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| Chapter 2 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ For you yourselves, brethren, know that our coming among you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as ye know, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God amidst much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not from deceit, nor from uncleanness, nor from guile; 4 but as we were allowed by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is our witness), 6 nor sought we glory from men, neither from you nor yet from others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 ¶ But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 8 So being affectionately desirous for 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. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail; for laboring night and day, because we would not be a burden unto any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe. 11 Ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His Kingdom and glory. 13 ¶ For this cause also we thank God without ceasing: because when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also worketh effectually in you who believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God in Judea which are in Christ Jesus; for ye also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us. They please not God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, thus heaping up their sins always. But the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost! 17 ¶ But we, brethren, being taken away from you for a short time (in presence, but not in heart), endeavored the more abundantly and with great desire to see your face. 18 Therefore we would have come unto you--even I, Paul, time and again--but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy. |
v1,2 Paul and his preaching team had been through a tough time in Philippi where they had received beatings and a time in prison, Act 16:12-40. but on arrival in Thessalonica Paul was so grateful for their response to the message, They were able to give the message of salvation with great confidence, feeling safe from persecution. As a result the message produced great spiritual fruit and as always happens when the Gospel is preached, spiritual struggles and fighting. Paul was not silenced by this opposition but encourage to preach even more. v3,4 This encouragement was not due to pride, or a desire to give false (deceit) information. Each word was spoken without any bad motive or desire. They did nothing to trap people into a bad life. v4 Faith and Responsibility. Allowed by God to take the message, based on that only God knew and test his heart and examine his desires and why he brought this message, his motives, 1 Cor 4:4. The Jews accused Paul of preaching an ‘easy’ message by taking away the ‘yoke’ of the Law, Paul said the message was not easy just to please men. Gal 1:10. v5 Paul’s message did not contain "Flattering words," often used by the false teachers, neither was there any greed due to selfish desires, these facts were all witnessed as true by God. v6,7 They never looked for glory from men, neither did they expect financial help from the fellowship as was normal for the apostles, 1 Cor 9:1-14; Gal 6:6. Instead they behaved like nursing mothers looking after their own children with great love, children they had been able to bring into a new birth with eternal life. v8 Because of this great love for the Thessalonians fellowship Paul, Silvanus and Timothy took great pleasure in being able to share not only the gospel but also their lives with these people. Ministry for others. v9-12 A devoted attitude to the ministry, marked by four areas:- 1) Sacrifice, being prepared to work for their support and accommodation, Paul was a tent maker by trade, Acts 18:3 and probably did it during the early morning, ‘laboring night and day,’ so that he could spend the day preaching. v10 2) A blameless personal life. The Thessalonians were able to judge the team’s actions and God was judging the teams motives, the reason, the purpose for their work. v11 3) A devotion and love for their children, instructing and comforting. v12 4) Worthy of God and his glory who had called them to the task. v13-20 Result of this devoted work. v13 This kind of service will always be blessed by God, the Thessalonians were pleased to receive the Word preached and accepted as from God and not from man. v14-16 They became imitators, copying the churches of God in Judea, as a result of this behaviour they were also persecuted by the Jews who did not believe. v17 As a result the apostle and his team were wanting to return and see the Thessalonians fellowship again. However, this was being prevented by the action of Satan. v19,20 They were Paul’s ‘hope,’ ‘joy,’ and ‘crown’ at the coming seat of Christ, to give Him the glory and joy of the reward when He returns, 1 Cor 3:12-15; 1 Cor 4:5; 2 Cor 5:10. |
Easy English Translation
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