1 Thessalonians 2 — The Gospel Delivered with Gentleness
Introduction: Paul reminisces about his brief time with the Thessalonians, and brings out several key points to reinforce the gospel message, and why Paul was determined to deliver that message to them even under the circumstances of open hostility led by the unconverted Jews. He reminds them that they accepted his message as the Word of God, not just the teaching of man. He encourages them to maintain their lifestyle that gave clear evidence of their acceptance of the good news that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
NOTE: Bible verses are taken from the World English Bible (WEB).
A — Boldness Out of Suffering
1 Thessalonians 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, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.”
Comments: Paul reminded the believers at Thessalonica of those things they knew about the severe mistreatment at Philippi for himself and Silas, before they arrived at Thessalonica and gave the gospel out boldly in spite of the increasing hostility there. Choosing to keep his comments within their shared experiences, he did not review other hardships endured earlier at Damascus, Jerusalem, and throughout Asia. Paul’s encouragement for the Thessalonian believers began with his statement that the gospel message is neither of error, nor of corrupt practice, nor deception. When Paul and his companions were entrusted by God to take the good news about Jesus as the promised Messiah to others, it was not to please men, but to please God who examines the motivation in the heart. What an interesting mix of boldness with humility is here demonstrated by Paul, and that quality should be one of our goals as believers today.
B — The Gospel Delivered in Gentleness from the Soul
1 Thessalonians 2 “7 But we were gentle among 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 toward 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.”
Comments: Paul contrasts an attitude of authority that might have been expected from an apostle, with the gentleness that a nursing mother has for her infant child. He goes on to say the latter was the manner evidenced by him and his companions because they had developed a warm affection for the believers at Thessalonica. Therefore their desire was not only to share the gospel, but also to work so as not to be a burden for their own daily needs while there. The encouragement, comfort, and pleading given to the Thessalonians were like that of a loving father to his dear children — and this was to produce a lifestyle worthy of God, their heavenly father, who calls them into his own Kingdom and glory. Paul is emphasizing that though he brought the message, the call was actually from God, and all praise was to be given to the Lord Jesus.
C — We Thank God That You Received Our Message as Coming from God
1 Thessalonians 2 “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 didn’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.”
Comments: Paul is convinced that the Thessalonian believers fully comprehended that the message brought to them was from God and not just the teaching of men. The evidence Paul cites is that they became so much like the believers of the churches of Christ Jesus in Judea, suffering in the same ways from their own countrymen. The Jews killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove Paul and his companions out from that territory — being opposed to that salvation message which can benefit all men. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians became part of the inspired writings of the New Testament that bear record down to our day, how all teaching from Christ himself and from the apostles verified that Jesus was in fact the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. The Word of God is like seed that is to be spread that some of it may fall onto good heart soil (Proverbs 30:5–6; Mark 7:13; Luke 8:11, 15; Luke 11:52).
D — Our Desire to See You Was Hindered by Satan
1 Thessalonians 2 “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.”
Comments: Paul’s feeling of loss was clearly not through concern about losing their mutual bond in Christ, but rather because they were not able to be together in person. Paul attributes his hindrance of a return visit to Thessalonica to the influence of Satan, not any light obstacle that Paul could easily overcome. Paul goes on to say that the very strong affection he has for the Thessalonian believers, that causes him to consider them as his hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing, is because he knows they will be in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming (1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 John 2:28; 1 Peter 4:13; Jude 1:24–25). This is a joy reserved only for those who are in Christ by faith in him.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I need this reminder from Paul of the foundation and blessing of our faith, and the fact of holding that truth firm in our forethoughts to produce the same fellowship when believers assemble, that gave Paul such a strong desire to have that close personal contact again. For those of us who have the privilege of weekly worship services, we may fall into a somewhat numbed pattern that dilutes and restrains the joy we should have by the great gift we have of fellowship with Christ and other believers. The daily routines we follow between Sundays can distract us to the point where weekly worship becomes a rote formality that may prevent the full effect of renewing our minds through the washing and regeneration of the Word. Help me Lord to be in your Word consistently so each time of fellowship with the local body of believers can be truly refreshing as we bear each other’s burdens, encourage, comfort, and even plead when change is in order. We then can rejoice together as we are reminded of the sure hope we have at the appearing of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Amen.
Published 15 February 2011