse 5).
I love the word
"allowed" in the verse above. Paul counted it a privilege
to be trusted with the gospel message. We should count it a privilege
to be allowed to work for God ourselves. Paul spoke as an oracle of
God. Paul did not choose what he would say. He turned his tongue over
to God and spoke the words as the Spirit gave him utterance.
Most ministers today
have this all turned around. They are preaching what the people want
to hear. The Bible calls that preaching to itching ears.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"
This verse in
Timothy is speaking of ministers called of men to preach, not called
of God. Paul was called of God to carry the message God chose to the
people. The people did not always want to hear what the Spirit of God
speaking through Paul had to say. It many times stepped on their
toes. The Spirit brought out sins in them that they thought no one
knew about. God knew.
Paul had no desire
to please men. His desire was to bring the message God wanted the
people to have as accurately as he could. Paul's desire was to please
God, not man.
If it brought
persecution, so be it. God looks on the heart, and judges
righteously. He looks on the heart of the minister, and the people he
is ministering to. Let me mention, one more time, the gospel is (good
news).
Verses 5-6:
“Flattering words”: Paul used 3 disclaimers to affirm the purity
of his motives for ministry:
(1) he denied being
a smooth-talking preacher who tried to make favorable impressions in
order to gain influence for selfish advantage; (2) he did not pretend
to be poor and work night and day (verse 9) as a pretense to get rich
in the ministry at their expense; and (3) he didn’t use his honored
position as an apostle to seek personal glory, only God’s glory (1
Cor. 10:31).
1 Thessalonians
2:5
"For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye
know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God [is] witness:"
“Cloak” (Greek
prophasis) signifies “excuse,” “cover up,” or “front” for
an impure motive of greed.
Paul was not trying
to get anything from them. He did not covet anything that belonged to
them. When someone flatters you, they are usually setting you up to
get something from you. Paul had none of these desires. He was
compelled within himself to bring the Truth of the gospel to all who
would receive it.
Some believe that
Paul was trying to make up for the times when he himself had
persecuted the Christians. I really believe that Paul loved God so
much that he wanted everyone to know and love God as he did. He was
truly grateful that God had loved him enough to turn him around on
the right path.
I believe that Paul
loved God even when he was persecuting Christians. He even thought he
was doing that for God. His eyes of his understanding had not been
opened where he could see Jesus for who He really is. Paul knew that
even if the people did not understand what he was trying to do, God
did. He really had to answer to no man but God.
1 Thessalonians 2:6
"Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor [yet] of
others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of
Christ."
“Might have been
burdensome”: may be rendered, “though we could have wielded
authority”. Paul and his coworkers did not seek esteem (glory) from
men nor from the Thessalonians (neither of you), although they could
have ‘thrown their weight around” as the apostles of Christ, and
thus demanded honor.
“Apostles of
Christ”: This plural is designed to include Paul with the 12 for
the sake of emphasizing his unique authority. Silvanus and Timothy
were “apostles (messengers) of the church” (Rom. 16:7; Phil.
2:25).
We already mentioned
in the book on Philippians that Paul would not accept any gifts from
any of the churches except the church at Philippi. Paul preached the
gospel to them with no strings attached. He did not even ask for an
offering from them.
We see in this that
Paul was not seeking to be thought of as the great apostle. He
included Timothy and Silas in this letter right at the beginning.
Paul was not looking to be honored by these people. He knew his
reward would be in heaven. He did not ask them to think of him as the
number one apostle.
Verses 7-8: Paul may
have had in mind Moses’ portrayal of himself as a nursing mother to
Israel (Num. 11:12). He used the same tender picture with the
Corinthians (2 Cor. 12:14-15) and the Galatians (Gal 4:19).
Paul’s affection
for the Thessalonians was like that felt by a mother willing to
sacrifice her life for her child as was Christ who was willing to
give up His own life for those who would be born again into the
family of God (Matt. 20:28).
1 Thessalonians
2:7
"But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth
her children:"
“Nurse cherisheth”: Just as a nursing mother selflessly cares for her
children, so Paul gave himself to the Thessalonians. He changes the
figure of speech to that of a father in verse 11.
Paul had made
himself as one of them. He had not elevated himself up above the
people. His message to them had been a message of the love of God. He
was tenderly teaching them as a parent would his own child.
1 Thessalonians
2:8
"So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to
have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own
souls, because ye were dear unto us."
In this, Paul was
bringing them the good news of the gospel of Christ, but wanted them
to feel the love that he had for them as well. Paul had such great
love for them that he would have been willing to face most any
hardship to bring them this message that would bring Life to them.
He is also saying
that he preached from his heart. He was not trying to scare them out
of hell, but love them into heaven.
1 Thessalonians
2:9
"For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for
labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any
of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God."
“Laboring night
and day”: Paul explained this in 2 Thess. 3:7-9. He did not ask for
any money from the Thessalonians but rather lived on what he earned
and what the Philippians sent (Phil. 4:16), so that his motives could
not be questioned, unlike the false teachers who always sought money
(1 Peter 5:2).
Paul did not stop
when the sun went down. He preached into the night when necessary. He
also prayed for the people he preached to. The call of God is not an
8 hour a day job. The called of God are on call 24 hours a day, 365
days a year, for the rest of their life.
Paul is saying that
he will not be held responsible by God for not telling them the good
news of the gospel. He told them all. He will have a clear conscience
when he stands before God.
