A Commentary of the Book of 1 Thessalonians
By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins
Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible
Bible Study 1 Thessalonians: 2: 1-20
Text:
Entrusted with the Gospel
2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much struggle. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or [a]by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who [b]examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with a flattering word, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— 6 nor seeking glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we [c]could have been a burden to you. 7 But we [d]proved to be [e]gentle [f]among you, as a nursing mother [g]tenderly cares for her own children. 8 In this way, having fond affection for you, we were pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own [h]lives, because you had become beloved to us.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we [i]behaved toward you [j]believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and bearing witness to each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 And for this reason we also thank God without ceasing that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and [k]drove us out, and do not please God, and are hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them [l]to the utmost.
17 But we, brothers, having been taken away from you for a [m]short while—in face but not in heart—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 [n]For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, [o]more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His [p]coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Verse by verse commentary
Verse 1: “For you yourselves know, brothers, that our entrance to you was not in vain,”
Paul implicitly defended his ministry of the gospel, and at the same time, he was recalling the work he and his companions had done. He gave the Thessalonians a pattern of loving service to follow.
Verse 2: “but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much struggle.”
Paul was bold to preach the gospel of Christ regardless of the possible persecution as a result. Paul and Silas had been severely beaten and chained in a Macedonian prison (at Philippi). However, that would not deter him from preaching the Gospel.
Verse 3: “For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;”
Paul did not have a faulty message, impure motives, or questionable methods. They preached the pure gospel without compromise or distortion.
Verse 4: “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
Many ministers today lack backbone and are people pleasers. Many churches have a “church boss” that controls the pastor and his decisions. Paul preached to please God, not man. We need to do likewise. I have said for years that when Paul preached one of two things occurred: a revival or a riot. However, the Gospel can not be ignored.
Verse 5: “For we never came with a flattering word, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—”
Paul did not minister for financial gain. Compare Paul’s ministry to those you see today. He wasn’t raising money for a new building, a new jet, or a bigger house for himself. His desire was for the pure Gospel and for souls to be saved.
Verse 6: “nor seeking glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you.”
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” not of Christ. The word translated “could” is literally “are able to be.” Paul makes clear that he had the right to be a financial burden to the Thessalonians but he would not.
Verse 7: “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”
Paul’s affection for the Thessalonians was like that felt by a nursing 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. Paul paints a tender picture of a nursing mother for her child to describe his approach in ministry to the Thessalonians.
Verse 8: “In this way, having fond affection for you, we were pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become beloved to us.”
It is clear that Paul had a deep affection for his spiritual children, who just a few months earlier were complete strangers to him, alienated by race, culture, and religion. Paul expresses his fondness both in preaching the true Gospel to them, but also in giving of himself to them in service and ministry.
Verse 9: “For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”
In contrast to many “preachers” today that seek to be financially blessed by their congregations, Paul was of a mind to give to the Thessalonians so he would not be a burden to them. Paul put his brothers and sisters ahead of himself and just wanted them to have the pure truth of the Gospel. Paul wanted to make sure that his motives were seen as pure. He was always protecting the Gospel from reproach by his actions.
Verse 10: “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
Under Old Testament law it took two or more witnesses to confirm the truth. Here Paul called on both the Thessalonians and God as the two witnesses to affirm his holy conduct in the ministry.
Verse 11: “just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and bearing witness to each one of you as a father would his own children,”
Paul used the words “exhorting,” “encouraging,” and “ bearing witness” to describe his family relationship with the Thessalonians since they were his children in the faith. They demonstrate the loving touch of a caring father.
Verse 12: “so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”
This verse summarizes Paul’s exhortation and charge during his initial visit in Thessalonica. He emphasized “walking the walk and not just talking the talk.” Paul understood the transformational power of salvation. When the Holy Spirit places grace in the heart, the person receiving the grace would respond in faith. Both repentance and faith are gifts from God. Paul’s mission was to make sure the Thessalonians had a good start in their faith and that they would walk it out in their daily lives.
Verse 13: “And for this reason we also thank God without ceasing that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.”
Paul knew that no human had the power to save a soul. Man can speak to the mind of a person, but it is the Holy Spirit that takes the words of man and applies them to the heart.Salvation is of the Lord and is a supernatural act. Churches don’t need to water down the message because no one can be saved without the grace of God touching their hearts. The words of men do not save, only the blessed Trinity saves. The Father elects, the Son redeems and the Holy Spirit applies the truth to the hearts of men resulting in salvation.
Verse 14: “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,”
The power of God’s word in them was tested and proved as they faced fierce persecution from their countrymen and, like the churches in Judea, suffered and endured the attacks with faith and joy. The only way this could occur was if their conversion was real and from the Lord as opposed to the false gospel preached as an easy path without repentance,
Verse 15: “who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and are hostile to all men,”
Just as Jesus noted the continuity of those who persecuted the prophets with those who persecuted Him, so Paul does likewise extending to those Jews (with whom he formerly worked) who persecute Christ by opposing the gospel. The truth of the Gospel will anger the ego of the lost. Those that hate Christ will hate you as well if you are His disciple.
Verse 16: “hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.”
“Wrath” can be understood: 1) historically of the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile; 2) prophetically of Jerusalem’s destruction in A.D. 70; 3) eschatologically (end of world events) of Christ’s second coming in judgment; or 4) soteriologically (the theology of salvation) in the sense that God’s promised eternal wrath for unbelievers is so certain that it is spoken of as having come already as does the apostle John. Option 4 is the most likely given the context.
Verse 17: “But we, brothers, having been taken away from you for a short while—in face but not in heart—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.”
The Greek word translated “taken away” means “orphaned,” a word used for parents as well as children who have been separated. Paul continues to use family language in describing his relationship with the Thessalonians. Paul affirms even in his physical absence, he has a love for them.
Verse 18: “For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.”
Satan, which means “adversary,” continually attempted to tear down the church that Christ promised to build. Satan thwarted Paul in the sense that a military foe would hinder the advance of his enemy. It should be understood that Satan’s efforts to thwart Paul’s ministry was in accordance with God’s Divine Providence. Satan can only operate as God allows.
Verse 19: “For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His coming?”
The Greek word parousia (“coming”) is used for the Second Coming of Christ six times in the Thessalonian correspondence. These were new believers and Paul wanted to keep the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ constantly before them. That is good training for new disciples.
Verse 20: “For you are our glory and joy.”
Paul is affirming that one of the great things he anticipates when Christ returns will be the opportunity to see these people whom he has preached the Gospel to. The Thessalonian believers whom he had won to Christ were a joy for him here and would be hereafter.
