1 Thessalonians Chapter 2
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn't in vain,
2 but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.
3 For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.
4 But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.
5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),
6 nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle amongst you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8 Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labour and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.
10 You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves towards you who believe.
11 As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12 to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
13 For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don't please God, and are contrary to all men,
16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
18 because we wanted to come to you-indeed, I, Paul, once and again-but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn't it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and our joy.
Footnotes
- Verse 19 (Lord Jesus)
- Textus Receptus adds "Christ"
Version: World English Bible
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1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Guide
It is evident that some of the Jews in Thessalonica had been discounting the apostle in his absence. He very definitely defends himself against such detraction, asserting that his preaching had been with boldness, characterized by thankfulness, full of tenderness, and prosecuted with earnestness. The faith they had exercised demonstrated that the Gospel was "not ... vain." Their "work of faith" was the credential of the apostle's spiritual authority. His authority is further emphasized by their "labour of love." Having received the Word, and so working the "work of faith," they had treated it as the very Word of God, and served even in suffering. To "serve the living and true God" ever means a "labour of love," that is to say, it is obedience to the law of love in the impulse of love, and this inevitably results in suffering in the midst of those who are antagonistic to God's revelation of His will through the Lord Jesus.
Finally, in answering the charges against himself, the apostle referred to the Lord's return. He speaks of himself as "bereft" of the Thessalonians for a short season, but qualifies the statement by saying that this is "in presence, not in heart." It is the Coming of the Lord that he looked forward to as the one reward of all present toil and pain and suffering. They are at once his hope, his joy, his crown.
Very beautiful is this turning of the apostle's thought to the ultimate vindication of his work. The detractors were busy attempting to undervalue this work, and to cast aspersions on his character, his honesty, and his tenderness. All this will finally be answered in the splendour and the glory of that moment when the Lord shall receive to Himself in glory those who "turned ... from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven."
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The apostle reminds the Thessalonians of his preaching and behaviour. -- (1-12)
- And of their receiving the gospel as the word of God. -- (13-16)
- His joy on their account. -- (17-20)
Verses 1-6
The apostle had no wordly design in his preaching. Suffering in a good cause should sharpen holy resolution. The gospel of Christ at first met with much opposition; and it was preached with contention, with striving in preaching, and against opposition. And as the matter of the apostle's exhortation was true and pure, the manner of his speaking was without guile. The gospel of Christ is designed for mortifying corrupt affections, and that men may be brought under the power of faith. This is the great motive to sincerity, to consider that God not only sees all we do, but knows our thoughts afar off, and searches the heart. And it is from this God who trieth our hearts, that we must receive our reward. The evidences of the apostle's sincerity were, that he avoided flattery and covetousness. He avoided ambition and vain-glory.
Verses 7-12
Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God's gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honour, serve, and please God, and to seek to be worthy of him.
Verses 13-16
We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to its holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. The words of men are frail and perishing, like themselves, and sometimes false, foolish, and fickle; but God's word is holy, wise, just, and faithful. Let us receive and regard it accordingly. The word wrought in them, to make them examples to others in faith and good works, and in patience under sufferings, and in trials for the sake of the gospel. Murder and persecution are hateful to God, and no zeal for any thing in religion can excuse it. Nothing tends more to any person or people's filling up the measure of their sins, than opposing the gospel, and hindering the salvation of souls. The pure gospel of Christ is abhorred by many, and the faithful preaching of it is hindered in many ways. But those who forbid the preaching it to sinners, to men dead in sin, do not by this please God. Those have cruel hearts, and are enemies to the glory of God, and to the salvation of his people, who deny them the Bible.
Verses 17-20
This world is not a place where we are to be always, or long together. In heaven holy souls shall meet, and never part more. And though the apostle could not come to them yet, and thought he might never be able to come, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come; nothing shall hinder that. May God give faithful ministers to all who serve him with their spirit in the gospel of his Son, and send them to all who are in darkness
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.